Quince Slatko

Yesterday I made a few pints of Eastern European-style quince preserves called slatko or varenye (slatko od dunja, варенье из айвы). Look at that color! It’s a very simple recipe: just quince, sugar, water, and lemon, with a little finely minced dried cranberries for added …

Mince Pie

Mincemeat pie made with Granny Smith apples and persimmon jelly; dried cranberries, apricots, plums, figs; candied ginger and orange; walnuts and my medlar-infused brandy. Lots of butter (in lieu of tallow, which I don’t have) and spices too! Second photo is of two little blackberry …

Fruity Booze

I’m up to my ears in medieval fruits so I’ve started a half gallon each of quince ratafia with vodka (left) and medlar liqueur with brandy (right). These are my own recipes based loosely on 16th- and 17th-century cookbooks I’ve read. #booze #historic #tipple #quince …

Guanciale (oh, oh)

(To the tune of “Volare”) Got my guanciale hung in the very sophisticated curing setup in my basement (the basement is 60F and 61% humidity, which isn’t too bad). Not pictured is the small, weak fan blowing a gentle breeze in the guanciale’s general direction. …

Persimmon Season

Was just revisiting some old Instagram posts to find inspiration for using persimmons. This one was particularly sublime.   Tails & Trotters pork tenderloin with caramelized onions, apples and persimmons and a red ale reduction; pumpkin risotto with home-cured bacon lardons. Not pictured: green salad …

Cassoulet

Toulouse-style cassoulet: Dear lord, what an undertaking. Even if I *hadn’t* accidentally unearthed a whole pig’s head to add to my weekend workload, cassoulet is a fucking Project. I simplified it somewhat to spare myself the trauma: making what is basically French tare saves a …

German Yakisoba is a Thing, You Guys

You guys, I made German yakisoba. ??? Let me back up: I started with Nicky Farms’ incredible wild boar/pork caraway-dill sausage, roasted in a quickie choucroute garnis with Savoy cabbage and the juice/garlic/spices from my homemade sour dill pickles, fried onions and horseradish from my …

Yu Choy Gratin

Fact: all crucifers taste really great with cheese sauce. Broccoli, cauliflower, doesn’t matter! They’re made for each other. Here’s leftover mushroomy Gruyère Mornay sauce with leftover romanesco and yu choy baked with bread crumbs (made from leftover baguette) strewn over the top. To serve with …

Wild Mushroom Rarebit

One of my Facebook friends asked (in a tone I didn’t care for) “Why do folk insist on calling it ‘rarebit?’ It’s ‘rabbit.’ Mock rabbit, pointing out that the Welsh couldn’t be expected to have actual rabbit. Tons of cultural history in the word. ‘Rarebit’ …

Stuffed Peppers

  Stuffed peppers with Nicky Farms ground beef, jasmine rice, home-canned tomatoes and Balkan spices, because even though it’s been a warm and easy glide into fall, I’m kind of ready to dive into dinners from the oven. #dinnertonight #meatconcierge #peppers ? ? ? ? …