It first happened about six months ago. After eating an entire container of homemade French onion dip with potato chips I ended up spending the better part of the following day in the bathroom. My stomach was sore, and my wife had banished me to the couch until further notice until the problem had rectified itself. I often preach about quality food products, and not settling for less. But, for me, French onion dip is best when it is homemade, as most things are.
Indeed, combining a container of sour cream with a packet of dried French onion soup mix evolves into something rather remarkable. Mind you,the flavor intensity is not for everyone. What many prefer in the form of pre-made supermarket quality dip ends up tasting more like garlic rather than onion. A beer, a tub of dip and the chips made perfect accompaniment for Internet surfing and watching movies on Netflix. But as addicting as the dip is and my passion so strong for bold flavors, my body suffered the consequences.
And then reality sunk in. I'm not 20 anymore. Or 22...or even 25. Looking at 30 and realizing the human body can only take so much abuse is a sobering experience. People have ended their lives over such reality checks. But within 24 hours my body no longer smelled of rancid garbage, and my stomach had settled. What's more, I was allowed back into the bedroom. My body just can't digest milk fat and/or protein like I could in my youth.
But within a few weeks I did it all again. Granted, I have instituted strict moderation in the amount I consume, but nonetheless I find myself in an almost ritualistic manner making homemade French onion dip on a routine basis. One packet of soup mix with one medium sized container of sour cream. Mix thoroughly in the original container, cover and let sit in the fridge overnight is best. But I often mix it, let it sit in the fridge while I put away the rest of the groceries, and then I attack it with earnest.
For a period of time I had a fascination with processed cheese products such as Velveeta and Cheez Whiz. Kraft makes some very good, yet very evil things. The latter fits that to perfection. Cheez Whiz melted on a burger is immaculate. Melting Velveeta with macaroni or pasta shells and adding tuna is a bachelor's dream come true. It's still a dream come true after being with my wife for almost 10 years. Cheez Whiz or Velveeta melted with Ro-Tel canned tomatoes and chiles or your favorite salsa is heaven on tortilla chips. Velveeta with minute rice, ground beef, onion, tomato paste and tomato sauce baked is a curious little dish called country pie was a staple in my house when growing up.
But then people tried messing with the recipe. The flavors are not as good as they used to be, and reduced fat or fat free versions fail to compare. When those experiments fail, we go back to the originals or we learn to deal with mediocrity and disappointment. If we refuse to settle for less, we're told by so-called medical experts that eating such products can cause health problems, such as the glorious heart attack. In fact, most of what you buy in a grocery store that isn't from the produce aisle will eventually kill you in one way or another. Just wait for it.
So, what am I doing right now? I just finished eating Cheez Whiz spread on a piece of wheat bread. I could've been worse. I could've put it on white bread. Maybe I can feel better about myself if next time I put it on artisan bread. And the next time I make French onion dip (which will probably be sometime this weekend), I can feel better about myself if I use organic potato chips with sea salt instead of regular potato chips.
It's like the half regular Coke, half diet Coke theory. In the end, we're all going to die. It just depends on whether you want to do from eating stuff that's bad for you but tastes good, or stuff that's bad for you and tastes horrible. I choose the former. It's my firm believe that it's not simply the food we eat, but coupled with the ever increasing sedentary lifestyle of people. We are not predominantly agrarian as we once were, toiling all day clearing the prairies. Instead of being utilized, fats are now deposited since the body doesn't have anywhere else to put it. Rather than the food killing us, it is still a matter of one's choice that is the root of the problem.
Friday, March 18, 2011
Friday, March 4, 2011
Keeping the flavor in Corned Beef
"Is the seasoning packet really necessary?"
In short, No, not really. The corned beef is already pre-brined that you find vacuum sealed at the supermarket. Part of that includes the adding of color to give the beef brisket that quintessential rosy hue. While the seasoning is not "necessary," the flavor can be diminished without it.
"But my family and friends hate those little round seeds they put in there!"
The little round seed they're referring to is whole coriander. And there is a method of keeping the seasoning in the dish for its flavor value, but without the distractions and occasional sharp bursts of excessive spice.
