Meal No. 2813: Sous Vide Pork Chop

The ol' sous vide immersion circulator sure is getting a lot of good use around here, thanks to the pandemic prompting hoard-buying of meats and the accompanying investment in a vacuum-sealing foodsaver. It's very easy to throw together a meal with this handy appliance, which is what happened last Tuesday. I grabbed one of the prepped boneless thick-cut pork chops from a Costco value package, already seasoned and sealed up, and dropped it in and let the Joule do its wonders. Garlic-roasted whole green beans and potatoes with red wine sauce brought it all together as a vertiable weeknight feast.

---

"How to Cook Pork Chops Sous Vide," by Carrie Havranek. From SimplyRecipes.com. [Updated 13 February 2021]

"Sous Vide Pork Chops," from J. Kenji López-Alt, Chief Culinary Consultant of SeriousEats.com. [Published 08 April 2016 / Updated 25 June 2020]

Meal No. 2812: Roasted Salmon and Broccoli

Were it not for the sale this week at Harris Teeter, I might not have so quickly repeated a dinner of roasted salmon. But I say that with zero regret, because it was just as fine and good and delicious as ever.

A Rather Huge Chocolate Cake

Although I'd already made a terrific batch of lemon sugar cookies earlier in the day, I also had set out ingredients in order to make a cake on the first day of spring Saturday a week ago. It was yet another chocolate cake (there are so many good recipes out there!) but this one was a monstrosity, both to some extent in the making of it but also in the huge final result (which was almost too tall for my big cake keeper!).

Since it was three-layer, I divided up the batter and just slid one pan onto the lower rack, not realizing that even with three pans the layers still baked up above the rim

...and so it expanded up into the oven rack above it!

I was also sorry to see that one of the other layers had a partial sinking or collapse, so the slices cut from that region had to be a bit askew and also overstuffed with frosting.

In the end, it's always going to be hard to turn down chocolate cake, and this one proved both a great temptation and a rich indulgence.

---

"The Most Amazing Chocolate Cake," from Rachel Farnsworth of TheStayatHomeChef.com. [Published 26 February 2013]

Meal No. 2811: Chicken Salad Sandwiches

With the bright sunshine making the March breezes of last Sunday morning feel less chilling, it was a fine day for outside time. It also allowed me to draw my attention to the lovely blooms on camelia bushes.

Without smartly planning their placement in advance, I put them along the back property line because it needs some screening.

Over time, as they grow, I expect they'll become quite spectacular.

Early afternoon I set up the sous vide for some prepped split chicken breasts, which were vacuum-sealed with fresh rosemary sprigs and lemon slices. I diced red onion, apple, and pecans to add in to the herby dressing, with a fine chicken salad the ultimate outcome. That made for a tasty sandwich to eat outside on the driveway, with Sumner at my feet.

The grove continues with its early spring adornment, although this year's Bradford pear blossoming seems only to be busting out on the lower half...but I see the beginning pinkening of the cherry trees as well.

It was absolutely a red-letter day in the life of this old man, in the following respect: not only did Sumner and I complete roughly four-and-a-half miles on foot, I also pumped up my mountain bike tires and pulled on my helmet and took my first serious ride in over 20 years. I managed just over five miles and came home to discover I seemed to have the rubberiest legs.

---

Adapted from "The Best Classic Chicken Salad Recipe," from J. Kenji López-Alt, Chief Culinary Consultant of SeriousEats.com. [Published 03 June 2015 / Updated 17 April 2020]

Meal No. 2810: Barbecue Chicken Pizza

Last Saturday's single meal of the day occurred at lunchtime, with the rare appearance of pizza. In this case, and to be more specific, it was barbecue chicken pizza with bacon, red onion, spinach, and blue cheese, and it was pretty darned delicious.

First Day of Spring

Spring has officially arrived, and it started off as a brisk 32°F Saturday morning here in downtown Winston-Salem. But the first batch of daffodils are in full bloom and the Bradford pear is sporting blossoms, at least on its lower half.

