News food 2008-08-10 Andanh.com

Comment on Potato salads just say summer by Chris Rubich Wed, 28 May 2008 17:07:48 +0000
I've never tried adding vinegar to the water of potatoes as they boil. Many people do add salt at that juncture. The vinegar in the water would impart some flavor to the potatoes and also may help prevent them from becoming mealy. The mixing of the potato water with bacon fat for dressing also is not something that I've done. Cold potato salad cries out for lots of chopped dill pickle. I mix some pickle juice with the mustard and mayo for the dressing for the cold salad. I also like using dried dill weed for the flavor and visual interest. Dill weed works well in many other salads and on warm boiled potatoes, too. Thanks for the ideas to try. And, readers, let us know if you have tried any of these ideas or have other suggestions for potato salad.

Comment on Brownies, elephants and clowns, oh, my! by Chris Rubich Wed, 28 May 2008 17:00:08 +0000
Sam: You're right. It's mighty tempting to bite into brownies before they cool. The gooey texture is almost sinful. And brownies just from the oven taste wonderful broken up over vanilla ice cream. The warm brownie also can be a base for a scoop of ice cream that has hot-fudge topping with whipped cream and berries. Yum.

Comment on Potato salads just say summer by Anonymous Fri, 23 May 2008 23:46:30 +0000
i had a german friend who told me she put a tbsp of vinegar and a dash of salt in the potatoes WHILE they boiled. Has anyone ever tried it? she peeled hers and left them whole... slicing them as she put them in a bowl. and she used the potato water with bacon fat for dressing. she added dill pickles and juice also.

Celebrate diversity with Festival of Cultures and ethnic flavors Mon, 02 Jun 2008 23:23:58 +0000
Billings’ diversity will be celebrated Sunday, June 8, at the annual Festival of Cultures. Music, dance, vendor booths and, of course, food are featured at the event on the Green at Rocky Mountain College. The festival is an entertaining family day and a good way to introduce youngsters to traditions outside those of their families. And it’s [...]

Comment on Celebrate diversity with Festival of Cultures and ethnic flavors by Chris Rubich Wed, 04 Jun 2008 19:03:54 +0000
Sam: I agree that slow-cooked Mole is mouth-watering, and ground pumpkin seeds would add nice flavor and texture. I don't know of any local restaurants with Mole on their current menus, perhaps just because it does take so much time that it's hard to have as part of daily menus. I have had it as part of some special, one-time menus for private events. If someone knows of a restaurant that has Mole on the menu, please leave a comment letting us know. Or, if folks have a favorite Mole recipe, please share it.

Comment on Celebrate diversity with Festival of Cultures and ethnic flavors by Skibum Sam Tue, 03 Jun 2008 22:46:32 +0000
Chris, having been a fan of Mole since my very first taste I can appreciate your quick recipe. I still love the "all day" slow cooked version with roasted and ground pumpkin seeds but it is very hard to come by these days. Do any of the local restaurants still have it on the menu? Oh, thanks for the reminder about the Festival of Cultures this weekend. Hopefully I will see you there.

Savor those strawberries Sat, 14 Jun 2008 00:06:44 +0000
It’s berry time, and I love it. While at the store last night, I picked up strawberries, cream and pound cake to make one of my favorite desserts super-fast. Usually I enjoy the berries atop angel-food cake, but pound cake was just too tempting to resist. Besides, we’ll all have the chance to enjoy strawberry shortcake made by [...]

Get out the grill for pizza Fri, 13 Jun 2008 23:38:16 +0000
With summer just days away, it looks as if Billings will finally get some spring-like warmth and little precipitation. Which means — it’s time to get grilling in earnest. That usually means burgers, steaks, hot dogs and skewers. But try the grill for pizza. You get crust whose crispiness you can easily control, and the entire [...]