One, of course, is to wrap the material in folded cheese cloth, forming a sort of pouch. Lower that into the water or brine once you've got the brisket seated in the pan. You can also tie cotton string or butcher's twine to the packet or pouch for easier removal. Better yet, use a round metal ball-style tea infuser available at many supermarkets. The round, mesh ball is opened with the flip of a switch on the side, and the seasoning goes inside that. Treat it as you would the cheese cloth pouch. This is reusable, inexpensive, and has less of a risk for coming undone like cheese cloth does.
Range Top Grilling
There are two items I find of particular necessity when daring to grill indoors: the Jaccard meat tenderizer and a Nordic Ware Pro-Cast griddle and grill. The Jaccard is a handy little tool first brought to people's attention by Emeril Lagasse on "Emeril Live," and it stuck in my memory until one was gifted to my wife and I as a wedding present by some old college friends -- who themselves have since gotten married.
The Jaccard is a well-designed, ingenious piece of culinary equipment. It's hand-held, and consists of three rows of sharp, thin blades with alternating edges. Its also has a plunger-style guillotine base that rests on the meat one desires to tenderize. Hold the end without the slots so you can read "Jaccard" upright. Press down so the base stays on top, and the blades go down through the flesh. One can use it multiple times on all surfaces to optimum effect. This works particularly well for frozen cuts. What's even better is doing this on meat that is to be marinated. It will not only tenderize the flesh, but help marinade penetrate deeper.
One word, though. Using this on a low-grade cut will not improve the meat; only make it a little more palette-able. A poor cut is still a poor cut. Remember, with meat and produce you get what you pay for. That can be said for most things; however.
The stove-top griddle and grill is another item used by Lagasse, but other mainstream chefs have opted to use them. Many prefer a built-in grill/griddle due to perceptions of uneven heating. Being a modest, amateur chef or gourmet, I have limited counter space and am forced to use an electric range for all of my creations. This means I have two large coils and two smaller coils, however each side has one of each. This means when the grill is set on the coils, the smaller coil has to be set at a higher temperature than the front for uniform grilling. On the other hand, if you are in a household as mine where the spouse and kiddies like their beef cooked to death, this can be an advantage. Pork and chicken tend to command at least a minimal amount of cooking (clear-running juices).
Fortunately, the Nordic Ware brand of grill I have is designed to distribute heat evenly; however, it also holds the heat for a long time after reducing or shutting off the heat source. The only hassle is during clean-up, as marinades, sauces and spices will quickly caramelize and burn onto the surface. This requires some soaking of the grill before final cleaning. One can wrap it in foil, but that detracts from the novelty of having grill marks on the meat. The reverse side of the Nordic Ware grill is a flat, non-textured griddle, perfect for pancakes, diner-style burgers, etc. Obviously, you'll have to pick one side or the other if some want grill marks on their burgers and others want diner-style. Or, invest in two and you can accommodate everyone's requests.
There are divots built into the corners for catching grease and residual marinade/sauce. However, keep an eye on these if grilling a particularly fatty cut of meat or -- even worse -- burger with a high fat content. Have a turkey baster handy if using high-fat meat to suck out fat or juice in the event the divots start to fill up. Nobody likes a grease fire.
If cooking a choice or prime cut of beef, nobody like it over-cooked and tough. Well, most people. I know some who will refuse to eat it if there is any pink present at all, even if the juices are running fairly clear. Because of the high level of heat retention and quick heat-up factor of the Nordic Ware, it is possible for one to thoroughly cook the outside and have an interior that is extremely rare; dare I say even raw. This is desired by many for premium cuts of salmon and tuna; not so much for pork and chicken, and only marginally by the masses. Watching Food Network may make one think people enjoy simply searing the outside of the beef and eating an interior that is still cold from the refrigerator and dripping with e.Coli-infused blood.
