What did I cook this weekend.....

[BongoYodeler]

You don't sous vide, do you?

It's hard to beat the cook on a sous vide steak that's then seared on a wood fire grill (it's how I do all my steaks except tomahawk for obvious reasons). I'll sous vide for a medium rare cook, blanch it in the bag, and then chuck it in the freezer for a quick sear down the road...the picture I posted yesterday was from a sous vide NY Strip that's been in the freezer for about a month. Just needed to thaw to room temp and slap it on the grill for a few minutes, tender as ever.

No, I don’t have the sous vide hardware. Our daughter does though so I’ve tasted meats cooked that way. Excellent.

 

[TwistedGray]

No, I don’t have the sous vide hardware. Our daughter does though so I’ve tasted meats cooked that way. Excellent.

We use the Joule unit which is good. Inkbird also makes something, but I'm not familiar with it...also, an electric brewing system would work, too. Many Mash&Boil users use their M&B to sous vide...you should consider it if you eat a fair bit of red meat (I've also done fish and chicken).

 

[bleme]

I recently got the Inkbird and it's great. It connects to WiFi so I can control it from my phone and have cooked whole dinners while at work!

 

[davidabcd]

Thermometer is your friend.

I worked in a restaurant and did broil, fry and pantry and none of the finer cooking techniques.
The fancier cooking is something I should try at some point.

 

[davidabcd]

Not too exciting but it is what I cooked. Three eggs, heavy whipping cream, an entire sauteed onion, cubed ham, American, sharp white cheddar and S&P. I am fond of eating these with sour cream.

 

[TheDudeLebowski]

View attachment 704545
Not too exciting but it is what I cooked. Three eggs, heavy whipping cream, an entire sauteed onion, cubed ham, American, sharp white cheddar and S&P. I am fond of eating these with sour cream.

Sold!

 

[BongoYodeler]

View attachment 704545
Not too exciting but it is what I cooked. Three eggs, heavy whipping cream, an entire sauteed onion, cubed ham, American, sharp white cheddar and S&P. I am fond of eating these with sour cream.

Looks great to me!!

 

[Hoppy2bmerry]

Thermometer is your friend. Eezy peezy

Eh, that’s no fun. I like to see how much give the meat has. I tend to undercook rather than overcook that way.

 

[Hoppy2bmerry]

Salmon in puff pastry from the freezer section and mushroom risotto which was a little tight, but tasty.

 

[TheDudeLebowski]

I agree. I'd even go with just the way it looks but if I haven't cooked a thick cut in a while and it's a special dinner, I humbly concede to science That way they think I know what I'm doing

 

[davidabcd]

Some sous vide chicken cooked without the vacuum bag, machine or low water temperature.
It's for the cats as treats.

 

[TwistedGray]

Grilled cheese with turkey, apricot, pears, and some vegan cheese and a homebrew.

 

[davidabcd]

vegan cheese

My wife has been vegetarian and is stepping it up to vegan. Do you have a go-to, vegan, pizza cheese?

 

[TwistedGray]

My wife has been vegetarian and is stepping it up to vegan. Do you have a go-to, vegan, pizza cheese?

I'm still learning myself (lactose intolerant with a myriad of gut woes). It seems that for me it's not just lactose but something in dairy...I dunno, kinda tired of the process to figure it out. Anyways, I've yet to find a vegan cheese that I have liked EXCEPT for at this little grill cheese truck at the farmer's market. If we head there tomorrow, I'll ask the brand of cheese that they use, because it's super melty and actually resembles cheese. So far none of the shredded cheeses have been good.

Edit: I still eat meat...just going vegan for the dairy side due to gut woes

 

[Temptd2]

@TwistedGray - sorry to hear about your gut woes! Do you have a diagnosis??

I wound up in the hospital for 8 LONG days about 4 years ago with acute diverticulitis which resulted in an adhesion requiring surgery. Most miserable 8 days of my life, with two different IV antibiotics and another 3 weeks of oral antibiotics when I got out. As you might imagine my guts were a big mess! The two things that finally set things straight for ME were home-fermented veggies and home brewed cider vinegar, and a more recent addition which has really made things good was adding good-quality grass-fed collagen, which I drink in my morning coffee, about 20 grams of it daily. The fermented foods got me about 80% to good and the collagen has gotten me the rest of the way.

I do not have issues with dairy, however, so YMMV, just thought I’d mention it!

 

[TwistedGray]

@TwistedGray - sorry to hear about your gut woes! Do you have a diagnosis??

I wound up in the hospital for 8 LONG days about 4 years ago with acute diverticulitis which resulted in an adhesion requiring surgery. Most miserable 8 days of my life, with two different IV antibiotics and another 3 weeks of oral antibiotics when I got out. As you might imagine my guts were a big mess! The two things that finally set things straight for ME were home-fermented veggies and home brewed cider vinegar, and a more recent addition which has really made things good was adding good-quality grass-fed collagen, which I drink in my morning coffee, about 20 grams of it daily. The fermented foods got me about 80% to good and the collagen has gotten me the rest of the way.

I do not have issues with dairy, however, so YMMV, just thought I’d mention it!

Dealt with very bad acid reflux and heartburn for about a decade until I got insurance (roughly 4 years ago). At that point we found a duodenal ulcer caused by h pylori bacteria. That was treated back in 2017, and I then began a long-term regiment of omeprazole. I was on that for a year, tried to get off, and no go. At this time I switched doctors as well because I was never all that happy about the first gastro.

