Smoked Turkey Thanksgiving Feast

Smoked Turkey Thanksgiving Feast

Today’s Thanksgiving feast was a centered around a delicious smoked turkey by Chef Chris. The shrimp platter in the foreground was prepared by Chef Miranda who also baked what might have been the best pumpkin pie we have ever had.

Other desserts were a homemade apple pie by Mrs. Chef Bill Sr. along with a chocolate roll and lemon bars also prepared by Mrs. Chef Bill Sr.

The wine was a homemade Merlot.

And we must not forget to include the pierogies and kielbasa acquired from the Polish bakery in Booths Corner. Thank you Catherine.

And of course, Chef Bill Sr.’s  fruit salad with winter watermelon and cantaloupe, purchased from Gentile’s Market in Newtown Square.

Smoked Turkey Thanksgiving Feast

Lamb Vs Mutton

Lamb Vs Mutton -- no difference in the USA. Lamb Vs MuttonMutton was once fairly common in American supermarkets and butcher shops but today it is just not to be found.

Lamb, of course, is easy to find, which is good as lamb is far, far, far, more tender and tasty than tough old mutton, right?

Ha.

Ha ha.

Hahahahahahhahhaha.

In America  — unlike the rest of the civilized world which declares mutton to be a female or castrated male sheep over a year old, while lambs are sheep under a year — the words may be used interchangeably.

Hahahhahhahahaha.

Wonder what word those trying to sell the stuff are going to use.

 

Lamb Vs Mutton

Sliced Bread, Don’t Take It For Granted

Man has eaten bread for 3,000 years but the slicing was DIY until July 7, 1928. That’s when the first commercially sliced loaf was sold in Chillicothe, Mo., by the Chillicothe Baking Co.

Yes, it was revolutionary. The biggest obstacle was in keeping the pieces tight together after the cutting in order to preserve freshness.

The inventor of the Kleen Maid slicer was Otto Rohwedder who overcame many setbacks to see his dream become reality.

For a great story about it visit Priceonomics.com

Oh, and the phrase the greatest thing since sliced bread? It was an evolution from the phrasing in a full-paid ad in the Chillicothe Constitution-Tribune for the product saying “the greatest forward step in the baking industry since bread was wrapped”

Sliced Bread, Don't Take It For Granted

Sliced Bread, Don’t Take It For Granted

Rainbow Trout — Tonight’s Meal

Tonight’s meal by Chef Bill Sr was delicious pan-fried rainbow trout with sides of stewed tomatoes, and mac and cheese which are extremely yummy when mixed together.

Starting things off was a small salad of heirloom tomatoes acquired from Wolff’s Apple House in Middletown and cucumbers topped with shredded cheese. This delectable delight was made by Mrs. Chef Bill Sr.

The trout came from Hill’s Quality Seafood in Media. We sampled their homemade snapper soup and claim chowder while doing the shopping. Very, very, very tasty.

The wine was a La Petite Vigne Sauvignon Blanc.

Rainbow Trout -- Tonight's Meal

Rainbow Trout — Tonight’s Delicious Meal by Chef Bill Sr.

Best Scotch Is Japanese

Best Scotch Is Japanese

Whisky expert Jim Murray has declared the Yamazaki Single Malt Sherry Cask 2013  to be the world’s best single malt Scotch in his 2015 World Whisky Bible.

It’s the first time in the book’s 12-year history that a Scottish-made Scotch didn’t make the top five.

Murray personally tasted 1,000 whiskies in compiling his data.

No information is available as to how many times Murray annoyed neighbors with bad renditions of I’m Gonna Be a.k.a. I Would Walk 500 Miles.

 

 

Best Scotch Is Japanese

Roadkill Deer Just Part Of PA Autumn

Roadkill Deer Just Part Of PA Autumn

Fall marks breeding season for deer, reports State Rep. Jim Cox (R-129) which makes them an autumn road hazard about which Pennsylvanians must be especially aware.

