Weekend Evaluation: This is the Largest Freezer I Could Afford

Depressing to think about, but I saw 4 brands of pumpkin beers show up at the supermarket this week.  First of all - the pumpkin beer thing is out of control, there are only like 3 that are any good and get the balance of squash and spice right - that's beside the point. 

It's too soon, I'm not ready for summer to end.

Now I have to make stock, render fat, can tomatoes...soon you won't be able to let the ingredients do all the work; you'll have to do something to make them better

At least it's not February, that's about as horrible as it gets; I'm fearing the winter, with all of the rutabega and potatoes that come with it.  It's nice when those are an option in the late fall and early winter - but it's not funny anymore after three months of root vegetables and winter squash.

I guess it's just time to get ready for winter, while cramming as much corn, zucchini, eggplant as possible in to my feed hole.  Soon we won't have the option until next July.

Weekend Evaluation: Owner of a Lonely Heart (aka Heart of the Sunrise)

This was the weekend of beef heart.  I've had a small beef heart in the freezer for months, so I decided it was time it come out of there.  To break it down into workable pieces of meat you have to trim away lots of silver skin and fat; which leaves the leanest meat you probably can find.

You'd think all of those uptight people who eat chicken breast and who've influenced our pork industry to breed out all of the fat from our pigs would love this cut....but oh yeah- they're scared of everything, so they wouldn't try heart.

This was also the first weekend of our vacation, so we were out a lot, and we went to Meatopia - a BBQ event on Governor's Island - marred by the unacceptable inclusion of Sixpoint beer.

Weekend Evaluation: Never Had a Touch to Lose

A minute to learn...a lifetime to master.

How can anyone get good at anything when you do it once a month at most - depressing.

Weekend Evaluation: I Was Hot and I Was Hungry

Sometimes cooking is a great feeling.  There's an awareness and confidence that you can feel while cooking, it seems like you can't make a mistake. You know exactly what is happening and why - the cause and effect are completely linked.  Your evaluation of the ingredients, the plan you put in place, and the techniques you apply to achieve the final product is all are very clear.  

You feel in complete control of what's happening and everything works out exactly how you want with very little effort.  

This effortless feeling is why I cook.   

This weekend was not effortless.