It eventually warmed up to the mid-50s but a recurring chilling breeze persisted through the afternoon. Nonetheless, it was great to have a driveway meet-up with what has always been thought of as the Roediger House regulars. With the coronavirus pandemic still not yet abated, we are now at over a year since there was entertainment of guests here...except for these occasional camp chair confabs on the parking lot.

Still, to be hospitable, some cookies were called for, and I went with the recently discovered lemon and white chocolate sugar cookies, which were yet again almost too good.

---

"Lemon and White Chocolate Sugar Cookies," by Chris Scheuer from The Café Sucre Farine [Published 06 January 2015].

Meal No. 2809: Salmon Croquettes

Friday had a dreary rainy start but by mid-afternoon it finally let the sun return to us, even though the breezes remained strong and bracing. After being cooped up in the house for a couple of days with rain and storms, Sumner and I jetted out around 5 pm for a roughly 5-mile downtown circuit, he full of energy and his legs digging and pumping most of the steps along the way. We were both ready for our suppers but his was not nearly so good. On the Roediger House dinner plates: salmon croquettes with chili-lime-garlic aïoli and roasted garlic green beans. It took about two days to feel like the heavy garlic-on-the-tongue sensation dissipated.

---

Recipe sent to me by my sister Allison, who cracked up when I asked about the source: adapted from "Salmon Burgers" (p. 396) and "Herb Sauce" (p. 395), from Denise Austin, Shrink Your Female Fat Zones, Rodale Books (2003).

"Chili-Lime Aïoli," from David Wald of Princeton, NJ, May 2009.

Meal 2808: Herbed Baked Chicken Leg Quarters

With a great cheap sale on chicken leg quarters but a lack of determination and clarity, I just herbed and spiced 'em and tossed them into the oven to bake up to a crispy-skinned goodness. It led on Thursday night to a supper of two legs and only two legs. Well, and then some more Bailey's Irish Cream pudding.

Just after 9 pm, when it was time to come downstairs to tackle kitchen clean-up, it was a bit of a surprise to see a neighbor from down the street standing at the front doors looking in. It seems he may have been a few sheets to the wind (later viewing of the security footage would make an excellent case for that hypothesis) and said he wanted to come in and see the house because it looked like a museum. The video playback show he'd tried a few times to open the door, which makes me wonder if he thought this was a rooming house with an open vestibule. Anyway, the brief and pleasant conversation through the front glass achieved its necessary goal of sending him on his way.

---

"The Best Baked Chicken Leg Quarters," by Steve Cylka of TheBlackPeppercorn.com. [Published 07 January 2020]

Bailey's Irish Cream Chocolate Pudding

Pudding for dessert invaded the chef's decision-making this past week, leading to a second pudding's trial with great success. I made it Tuesday afternoon, and served it for dessert Wednesday and was miserably uncontrolled in determining the appropriate quantity to consume.

---

"Baileys Irish Cream Chocolate Pudding," from Ashley Manila of BakerByNature.com. [Published 07 March 2020]

Meal No. 2807: Roasted Salmon and Broccoli

Wednesday's evening meal was an especially delightful return to roasted salmon and roasted broccoli. I mean, it was so very freaking good.

Meal No. 2806: Filet Mignon

Tuesday's dinner was a tasty return to filet mignon steaks, pulled from the overstuffed freezer, cooked first via sous vide and then pan-seared and butter-sauced in the cast iron skillet. Garlic-and-olive oil asparagus spears, roasted perfectly in the oven, were a snazzy accompaniment.

Stovetop Butterscotch Pudding

My mind told me there wasn't all that much special about it, but the spoon automatically shoveled more and more of it into my mouth, giving no safe quarter to the great lie that I wasn't enamored of this simple and muted butterscotch pudding that I made Sunday and served Monday night. I was just planning to check it while the evening meal was cooking and went ahead and ate all of my portion pre-dinner, like an undisciplined indulgent bratty child. Such was the effect of this pudding's hold over me. It absolutely does not scream "butterscotch" at you, but it smoothly sinks its tentacular subterfuged stranglehold into your willpower and next thing you know you're under this sweet treat's spell.

