HOME FRIES

Not much to write about here but the Home Fries came out fine and dandy and garner an entry.

What happened was my counselor Dina mentioned Chicken Cutlets in passing and having Potatoes that needed to be utilized I decided to make some French Fries as a side, on the bus ride home the idea of Home Fries entered my consciousness and in some ways moreso was the fact that I had never made a batch. 

Thanks to my friends Ardella, Mimi, Dan, John and Jim for tips on a better outcome in preparing a batch of this classic Hash.

Simple Ingredients. Lashes of Bacon, Cubed Potato, Diced Onion and thirty five minutes (give or take) of prep time.

A Cat and Onion do not good bedfellows make.

Seasoned with Black Pepper and Basil and ready for a quick Fry Up.

ITS LIKE TRYING TO FIT THREE POUNDS OF BALONEY INTO A TWO POUND BAG

Not too much to report here except that I need to make MORE CHILI !!!. 

Going to get a few tips from Chef Joe as the Youtube clips I have viewed have not enlightened me with anything new recipe wise.

My Chili needs to be Hotter as in Spicier and Chili Peppers seem to be the Obvious remedy. 

As a new addition I added Diced Steak Pizzaiola alongside the Chop Meat to my Recipe which has only proved an improvement.

Freshly Diced Jalapeño and Garlic.

Diced Onion and in this case Beef Pizzaiola which may (or may not) differ from Steak Pizzaiola.

The best part of adjusting Spices is the Tasting test.

Some of the aromatic ingredients that are integral to a home made Chili.

And with the other Pound of Chop Meat I made Meatballs.

Home Made FRIED EGGPLANT - Brooklyn, New York

It Anticipates on the table top.

Frying, Glorious Frying.

Cristina gets complete Dibs on the creation of our first ever Fried Eggplant Slices and they came out mouth wateringly delectable.

I was predominately hesitant upon preparation being a novice amongst these Eggplant thingys and boy did they cook quickly but as any Chef worth his or her mettle a test slice was procured and perfection was achieved. I only Fried them, Chef Cristina performed all the prep.

Boy these buggers cook up quickly and soak up the Oil without hesitation (Grapeseed Oil in this experience).

Cristina's Hero.

Brick Oven Baked Bread (outsourced via Frank & Sal's) with sliced Tomato.

My Eggplant Parmigiana. 

Home made Sauce with Polly-O Mozzarella.

Coup De Grace.

Eggplant MSG.

BACON BACON BACON - Brooklyn, New York.

Any negative words upon BACON ?.

NO.

I went into Interstellar Overdrive after hearing that Cristina had not ingested BACON for a thirty year period.

Did my best to Fry it just right amongst her orders of "well done" and as they say It was a Jamboree indeed.

As precious as Gold and rightly so.

Attack of the Killer Tomatoes.

Perfection.

Thomas' English Muffin, Sliced Tomato and BACON.

WITH Peppers & Onions (Sausage) - Brooklyn, New York.

Cristina has perfected what I had problems with for decades.

The secret to proper "Caramelized" Veggies is DONT BE A CHEAP ASS WITH THE OIL !!! of which I am guilty of. Plus these were prepared with EVOO (Extra Virgin Olive Oil) that of course pummels Corn Oil in possibly every which way imaginable.

Chop, Chop, Chop.

Fry, Fry, Fry.

These are not quite yet done but are certainly underway.

Fennel Sausage with Peppers & Onions atop a Whole Wheat Flatbread disc.

4/26/16 - And what to do with leftover Sausage ?

Make a Whole Wheat Flatbread Pizza of course. Delicious ? YES.

Home Made CHICKEN PARMIGIANA - Brooklyn, New York.

This might be my favorite food of all time and always places towards the front when confronted with the "death row/final meal" question.

Home Made Sauce of course and I actually prefer the way that Polly-O Mozzarella Melts as opposed to Fresh Muzz which almost as a rule should be Eaten unmelted right from the plate in my book.

Cristina's Parm Hero.

A couple of Golden Slabs of Poultry perfection awaiting their demise.

Cristina's Chicken Cutlet Combo 3/31/16

Cristina wanted a Fried Veggie Sammich (Peppers, Onions & Garlic) but I also needed my Meat so we decided to add home made Chicken Cutlets. 

So Far, So Good and as far as Good this is what was achieved.

Cristina also prepared this dish from scratch aside from the Frying of the Cutlets aspect.

I am always skimpy on the Oil for health and monetary reasons but Cristina poured it on and do you know what?,...

Golden, Tender, Oily Perfection.

So don't skimp on the EVOO. Life is what you make it.

Just Look At Them.

Rule number one is not to show an eaten product in a Food pic but,...

OH YES.

McCoraline's Saint Paddy's Day Soiree - Brooklyn, New York

Coraline treated us this year to a home made St. Patrick's Day Dinner at her home and Smokey (the cat) actually did not attack my plate but asked for Whiskey afterwards. 

Everything goes better with Cheese and this selection is Mature enough too.

A wise man once said "Serve Appetizers first to widen one's girth" 

OK, maybe I just made that up.

Irish Soda Bread and Cheddar.

Speaking of Appetizers It just aint St. Paddy's Day without a Stout.

There is always one in the crowd isn't there ?

Oh Wait, its our Chef.

Hear it purr, See it wag its tail, Smell its perfumeria.

ITS ALIVE !!!

A Purring, Scented, Wagging Corned Beef flanked by Cabbage, Potatoes and Carrots fresh out of the oven.

Home Made Bailey's Brownies for afters.

The Lunatics have taken over the asylum.

St. Lucky Drunk Again.

HOME ON THE RANGE, where the deer and the antelope play, (and Leftovers for a week).

OH WHAT AN AWESOME SIGHT.

This was just magnificent and perhaps the crowning glory. Pastosa does indeed make a mean Stuffed Shell and bring on the competition.

This served as a Wonderous heat up and serve dish. I prepared the home made Sauce with extra Garlic and served a Tally Whacker amongst Tally Whackers feasting.

No such thing as Too Much Garlic Never, Ever, Ever.

1/15/16 - Home Made Sauce, the only way.

1/16/16 - Pork Cutlets from Frank & Sal's, they looked great but were a little gamey, oh well.

Potato Salad on the side.

1/17/16 - Aah Yes, home made Chicken Cutlets Breaded and Egged by Christina with Barilla Pasta, Broccoli Rabe and an Egg Ball, waste not want not.

1/18/16 - That's One Spicy Meatball, Red Pepper Flakes for character.

Fussili with Sauce, Grated Cheese & The Meatball.