A PLACE FOR MY STUFF"ING"

Sausage Stuffing,...

This comes up time and time again and year after year especially during the holidays and I always get an extra helping (if I can help it) because how can you really go wrong. 

I actually only just made my first batch ever without adding any "extras" except for Sauteed Garlic and Loved it.

Well perhaps I fib, I did add one of my latest obsessions the Jalapeño Pepper (uncooked) as a Crunchy Veggie topping that actually complimented this uncomplementable dish.

I blame my friend Caroline for pushing me over the edge after Stuffing the Bird at Thanksgiving 2016 with some Sausage Stuffing.

Who Needs Turkey ? 

Hand Over The Stuffing.

4/1/17 - 

TOOLS OF THE TRADE - THE GRILL PAN

It started off as a route to veer Cristina away from squandering money on take out Food. 12 dollars a pop for a mere Grilled Chicken Salad is the going rate but when the same can be prepared at home for a vast fraction of the price the looting bin shall become vanquished.

I learned of "seasoning" a pan and this was an entirely new concept to me but season I did. Nearly thwarted with caution of smoke and stench I placed a fan in the kitchen to postpone calamity. 

No calamity ensued.

This important step completed I was ready to cook.

Marinated in a base of Balsamic Vinegar & Olive Oil this came out quite a wonder and I knew this just from looking at it during preparation.

CROUTONS,CROUTONS,CROUTONS.

I asked Cristina just what was in an Italian style Grilled Chicken Salad as the Restaurants do and was informed Grilled Chicken, Romaine Lettuce, Italian Croutons (caesar style), Caesar Salad Dressing and as a plus Bermuda Onion.

This worked out gangbusters and I consumed the entire plate in record time, will I have this again ?

A resounding (in Jon Anderson's timbre) YES.

Next up and only a day after the Grilled Chicken Salad was prepared a bit of Top Sirloin for some home made Steak Fajita's. Seasoned in Olive Oil, Lime and Dry Spices.

STEAK FAJITA on a Flour Tortilla.

Asian - Thinly Sliced Chicken Cutlet Marinated in Sesame Oil, Rice Vinegar, Honey, Diced Garlic and a Dash of Soy Sauce. Cristina said this will come out Sweet with a Zing and it did but not so sweet, the Sesame Oil is quite overpowering, this was Delicious.

I started off some Sausages in the Grill Pan and finished them off in the Oven to Pan Fry some Sausage and Peppers.

A pre-Cheesed Burger.

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.

OTHER PEOPLES FOOD - SEAN'S RAVIOLI & SAUSAGE

And here is an upturned Sausage Slice wearing a Ravioli hat.

Continuing the "Other People's Food" column on this Blog concerning Other People's Food I once again bring us another Sean concoction of wonderment and Munchiness.

Questions are raised for my experimentation and technique rears its tasty head, more details below on my findings but Sean achieved a "coupe de grace" here.

The Masterpiece awaits on the plate.

Rafetto's Fresh Ravioli and Hot Sausage.

It's just a harmless little Sausage.

"LOOK AT THE BONES !!!"

"It'll Do You At A Treat Mate"

Rise Up Megalon, Come On !!!

BUTTERS.

NATIONAL PANCAKE DAY (U.S.) (February 9)

There is a National Food Day for just about every Food I would imagine but certain ones jump out at you depending on individualistic taste of course, in my case Bacon Day comes to mind but I have yet to celebrate.

Pancakes are one of those comfort Food's that fit the bill and I happened to have Pancakes (albeit the toaster kind) in my freezer on the day (February 9) so I ran with it.

Pancakes with Sausage - Two Aunt Jemima Toaster Pancakes Schmeared with Key Food brand Butter (more like doused in this case but that is the Jedi way) and a side of Sausage. 

Broccoli Rabe & Cheese Sausage as the pantry was devoid of Breakfast Sausages but this became a complete boon on the tastebud level, it works folks.

Pancake Day continues.

The SpamCake - Unbeknownst to my Trepidatious FOODMIND (is this worth the plunge or am I wasting food and time) the SpamCake became the Rosetta Stone of these three dishes and reached a level of height unattainable previously.

In other words a Tasty little sucker.

A little over an inch was its height geometrically.

