Mike Nolan

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  • in reply to: What are you Baking the Week of October 15, 2023? #40691
    Mike Nolan
    Keymaster

      I was hoping to bake the 2nd batch of sourdough cheese crackers tomorrow afternoon, but I've got something else scheduled so I might not get to them until Tuesday. The apple pie will probably be kicked to then as well. I haven't even made the piecrust yet, and it needs to rest overnight.

      in reply to: What are you Cooking the Week of October 15, 2023? #40690
      Mike Nolan
      Keymaster

        I'm going to be curious to see how it tastes cold, potato-leek soup served cold is very good, AKA vichyssoise. I'll also be interested to see if the flavor improves after a day like chili does.

        in reply to: parsnips #40687
        Mike Nolan
        Keymaster

          As noted in this week's cooking thread, the parsnip soup was a disappointment.

          in reply to: 2023 Garden Plans #40686
          Mike Nolan
          Keymaster

            We might get a frost tonight or tomorrow, so I picked a big bowl of tomatoes today, though I didn't pick everything, so if we don't get that frost I might get another picking in a week or two. I also picked the last of the full-sized spaghetti squashes. There are a couple of littler ones that may never get ripe enough to pick. But I got 4 of them that were in the 35-45 ounce range, and that's not a bad return on a $2 packet of seeds.

            But I'm already thinking ahead to next year's garden plans. I probably won't grow the Porter tomatoes, and I might cut back a bit on the Fourth of July, putting in more Italian Heirlooms and Amish Paste. If I can get a better source for First Lady tomatoes, I'll put some of them in, but only 1 of 4 plants produced much fruit this year, and what I thought was a 5th one turned out to be an Italian Heirloom, either I made a (fortuitous) mistake with the seeds or with labeling.

            I'll probably do spaghetti squash again, not sure I'll do melons or broccoli. I'm thinking I might order some leek plants from Johnny's and put in a couple rows of them.

            The Urban Soil Improvement project will send out a different common plant for everyone to grow in 2024, this year it was zucchini. I actually liked those zucchini, so I might do them again if I can find seeds (the variety is dunja). One plant is probably enough for us, though.

            in reply to: Stand Mixers reviewed by Cooks Illustrated — a rant #40685
            Mike Nolan
            Keymaster

              I can't say I'm surprised, Cooks Illustrated was going downhill for a long time before they dumped Christopher Kimball, and seems more interested in selling things (including site subscriptions) than providing useful information to cooks these days.

              in reply to: What are you Cooking the Week of October 15, 2023? #40684
              Mike Nolan
              Keymaster

                Well, the parsnip-apple-coriander-cumin soup was a disappointment.

                Let's start with the recipe. It says it can be made in 35-45 minutes. It took me about 2 hours and I'm not sure the parsnips were cooked enough when I blended them.

                I don't think the coriander/cumin spice mixture was really to our taste, others might like it, though.

                We tried adding some cinnamon, that helped. Adding some apple cider helped even more. I thought about adding some brown sugar, but sweetness wasn't really what it needed.

                I finished my bowl and then finished Diane's bowl, but there's a lot left over. Diane will take some of it to the wine teacher who recommended the recipe later this week. (Monday and Tuesday is fall break at UNL.)

                Followup: After sitting in the fridge for a few days, the spices in the soup have mellowed and the parsnip-apple flavor is more prominent. I'd probably want to play with the spice blend a bit (less coriander and probably less cumin) but the soup is something I might actually make again now.

                in reply to: What are you Baking the Week of October 8, 2023? #40675
                Mike Nolan
                Keymaster

                  I haven't made pumpkin pie in several years, I do sweet potato pie instead, similar flavor profile and IMHO easier to make.

                  in reply to: What are you Cooking the Week of October 8, 2023? #40669
                  Mike Nolan
                  Keymaster

                    We're having one of the spaghetti squashes from the garden tonight, with a tomato-meat-mushroom sauce, and some oven toast.

                    in reply to: parsnips #40668
                    Mike Nolan
                    Keymaster

                      Use them for cherry pies, mostly. I've been buying them in pint containers at a local store, this bag should keep me in cherries for a while.

                      in reply to: What are you Cooking the Week of October 8, 2023? #40662
                      Mike Nolan
                      Keymaster

                        I had a BLT using some leftover bacon from the other day, Diane had some soup.

                        in reply to: parsnips #40655
                        Mike Nolan
                        Keymaster

                          I got a bushel of winesaps and 10 pounds of frozen Montmorency cherries today, took me a little over 2 hours round trip, including time in their store.

                          in reply to: What are you Baking the Week of October 8, 2023? #40654
                          Mike Nolan
                          Keymaster

                            I made dough for another batch of cheese crackers, doubling the amount of cheese powder. I also added about a quarter cup of rye flour.

                            in reply to: parsnips #40646
                            Mike Nolan
                            Keymaster

                              Kimmell Orchards in Nebraska City (about 50 miles away) has winesaps available, I am probably going going there tomorrow to buy some plus some frozen cherries.

                              in reply to: What are you Cooking the Week of October 8, 2023? #40642
                              Mike Nolan
                              Keymaster

                                We're having BLT's tonight.

                                in reply to: parsnips #40638
                                Mike Nolan
                                Keymaster

                                  With caramelized apples and parsnips, the soup might be on the sweet side. Might even classify as a dessert soup.

                                Viewing 15 posts - 1,321 through 1,335 (of 7,700 total)