For the record, folks, the one time - about 25 years ago, more or less - I tried to make soda bread, I followed a recipe to the letter and it came out so dense and hard that I actually broke a knife while trying to cut into it!

Absolute truth.

It did, however, make a very good doorstop.

Lesson learned: I ain't a scratch baker!


Signor V.

Wow, great to know the parts of life when we live and we learn.

Wife made Perogies with a beef gravey of red peppers and onions……fantastic and a special treat for Spring time.

Love perogies. Never had or even heard of them before until I went to Poland back in 2019 on my way to Munich for Oktoberfest (visited Auschwitz). The food in Poland, especially the perogies, were delicious! There's a polish place by me that I've been meaning to try when I got back but then the pandemic happened.

Impressive, what a great trip that must have been and authentic Perogies….. do you recall how they were served?

My Mother in-law had mentioned they ( perogies) - traditionally would be served lightly tossed in butter with heavy pepper and Sour Cream.

I don't remember having sour cream but there's a local place that I haven't been to yet that serves it like that. They had chives on top and meat in the middle. A little small and thin but very good. Also had some type of soup in a bread bowl (very good as well). The trip was amazing and I was planning on going to Ireland and then back to Germany for a few days for Oktoberfest in 2020 but then COVID hit. Trying to hit up the local Polish place with a friend, hopefully soon.

Not 2 change countries ..but ..2nite we had 2 go by budget as the rest of the country..roast some links of sweet sausage in the oven until almost done..remove ,let sit...boil salted water & drop orecchiette until al dente..drain pasta till shocked (to stop cooking)...drain some cannelini beans & rinse good...blanch cleaned & picked broccoli rabe..shock that as well..prep chicken stock..(I use "Better than Boullion")...only a cup is needed..chop 4 nice size cloves of garlic....have on hand hot pepper flakes..granulated garlic...onion powder..& oregano...NOW...4 THE EXECUTION...sautee a little chopped shallot (oopps..I forgot 2 add that in the prep section)..then add the fresh garlic..sautee until all is translusent..add chicken stock then add the sliced cooled down sweet sausage..simmer 4 a good half hour 2 provide the sausage is going 2 be butter tender....add , after it reduces a bit ( I also did not include in the prep...1/2 lb. COOPER SHARP CHEESE!!!!...very essential...keep whisking!!...then add the beans .cooked pasta , & blanched broc rabe...continue until all is like a sauce of thick beauty...NOTE: do not tear up the beans while ur stirring...it will only make ur sauce too thick..but it will fuck up ur consinsity...take off ur cooled off sausages & slice them on a biased ...add them & the juice that they were sitting in 2 the whole kitten koboodle....it should be slightly soupy but on track w/ pasta vazool kinda dish..I dont really like beans ..but my wife got me makin' & eatin' this one...Peace ..

Dues or Irish12 ..I don't know what 2 pair this with..any sugesstions?

I would suggest a nice chianti

Wow…that sounds fantastic….. i want that.




My Mary serves it with a steak or a meatloaf or pork loin, she also sometimes sauté peppers and onions with a pound of chop meat in a brown gravey.
And Beer.



LMFAO…. He did not say Fava beans.

Beer.

While Signora V. was at work (I, like Don Corleone, am semi-retired) I spent the afternoon making an absolutely great meat sauce - if I do say so myself.

There's a brand of uncooked meatballs available (I think it's Carando) that I will use when I'm too lazy to go the beef/veal/pork route so I first pan-fried the meatballs, then threw in all the ingredients into another pot, seasoned it, added (like Clemenza) a little wine (white), simmered it for a few hours - and that's my trick.

Braised (or rather, fried) some spicy sausage and am throwing it into this wonderful mix while the Wife sleeps.

Earlier this evening, she had capellini with meatballs and meat sauce, and tonight I'm making linguine with meat sauce and sausage for myself.

Please don't tell my doctor!


Signor V.