He notes that they are especially active,  between sunset and sunrise.

Cox said if a dead deer presents an obvious safety hazard on state roadways, motorists can call 1-800-FIX-ROAD to have the deer removed.

For what it’s worth, road-killed deer may be claimed by state residents regardless of whether the person picking up the deer was the one who  hit it  or if he had already shot one during the hunting seasons. Permission to pick up the deer isn’t required. However, anyone who claims a highway-killed deer must apply to the Game Commission for a free permit within 24 hours from the time the deer is claimed. The permit can be applied for over the telephone. Call the regional office serving the county where the deer is claimed to make application and for more details.

In should be noted that road-kill cuisine is not uncommon in the United States.

Cox also noted that falling leaves, lower sun angles, wet roads, fog, and frost also make fall driving  less than ideal.

All drivers are encouraged to slow down and use extra caution, as roadways and bridges may be icy or wet, he said. Drivers are also encouraged to allow extra following distance between vehicles and to the stay in the right lane unless they are actively and safely passing another vehicle.

PennDOT also recommends ensuring your vehicle is kept in proper working order: make sure all lights on the vehicle are working, tire tread is sufficient, and that heating and wiper systems are operating effectively. It is also recommended to clean the inside of the vehicle’s windshield to reduce glare.

For more tips on handling the fall driving conditions, click here.

Roadkill Deer Just Part Of PA Autumn

Publicker Distillery At The Beginning

Many still remember the view of the  Publicker Distillery while crossing the Walt Whitman Bridge and its billboards for Old Hickory Bourbon and other products.

Others remember how the 40-acre site on Delaware Avenue in Philadelphia became a polluted Superfund scandal after it closed in 1982.

In its heyday in the 1950s, it was one of the giants of the liquor industry with a plant in Scotland producing Inver House Scotch, named for owner Simon Neuman’s Radnor home, and was the world’s biggest buyer of Cuban molasses.

The company got into the booze business in 1933 with the end of Prohibition.

Fortune magazine ran a optimistic story at the time about how Harry Publicker — founder and Neuman’s father-in-law — was going to shake up the booze business by making drinkable whiskey without aging it. One supposes they were right. Here is the link.

Publicker Distillery At The Beginning Old Hickory

Publicker Distillery At The Beginning

Grilled Eggplant Parmesan

Grilled Eggplant Parmesan

Grilled Eggplant Parmesan

Tonight’s mean by Chef Bill Sr was grilled eggplant parmesan (thank you Andrew.

Note that is grilled eggplant. No breading or frying in oil.

The sides were deviled eggs by Mrs. Chef Bill and an antipasto featuring summer sausage supplied by #2 son and fresh garden tomatoes.

The wine was an inexpensive but delicious Dancing Bull merlot from one of Pennsylvania’s socialist liquor stores. If our memory is correct it was a Chairman’s Select.

 

Australian Lamb, Red And Green Tomato Salad

Australian Lamb, Red And Green Tomato Salad

Tonight’s meal by Chef Bill Sr was Australian lamb smothered in garlic with homemade bruschetta,  grilled eggplant, asparagus sauteed on the grill in butter, and fresh garden, red and green tomato salad (thank you Andrew and Angela).

Dessert by Mrs. Chef Bill Sr was applesauce cake.

 

 

Australian Lamb, Red And Green Tomato Salad

Frozen Beats Thawed Regarding Steaks

Frozen Beats Thawed Regarding Steaks

Cooks Illustrated has found that it is better to cook your steak frozen — albeit it might take just a little longer — than thawed.

Frozen-cooked steaks lost least moisture and were more evenly cooked.

Cooking it frozen means you don’t have to remember to put it in the frig the night before so we can call it progress.

One caveat: make sure the steaks are frozen before being wrapped and bagged for long-term storage.

And so much for conventional wisdom.

Here is the video:

 

Frozen Beats Thawed Regarding Steaks

 Frozen Beats Thawed Regarding Steaks

Hat tip Digg.com