Naturally, health administrators around the country will advise against eating undercooked meat of any kind. The choice is yours. In my experience with Nordic Ware, having the front and back burner set at medium heat was enough to reproduce the similar grilling environment of my outside gas grill. For beef, if you have guests or family members who want theirs done more than yours, have one of the burners set considerably lower than the other. On the higher one, place their cut of meat, and put yours on the lower one. By the time their cut is done to their satisfaction, yours should be about done.
This will require timing and skill, or perhaps even an advance dry run if you've recently purchased your stove-top grill plate. Don't wait for your date to come over and try this with Porterhouse cuts for the first time. I would advise against using this plate for anything thicker than a sirloin or rib-eye, as there is no enclosed heat capture with this like you have with the hood of an outdoor grill. At least don't try it until you've mastered thinner cuts.
And always remember, even after turning off the burners, the plate will still be hot for up to an hour afterward. Don't sit metal items on there and try to pick them up right away. They will be hot. Also, watch small children around this, as if it is a new item in your culinary repertoire, a small child may recognize this and wonder what Mom or Dad has on the stove.
The Jaccard is a well-designed, ingenious piece of culinary equipment. It's hand-held, and consists of three rows of sharp, thin blades with alternating edges. Its also has a plunger-style guillotine base that rests on the meat one desires to tenderize. Hold the end without the slots so you can read "Jaccard" upright. Press down so the base stays on top, and the blades go down through the flesh. One can use it multiple times on all surfaces to optimum effect. This works particularly well for frozen cuts. What's even better is doing this on meat that is to be marinated. It will not only tenderize the flesh, but help marinade penetrate deeper.
The stove-top griddle and grill is another item used by Lagasse, but other mainstream chefs have opted to use them. Many prefer a built-in grill/griddle due to perceptions of uneven heating. Being a modest, amateur chef or gourmet, I have limited counter space and am forced to use an electric range for all of my creations. This means I have two large coils and two smaller coils, however each side has one of each. This means when the grill is set on the coils, the smaller coil has to be set at a higher temperature than the front for uniform grilling. On the other hand, if you are in a household as mine where the spouse and kiddies like their beef cooked to death, this can be an advantage. Pork and chicken tend to command at least a minimal amount of cooking (clear-running juices).
Fortunately, the Nordic Ware brand of grill I have is designed to distribute heat evenly; however, it also holds the heat for a long time after reducing or shutting off the heat source. The only hassle is during clean-up, as marinades, sauces and spices will quickly caramelize and burn onto the surface. This requires some soaking of the grill before final cleaning. One can wrap it in foil, but that detracts from the novelty of having grill marks on the meat. The reverse side of the Nordic Ware grill is a flat, non-textured griddle, perfect for pancakes, diner-style burgers, etc. Obviously, you'll have to pick one side or the other if some want grill marks on their burgers and others want diner-style. Or, invest in two and you can accommodate everyone's requests.
There are divots built into the corners for catching grease and residual marinade/sauce. However, keep an eye on these if grilling a particularly fatty cut of meat or -- even worse -- burger with a high fat content. Have a turkey baster handy if using high-fat meat to suck out fat or juice in the event the divots start to fill up. Nobody likes a grease fire.
If cooking a choice or prime cut of beef, nobody like it over-cooked and tough. Well, most people. I know some who will refuse to eat it if there is any pink present at all, even if the juices are running fairly clear. Because of the high level of heat retention and quick heat-up factor of the Nordic Ware, it is possible for one to thoroughly cook the outside and have an interior that is extremely rare; dare I say even raw. This is desired by many for premium cuts of salmon and tuna; not so much for pork and chicken, and only marginally by the masses. Watching Food Network may make one think people enjoy simply searing the outside of the beef and eating an interior that is still cold from the refrigerator and dripping with e.Coli-infused blood.
Naturally, health administrators around the country will advise against eating undercooked meat of any kind. The choice is yours. In my experience with Nordic Ware, having the front and back burner set at medium heat was enough to reproduce the similar grilling environment of my outside gas grill. For beef, if you have guests or family members who want theirs done more than yours, have one of the burners set considerably lower than the other. On the higher one, place their cut of meat, and put yours on the lower one. By the time their cut is done to their satisfaction, yours should be about done.