I made Filipino Caldareta and Thai Basil chicken fried rice

Luv it..but it sounds like u & ur Mrs. r going 2 have alot of heartburn...add a little cream 2 the ragu 2 mellow it out..& make it an Aurora sauce..AKA..blush sauce..lol..

2 Nites Dinner...Smoked Pork Butt w/ charred Brussel spouts & Colcannon ( mashed potatoes infused w/ garlic & kale)...Strickly Irish if I may say..a paupers dish from my old man's childhood...U have 2 slow & low simmer that butt 4 a long time...w/ a Mead laced Cornbread...the Mead I had 2 order from a off the wall distibutor in south philly...only a bottle was needed...I guess I'll drink the rest when im feeling bold!..Not 2 day though.

That sound great Hood, luv charred Brussels sprouts.

TACOS tonight….Happy Cinco de Mayo

Very nice DP! Enjoy my friend (better be having some tequila or cerveza with it).

Mucho fro cervesa for sure, no Tequila…never had it, not sure why ….have a bottle of it on my bar, have had plenty of opportunity for many varieties at certain venues, just never had it.

I should try it.

I typically only drink beer and whiskey once in awhile.

Same. Not much of a tequila person myself but I have 2 bottles on hand.

I am certain I have a bottle of Jose guervo, what is the name of the two u have.

Excuse my spelling”I know we have spelling police on this site.”

Tres Generaciones (Anejo) and El Tesoro (Resposado)

Sausages & Peppers on amazing bread to start the weekend.

Looks delicious DP. Enjoy it my friend!

Leftover chicken wings from Firebirds

Yesterday, we did something special for a friend of Signora V.'s. We hadn't seen him in the flesh for several years, and I had never cooked for him, though he had heard tales from the Missus.

He specifically wanted the Pasta Bolognese I made, which I had posted earlier in this thread. I was inspired by what I saw on Stanley Tucci's CNN series Searching for Italy and it was incredible. Signora V. also wanted to lay out an antipasto, and she is a long-time customer of an Old School Italian deli in Brooklyn (Esposito's on Court Street - sorry, no website). She got some fresh mozzarella, salami, prosciutto, and - to use the vernacular - gabagool. I procured some cherry tomatoes, fresh basil and roasted sweet peppers.

Signora V.'s boss recently returned from a vacation in Italy and brought her some magnificent balsamic vinegar, so we put that out along with extra-virgin olive oil. She drizzled a bit of vinegar over the Caprese Salad. Yum! (Photo of the First Course below.)

Well, lots of red wine flowed ("Paulie - more wine!"), the evening was great, the food was everything our friend expected (and more), and then came dessert from Monteleone's (right next door to Esposito's) - cannolis!

Then it comes out that our friend (who is, by profession, a theatrical Stage Manager) had never seen any of the Godfather films!

Infamia!

He promised to remedy this ASAP, especially after we showed him the part where Paulie gets whacked and then the Louis' Restaurant scene.

It was an offer he couldn't refuse.

He didn't stagger out of here - into a waiting Uber - until nearly 3:AM. Stuffed, snockered, but happy. Since I was acting as host/server/bartender, I limited myself to only two beers. Signora V., however, spent most of today on her back nursing the mother of all hangovers.


Signor V.

We did the Turkey again with all the trimmings, could not let that leftover gravy go to waste.
All gone now, bring on the next feast.

Fishes, then lasagna with a roast.

I didn't take any pictures unfortunately but last week I made for the first time a butternut squash and chickpea curry that I put over white rice that turned out amazing!

This week's meal is a one pan garlic herb shrimp & sausage with veggies.

This week's meal prep is a new recipe for me: Garlicky Smashed Chickpeas With Corn Over White Rice.

That looks good and healthy i12.

Thanks DP, I was pleased with how it turned out. This week I made a Southwest Chicken skillet (chicken, red bell pepper, zucchini, summer squash, and garlic).