Text 781, 120 rader
Skriven 2008-01-16 11:24:20 av hap newsom (1:124/311)
     Kommentar till en text av Carol Shenkenberger
Ärende: RE: Tater's in the can!
===============================
Howdy Carol!
->     
->  > -> Same here.  I normally think in 1-2 week groupings of food.  A small 
2.5 
->  > -> chicken for example is normally 2 meals for us 3, and the carcass 
then
->  > -> becomes freebee stock once I have a few of them together.
->  > ->
->  > -> We have about 1 whole chicken a week, fixed various ways.  The 
fat if I
->  > think
->  > -> of it in time, gets saved over to make Charlotte's favorite potatoes 
(bet
->  > -> with duck but rendered chicken fat works).
->  > ->
->  > 
->  > I seldom buy a whole chicken anymore, Anne only likes the breast
->  > meat, so if I'm baking it that's what I use. For stews and such I'll
->  > buy thighs, (and I'll save some for when I bake white meat for Anne)
->  > but I imagine our chicken consumption is pretty comparable to yours.
-> 
-> Not sure, ours has gone up as fish became less easy to get here (opposed 
to
-> Sasebo where it was everywhere and cheap).  The downside of baking a 
whole
-> chicken here, is all 3 of us prefer the dark meat <g>.  Chicken breast gets
-> turned into chicken salad most of the time or goes with the carcass into a
-> broth-pot.  I know.  We are wierd.  If there was such a thing as an all dark
-> chicken, we'd be getting it.
-> 

I just keep an eye out for thighs on sale...more people like 
the white meat so they always end up with "extra" dark meat.
When they put out a bunch of thighs I buy em up! All dark meat!
YUM! If you wish you can take the skin and fat off (comes off
quite easily) and reserve that for rendering down to "schmaltz".
The bones you can save for your stocks! 

->  > -> Yes, but it doesnt take much leek so we often get them.  I'm 
thinking the
->  > -> look pretty easy to grow too so may try that.
-> 
->  > Went to the store yesterday and broccoli was up to $1.78/lb
->  > and Cauliflower was up to $1.89/lb ( I usually get it when it's
-> 
-> Squash (summer types) were pretty pricey so we skipped, but that's to be
-> expected at this season.  Chinese broccoli is good at the asian grocery and
-> holding steady at 1.49lb it seems.
-> 

I'm keeping an eye out when I go to the store for
some good prices, then I'll load up! Otherwise 
I look for alternatives, this week it was eggplant 
again, at $1.30 each. Mushrooms were $1.50/lb
and really good red and green bell peppers were
$0.44 each so I got a bunch of them as well. 

->  > ->  > We love leeks too! I'll have to look up
->  > ->  > and post my leek soup recipe!
->  > ->
->  > -> Ahem!  Yes!
->  > ->
->  > Ok, I'm lookin, I'm lookin!! (grin)
-> 
-> snicker.
-> 
AHAAAAAA! I found it! (grin)
you'll find it at the end of the msg!

->  > ->  > Get a clean garbage can or similar container. Plastic
->  > ->
->  > -> It's not clear roughly how 'tall' this container should be.
-> 
->  > If you go to home depot you'll see the regular sized plastic trash
->  > cans, they work great! The taller the container actually the more
->  > taters you can get!
-> 
-> Ok, but cant bend over well enough to reach in there.  Maybe I can get by
-> with something a little shorter.  Like 3ft tall?
->                   xxcarol
-> 
That would work too...but you don't have to bend 
over into the can to harvest the taters, you can
tip the can over at the end of the season and 
pick the taters out of the pile...no can in the 
way! When you plant you just put the taters in
 and cover them with dirt and follow the directions 
on Ciscoe's website, works like a charm!

Leek and Tofu soup
2 TBS olive oil
4 cups stock ( I use chicken or vegetable stock)
1-2 large leeks cleaned and chopped
2-4 cups sliced mushrooms
1 large onion diced
1 package frozen spinach defrosted.(or fresh, and you
   can sub bok choy or other green that you like)
2-3 stalks celery diced 
1 package extra firm tofu  cut into cubes
rice vinegar to taste

In a pot over medium heat add the olive oil and 
the onion, celery, mushrooms, 
and leeks. cook until onion is translucent and leeks are tender. 
Increas heat to high and add stock; bring to a boil. Add 
spinach and stir until incorporated. lower heat and let simmer
for 20 min. Add tofu cubes and simmer just long enough for
the tofu to get heated therough. Remove from heat and 
add rice vinegar to taste.  

Notes. I use chicken or vegetable stock, you can use 
dashi or any other stock you prefer. You can add or 
subtract things as well, this is a very simple soup. Sometimes
I'll add a quarter of a head of cabbage shredded, shredded
carrots, or a raw egg or two. 
Hope you enjoy it!
chat with you soon
hap 
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