Bacon & Eggs Salad in a Jar

My friend Alicia was doing these mason jar salads years ago. I decided to use up some of my fresh greens to do a make ahead salads using of course bacon and eggs as a theme.

The results were a mixed bag however. Bacon and eggs, yes that worked out, but I think I like my salads fresh. Freshly made. Especially lettuce.

Homemade Catsup and Potatoes

I've always wanted to open a pub. Pub food is some of the most wonderfully satisfying taste treats for all of humankind. Indeed I might have to classify this as food porn. Yep, I think so.

Here are the elements.

• Homemade catsup
• Homemade pepper crusted potato home fries.
• Thick cut crispy cooked bacon
• And a chewy Syrah

A Plate of Carbs With Tomato Sauce

So I have lots and lots of tomatoes. I've made sauce and paste. Froze skinless whole tomatoes for use this winter. Made salsa. And eat them fresh in every meal. And still I have lots and lots of tomatoes.

How do I put them up?

Gingerbread in a Jar

I bought a flat of these half pint jars with wide mouths, and probably should get some more too. I filled two with gelatin made with fresh juice, two with strawberry sauce, and eight with gingerbread. 

The house smelled good that day. Gingerbread in August made me lust for Christmas.

I adapted a recipe called "Canadian Gingerbread" from the book, The Complete Book of Gingerbread: Traditional Gingerbread Recipes and Designs From Around The World. 

I added ground cloves and ground nutmeg. And substituted Agave Syrup for the Light Corn Syrup. 

Believe it of not, I actually had Light Corn Syrup in the pantry. It was at least five years old, although never been opened, and slightly yellowish. The ingredients were High Fructose Corn Syrup and Sugar. I tossed it in the trash.

They came out pretty good, but I would test for doneness (toothpick comes out clean) about five minutes earlier.

I froze a bunch to see how they taste after sitting awhile and then being defrosted. The recipe calls for the bread to sit a day to develop more flavor.

How anyone who smells gingerbread cooking resist eating it for 24 hours is beyond me.

Last weekend I made homemade mac n cheese and had some extra sauce. I'm thinking I might add it to  puree potato soup. I grew potatoes again this year, um, kind of by accident. But that's another story.

Earth Day Pizza

Thanksgiving 2012

 
It was certainly a nice one. We fed our cat and the neighbor's cats and ourselves. I made a pot pie with the leftovers tonight and it was all too good. We had some fine wine from a local vintner which I'll be sure to blog about soon. Just a truly pleasant day with some nice guys. You know what I mean?

Hot August Days

Just a cool refreshing margarita to accompany some Malibu Chicken strips. A light summer lunch with some Malibu sauce, in the heart shaped container, to go with the chicken this time.

Bloody Lasagna

A big old dish of lasagna is a nice hearty meal with plenty of leftovers. I make mine the old-fashion way with fresh motz and fresh ground chuck roast.

It's hard to take a good picture of it though. 

Super Slider Super Bowl Sunday

I made my own slider rolls on Super Bowl Sunday. I figured it would be easier than going to the market. And yes it was. Tastier too!

Here's my one of my little burgers!

Can you tell I like mustard with my pickles and cheese?

Cold Somen Noodle Bowl with Homemade Smoked Salmon Sushi

I am fascinated with noodles and these Somen are typically served cold although the hot versions sound yumski too.

This was a lunch for one. Me! The asparagus tips - so tiny, and carrot matchsticks, a whole shiitake, and baby bok choi were steamed al dente.

The noodles were boiled and returned to cold water. They came out pretty good considering how quickly they could have turned to mush.

I had a sauce for dipping, a combo of sesame oil and shoyu and dashi. It was perfect.

This was my first attempt at homemade sushi. 

I went to a favorite restaurant Friday for lunch and got a sushi component where the chef decides. He gave me a smoked salmon one and I loved it!

So I knew I had smoked salmon from Alaska in the cupboard, sooooo

I tried.

Yeah. It is not the greatest picture, and it didn't taste like my Friday lunch, but it was good, and it was good to try.

Are you trying any new dish? Would you like to share your results?

Bleu Cheese Burgers

Recipe for buns here.

My own meat, ground - half turkey and half chuck roast.