Tuesday, May 15, 2018. What's Cooking?

[redsoxmom]

Starting us. 

[redsoxmom]

Good morning. 

Another cool and cloudy day here.  Typical May Day for us. 

Quiet day for me. I am working at home.  Turkey burgers on our menu tonight with fries in the air fryer. 

DS is working overtime today for the Padre game.  It's his first time working a shift for a MLB game. 

Have a great day!

Betsy

[wilderness]

Good morning. 54 overnight and overcast. It is suppose to rain all day. Also they have changed our forecast and it is to be down in the 30's again tonight. At this point what is out of the greenhouse is on its own. No problem about being in the house all day as I have tons of paperwork to get done and it I don't clean they are going to condemn it.

Yesterday I had Annabelle all day so didn't get a lot done outside. Do have the back bed almost cleaned up. Maybe an hour more of work will finish it then I can get it cultivated and take assessment of what I have to replace. I thought what I lost was winter kill but the more I removed leaves and debris I found holes. Look like I was attached big time by voles.

There were a couple of high point however, my hummers are back and one of the chrysalis that I had collected last fall hatched and I was able to release a new butterfly. Still have 5 to go.

Dinner tonight will be a sub.  Bought the meat for it yesterday.  Just sounded good for a change.

Have a great day.

Bet

[nybirder]

Good morning, all. The rain just hit here about half an hour ago, Bet. It's very dark and beginning to really pour. I don't think we are going to have a chance of frost tonight here--fingers crossed.

I cooked my turkey breast half in the Instant Pot yesterday. Getting the timing correct was a bit of a fiddle since most of the recipes I found online were for whole breasts and larger than mine. I also made the mistake of taking it right out of the refrigerator to cook--I should have given it an hour to warm a bit. After 25 minutes, the thinner areas were at 170 but by the bone was only 149. So I put it back in for 4 minutes and debated about the 10-min. natural release a second time. I know that natural release for large cuts of meat helps keep the juices in. I did 5 instead and I think that was too long. The breast is a little more cooked than I would like but not bad. Ann--I have Miss Vickie's book, too. The timings for the instant pot are supposed to be about 15% longer than a traditional stove top cooker because it uses a slightly lower psi.

I have found several recipes that use some seasonings that sound really good. Next time, I'll have to try them. If you like turkey skin, you are out of luck unless you pop it under the broiler after to brown it up. I just stripped it off and tossed it. But that would be the same as from a slow cooker--and tons faster! At least I know what I would use for the timing for the next one. My next turkey meal, though, will be thighs since I have a couple in the freezer.

The nice thing about the IP is how light the stainless inner pot is--easier to wash. I used the second pot I bought that has a ceramic non-stick coating. Cleanup was a snap. The other first yesterday was using Better than Bouillon turkey base. I found it in Wegman's in Syracuse--they don't carry that flavor here. I like using turkey broth or base rather than chicken which just doesn't give an authentic turkey gravy flavor. I used the juices and the recipe from the B than B jar to make the gravy. And . . . a little touch of Gravy Master. I haven't used it in years but it does give the gravy a nice color without a roasted pan. Pretty good. I made up a stovetop version of some Bell's Dressing frin the box and had a nice Thanksgiving supper in practically no time.

The nice thing about the IP is that I can get it up to pressure, set a timer to remind me when the time is up, leave the kitchen and do something else! It's so quiet, I actually put my head down next to it to listen for the cooking. How different from the stovetop pressure cooker where you have to monitor the steam and adjust the flame on the stove if necessary. The city gas feed sometimes goes up and down and I have to watch it.

I have memories of my mother's old Presto when I was growing up. That thing clattered like all get out. And when it was time to take it to the sink to cool it off for a quick release, both the cat and I would run like the dickens! LOL!

I'm already thinking about what to make next in the IP. I think this thing is going to get a lot of use. Maybe a cheesecake? I think I even have the ingredients on hand. Be still my heart! LOL!

Have a good day, all.

Birdy

[annrms]

Afternoon, friends! It's icky muggy and very warm today. Severe T-storms are predicted for later today; western MA is under a tornado watch.
Tonight we are having more leftovers...potato salad and steak kabobs and a small salad.
Went on a BJs run after finishing at the senior center. Just got the usual stuff...low fat Cape Cod chips, vitamins, Milano cookies and coffee (for mom). By mistake on a previous visit, I picked up some Cling Wrap so exchanged that for the Press 'n Seal that I meant to get.
Birdy - Our weather map shows severe weather in your neck of the woods; hope all is well! I like that better than bouillon, too. That recipe for stuffing balls was a keeper for us. 8 slices of bread...6 balls. Do you get the soft Vermont bakery bread in your area? I suppose any soft bread will do. I know I mentioned making them last week, but I don't remember if I posted the recipe so you'll find it on another thread today. When I made my T'giving stuffing, I use Pepperidge farm regular and corn mixes...no butter because I boil good quality sausages and use that "fatty" broth for the moisture along with Marsala. Anyway...!
Will check in later if I can use the computer. Waving!

[weebill]

Hi everyone. We are in Salina kansas. Another 10 hour day tomorrow and we will be at the lake.I will be glad. I am wishing eh drove.lol.

I am already cold.lol.

I will read and catch up and be back. Elaine

[emr]

Hey everybody. I'm having a light dinner of ham and crackers. DH is on his way home.

I stopped at the store after work and got some meat for the freezer -- a sirloin tip roast and chicken thighs. Not much cooking this week but I wanted to have it available for when I do need to cook something!

Looks like the rain that Lori's had is coming our way this week and it will be stormy for the next several days at least.

[cooktocook]

Hi there friends.  Another busy day and evening.  After work today we had a lady out to the house to measure our windows.  Before she came we thought we knew what we wanted.  However, 90 minutes later when she left, we were moving in a completely different direction on window treatments.  Now it will be back to the store late Saturday morning to look some more--decisions, decisions.  If we ever get this house done, I'm thinking it will be a small miracle!     

Sorry about my short and quick posts lately.  School will soon be out and hopefully then I will have a little more time to sit down at the computer.

Nice weather today, but around 2 the winds picked up and the skies grew darker.  At 5:30 the rain began to fall in a heavy down-pour.  It's still coming down quite heavy and the thunder and lightning have joined in.

Dinner tonight was mushroom rice topped with a chicken stir-fry.  Time to go and cheer on my Bolts--hope they can turn around their luck and win tonight. 

Waving to all!
Lori

[tamaralynn]

Just a quick hello. It was a nice day, driving to Houston. I stopped at Half Price Books then went to Genghis Grill and met my bff for lunch. We stayed until 1:30 then I headed to the dentist. On the way home I stopped at Kroger and looked around-did not buy very much. I looked for a couple things but they did not have them. I brought home Chick Fil A for our supper. Ever since I have been watching tv and doing crosstitch on the tablet. I plan on going to bed early. DH is already in bed!

I'll need to get up early and get the boy dog down to the groomer.

I got a text message that Crystal decided to take the boy kitten home today.

Elaine, safe travels. If I ever find myself again in Kansas, I plan on stopping at the Wizard of Oz museum. I love sight seeing along the way when we travel.

Good night!