This will require timing and skill, or perhaps even an advance dry run if you've recently purchased your stove-top grill plate. Don't wait for your date to come over and try this with Porterhouse cuts for the first time. I would advise against using this plate for anything thicker than a sirloin or rib-eye, as there is no enclosed heat capture with this like you have with the hood of an outdoor grill. At least don't try it until you've mastered thinner cuts.
And always remember, even after turning off the burners, the plate will still be hot for up to an hour afterward. Don't sit metal items on there and try to pick them up right away. They will be hot. Also, watch small children around this, as if it is a new item in your culinary repertoire, a small child may recognize this and wonder what Mom or Dad has on the stove.
Sunday, February 27, 2011
Mexican Peanut Marzipan
Mexican, peanut and marzipan don't really belong together and certainly shouldn't be describing any one thing. Still, that's exactly what my young son and I recently encountered during our trek to the grocery godsend that is Raley's. Aside from great produce and quality meat the store location in Elko, Nevada, also happens to feature a hefty variety of Hispanic and Asian food items. In fact, the variety fills an entire side of an aisle, and then wraps around to the other side with Kosher and Cajun/Creole/Southern-style offerings.
When my son wants something, I'm a big sucker. After knocking over an entire row of canned pinto beans, I sat him in the cart against much protest, and as we strolled along past the pickled pig's feet and jarred cactus strips we came up a modest, but no less diversified offering of Mexican candy. The kid gets sugar all day long, so the peanut marzipan looked interesting.
Admittedly, it tastes OK. But only OK. The ingredients are simple: Sugar, peanuts and natural flavor. They also warn it may contain traces of tree nuts, soy and milk. Not sure how the milk would get in there. The round patty of what amounts to sweetened raw peanut paste is quite crumbly and is almost like somebody literally ground up some peanuts, mixed in some powdered sugar and pressed it into a big tablet. The package contained four patties. My son likes it, and it's cheap, so we "might" get it again. But, it's one of those things where you don't know unless you try it, and I want my son to be as diversified and multi-cultural as possible, yet not at the expense of his own identity or family heritage. Candy is candy.
True marzipan is almond meal and sugar. Some cultures use cashews or even dried peach kernels. What threw me off the most is I was expecting the typical American candy form of peanut butter like that found in commercial candy producers' peanut butter cups. And commercial peanut butter is chock full of sugar and has been made creamy with the addition of oil. This candy is more in line with freshly ground pure peanut butter. Still, this was an interesting treat, but probably not one that will make its way onto our shopping list again anytime soon.
When my son wants something, I'm a big sucker. After knocking over an entire row of canned pinto beans, I sat him in the cart against much protest, and as we strolled along past the pickled pig's feet and jarred cactus strips we came up a modest, but no less diversified offering of Mexican candy. The kid gets sugar all day long, so the peanut marzipan looked interesting.
Admittedly, it tastes OK. But only OK. The ingredients are simple: Sugar, peanuts and natural flavor. They also warn it may contain traces of tree nuts, soy and milk. Not sure how the milk would get in there. The round patty of what amounts to sweetened raw peanut paste is quite crumbly and is almost like somebody literally ground up some peanuts, mixed in some powdered sugar and pressed it into a big tablet. The package contained four patties. My son likes it, and it's cheap, so we "might" get it again. But, it's one of those things where you don't know unless you try it, and I want my son to be as diversified and multi-cultural as possible, yet not at the expense of his own identity or family heritage. Candy is candy.
True marzipan is almond meal and sugar. Some cultures use cashews or even dried peach kernels. What threw me off the most is I was expecting the typical American candy form of peanut butter like that found in commercial candy producers' peanut butter cups. And commercial peanut butter is chock full of sugar and has been made creamy with the addition of oil. This candy is more in line with freshly ground pure peanut butter. Still, this was an interesting treat, but probably not one that will make its way onto our shopping list again anytime soon.
