Smoked Turkey Breast & Brats
What, more turkey? In my previous post, I mentioned that I was going to smoke a turkey breast Friday, the day after Thanksgiving. Since I still had a good bed of charcoal going after the turkey breast was done, I…
Thanksgiving Dinner Away
Our friend Pomodoro Calde invited us over for Thanksgiving dinner. We’d originally planned a DeMenthe family dinner at home, since our daughter Escargot was flying in from Las Vegas . . . but Pomodoro is a good friend and she…
Grilling with Friends
Our gang got together at a friend’s house last night for a potluck dinner. My share of the division of labor was to grill lamb chops, with the help of our host, Guido Trattoria. Ditalini and I prepped the lamb…
Ditalini’s Tortellini & Spinach Soup
Originally a Food Channel recipe, modified by Ditalini. Some nights we feel like something light, easy, and hearty . . . yeah, I can hear you saying “hearty doesn’t go with light & easy,” but trust me, in this case…
Another Rotisserie Chicken
Ditalini was going to the store this morning, so I asked her to pick up a chicken. She came home with a free range organic fryer that cost three times as much as the typical factory chicken, but we felt…
Beer Can Chicken on the Barbie
Everybody has a barbecue beer can chicken recipe. How is mine different? It isn’t, but I’ll try to make up for that by discussing good techniques for cooking it. Equipment & Technique You want to use a pie pan because…
Birthday Dinner
Our friend and neighbor Poulet en Crote prepared and hosted a lovely birthday dinner for me and Osso Bucco (63 & 72 respectively). On the menu: prime rib, butternut squash, sautéed Brussels sprouts with bacon & onion, salad, and cake…
Smoking on the Road: Cookblogging on the Installment Plan
Crouton and Ditalini are in Las Vegas, visiting our kids, Baguette and Escargot. Baguette and I are smoking turkey breast and sausage today; we’ll serve it with Swiss chard, sautéed with bacon, onions, and feta cheese. We think it’ll be…
Crouton’s 15-Bean Soup
Notes I had a small piece of salt pork in the freezer, so I used it along with the ham hock, removing and discarding both at the same time. I’ve prepared this recipe many times with just the ham hock,…
Hillbilly Tex/Mex?
I’m cooking a pot of chili con carne this morning, using what’s left of my smoked beef brisket from two weekends ago and a bottle of Shiner Bock Ditalini left in the back of the fridge. Sure, it’ll have a…