What's cookin' boys?

[BBFarmer]

I had a busy weekend at the shop and it was busier at the farm than normal to. This is possibly the last week for berries. So atleast that'll be over with.

Got paid with more produce yesterday LOL


Had a little sauche' going yesterday along with some red velvet brownies

 

[Sidekick]

Anyone suggest a good use for garlic scapes. I just cut mine and usually throw them in the compost pile. Wondering if they're worth adding to something and won't overwhelm the flavor.

 

[BBFarmer]

Anyone suggest a good use for garlic scapes. I just cut mine and usually throw them in the compost pile. Wondering if they're worth adding to something and won't overwhelm the flavor.
View attachment 158279

My pops makes a very mild pesto with his for folks who aren't too big on garlic.

Me, i'd eat as many bulbs of roasted whole garlic as you wanna put in front of me LOL.

I'm possibly addicted! And might be why i didn't even catch a single cold throughout my 30s.

 

[Sidekick]

My pops makes a very mild pesto with his for folks who aren't too big on garlic.

Me, i'd eat as many bulbs of roasted whole garlic as you wanna put in front of me LOL.

I'm possibly addicted! And might be why i didn't even catch a single cold throughout my 30s.

This is from a mild German garlic that we love roasted. The scapes have a different stronger flavor that can be overwhelming to us.

 

[RCW]

Anyone suggest a good use for garlic scapes. I just cut mine and usually throw them in the compost pile. Wondering if they're worth adding to something and won't overwhelm the flavor.
View attachment 158279

Honestly, most of ours went to compost also. I did about 350 years ago.

That said, we used to roast ours whole with some meats on the grill.

Loved them with a whole turkey split neck-to-tail. Did same with a split turkey breast when we had less mouths to feed.

A thought is just roast or smoke some of them. Makes the flavor much more mild.

Could use as an ingredient into whatever works for you.

 

[Sidekick]

Honestly, most of ours went to compost also. I did about 350 years ago.

That said, we used to roast ours whole with some meats on the grill.

Loved them with a whole turkey split neck-to-tail. Did same with a split turkey breast when we had less mouths to feed.

A thought is just roast or smoke some of them. Makes the flavor much more mild.

Could use as an ingredient into whatever works for you.

I'll have to try grilling some. Never thought much about using them but lately. I have seen them being sold for up to $20 a pound and thought there must bee a reason people will pay that much for a waste product.

 

[RCW]

I'll have to try grilling some. Never thought much about using them but lately. I have seen them being sold for up to $20 a pound and thought there must bee a reason people will pay that much for a waste product.

Yeah- they bring plenty of $$ here also.

I froze them and did a couple other minor things with them.

None of those really inspired me to continue with whatever my method was at the time.

 

[RCW]

The Mrs. is making MB’s. 6# beef and 2# pork.

Will be frozen in vacuum sealed bags at 10-15/bag.

Every one gets dunked in burgundy before rolling, thus the cup of vino.

Vino goes into the sauce. She put a pot of that on also.

 

[RCW]

Anyone suggest a good use for garlic scapes. I just cut mine and usually throw them in the compost pile. Wondering if they're worth adding to something and won't overwhelm the flavor.
View attachment 158279

We never saw garlic scapes for sale years ago either.

The Mrs. just had a couple ideas:

One was pesto that @BBFarmer mentioned earlier.

Other was Chimichurri sauce. Good stuff that you could regulate amount of garlic flavor. Could use some of your other herbs if you like it.

Could also just grind it up in a blender with some EVOO and freeze in measured amounts (e.g., ice cube tray, souffle cups) and use as appropriate.

 

[RCW]

They would normally cook in the sauce, but we’ve been skipping that step lately when they go in vac bags.

7 bags @ 12 each.

 

[RCW]

We scored this a while ago. 10 liters (2.6 gallons) of EVOO for $40.

About empty. Won’t be able to replace it for that price….



Decant to a half gallon container I used to use for my homemade maple syrup. From there, it goes into dishes or refills the one of the various small squirt bottles I use for oils.

 

[BBFarmer]

View attachment 158349

They would normally cook in the sauce, but we’ve been skipping that step lately when they go in vac bags.

7 bags @ 12 each.

