Kitchen Shenanigans

By Ciel - About Me - E-mail this page - Add to My Favorites - Add to Blog List - See other blogs in Cooking, Food & Wine

Thursday, July 2, 2026

Too hot to cook!

With or without a/c, firing up the stove and serving hot meals runs against the grain. Early in the morning or even very early in the morning before the sun comes up may be the only rational time to be cooking up the potatoes for potato salad, the rice for sushi, even the protein for cold sandwiches... Sign in to see full entry.

Monday, June 22, 2026

Something fishy going on...

Lately I've been eating a lot more fish than red meat and paying more attention to what's available. I don't remember my mother ever cooking fish though I imagine she did. It was mostly canned tuna she used to make tuna salad. I knew of swordfish, I think, and salmon but we ate ground beef and a lot... Sign in to see full entry.

Saturday, June 20, 2026

Hot days, cool menus

Tuna, chicken, ham...Each one mixed up with some mayo and bits of celery, parsley, onion, other herbs to taste, served with crackers or as a sandwich or on a bed of greens... Different kinds of fish work well, too: salmon, trout... canned, maybe smoked. That's one of my hot-weather go-tos. Of... Sign in to see full entry.

Sunday, May 3, 2026

What's for breakfast?

My mom was very nutrition conscious. Also, systematic. Breakfasts alternated between eggs one day, hot cereal the next. Eggs were scrambled, poached on toast, soft-boiled, baked in breadcrumbs... There was bacon, or sausage. The cereals were oatmeal, corn meal mush, wheatena, or cream of wheat.... Sign in to see full entry.

Monday, April 27, 2026

Chicken yum!

Lately two things have come into play that have resulted in something nice. First, I really have to reduce my intake of saturated fats. Second, I am loving Costo's $5 rotisserie chicken. It's a heck of a good chicken and a lot of good protein for the money! Along with those two thing goes this... Sign in to see full entry.

Tuesday, March 31, 2026

Cool day cooking

Recently I've discovered Costco's rotisserie chicken deal. The chicken is bigger than the ones in regular grocery stores and half the price. So... I get one now and then, enjoy the carved meat on sandwiches and salads and over potatoes or stuffing and cranberry sauce... And then: soup! The bones go... Sign in to see full entry.

Tuesday, February 10, 2026

a long-term experiment

Several years ago I invested in a freeze-dryer designed for home use and packaged up quite a few freeze-dried vegetables, meats, and eggs. The shelf life of freeze-dried stuff is as much as 25 years! So they say... but that's if, first, you actually get all the moisture out, and second, if the mice... Sign in to see full entry.

Sunday, January 11, 2026

Tagine Shenanigans

Yesterday I got out the tagine again and filled it with boneless, skinless chicken thighs, let them simmer a while. Then remembered I have had some medium sized golden beets in the fridge drawer for a week or so *('object impermanence' means if I can't see it, I forget I have it) so I got those out,... Sign in to see full entry.

Tuesday, December 2, 2025

First of the Snow, Last of the Turkey

The snow is supposed to start in an hour or so and continue through tomorrow. The turkey stew has begun, as well. The bones are under water in my largest pot and they are both on the stove. Set on low, it will simmer quietly overnight and a good part of the morning before its time to strain out the... Sign in to see full entry.

Monday, October 27, 2025

More like Kitty Shenanigans...

The Song of Hungry Cats Do you hear the kitties sing? singing the song of hungry cats-- They are a feisty fetch of felines who are hunting in the thatch! Do you hear the cats’ demand? Say, do you hear that hungry sound? If you’re a mouse, you’d better run or your life is done! Will you interrupt... Sign in to see full entry.

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