The next gastro found that I had giardia, so we addressed that. After all said and done I probably collected about a dozen samples of stool and gave a pint away for all these tests over the last two-ish years.

Since then no more giardia despite all of the tests; however, each night there is a Civil War reenactment in my guts (no acid, no heartburn though), and I have since developed intolerances to caffeine, any form of coffee, lactose, some other dairy, chocolate, and a few other odds and ends. I am leaps and bounds better than I was a year ago, two years ago, and a million times better than four or five years ago when I'd randomly throw up acid (it was bad).

Anyways, we still know very little about what's going on in my gut, but with more tests coming we'll see...pretty much throwing darts at a wall, in the dark, blindfolded, from 20 feet away, hoping something sticks : )

 

[davidabcd]

I'll ask the brand of cheese that they use, because it's super melty and actually resembles cheese.

Thanks for that.
I'll be experimenting with some online recipes for do-it-yourself vegan cheeses. Very new at this as well. If I come across anything worthy, I'll mention it in whatever dish I post.

 

[TwistedGray]

 

[davidabcd]

Made these twice so far. Putting them in cupcake mold so I could get crispy edges on every brownie. I also spread a decent amount of butter into each cup before adding the batter. They freeze really well.

 

[davidabcd]

Made some buttery croutons out of sourdough bread and smashed them for the topping. It's hard to say if it's too cheesy. I added an onion that was sauteed pretty hard first.

 

[Brewbuzzard]

Udon noddle soup with poached egg.

 

[Hoppy2bmerry]

Meat loaf, mash and broccoli.

 

[user 211287]

Cheesy tater casserole with a hint of aji amarillo powder from the garden.

1 box Idahoan scalloped
1 box Idahoan au gratin
Crumbled bacon
Half a white onion finely chopped
1 heaping tsp Aji Amarillo powder......had enough zip surprisingly. I wasnt going for anything spicy really just wanted a hint of spice.
Half and Half instead of the milk
Only about a tbs of butter since its going to have enough fat
Topped with a good handful of Cabots clothbound cheddar

Combine and cooked more or less per directions on the box. Bake a little cooler for 425min@30min instead of 450F@25min and let it rest in the hot oven a few more minutes.

 

[Hoppy2bmerry]

Leftover chicken chili with beans and cheddar.

 

[Temptd2]

Dealt with very bad acid reflux and heartburn for about a decade until I got insurance (roughly 4 years ago). At that point we found a duodenal ulcer caused by h pylori bacteria. That was treated back in 2017, and I then began a long-term regiment of omeprazole. I was on that for a year, tried to get off, and no go. At this time I switched doctors as well because I was never all that happy about the first gastro.

The next gastro found that I had giardia, so we addressed that. After all said and done I probably collected about a dozen samples of stool and gave a pint away for all these tests over the last two-ish years.

Since then no more giardia despite all of the tests; however, each night there is a Civil War reenactment in my guts (no acid, no heartburn though), and I have since developed intolerances to caffeine, any form of coffee, lactose, some other dairy, chocolate, and a few other odds and ends. I am leaps and bounds better than I was a year ago, two years ago, and a million times better than four or five years ago when I'd randomly throw up acid (it was bad).

Anyways, we still know very little about what's going on in my gut, but with more tests coming we'll see...pretty much throwing darts at a wall, in the dark, blindfolded, from 20 feet away, hoping something sticks : )

Ah man - I feel your pain! It's such a battle trying to figure out what the heck is going on and how to treat it. I hope you get some resolution soon!

 

[bleme]

That was treated back in 2017, and I then began a long-term regiment of omeprazole. I was on that for a year, tried to get off, and no go.

I've been on Prilosec for 7-8 years. I started off taking it every day but after a while I started feeling like I had cement in my gut and cut back, taking it every other or every third day. That works pretty good for me, unless I have to take antibiotics. After a round of antibiotics I always have to repopulate my gut bacteria with yogurt and kombucha. This last time I also took a probiotic pill that really seemed to help.

 

[TwistedGray]

I've been on Prilosec for 7-8 years. I started off taking it every day but after a while I started feeling like I had cement in my gut and cut back, taking it every other or every third day. That works pretty good for me, unless I have to take antibiotics. After a round of antibiotics I always have to repopulate my gut bacteria with yogurt and kombucha. This last time I also took a probiotic pill that really seemed to help.

Yeah, I have not taken omeprazole in over a year, I think. I have been taking probiotics for the last year as well, and I think they have some minor impact. Anyways, the gummies are good so whatever...I'll eat 'em as a morning snack ; ) I figure, they don't hurt me, so might as well...just in case : )

 

[Hoppy2bmerry]

Yeah, I have not taken omeprazole in over a year, I think. I have been taking probiotics for the last year as well, and I think they have some minor impact. Anyways, the gummies are good so whatever...I'll eat 'em as a morning snack ; ) I figure, they don't hurt me, so might as well...just in case : )

Spring for the “good“ probiotics and see is there’s a difference.

 

[TwistedGray]

Spring for the “good“ probiotics and see is there’s a difference.

What are the "good" ones? I use these.

 

[Temptd2]

I was told to get one with as many active cultures as possible AND to buy them from a health foods store where they keep the "good" ones in under refrigeration.