---

"Stovetop Butterscotch Pudding," by Stella Parks, the Pastry Wizard at SeriousEats.com. [Published 03 January 2017 / Updated 29 August 2018]

Meal No. 2805: Succulent Braised Pork

Monday night's most marvelous menu included a simple bowl of braised pork with onions, carrots, mushrooms, and garlic, braised in a wine and broth sauce for about three hours until it was a succulent silky tenderness, full of flavor and satisfying as the weather cooled down again after last week's sunny spring-like days. Sumner and I still snuck in an aggressive downtown walk during the afternoon, clocking in at just under 5 miles, but his was a manic pace that upped my appetite's demands once the supper could be served up.

---

"Succulent Braised Pork Recipe," from Melissa D'Arabian on FoodNetwork.com.

Meal No. 2804: Turkey Burgers

With a 3-pound package of ground turkey to use up, the balance of it was mixed up into turkey burgers, which were grilled up on Sunday afternoon. Intellectually, I can appreciate the marginally healthier choice that these might represent, being made from turkey instead of beef, but lordy I don't get why these ridiculous monstrosities would actually be preferable for those who are free to choose. Sit me down in a restaurant and tell me I can order either a beef burger or a turkey burger, and it's nowhere close to a contest, no matter how amazing that turkey burger purports to be.

To me, turkey burgers are an utterly incomprehensible disaster of an idea.

Prior to this past weekend, I wouldn't have said I had any major objections to ground turkey, thinking maybe I just wasn't especially drawn to it. Trying to work with it for the two different meals I just made, though, and I'm pretty much done. I'll be surprised if it shows up as part of any future Roediger House menus.

---

"Chef John's Turkey Burger," from Chef John on AllRecipes.com.

Meal No. 2803: Turkey-Lentil Sloppy Joes

Provided the record that this blog helps to maintain is reasonably accurate, I think I can safely report to making a meal with ground turkey for only the second time ever. I find it sort of gross to work with, honestly, even if the finished cooked result is palatable or even enjoyable. Anyway: I'd bought some ground turkey thinking I might need it to continue helping Sumner get past his recent bout of gastro issues but then needed to cook it before it went bad. Some internet web searching helped me track down some possible recipes, and I ultimately chose turkey-lentil sloppy joes just because I already had the ingredients on hand. Passable but not all that appealing, for my tastes. But it served as supper this past Saturday night, the final day of Eastern Standard Time before we sprang forward into the glorious season of longer evening daylight.

---

Based on "Big-Batch Turkey-Lentil Joes," by Juliana Hale from AllRecipes.com.

Meal No. 2802: Peruvian-Spiced Chicken Thighs

A bulk purchase of chicken thighs at Costco has put them into heavy rotation here at the Roediger House, both for several recent suppers as well as for the DIY dog food that is intended to help Sumner's gastrointestinal system get back to the land of rightness. Those chicken thighs, with Peruvian spices, were Friday's feature, along with yet another batch of spiced roasted russet potatoes plus the return of a pan of those much-loved roasted broccoli florets. I seldom overeat as I did that night, but it was one for the recent record books.

Homemade DIY Dog Food

About a week ago, I shared some photos of Sumner getting some special food, in an effort to clear up some digestive issues he'd begun experiencing the previous weekend. In the meantime, there's been a visit to the vet and the recommendation was to mix in some additional fiber with these home-cooked meals and gradually reintroduce his regular dry dog food kibble as his poops showed improvement. I cannot believe I'm having to cook special food for the house pooch, but such is the fathomless love for that rascal.