Pancake a la mode - Yes, for Dessert it was Pancakes topped with Ice Cream.

Any Ice Cream will do but on hand I had Friendly's (rich & creamy) Cookies & Cream.

On a side note just the other night I was eating the Friendly's right out of the tub with spoon in hand for the first time in decades and boy is it hard to close that container and desist.

And of course I got a bit of abuse on my Facebook post due to the overwhelming similarity between the Spiral Broccoli Rabe Sausage and another inedible item from the human condition but abuse is what I thrive on when it comes to social media in most cases.

This one is courtesy of my friend Peter R.

On another side note The SPAM Single Classic must be brought up.

This I found in the 99 cent section at my local Rite-Aid and a brilliant idea it is (as well as a cash cow for the SPAM people) since most do not need to Fry Up an entire 12 ounce can of SPAM in one sitting, a slice or two will do and its cut so neatly as well.

PANCAKE ON WIKIPEDIA

GUNK HAUS

After Apple picking we attended Gunk Haus which to my consideration is not the greatest name for an Eating establishment as in "Get this Gunk off my Plate" but a fine Restaurant it was.

French Fries of a considerable momentum with a Dipping Sauce of unknown origin.

Of Unkown Origin.

The BURGER, of which I hear was Delicious.

Hungarian Goulash. This I have tried for the first time but it was a paltry sized Dish for the price of twenty bucks.

Pork Sammich.

Sausage Platter.

No Idea

Black Forest - Stout & Sweet Cherry Wine.

How could I Resist.

The Facade.

The Mailbox.

Table Centerpiece.

GUNK HAUS ONLINE

DINNER WITH JOE & JENNIE 4/30/15 Brooklyn, New York

I popped by Joe's this evening for a Drum & Bass rehearsal for our upcoming gig in two days and was invited to stay over for Dinner and this I did without further provocation, now I do know this man does not mess around and he said he had some sausage, then he told me he had a Spiral Sausage upstairs as well so I took him up on his offer knowing I would not be disappointed as I never am.

Chef Joe prepared a meal for Jennie and myself of Cheese and Parsley Sausage, Caesar Salad (with homeade Dressing) and Roasted Potatoes of the Super Ridiculous Delicious Kind.

I do tend to hover around Chef Joe as he prepares a meal even when its holiday time and there are 40 people to entertain in the house but I assumed the Onions and Peppers would be going into the Salad not realizing he had a Sausage up his sleeve.

Questioning him on why he did not Dice or Slice the Onion he informed me they were going to be Grilled.

"Aah-Soooo" my inner Asian self whispered. Joe was making Sausage and Peppers proper to go with the Salad and Roasted Potatoes.

Not to mention the Wine and Bread...

And for the Salad.

Homeade Croutons built from Semolina Bread and sautéed in Olive Oil.

Yes this photo might be a tad blurry but Chef Joe was working. I am certainly not going to stop him and say "Wait I need another shot" besides I had no idea it was blurry anyways.

But look at that Ring Grilling away and the Veggies right there on the grill. 

RIGHT THERE ON THE GRILL !!!

Presentation does mean a lot and this might as well have been a Hollywood production by Louis B. Mayer.

And the table is set. Of note is the Hotel Bar Whipped Butter with Butter Knife * (Joe and Jennie will know what I am speaking of) and a nice Bottle of Layer Cake Malbec Red Wine, mind you this tasted nothing like Layer Cake Cake it was a good Malbec. Layer Cake is the brand name.

Lets take a look at my plate of Food again, a first for this Blog to repeat a photo but...

Heavens To Betsy.

Look at those Potatoes mingling with the Roasted Veggies and that Sausage humping that Pepper,That Salad is a little slut just everywhere hiding her precious Croutons and that piece of Semolina as yet unbuttered trying to pimp them all out...

BUT I digress.

A Much Honorable mention goes to the Stuffed Pepper.

This was the first photo I took on this night as I spied these little babies in the fridge as Joe was gathering his wares and I munched on a Delicious Slice of Sopressatta.

Known also as the "Pepper Shooter" I and most call them Stuffed Peppers, the delineation I assume appeared because of the other larger Bell Pepper filled with Rice,Cheese and Meat so as not to confuse the counterperson or Deli Man.

