Wednesday, March 9, 2011

What Is That?

I went through a cookbook the other day and found many things that were either completely foreign to me, or things that I had heard of but had no idea what to do with them. Because I just love lists, here is one I compiled to help us on our journey:

  • Many different kinds of chili peppers
  • Capers
  • Cream of Tartar
  • Rye
  • Self-rising flour
  • Leavening agents (I do know yeast!)
  • Scallions (never cooked with these)
  • Phyllo (I think you can make really yummy pastries with these?)
  • Shallots
  • Tomatillos (obviously, some sort of tomato or something?)
  • Compressed cakes or active yeast
  • Canapes
  • Crudites
  • Persimmons
  • Kabuchas
  • Delicatas
  • Turbans
  • Pattybans
  • Jack Be Littles
  • Carnivals
  • Cherimoyas
  • Quinces
  • Prickly Pears
  • Sapotes
  • Coquito Nuts
  • Tamarillos (red and yellow)
  • Horned Melons
  • Feijoas
  • Arugalas
  • Watercress 
  • Sorrells
  • Collard/Mustard Greens
  • Kale
  • Radicchio (an Italian radish?)
  • Tofu (I know what this is... just have no idea how to cook with it)
  • Polenta
  • Quinoa
  • Bulgar Wheat
  • Wheat Berries
  • Millet
  • Amaranth
  • Orzo (was originally on my list and now I can cross it out because I cooked with it yesterday)
  • Many kinds of cheeses

I am pretty excited to try some of these! We live in an area that has such abundance and all I tend to make are the typical American meals, Italian and Mexican dishes that (I'm sure we butcher), and maybe a little Greek once in a while. Can I say I make Greek stuff if I occasionally use Feta and olives? I know I will NOT be cooking lamb. Cliff made some of that in a crock pot a few months ago and I had to take it to the garage. The smell was beyond foul!

I digress.

Here is the list of things I don't have, and will probably need, to make a few new dishes:

  • Souffle dish
  • Springform pan
  • Dutch oven
  • Zester (I just love saying that!)
  • More rubber spatulas
  • A good garlic press
  • A hand held wooden reamer (Don't know what this is yet either!)
  • Fine mesh seive
  • Gravy or fat separator 

I think I can get a lot of these things at Garage Sales. I'm so excited for garage sales!! They're coming up soon :) Hopefully a year from now I will know what most of these things are AND how to use them!

3 comments:

  1. Dutch Oven is a MUST! Get one with legs and an inverted lid for camping/outdoor cooking and you'll wonder how you camped without one. Another cast iron one with a regular lid (hey, didn't you get one from Kara's exchange thing?) for inside and you're set for life. Have Kaiah make her French Bread in the dutch oven as a round loaf and bake it with the lid on for a super crunchy crust! YUM!

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  2. Yes. I'm going to use that cast iron pan. I just need to get used to cooking with different equipment. I haven't cleaned or seasoned it yet.

    I'm so glad for your help! Maybe in all your spare time you can come teach me a few things and be a guest cook! Ha!

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  3. You do have a zester. Just use the smaller side of your cheese grater. Et voila!

    Also crudites are nothing more than cut-up veggies and dip.

    Tomatillos are a kind of hot pepper and prickly pear grow on cactus so are not native to the portland area ;)

    Ok enough for now! I love your experimenting and I bet you'll end up a gourmet cook. Have fun!

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