It doesn't seem that far in past now, my bach days where numerous trips to the local burger joint, pizza parlor, or whatever quick food sounded good to me. I didn't know how to cook anything back then. Fast forward 20 years and now I know how to cook anything, a borderline gourmet chef. Cooking for two, one can get very inspired, a chance to impress and develop ones skills. The dinner hour around my place is the worst part of my day now. For some reason I can't treat my self as good as I should. Most nights I don't see any point in cooking. I think about the 3 teriyaki joints in town and desiring spicy chicken teriyaki every night. It's a shame because I spend so many hours in garden raising organic vegetables for the dinner table and now seemingly not being able to enjoy the benefit. I would be interested in how you "solo" dudes deal with your daily meals.
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If you are in a horror movie, you make bad decisions, its what you do.
My solo daze, when I first got into cookin shit, most of it was from the Frood Network...I would try this and that but when I made it, I was my only critic....Who would critique or compliment me?
Than I would by random cook books from different countries....Start makin shit no one has ever heard of....Tasted fine to me....But who else would say, "Hey Briz, this stuff tastes like a pair of donkey balls!" or "Not bad, Briz...."
Cookin shit was theraputic to me.....Kind of relaxing in a way....Ive lost that desire now that my old lady has taken over those duties and can make a mean biskets and gravy.....
I like smokin shit now.....I bought a big fuckin pit and 2 weeks ago and made the best fuckin brizket and ribs I ever made in my whole life......I smoked a shit ton of chicken wings once in a homeade marinade and they came out damn good....How do I know? Fuck it, it tasted good to me....
I do keep my Chili recipe guarded with a passion and is one thing I will take to the grave with me....That takes some time to make...But not until the weather cools off....
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the speed on the track is 10 mph and its restricted speed, so at 10 on that blind corner they had a banner set up....
I gave up eating beef nearly 15 years ago. I've always loved a good burger and it was difficult to eliminate that American standby from my diet. You can make a darn good replacement using ground turkey. I realize our forum members span coast to coast and that a package of ground turkey could have a different brand name depending on where you live. What you want to buy is "lean" ground turkey. If it smells "gamey" when you crack the cellophane, it won't work. In the Northwest, we have Foster Farms, a reliable ground turkey outfit and when a package is opened there is basically no smell. The ground turkey should look more reddish than pale. I'll share my secret recipe with you all just because I want to.
The Krinks Turkey Burger Recipe
One package of lean ground turkey (usually 1.25 lbs) about a half cup of finely chopped onion a thin slice of bread ground up in a Cuisinart for crumbs numerous splashes of Worcestershire sauce numerous splashes of your favorite BBQ sauce or Steak sauce or hot sauce, even Ketchup works good
mix up good by hand in a bowl
Make up either 4 or 5 patties
Heat up a frying pan and add about a tablespoon and a half of butter. Wait until the butter is melted and sizzling. Place a couple patties in the pan and place a lid on them and set the timer for 4 minutes. (the spatter factor is high when cooking turkey) When the timer goes off, turn the patties over and set the timer for 4 minutes again. When the timer hits the 1 minute mark, add cheese if desired and turn off the burner.
The end result...you make your burger with whatever you want on it just like always only the meat is turkey instead of beef. Hope some of you will give it a try.
-- Edited by The Krink at 04:08, 2008-08-23
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If you are in a horror movie, you make bad decisions, its what you do.
I would be interested in how you "solo" dudes deal with your daily meals.
By the time you cook most meals yourself, then deal with the cleanup and put away the left-overs..(which get pitched a week later when it goes bad), its much cheeper to eat out. Especially when you mark off and 8 hours later your phone is ringing to come back. Dont get me wrong...Milk and Raisin Bran is OK. On yer day off popping a steak on the grill is OK too.
Having 2 hours ta wake up, S,S,S; eat and get ta work is movin. Specially when it takes 30 min ta drive ta the callers office. Add in inclement weather, shoveling snow, scraping ice and ya got less time ta mess with. I'm lucky to have several "Diner" like establishments close, and getting a plate special for 5-6 bucks is more than I'd pay for the ingredients, but its a bargain when ya consider the prep time, clean up and portion size for one. (Nothing but hot dogs come in one packs.)
I'm with Calvin on that one. I was never very good in the kitchen, but what I do know how to make I make very well. (Thank God for Ragu.)
I want to learn more, but the time (I don't have) and the serving sizes are a bit too much for me. The last time I made strogonof I ate damn near the whole thing in one night. That ain't good either.
My ex used to be a whiz in the kitchen, and I tried to learn a few things from her but mostly I was told to stay the hell out of the way. There are some dishes that she used to make that I find myself just craving but I am not going to ask her. Her ego is big enough, I don't need to be adding to it.
Hang in there, Krink. You will start feeling better.
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Some people say I have a bad attitude. Those people are stupid.
I think it's kind of weird that all our foreign friends offer up a heathier and tastier food than what the American's want to throw at us. Thai, Chinese, Japanese, Mexican, Indian, ...it's all better for you somehow. American food is great and tastey but if it has a mega corporation preparing it, it's just crap.
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If you are in a horror movie, you make bad decisions, its what you do.