chocomouse

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Viewing 15 posts - 1,366 through 1,380 (of 2,664 total)
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  • in reply to: What are you Baking the Week of May 2, 2021? #29838
    chocomouse
    Participant

      Yesterday I baked a carrot cake, with pineapple and walnuts, and a cream cheese frosting. I use a recipe from Sally's Baking Addiction, but substituted apple sauce for 1/2 cup of the oil. It is very good. I need to stop telling myself that because of the fruit, vegetables, and nuts it is a health food.

      in reply to: What are you Cooking the Week of May 2, 2021? #29837
      chocomouse
      Participant

        I also make a faux lasagna in spaghetti squash. You simply bake the squash (the way Mike does) and shred the strands. Then layer typical lasagna ingredients, minus the pasta, on top of the strands. Bake, I recall probably about 20 minutes at 350. I've also done the same thing using favorite pizza ingredients, and plan to try taco salad and chicken alfredo the same way. I should think most favorite casseroles with pasta would work for this, or a sauce you would serve on pasta.

        in reply to: What are you Cooking the Week of May 2, 2021? #29826
        chocomouse
        Participant

          We had pizza, also!

          in reply to: Don’t expect low strawberry prices this year #29822
          chocomouse
          Participant

            I grew strawberries for about 10 years, 3 rows, each about 25 ft long. They were extremely labor intensive - to grow and to pick. So I quit. However, my husband had put in a 30 ft long curving flagstone walkway from the porch to the garden -- to keep his feet clean and dry, since he walked early every the morning through the wet grass and into the dirt garden to pick berries for his cereal, resulting in muddy feet -- and that walkway is still there.

            in reply to: What are you Cooking the Week of May 2, 2021? #29811
            chocomouse
            Participant

              We had liver, sauteed onions, potatoes (cooked successfully in the air fryer!) and cole slaw. This used to be one of our favorite meals, but we haven't had it for well over a year.

              in reply to: What are you Cooking the Week of May 2, 2021? #29800
              chocomouse
              Participant

                Salads tonight: seafood, broccoli, potato, and cole slaw.

                in reply to: What do you think of airfryers #29798
                chocomouse
                Participant

                  My new Breville Smart Oven Air with Super Convection has 13 pre-set functions, including air fry, proof, dehydrate, and the usual bake, roast, reheat, etc. I bought it because my oven/stove is 37 years old and not working consistently well, and replacing it would require some major remodeling, rethinking of my kitchen.

                  I've never fried foods in my entire life, and air frying is not something I've ever wanted to do; I don't know how to cook or eat that kind of food. It's been a steep learning curve to use this Breville, but I think I do really like it and would buy it again.

                  Onion rings are the ONLY food I have air fried in it that came out really good!! I bought Alexis brand frozen, breaded onion rings - and they came out perfect! The second time I cooked them, they were not as good - dry, overcooked, but that was my fault because I used an incorrect temperature. There is no simple cookbook (that I have found) for the Breville. I am gradually making my own - a lit of temps and times for different foods.

                  I have tried doing french fried potatoes, several times - not good. Not crisp and crunchy, cooled off (got cold!) very quickly. I tried chicken thighs - made a greasy mess of the oven and smoked up the whole house. I'm not sure if I should air fry in place of roasting fresh vegetables, but some cooks say to do that.

                  Sorry, this is more about the Breville than air fryers --and I have read many comments on line from owners that if you want to air fry, get an air fryer, not a Breville convection oven. I think a lot of the problem is me - I like vegetables plain steamed or roasted, usually with herbs. I like meat marinated and roasted or grilled. After 78 years eating that way, it's not easy to change.

                  Janie, I would suggest you find an air fryer forum online and follow the discussions. Choose carefully - I think many of the air fryer users (of course, not all!) are new (pandemic?) cooks who are looking for a simple (toss it in the air fryer and push start) "magic" way to cook food at home, replacing their usual their usual fast-food take out.

                  Sorry for the rant, and hope this might be helpful.

                  in reply to: What are you Cooking the Week of April 25, 2021? #29784
                  chocomouse
                  Participant

                    We had ham steaks, potato salad, and cole slaw.

                    I plan to buy my tomato and pepper seedlings tomorrow. I'll hardened them off on the covered back porch for a couple weeks, but not transplant them to the garden until at least after May 15, possibly not until June 1. We need to get the electric fence set up, and try to get rid of the woodchuck before I plant, also. I think the bear and the bobcat are not likely to eat garden plants.

                    in reply to: What are you Cooking the Week of April 25, 2021? #29774
                    chocomouse
                    Participant

                      Dinner tonight was beef stroganoff with asparagus. Unfortunately, not fresh from the garden but the freezer and last year's garden. Still delicious.

                      in reply to: What are you Baking the Week of April 25, 2021? #29771
                      chocomouse
                      Participant

                        I have dough for chocolate chip - oatmeal cookies chilling in the fridge.

                        in reply to: What are you Cooking the Week of April 25, 2021? #29738
                        chocomouse
                        Participant

                          Last night we grilled marinated chicken thighs, with smashed potatoes and buttercup squash.

                          in reply to: What are you Baking the Week of April 25, 2021? #29728
                          chocomouse
                          Participant

                            I baked 2 loaves of buttermilk whole wheat bread.

                            in reply to: 2021 Garden plans #29722
                            chocomouse
                            Participant

                              Yes, the weather sure is a roller coaster this year. It is 28* and going down right now, at 2:00 a.m. Our last average frost date is May 15; I've been keeping records for 36 years now. I usually don't plant anything outside until Memorial Day, but may try a small planter on the deck with lettuce and spinach this week. And for once, I'd love two weeks of rain this year, as we are officially in a drought, but there is no rain beyond "a chance of showers" in the forecast for several weeks.

                              in reply to: What are you Cooking the Week of April 25, 2021? #29721
                              chocomouse
                              Participant

                                We had a stir fry with chicken, on angel hair pasta tonight.

                                in reply to: What are you Cooking the Week of April 25, 2021? #29706
                                chocomouse
                                Participant

                                  We had split pea soup from the freezer, and gruyere rolls.

                                Viewing 15 posts - 1,366 through 1,380 (of 2,664 total)