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| de la Rosa "peanut candy marzipan style" |
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| A cross section of a de la Rosa peanut marzipan patty. |
The Power of (Good) Cheese
What constitutes "good" cheese can vary greatly from one person to the next. Some are cheddar fans; others pepper jack. Some will only consume the highest quality imports, yet others could care less and prefer melted American cheese on their burgers and grilled cheese sandwiches. Frankly, the only reason people call American cheese a cheese is because it contains cultures and milk proteins. In reality, it's more of a "pasteurized cheese product" rather than all-out cheese. And if you look closely, you'll see that most brands of American singles will have the wording "pasteurized prepared cheese product" on the packaging.
With this blog entry, I will show real cheese versus preservative infused crap. Feel free to take notes.
I feel dirty just having this on my blog. Still, we have to understand the practicality of American singles. They are designed to be "cheesy" while remaining creamy and melting nicely onto hot foods. They have some value in that they help augment homemade macaroni and cheese recipes for some families. But, let's examine what is actually in this "cheese."
This is from the Walmart store brand of American singles:
Ingredients: Cultured milk, water, cream, whey, sodium citrate, milk protein concentrate (huh?), modified food starch, why protein concentrate (huh?), calcium phosphate, salt, sorbic acid as a preservative, sodium phosphate, citric acid, APO Carotenal and beta carotene for color, lactic acid, enzymes and vitamin D3.
Allergy warning: Contains milk.
God, I hope it contains milk if that's one of the reasons I'm buying it. From this we learn it has a ton of preservatives in it and a bunch of "concentrates." In contrast, I examined two commonly available offerings by the people at Tillamook.
For those who don't know, Tillamook is a dairy cooperative in Tillamook, Oregon. For those in the Midwest and East Coast, they're similar to Cabot. And, like Cabot, Tillamook produces a vast line of food goods from non-altered milk. The cheese does not contain artificial preservatives, and it comes from cows that have not been treated with growth hormones. Granted, the company notes on each package the FDA has found no links between growth hormone in cattle and anomalies in human health, but the fact remains people are looking for purity and wholesomeness in their food. The cross section of a piece of Special Reserve Extra Sharp Cheddar shows the complexity of the milk solids or curds. While some major production cheeses may show much finer texture, that is a product of over manipulation and the use of rennet to quicken the cheese ripening process. As a result, a sharp cheddar by Kraft or one of its competitors will end up tasting like one of Tillamook's medium flavors. To avoid this, the company may actually add artificial flavoring to bring it up to par and at the cost of misleading the unassuming supermarket buyer.
And, unlike big time commercial producers, Tillamook's Special Reserve contains only: Cultured milk, salt, enzymes and annatto for color. It contains no animal rennet. Rennet is a substance added to milk to make cheese artificially. While this cheese is good shredded and added to an omelet or placed on vegetables or a baked potato, its best offering is simply in thinly slicing it and admiring its beauty. Here is a second photo. Stare in awe. Try to control your inner animal urges; someone may be watching...
You can see in the think slice that the various curds, even after ripening and forming this ideal medium-hard cheddar still retain some of their original form as they actually peal away from each other on their own. Uniformity is something that cheapens good art.
With this blog entry, I will show real cheese versus preservative infused crap. Feel free to take notes.
Exhibit A: Great Value American Singles
I feel dirty just having this on my blog. Still, we have to understand the practicality of American singles. They are designed to be "cheesy" while remaining creamy and melting nicely onto hot foods. They have some value in that they help augment homemade macaroni and cheese recipes for some families. But, let's examine what is actually in this "cheese."
This is from the Walmart store brand of American singles:
Ingredients: Cultured milk, water, cream, whey, sodium citrate, milk protein concentrate (huh?), modified food starch, why protein concentrate (huh?), calcium phosphate, salt, sorbic acid as a preservative, sodium phosphate, citric acid, APO Carotenal and beta carotene for color, lactic acid, enzymes and vitamin D3.
Allergy warning: Contains milk.
God, I hope it contains milk if that's one of the reasons I'm buying it. From this we learn it has a ton of preservatives in it and a bunch of "concentrates." In contrast, I examined two commonly available offerings by the people at Tillamook.
