Moore's Marinades
I've been visiting an online forum based in South Carolina. I've never really spent any time in South Carolina - and am fairly ignorant about the state. I know about Hilton Head Island and I've spent about 20 minutes in Charleston, (and know that they rank #1 in the country in dirty politics) but that's been about it. And then I started talking to the locals...
Food is the great equilizer and I started asking a few questions and reading a few entries. I spied one post that was talking about Moore's Marinade vs Dale's Seasoning. Having never heard of either, I went online to check them out.
They both sounded good, but Dale's would only ship full cases - $48.00 plus shipping. That's a lot of marinade - especially since I don't know what it tastes like!
Moore's, on the other hand, offers a 6-pack - 2 bottles each of Original, Teriyaki, and Buffalo Sauce for only $25.27 including shipping. I figured what the hell - I'd be bound to like at least one of them... I ordered online and they arrived within a few days. On the credit card receipt was hand-written: "Timothy warmest thank you." When was the last time you were thanked in person for a purchase, let alone for a purchase made online? They've made me a lifetime customer!
So far... I really like two - and that's because I've only tried two! Victor's mom was over today so I asked her if she wanted to stay for lunch. I was doing burgers with the Moore's Original following the recipe on the bottle: 1 lb beef, 1/4 chopped red onion, 1/4 cup Moore's. Easy enough.
DAYUM! Those burgers were good! Nonna ate the whole thing! (And that's unusual for Nonna!)
So tonight for dinner, I decided I wanted to try the Buffalo Sauce. I cut up some chicken breasts, breaded them with panko breadcrumbs, and fried away. Then added the Buffalo Sauce as directed. REALLY reminiscent of the Anchor Bar in Buffalo - with just the right amount of heat to allow for LOTS of them to be consumed. It's another winner.
I think tomorrow night I'll have to try the Teriyaki. I'm thinkin' it's going to be three out of three for winners!
I really do need to take a trek south!
Tapioca Pudding, Chipotle BBQ Sauce, and Chipotle Spice Rub
Last week I was ordering some new spices from my favorite spice company Atlantic Spice Co. I know, I know... everyone's favorite online spice company is now Penzey's, but Atlantic Spice (and their sister company San Francisco Herb Co.) is still my store of choice.
I had seen a few recipes lately calling for cardamom and coriander. The prices in grocery stores for spices are ludicrous and there was just no way I was spending $11.99 for a thimble full of cardamom powder! Also, I wanted to refill my smoked paprika and wanted some chipotle powder. Atlantic Spice does have a minimum $25.00 shipping order, so when I calculated my total - $22.50 - I went back to see if there was something else I couldn't live without. I found a pound of pearl tapioca for $3.70/pound.
Homemade tapioca pudding has always been a favorite dessert - and one that I have seldom made. I had a recipe that had been sitting around forever, so when the packager arrived Tuesday, I was set to go! I'm actually not sure who the recipe is from - it's handwritten on a scrap of paper... but it's old...
A small summer storm came through the area, knocking out our power for 33 hours, so the pudding was put on hold until yesterday. And boy, was it worth the wait!
Rich, creamy, decadent! Better than anything one could buy.....
Tapioca Pudding
- 1 cup tapioca
- 4 c cream
- 2 c milk
- 4 egg yolks
- 1 c sugar
- pinch salt
- 1 tsp vanilla
Soak tapioca in water about 4 hours. Add cream, milk and salt. Heat and stir until boiling. Simmer, uncovered, about 45 minutes, stirring frequently. Add sugar gradually. Beat yolks. temper with some of hot tapioca. Mix into rest of mixture. Bring to boil, stirring constantly. Add vanilla.
Simple directions... One thing to note is this is for pearl tapioca - not "instant." And it does take about an hour to make. (I set the timer for 10 minute intervals to come in and stir...) And when it was done, I put it into a bowl and placed plastic wrap directly on the pudding to keep a skin from forming. The recipe could easily be halved - but that would mean only half as much pudding for the same amount of work!
I was on a bit of a roll... No power for 33 hours made me want to get into the kitchen, I guess (not that I ever seem to want to get OUT of the kitchen, mind you!) So it was time to also make Chipotle BBQ Sauce! (It's not unusual for me to have simultaneous pots bubbling on the stove!)
Chipotle BBQ Sauce
- 2 cups catsup - organic, of course! No high fructose corn syrup!!
- 1 cup red wine vinegar
- 1/4 cup Worcestershire sauce
- 1/4 cup soy sauce
- 1 cup brown sugar, packed
- 4 tablespoons chipotle powder
- 2 tablespoons dry mustard
- 1 tbsp garlic powder
Mix all ingrdients in a saucepan and simmer about 15 minutes. It is kick-a-poo GREAT!
And I had to make a Chipotle Spice Rub because... well... I have all the ingredients!!
Chipotle Spice Rub
- 1 1/2 cups kosher salt
- 1/2 cup dried oregano
- 1/4 cup chipotle powder
- 1/4 cup smoked paprika
- 1/4 cup powdered garlic
Mix everything in a food processor until powdery. That's it!
Last night, I used the powder on pork chops and then grilled them. They were most excellent! I made white rice to which I added a few tablespoons of hot fresh salsa, and had fresh corn on the cob on the side... And with warm tapioca pudding for dessert, it was gastronomic heaven!
Now... to find those recipes calling for cardamom.....