Category: Cooking

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Carbs.

Low carb subs? Thin crust pizza? Pasta? Italian food is a tough challenge when it comes to “low carb” OR attempting to regulate blood sugar. The dough, the noodles, the sauces. Again, I am not a jeanyis… can’t even comprehend what the Freddy Krueger Effect even is. But, if it’s loaded with carbs, it’s bound to raise the blood sugar.

Quite a few years ago, I found an awesome product on Amazon (Fresh/Market). It has been wonderful for both Italian style sandwiches and pizzas. Use it as a thin crust. Or grab some provolone, sliced pepperoni, and ham to make a cold cut pita.

24g Total Carbs – Add mayo, oil + vinegar, black pepper, provolone, lettuce leaf, pepperoni (sandwich), and ham.

Pizza? – Spread olive oil and Italian seasoning on pizza pan. Then spread pizza sauce on pita. Add a mozzarella/provolone blend and then your favorite toppings. Place on pan, bake at 400 for about 8-10 minutes.

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Crab Salad

In a previous lifetime, I spent many years working at a golf course. It was one of my more enjoyable jobs because the crew was always fun and seemed to work together. There are pretty easy tasks associated with clubhouse work. Clean the members clubs, wash the carts, collect the range balls. But work always became quite a bit busier during tournaments.

Next to the pro shop sat the restaurant/clubhouse. And if there is one thing I remember (from the time I worked there), it was the famous “crab salad”. This special dish was special ordered by the owners, and chefs were instructed to keep it on the menu at all times. I’ve tried many times to recreate it, and think I’ve come pretty close.

Try This:
8 ounce imitation crab meat (flaked)
2 tablespoons REAL mayonnaise
1 tablespoon sour cream
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 tablespoon WHITE vinegar
1 teaspoon pepper
2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon garlic (powder)
2 celery sticks DICED

Mix together and let set in fridge for at least 3-4 hours.

Layer on Club Crackers or enjoy with Triscuits and a Fresca!

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Buffalo Carnitas

Grab a pack of thinly sliced (boneless) pork loin. In addition, yellow onion, green pepper, red pepper, mushrooms, and Sweet Baby Ray’s Buffalo Sauce. You will also need soft tortillas, shredded mozzarella cheese, sour cream, taco sauce.

Heat sliced pork loin (about 2 or 3 slices) in oven (or air fryer) at 400 for 12 minutes (15 minutes if frozen). While heating, chop 1/4 onion and 1/4 peppers into thin slices. Mix with mushrooms.

When loin has completed cooking, slice into thin strips. Add full mixture into lightly coated (olive oil) skillet. Cook on medium heat for approximately 5 minutes.

Add 1/4 cup of Buffalo Sauce to mixture. Cook for additional 5 minutes in skillet until liquid has slightly evaporated.

Add shredded mozzarella cheese, sour cream, taco sauce, slightly above center of soft taco shell. Add skillet mixture just below. Fold like a taco.

**Makes approx. 2 Buffalo Carnitas

This is delicious.

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Delicious.

I’ve never been a big frozen pizza fan. Matter of fact, would rather make a pizza (as well as any other food) with as few “prepared” ingredients as possible. However, I’ve learned to enjoy a few (frozen pizza brands) after a buddy brought pies over several times. And recently, was substituted the wrong pizzas in an order I placed.

Before cooking, I made a concoction to include the correct ingredients. Onions, green peppers, ground beef, mushrooms. After preparing, had some of that mixture left over.

Ingredients needed for the following open sandwich recipe:

  • Ground Beef
  • Green Pepper
  • Onion
  • Mushrooms
  • Mayonnaise
  • Horseradish
  • Dill Relish
  • Swiss Cheese
  • French Bread (sliced)

Let’s first make a great tasting tarter sauce. Ingredients: REAL Mayonnaise (3 table spoons), DILL Relish (3/4 table spoon), AND HORSERADISH (1 teaspoon).

Cover (one side) halves of dense white bread with sauce…I used french bread, but italian, or general white bread is fine.

Place a layer of SWISS cheese over saucey side of bread. And then add the “philly” mix prepared earlier. Ground beef, onions, green peppers, mushrooms

Cook for about 5 min at 400 in oven, or 4 min at 400 in air fryer.