View attachment 158351

Those meatballs look SOOOOO perfect! My nonna did hers the same way.

Her freezer would be jam packed with delicious meatballs. She'd only usually make them fresh when we'd visit.

 

[Sidekick]

Tried some on the Blackstone and the rest are headed to the compost pile. Minced some up with a fresh picked onion and zucchini.

Grilled it with some sliced boneless chicken breast

A little rice and corn on the side

Would have been better just using the garlic cloves as we usually do. Then a Drumstick to get the scape taste from my mouth

 

[RCW]

Tried some on the Blackstone and the rest are headed to the compost pile. Minced some up with a fresh picked onion and zucchini.
View attachment 158360
Grilled it with some sliced boneless chicken breast
View attachment 158361
A little rice and corn on the side
View attachment 158362
Would have been better just using the garlic cloves as we usually do. Then a Drumstick to get the scape taste from my mouth
View attachment 158363

You certainly tried.

Like I said, I never found a use that endeared me to them either.

I didn’t dislike them- they just came so quickly I couldn’t come up with a better/creative use for them.

 

[BBFarmer]

I had plans to make a blueberry pie today. Told the wife last night and shes like, you can't put candles on a pie. I'm like, well i'll be dipped....its a guys bday tomorrow....what an idiot LOL. Change of plans then.

I've made several cakes recently. Didn't want to do another chocolate, just did red velvet, had the youngest's creation. So today its going to be CARROT CAKE TIME BOYS!!!


mmmmmm looks appetizing huh..... LOL


While these suckers cool on down, I'm gonna get some skirt steaks marinating for some enchiladas tonight.

 

[BBFarmer]

Time to whip up some icing.

I was initially going to keep it simple with a traditional cream cheese icing topped with some toasted pecans. My daughters had a different plan.

They wanted to make little carrots on top of the cake. So I made some orange and green for them to play around with. They had a good time and everyone is good and sugared up now.


Alright, now we gotta make a basic enchilada sauce. I've been ordering guajillos online for this sauce for probably 10 years now. Last 2 times i made it, it ended up being too spicy for the girls. Never ever had that problem before. Only gonna use a few this round.

 

[BBFarmer]

Rolled up 30 enchiladas total.

Got everyone all plated up and ready to go!



Carrot cake came out good. Slightly too sweet for me with all the decorative icing applied. But cake itself came out very moist.

 

[RCW]

Rolled up 30 enchiladas total. View attachment 158453

Got everyone all plated up and ready to go!
View attachment 158454

View attachment 158455
Carrot cake came out good. Slightly too sweet for me with all the decorative icing applied. But cake itself came out very moist.
View attachment 158456

Carrot cake is my favorite. The Mrs. does a great one (no surprise).

One night we had 3' of snow. I did (several) neighbors' driveways with Kubota and snowblower. One gave me a $100 gift card.

Told them not necessary - - I did it to be neighborly (we've been neighbors 30+ years).

Later, another 3 feet. This time they asked for help. Within a few weeks their daughter made me one of the best Carrot Cakes ever made.......

 

[RCW]

I decided to try making donuts. I don’t do much pastry cooking….

Came out really good…..



…..from the bakery.

I’m working on a mixed grill. Hots, hams, sausages…..I'm better suited for that kind of thing…

Except for my signature Buttermilk Biscuits, I never did much baking or pastry stuff.

I don't follow recipes well. Baking requires someone with more skills, literacy and focus than I have.

Thankfully the Mrs. takes up my slack there.

 

[BBFarmer]

I decided to try making donuts. I don’t do much pastry cooking….

Came out really good…..

View attachment 158500

…..from the bakery.

I’m working on a mixed grill. Hots, hams, sausages…..I'm better suited for that kind of thing…

Except for my signature Buttermilk Biscuits, I never did much baking or pastry stuff.

I don't follow recipes well. Baking requires someone with more skills, literacy and focus than I have.

Thankfully the Mrs. takes up my slack there.

Those do look fabulous. Be careful LOL.

I don't care too much for coconut. but when its toasted like i'm assuming that top middle one is. I'll ravage it.

Started making toasted coconut macaroons a while back. Super simple. Shredded coconut, egg whites, sugar, vanilla or almond extract or both.....Never like coconut, by love those for whatever reason.