Exhibit B: Tillamook Special Reserve Extra Sharp Cheddar
For those who don't know, Tillamook is a dairy cooperative in Tillamook, Oregon. For those in the Midwest and East Coast, they're similar to Cabot. And, like Cabot, Tillamook produces a vast line of food goods from non-altered milk. The cheese does not contain artificial preservatives, and it comes from cows that have not been treated with growth hormones. Granted, the company notes on each package the FDA has found no links between growth hormone in cattle and anomalies in human health, but the fact remains people are looking for purity and wholesomeness in their food. The cross section of a piece of Special Reserve Extra Sharp Cheddar shows the complexity of the milk solids or curds. While some major production cheeses may show much finer texture, that is a product of over manipulation and the use of rennet to quicken the cheese ripening process. As a result, a sharp cheddar by Kraft or one of its competitors will end up tasting like one of Tillamook's medium flavors. To avoid this, the company may actually add artificial flavoring to bring it up to par and at the cost of misleading the unassuming supermarket buyer.
And, unlike big time commercial producers, Tillamook's Special Reserve contains only: Cultured milk, salt, enzymes and annatto for color. It contains no animal rennet. Rennet is a substance added to milk to make cheese artificially. While this cheese is good shredded and added to an omelet or placed on vegetables or a baked potato, its best offering is simply in thinly slicing it and admiring its beauty. Here is a second photo. Stare in awe. Try to control your inner animal urges; someone may be watching...
You can see in the think slice that the various curds, even after ripening and forming this ideal medium-hard cheddar still retain some of their original form as they actually peal away from each other on their own. Uniformity is something that cheapens good art.
Exhibit C: Tillamook Vintage White Cheddar
The Vintage White Cheddar is a medium flavored cheddar that I consider to have a buttery undertone. The cheddar flavor is far less subtle than its Special Reserve big brother. And it is also more creamy with less distinction in the curds. The distinction is there, but it is far less pronounced. As such, the individual slice holds to together better and is less crumbly. A less sharp flavor and creamier texture, make this more suited for melting on a burger. Tillamook's medium show here is aged for 100 days. The ingredients include: Cultured milk, salt and enzymes.
Being a white and a medium is sometimes troublesome, because a majority of people will be used to seeing Cabot's Vermont white and typical Irish or English white Cheddars, which both could be considered sharp cheeses as a standard. This one is different, and would be better suited as a "mild" classification when compared to the sharp or extra sharp. This one is good on crackers, and with its more creamy texture broadens its melting application over the Special Reserve. Consider substituting this or a regular medium for American singles.
Of course, Tillamook also produces regular sharp, medium, regular mild, Monterrey Jack, pepper jack and other varieties. Make no mistake, Tillamook is not as sophisticated or sophisticated as some import cheeses, but as an American original, this company stands out among the rest, and can give any imported cheddar a run for its money. American singles be damned! Note that the thinner this cheese is sliced the better when applying for melting on burgers on the grill. If the burger is well done and you wait to put a slice of this on, it could carry the burger into the burnt stage before you get sufficient results, especially if you use the harder Special Reserve.
Although there is a sacrifice in sharpness, that's why the Vintage White is better for melting. The standard Tillamook medium is also ideal if you want creaminess, but something more robust than this white medium. To differentiate, the regular medium comes in orange labeling and is artificially colored orange. The reason why true cheese takes longer to melt than American singles is because the bonding agents used to congeal the whey and milk proteins are weaker and have a lower melting point than the more established and robust natural solids in the Tillamook cheese.
On a side note, the company's sour cream and butter are of equally high quality. They recently ventured into a line of yogurts that I look forward to trying if I can ever get closer to the coast. For more information on Tillamook, go here: Tillamook Creamery
Friday, February 25, 2011
Anthony Bourdain on Vegans
Another offering from the mighty wisdom of Bourdain. If you're a vegetarian or vegan for whatever reason, that's your choice. But don't try to rob me of some of life's simple pleasures.
Foie Gras force feeding
This is a video from YouTube of a segment from Anthony Bourdain's TV show. It explains how these animals are not choking or being hurt by the force feeding.
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