How do you cook it?

[Nicky]

I made Chocolate Chip Lava cookies - I did it with a ganache filling. Served with French vanilla ice cream.

 

[Kouki]

daaayum that looks tasty

made one of my favorite sandwiches today that i used to make all the time...smoked turkey on a bagel, with lots of balsamic cream cheese, romaine lettuce, thinly sliced red onion on a bagel, lightly pressed and crisped up in a skillet

 

[Kouki]

I think the menu for Memorial Day will be brats, potato salad, keys' apple fennel salad, deviled eggs, and a watermelon.

mmm

 

[Randolphkeys]

Im currently smoking a 5 pound side of ribs. I am thinking of finding a good use for some Lighthouse Blue Cheese Dressing that I have laying around... like a blue cheese potato salad or something. Any ideas? Thanks!

 

[Maximus]

Just threw some mayo, sriracha and bacon mesquite rub in a bowl and mixed up...I don't know why. My kid and his friends just used it on their sandwiches.

Kid 1: your dad is a genius
Kid 2: your dad is a god
Kid 3: I wish your dad was my dad
My kid: ok, you guys are starting to sound creepy. But yeah, I don't care what we are having for dinner...I'm dumping this stuff on it...or I may just have a bowl of it for desert.

 

[Nicky]

When I get some downtime from work (probably in 2 or more weeks), I'm going to attempt some French dishes. I have been all about Italian, I think I need to seek other cultures.

I really want to make Croque Monsieur, but I plan to make the bread from scratch. I feel like it's more authentic that way. I also rarely like shortcuts to cooking. I do wish I had my own pasta maker.

It's on my to do list. Anyone who has any other French recipes/dishes, I'd greatly appreciate any tips/insight.

 

[SixPACK]

I went to France a couple years back and toured the whole country for 3 weeks. Paris for 2 and then Normandy, Avignon and Nice. Some of the best shit I had there was just their cheese/baguettes in their brasseries. I literally just had cheese and bread (baguette) sandwiches and it was amazing. I would recommend buying high quality French cheese and find an authentic baguette recipe. Best thing I had there though was probably Duck a l'Orange. You have definitely heard of it but you need to search the internet for a French recipe and make it. Don't go on cooks.com or some bullshit.

 

[Nicky]

I wouldn't half ass a French recipe, that's why I'm going the extra mile to make the bread from scratch.

My sister always noted that I have the most expensive taste when it comes to selecting cheeses.
I'm going to look up multiple bread recipes and see what's the overall common factors in them.

Now I have to think of a dessert. I do want to make a croissant style pastry.

 

[gourimoko]

I wouldn't half ass a French recipe, that's why I'm going the extra mile to make the bread from scratch.

My sister always noted that I have the most expensive taste when it comes to selecting cheeses.
I'm going to look up multiple bread recipes and see what's the overall common factors in them.

Now I have to think of a dessert. I do want to make a croissant style pastry.

I love to prepare Italian and French food. When I do, I generally go all out, especially for date night or special occasions.

One of my absolute favorite french desserts, that is easier to make than it sounds, is a well prepared creme brulee. Make them in a batch (make more than you need). They are quick and easy to prepare (you can use a pizza stone if your oven is old to even out the temperature) and people will find them to be incredibly impressive once served. I would serve with mixed fresh berries and either with whiskey or a perfumey white wine like a moscato (Robert Mondavi's Napa Valley line has a fantastic 'moscato d'oro', it's great!).

And since we're talking about the classics, I would recommend a dinner of Braised Short Ribs in Port or Merlot, roasted and bourbon-glazed carrots and pomme fondant. If you want it 100% French then use a French single malt whiskey or Cognac instead of bourbon (will taste similar to a sweeter scotch). That is truly a classic french dinner. Serve with 2 wines, aperitif before dinner and the whiskey used for the carrots should be served with the brulee. That is a meal fit for a king.

Also, if short ribs are a bit too heavy, then you can make a similar meal (faster too) in my all-time favorite Coq au vin, which is essentially chicken braised in red wine with mirepoix and stock. Basically chicken stew, but add red wine. It's delicious. For starch, I like to serve over a stiffer than usual, herby, polenta. Try mixing a complementary cheese (as it relates to the wine used in the Coq au vin) in with your polenta; this will have a synergistic effect just be careful not to overpower the dish.

Writing this is depressing because I can't even buy any of these ingredients... Well, I can get a rooster for the Coq au vin, but the herbs, wine, cheeses...

Can't wait to get back home.

p.s.
if you want it 100% authentic use Cognac and Burgundy; but personally, I much prefer American bourbon whiskey and Merlots or Cabs for shortribs.

 

[Nicky]

Damn Gour....


DAMN!


I tend to only cook for myself. Screw you and your dinner for 2. I make multiple servings that I tend to eat by myself. My sister, on the rare occasion that she's in the country.


You're talking about cooking like it's date night. I just want my home made baguette, so I can destroy the Croque Monsieur, and then a dessert. Ya know, like a fatty.

And furthermore, I feel inadequate to bake and cook now because you just killed it. Thanks Gour... You're an asshole!

 

[Toph]

Made some chipotle shrimp tacos with a homemade avacado salsa and Black bean and corn salad. Added some sour cream and it was phenomenal. One of the better things I've made. And there was left over salad and avacado salsa. Combined them and it was great to dip chips in. Definitely will be making these again.

 

[Andrew]

that actually made my mouth water lol.

 

[Ohdang]

I am planning to cook for a date night for someone who loves seafood. I do not, so I have no idea how to prepare it. I was thinking flounder...anyone have any suggestions on how to make a nice meal around flounder fillet's?

I may go with the chipotle shrimp tacos now after reading this thread, that looks damned good!

 

[SixPACK]

I am planning to cook for a date night for someone who loves seafood. I do not, so I have no idea how to prepare it. I was thinking flounder...anyone have any suggestions on how to make a nice meal around flounder fillet's?

I may go with the chipotle shrimp tacos now after reading this thread, that looks damned good!

I would find out what type of seafood she likes first. Don't want to make her flounder if she loves salmon, snapper, etc..

A lot of people like to stuff flounder, but then you turn this into a situation where you would rather just take her out to a restaurant and know for sure it's going to be good, rather than drop $$ for something you are hoping is good. I would go easy, and just make it with some lemon-pepper sauce, a little butter, garlic, salt. Don't use that lemon squeeze bottle, use real.

Can't go wrong with a little crab/lobster/shrimp thrown into linguine. She's more interested in you than the food unless she's a heffer. Simple is better.

 

[Nicky]

I am planning to cook for a date night for someone who loves seafood. I do not, so I have no idea how to prepare it. I was thinking flounder...anyone have any suggestions on how to make a nice meal around flounder fillet's?

I may go with the chipotle shrimp tacos now after reading this thread, that looks damned good!

Seafood is something that I feel I'd mess up. Although I would love to make sushi rolls. You have to be pretty precise with that (cooking fish). Just don't give the dude food poisoning, or he won't want to go out with you, again.


Good luck!!