Go bold with barbecue Fri, 20 Jun 2008 17:55:27 +0000
Summer is here at last, and that means barbecue. If you think you’ve got a great barbecue recipe or just love to eat barbecued food, Absarokee’s annual Montana BBQ Cook-Off will be held on Sunday, July 6. The contest is open for beef, buffalo, fish, lamb, pork, ribs and poultry as well as side dishes. And [...]

How do you like your barbecued pork? Tue, 24 Jun 2008 22:10:02 +0000
Tastes vary. Especially when it comes to barbecued pork. Get people talking about what they like best — dry rub or rich sauce, spicy or mild — and you’re sure to end up with differing opinions. You can get some ideas from Billings grillers in the Saturday, June 28, Life section of The Billings Gazette. The stories by [...]

Try tofu for healthy grilling Fri, 27 Jun 2008 19:45:54 +0000
Grilling can go beyond meats, veggies and fruits. Tofu is one healthy option for grillers who want to mark National Grilling Month, which is celebrated in July. The key is using marinades to enrich the tofu with flavor. The 19th Weber GrillWatch Survey found that more than 39 percent of grill owners are serving up more meat substitutes, [...]

Don’t forget food safety at home and away Mon, 30 Jun 2008 20:03:46 +0000
As temperatures climb into the 90s this week — and with more of that heat forecast for Fourth of July — people will be doing more outdoor celebrating and eating. One of my favorite picnic treats is potato salad, and deviled eggs just seem to disappear at any family gatherings where they are served. But serving food [...]

Flavored butters, fruit elevate simple pork, chicken dishes Mon, 30 Jun 2008 19:40:39 +0000
The fruits of summer make sweet harmony when used with meats. And flavored butters keep meats moist while letting the outside get crispy. The butters add the rich flavor of dairy butter along with herbs and spices that make meals of distinction. When you taste what flavored butters do for the meats in these recipes, you’ll want [...]

Add spark to Fourth with mushroom skewers, salad Mon, 30 Jun 2008 19:17:06 +0000
With weather warming up and the Fourth of July at hand, grilling and picnicking are on the minds of many families. You can give a patriotic feel to family reunions, July Fourth block parties or any occasion with little effort. Just use red, white and blue table linens and place settings and serve foods that also [...]

Chill out with frosty treats Wed, 09 Jul 2008 16:41:26 +0000
With daytime highs consistently into the 80s and 90s, it’s time for cooling refreshment — whether in the form of icy drinks or frozen treats. It’s a great time to take advantage of sales on summer fruits, such as strawberries and peaches or even your yard’s bounty. For stories in the print edition of The Billings Gazette [...]

Learn secrets of matching marinades to meats and fishes Fri, 11 Jul 2008 22:58:35 +0000
Ever try adding flavor to meats by using a marinade only to have the end produce seem tough or — just the opposite — to be disintegrating even before it’s cooked? The problem probably lies in your choice of marinade and how its ingredients will pair with your meat or fish. At heart is what cooking’s really [...]

Eggs create budget meals in little time Mon, 14 Jul 2008 16:45:26 +0000
With rising gas and food prices, you still can create meals for less than $2 per serving. And you can use low-fat and lower-calorie additions to keep the health level up. Eggs are a good extender for foods, allowing you to turn leftovers or small amounts of other foods into meals. You can sauté leftover burger, diced [...]

Fairs offer lots of opportunity for sampling fun foods Wed, 16 Jul 2008 22:24:03 +0000
Ah, fair time. Montana and Wyoming in late July and early August have fairs almost every weekend. And that means food — whether it’s judging preserves, 4-H displays about raising foods or treats sold on the grounds. And some of those treats are ones that seem to be available only at fair time. That’s the case in [...]

Cool drinks take just minutes Tue, 15 Jul 2008 21:18:36 +0000
The heat has been on the past few days in Billings. While we haven’t reached 100 degrees, it’s a big change from our mostly mild days. Thank goodness, it’s still cooling off at night. Still, after a bit of time playing or working outdoors, a cold drink is welcome relief. I really enjoy the cold-brew tea bags [...]