All Hail The Stuffed Pepper.

* - I have come across quite a few people over the years who do not know what a Butter knife is, the conversation goes something like this.

Me - Might you pass me the Butter knife

Them - The What ?

Me - The Butter knife

Them - What ?

THE CUMBERLAND SAUSAGE ON WIKIPEDIA

BABYSITTING THE BISCUIT - THE SAUSAGE BISCUIT THROWDOWN

This is not going to be easy but its going to be quick.

While many Fast Food Restaurants do have a Breakfast Menu not all of them have a Sausage Biscuit, I am averse to Eggy Weggy's so either I win or they do. 

Mind you they could win but thats for another day.

Breakfast Menu's are limited yet tantalizing, the cost is low to lull the customer into a sense of safe spending as they begin their day and then they reel you in by Dinner time.

I begin my Quest.

McDonald's Sausage Biscuit - Begin the day with a wish for a Biscuit (Lee, Lifeson, Peart) but  Popeye's was still closed (pre 10 a.m.) so I wandered into the Mickey D's next door. Quick service and the Sausage Biscuit ($1.09) was on the Menu. I carried her upstairs and over the threshold for some fine dining.

I am a stickler for Buttermilk Biscuits but I can see this will be a close race possibly without a winner, the McDonald's Biscuit was almost identical to my beloved Popeye's Buttermilk Biscuit.

 I am sure these come in Dry Food Bags of Mix that you add Water to and pop in the Oven at all of these chain Restaurants, But I digress.

Delicious Buttermilk Biscuit, No Toppings to induce a false sense of Flavor, Nice and Dry yet Tender and Warm. The Sausage Pattie itself was a melange of Meat by-products and basically tasted like a reheated lump of Fat which all Sausage Patties of this ilk taste (4 out of 5).

Incidentally as this entry was an afterthought the picture was taken in haste and the Biscuit in the photo above is bottom side up.

Burger King Sausage Biscuit - 2/19/15 - Like with Everything BK their Sausage Biscuit beat out McDonald's but only just. The Biscuit was Saltier and Drier just by a tad, The Sausage Pattie might be of a slightly higher quality but it is so close. BK serves their Sausage Biscuit solo at the same price as McDonald's ($1.09) but I opted for the Combo Meal ($3.80) which came with a much needed Coffee and Hash Brown's. The Coffee was Coffee and the Hash Browns were disc's of Minced Potato which were lightly Salted, in hindsight it was a relief that they did not throw the usual 17 packets of Ketchup in the bag without asking first.

I also learned on my quest today that Blimpie's, Dunkin Donut's, Popeye's and Checker's do not make a Sausage Biscuit so I'm going to have to finagle an Egg, Sausage & Cheese Biscuit without the Egg from those that even sell a Biscuit.

7/11 Sausage Biscuit - 2/25/15 - Lo, I have heard of the mythical 7/11 Sausage Biscuit ($1.09) and took a short detour when my Sausage sense was tingling and there they were (see photo below) nestled amidst the EggaMuffins and whatnot in the Microwaveable Food portion of the kiosks. 

Being new to the 7/11 Microwave experience I did approach the counter with my purchase and ask "what's the deal" and was directed to the Microwvave Oven and told to set it on "2" which the wrapping did espouse but who trusts wrapping these days. 

This Sausage Pattie was the Saltiest yet but within reason, also the Biscuit came out softer and not as dry as Mickey D's and BK being wrapped and waved, still I enjoyed it.

Three Down, this could be it folks.

Jimmy Dean/The Frozen Supermarket Sausage Biscuit - I was hesitant to purchase these but was I really ? 

After all this is a tournament and all are welcome, go into the light.

DONT GO INTO THE LIGHT, Surprisingly a box of 10 microwaveable Sammiches (how do you think the other places heat them up) cost $10.99 so there is no savings in buying in bulk. These come packed in pouches of two.

Very similar to the 7/11 Biscuits, a dry Buttermilk Biscuit which is correct and a slightly juicy "look out for the" Pattie "whale". I would definitely purchase these again and they last a bit in the freezer. Great for that 3 a.m. Snack.

THE WINNER IS BK.

UNDER CONSTRUCTION ?