Initially, it was just chicken and rice with a little broth. Then, I made more brown rice and green lentils, shredded carrots, and cooked up more chicken for a couple of days of meals. Last Thursday, I set up the crockpot and filled it with brown rice, diced sweet potato, diced carrots, dark red kidney beans, and frozen peas, topped with several chicken thighs. That cooked all day and once again he hoovered that stuff up out of his dog bowl at dinnertime.

---

Based on "DIY Homemade Dog Food," by Chungah Rhee of the Damn Delicious blog. [Published 27 April 2015]

Based on "Easy Crockpot Dog Food," by Chungah Rhee of the Damn Delicious blog. [Published 13 May 2015]

The Homeshopping Bluebirds

Gorgeous weather settled onto Winston-Salem this past week, with temps at and above 70°F under sunny skies. It was so wonderful to bring out the camp chairs for driveway sitting time, with the birds and squirrels providing plenty of entertainment.

Last Tuesday, what caught my eye as the morning proceeded was the appearance of a pair of bluebirds, who seemed to be checking out the bluebird house.

They were back again on Thursday morning, with better sunshine and better angles to try to capture them in action with the camera's long lens.

All of these pictures are from Thursday; the photos I snagged on Tuesday were too dim and shadowed for it to be clear that these were actually bluebirds.

I bought the house in 2003 but did not spy any bluebirds here until 2016.

Bluebirds have remained rare, though...I found a couple of mentions from 2018 on the blog, but otherwise they have been elusive!

It was a joyous relief to download the photos from my camera and find several pretty decent ones.

I still think the bluebird house my mother gave me all those many years ago is not situated in the place that bluebirds find appealing. I just haven't figured out where else it should go, though.

UPDATE: Sunday Evening

That sweet bluebird couple continued to be around right on through today. It was a mostly cloudy afternoon, so the photos are middling, but here are a few:

The Bradford pear is finally, as of today, sporting its earliest blossoms.

This is about two weeks later than has been the case for the last couple of years, but you know how happy it makes me for this next sign of the spring that cometh!

Meal No. 2801: Roasted Hoisin Pork Tenderloin

This past Thursday's meal was pretty straightforward, and went straight into my belly because yet again I was starving. Spiced roasted sweet potatoes, roasted green beans, and roasted Brussels sprouts were the worthy companions of hoisin-glazed pork tenderloin.

---

Adapted from "One-Pan Pork Tenderloin with Green Beans and Potatoes," by Christie Morrison. In Cook's Country, October/November 2015, p. 27.

"Roasted Sweet Potatoes," from Chelsea Lords of ChelseasMessyApron.com. [Published 04 March 2019]

Meal No. 2800: Braised Chicken and Brussels Sprouts

I was surprised that I had not made braised chicken and Brussels sprouts since early last summer, given how fond of that dish I am. That would indicate its reappearance for a Roediger House dinner Wednesday night was long overdue. Because I'd starved myself over the two previous days, I was particularly ravenous and made very short work of the meal. And was it ever good!

---

"Braised Chicken and Brussels Sprouts," in Everyday Food, Issue 97, November 2012, p. 22.

Meal No. 2799: Pioneer Woman Meat Loaf

The Sunday night menu was once again driven by use-by dates, and this time around it led to a huge pan of meat loaf based on the recipe from Ree Drummond that's found love and admiration here. It is juicy and full of flavorful and hearty goodness, even if it ain't so good for you (the next-morning weigh-in was the worst since 2018). Spiced roasted potatoes and over-salted roasted whole green beans made it a complete dinner.

---

Based on "My Favorite Meatloaf," from Ree Drummond, the Pioneer Woman. Posted 20 September 2010.

Lemon and White Chocolate Sugar Cookies

"I don't know what you put in those cookies, but they were like crack." So reported via text one of the neighbors last Saturday, regarding the lemon and white chocolate sugar cookies I made that morning. By bedtime, I had eaten five or six of them myself, so I knew exactly what she meant, without knowing anything about crack directly.

---

"Lemon and White Chocolate Sugar Cookies," by Chris Scheuer from The Café Sucre Farine [Published 06 January 2015].