Comment on Fairs offer lots of opportunity for sampling fun foods by Chris Rubich Fri, 18 Jul 2008 23:41:22 +0000
Hi, Sam: Great to see that someone else is a butterscotch fan and enjoys sampling at the fair. It's a fun place to try something new. One year when I was helping out Boy Scouts working Al Bedoo Shrine concession booths, I got to introduce a bunch of young boys to portable Greek cuisine in the form of gyros. Gee-ROES, to them. Mispronounced or not, the boys got a quick lesson in what others eat and why Greeks would have seasoned lamb or beef or flat breads (in the form of pita bread). It's interesting to try out tastes of other cultures, whether it's Indian tacos or Asian cuisines while taking in the traditional fun of a fair. For years, one of my aunts and her senior-citizen friends at Pleasantview Apartments and RSVP would shuck much of the corn on the cob served by the Girl Scouts at the fair. That always was a popular booth, too. And ice cream, what a wonder, especially if the heat is sizzling on the midway. Here's hoping you get a chance to try your favorite fair foods soon.

Comment on Fairs offer lots of opportunity for sampling fun foods by Skibum Sam Fri, 18 Jul 2008 16:41:44 +0000
Hello Chris, I'm sorry I have not visited the blog lately, but I did check out all of the previous posts. As far as the fair food, I am more then happy to sample anything with Butterscotch, sorry John, I love desserts. I think my favorite fair food would have to be a meal consisiting of any type of meat product on a bun, corn on the cob with plenty of salted butter, Lemonade,Rootbeer,Coke or Pepsi, and finally something that contains ice cream. Then its off to watch other people ride a spinning and nauseating ride.

Enjoy your salad days Wed, 23 Jul 2008 23:18:50 +0000
I had a wonderful Vietnamese noodle salad at The Rex today that reminded me just how varied foods called “salad” can be. This salad, served on fresh greens, included richly flavored beef slices, long noodles, cilantro, peanuts and more. The flavor and texture were a wealth of contrasts, from the gentle flavor and “to-the-bite” cooked pasta [...]

Cool off with crunchy radish recipes Tue, 22 Jul 2008 23:09:34 +0000
The photo of radishes for sale at the Yellowstone Valley Farmer’s Market in Billings was a welcome reminder of how simple it is to enjoy a healthful, crunchy taste of summer. The shot was in the Sunday, July 20, Billings Gazette as part of a package about the opening day of the market, which is held [...]

Cookbook aids kids after Montana rancher’s death Fri, 25 Jul 2008 16:22:49 +0000
Food is one of those things that bring people together to share. Cooking is a time to share recipes and share skills with new generations or pass down traditions. And meals are times for families and friends to come together to share food and conversation. Potlucks draw together even larger numbers of people to share and often [...]

Blueberries give color, flavor to pound cake Tue, 29 Jul 2008 22:43:36 +0000
Blueberries and strawberries are among the riches of summer fruits available now. I’ve been eating a lot of fresh mixed fruits lately, and the plump, round blueberries give a dramatic contrast in color to the greens and oranges of melons and the bright yellow of pineapple. Most of the berries have been at just the right ripeness, [...]

Grilled-corn salsa adds kick and color Sat, 09 Aug 2008 01:21:13 +0000
The summer bounty of corn and peppers offers a colorful and flavorful opportunity to switch up dining. Ears of corn can be boiled and served with butter and salt. But why not get more adventurous? Grilling gives a smoking flavor to corn and emphasizes its sweetness. And it’s easy to do. Salsas continue to grow more popular as [...]

Go for gold with Chinese lamb kebabs Sat, 09 Aug 2008 01:09:51 +0000
With the Olympic Games finally opened, I thought it would be fun to give you an idea for celebrating with your own Chinese-inspired dish. The Associated Press shared this idea from Xinjiang. AP says “Xinjiang, a predominantly Muslim region of western China, is home to an ethnic group called the Uighurs that has more in common culturally [...]

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