Supper (9/4) What are you making?

[demgurl]

Not sure what we will be having so I figured someone may strike a cord with me when they say what they are having. I am actually tempted by someone's meal yesterday. I may just have to tie some stuff together and make balsamic chicken. I will wait and see if someone gives me a different inspiration.

[Duer 157099]

1. I've got my beef brisket on the barbie

I couldn't decide between two rub recipes, so I did both, half the brisket with each.

2 tablespoon chili powder
2 teaspoon paprika
2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon cumin
1 teaspoon sage
1 teaspoon brown sugar
1 teaspoon oregano
1/2 teaspoon ground arbol chili
1/2 teaspoon black pepper

and the other one:

2 tablespoon chili powder
2 tablespoon salt
1 tablespoon garlic powder
1 tablespoon onion powder
1 tablespoon black pepper
1 tablespoon brown sugar
2 teaspoon dry mustard
1 bay leaf, crushed

I put the rub on last night and wrapped it tight in plastic and let it sit in the fridge.

This morning, I fired up the BBQ and seared the brisket.

I've got mesquite wood chips in the BBQ, and it's at about 250 degrees right now, indirect heat.

I'm going to let it smoke for a bit before I seal it up in several layers of heavy duty foil and then put it back on for as long as I can possibly stand it.

Then, some potatoes will get lightly oiled and salted and wrapped in foil to join the party.

Making a spinach dip that I saw on American's Test Kitchen, served with baked pita chips:

10 ounces frozen chopped spinach
1/2 cup sour cream
1/2 cup mayonnaise
2 tablespoons thin-sliced scallions , white parts only, from 3 medium scallions
1 tablespoon chopped fresh dill leaves
1/2 cup packed flat-leaf parsley leaves
1 small clove garlic, minced or pressed through garlic press (about 1 teaspoon)
1/4 teaspoon hot pepper sauce, such as Tabasco
1/2 teaspoon table salt
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
1/2 medium red bell pepper, diced fine (about 1/4 cup)


And if that's not enough, will crank up the ice cream maker and make something -- not sure of the flavor yet, perhaps vanilla. Although, I do have some of those dried mangoes from Costco and have wondered how those would do mixed into ice cream... choppped up and perhaps hydrated in brandy or something?

[demgurl]

5. Wow, that is quite the feast!!

Let us know which rub you decide you like. I hope you have a wonderful meal.

[Duer 157099]

10. It smells insanely good right now

I just took it off the grill and wrapped it up in foil for phase 2. I'll post the results in the other thread about brisket

[demgurl]

20. I'll keep a look out for the results. Hope both turn out perfect.

[Duer 157099]

26. The results are in!

I can barely move, but my fingers seem still able.

Too much salt. That's my only complaint. I don't know if it was due to my having let the brisket sit in the rub overnight, or whether it was adding the remaining rub when I put it in the foil -- but next time, I do the recipe with far less salt, half or less of what I used today.

The texture of the brisket was PERFECT! If I scrape the rub off the outside, it's an amazingly wonderful, smokey, tender, yummy hunk of meat. Worth waiting for all day.

Potatos were spectacular -- crunchy thick skin, fluffy tender inside.

I also did grilled corn, also very smokey and good.

Dessert is still awaiting me... made AZDems easy peach cobbler, and homemade vanilla ice cream. Too stuffed at the moment to even think about it though.

Oh, and the spinach dip and pita chips were VERY GOOD! Highly recommend this variation on spinach dip.

[demgurl]

29. That is cool.

I am glad everything (except the salt content) turned out so well.

I was going to make AZDem's cobbler tonight but I think I will put it off until tomorrow.

[spindrifter]

2. We've sort of topped out with weekend cooking and baking,

but the plan is BLT's with fresh-from-the-garden tomatoes, Basque potatoes from last nite and corn on the cob.

[NMDemDist2]

3. we're eating leftovers and I'm making my easy Bisquick Peach cobbler

http://journals.democraticunderground.com/AZDemDist6/22

cuz there's nothing better than meatloaf sandwiches!!!

[demgurl]

6. AZ, you may have inspired me to make your peach cobbler tomorrow.

I will go to the farmer's market and get fresh peaches. We already have Bisquick so we are basically set.

Hope those meatloaf sandwiches are good.