Magnifico!!

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Eggs Benedict.

….whipped up one of the faves this morning. Woke up around 4:30 AM, and had the urge to make Eggs Benedict.

A wonderful combination of English muffins, eggs, ham, and that special sauce. (English muffins are arguably a great alternative to bagels/white bread, depending on which you buy).

That Hollandaise is good.

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Confusion. Pulled pork.

So the question has been raised… pork loin?, pulled pork?, what are you talking about? I’m speaking of slow cooking. The preferred method, in my opinion, is with a crockpot. However, you can use a pot, fill it about 1/2 way (with water), and slow boil for about 6-8hrs on medium heat. The goal is to cook to a point where the loin is falling apart. “What loin, where?” One of these (any flavor):

They can be store brand, or whatever your preferred choice. (Smithfield is usually available in my area)

Whether you are using a traditional stovetop pot, or crockpot, cook on medium heat for about about 6-8 hours. Stick a fork in the center, to confirm the meat is falling apart.

Set on plate to pull apart and prepare. Flavor with barbecue sauce, wing sauce, or a nice herb and garlic seasoning.

Combine with noodles, make a sandwich, or create a side with barbecue or other flavorings.

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Nerds?

Sauerkraut soup. Lots of it. The leftover ham from the holidays equipped me with the perfect main ingredient for a flavorful, warm, comfort food, which never disappoints. So I grabbed one of my old beer brewing pots and threw in diced russet potatoes, two jars of old fashioned kraut, two cans of beer, and four jars of water. Absolutely nothing else needed. Most importantly, absolutely delicious.

Aside from the cooking, been working on a little SBC. Yes, they are getting pricey. My theory on any sort of TV box/entertainment unit is that the OS should be as “thin” as possible. Lightweight. The main objective? To only include files that are absolutely necessary to utilize, to make it function properly. The rest is bloat, or even worse…

This little board has made things difficult. So like yesteryear, will continue to work on it. (they don’t make it easy these days).

How similar is a disk dump copy to that of a dual tape deck cassette record/dub? An iso/img copy to that of the product of a xerox machine? Your answer may indicate a few things. And the challenges for some of us.

Oh nevermind.

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Meals

Making the Rangoon is fairly simple. The filling is a mixture of green onion, cream cheese, crab meat (preferably lump), and a sprinkling of either soy or similar sauce (1 – 1 1/2 tablespoons). I would also suggest adding a red sweet relish to your mixture, gives it a fuller flavor.

Grab some wonton wrappers. Fill center with half table spoon of mixture. Coat edges with mixed/beaten egg. Fold over to finally seal.

Fry in peanut oil, brown on each side.

Dipping sauces can range from hot mustard, sweet and sour, sweet chili… all standard.

—Crab Rangoon—

Well, as expected, made way too much for the holidays. So now we start getting creative. Soups, subs, salads, casseroles, etc. Damn, that was one big ham! Lots of leftovers.

Time to think about summer.

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The Weekend

Coffee. A perfect scent at 4:30 AM, the time I’ve been waking up lately. Today is cooking and cleaning day, putting in a little effort before the holiday. And honestly, will be happy to go back to normal diet on Fridays. (It’s a small compromise to “get along”).

There is a very simple way to make a great tasting fish. Thaw it out, crumble (club) crackers in a cup w/melted butter salt, garlic. Spread the mixture on top of the thawed filet. Bake at 400 for about 20 minutes. (Easy air fryer recipe also).

If you have read the deals I posted, and checked out some of the recipes… you have an idea of what’s going to be thrown in the oven. The dog is not making the cleaning part easy 😉

Thinking of this song (but in the wrong context).

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Deals

In a time when everyone is budgeting, looking for deals, thought I’d share a few. You probably already know, how much I hate doing this, (because it’s product promotion), but gas and everyday items are going up in price. The only recent products I’ve paid full price for were some stickers I could stick on gas pumps, with the saying “I did this”, next to a picture of an orange orangutan.

SodaStream c02 cannisters at Walmart – $14.96!

Peanuts in Shells 6 Pack (I’ve written about these, delicious) – $13.08

AAAANNNNNNDDDD…………

The holiday ham! Back again!

Meijer has the hams also!!

Feeling like some Terence Trent D’Arby tonight.