[NMDemDist2]

7. "my" cobbler probably won't work with fresh peaches unless you

cook some down in syrup

[demgurl]

9. I saw that it said canned peaches....

but was hoping it would work with others. OK, I have to shop tomorrow so I will go ahead and do canned peaches. Thanks for letting me know that.

[NMDemDist2]

12. be sure they are in heavy syrup not water or "Lite" n/t

[demgurl]

17. Thanks, I will do that.

Everyone here is so friendly. I am glad I found this little piece of DU.

[NMDemDist2]

21. several of us saved our sanity here the winter of 04-05 after the loss

we cooked and baked and remodeled or reorganized our kitchens, we swapped recipes and joked until we had the strength to go back out into the fight

it's a great group down here for sure :bounce:

and you're a welcome addition my dear! :pals:

[Duer 157099]

11. I think you've solved my dessert issue

and settled which flavor ice cream I need to make (vanilla).

Plus, I have canned peaches, but not fresh, so this works perfectly!

[NMDemDist2]

13. I've been adding some vanilla to batter too lately and it's a good

addition. about a teaspoon works well

[Duer 157099]

16. good suggestion

I'm a vanilla freak

[Richard Steele]

4. I haven't decided yet either, so I'm also cruisin' this forum for ideas.

Without fail, there's always something inspiring
being discussed around here.

[TygrBright]

8. Hot dogs & potato salad...

...but the hot dogs are Fearless Franks from Trader Joe's, with Wickle's pickle relish and condiments, and the potato salad is homemade. We have apple/cranberry pie for dessert, with Haagen-Dazs vanilla ice cream.

Easy does it. I have a big pot of stock on the stove right now and tomorrow I'll make something fancier after I go to the Farmer's Market and the co-op. I have out-of-town company this week so I'll be in the kitchen a lot.

celebratorially,
Bright

[Skidmore]

14. Pork spareribs basted with bourbon sauce, dill mustard potato salad,

corn on the cob, and chunky carrot cake (the kind with pineapple, walnuts, coconut and raisins in it). Ice tea to wash it down.

[demgurl]

18. Yum!!!!

Do you make the bourbon sauce yourself?

[Skidmore]

22. I usually do but I cheated this time and used a store marinade

and added a half a cup of bourbon to it. It's been a busy, busy day. I'll get my bourbon sauce recipe up as soon as I can locate it.

[mtnester]

15. Bacon, egg and cheese croissants

love em, anytime.

[demgurl]

19. mtnester, you are killing me!

I am dieting and my biggest temptation is bacon. My Great Aunt used to make wonderful BLT sandwiches for me. The bread was homemade and the meal was delicious. Isn't it great how certain foods can evoke the most wonderful memories?

[mtnester]

30. Bacon - my secret weakness

I hear your pain there!

[cmf]

23. Grilled New York strip...

Plus some beautiful baby yukon gold potatoes, and a broccoli, red pepper, onion and mushroom saute. Got to keep grilling while the nice weather is still around.

[Stinky The Clown]

24. Grilled Italian Sausage on a bun

with chopped raw onion and dijon mustard .... and a chopped salad.

Sparkly had grilled swordfish.

[TygrBright]

28. Dang... you inspire me, H2S.

Someday I hope to become expert/competent enough to prepare two meals at once. It would solve a lot of problems, since Himself likes a lot of things I can't/won't eat (fish, seafood, guacamole, Durkee's Famous Sauce, anything drenched in mayonnaise/cheese food product, etc.) I can't handle (in the physical sense) seafood at all, too risky (quick trip to the e-room to deal with anaphylactic shock puts a real damper on the evening,) but I can at least handle (even if I can't eat) fish like salmon, tilapia, etc. Maybe someday I'll be confident enough to make him a nice salmon fillet at the same time I'm fixing myself a veggie stir-fry, or something along those lines.

hopefully,
Bright

[Karenca]

25. After inspiring you with last night's Balsamic Chicken,

I'll bore you with tonight's meal:

A bowl of Mushroom Spinach soup.

Chocolate Ice Cream.

Italian Soda (Aranciata)

[fortyfeetunder]

27. Whole wheat pasta primavera with garlic shrimp

Dayum, that was good. I grated a little Reggiano Parmesan on top. And a green salad on the side. Very filling!