Jaz Cooks's Posts

Home Cooking

How to Properly Cook a Sausage?

by petitlapin66 13 years ago

I use the "poach then brown" method. If I am planning to freeze sausage, I generally poach them first, then vacuum seal them. Then they can just be quickly browned by any method. I have had great luck with this, and we are sausage aficionados.

Poaching can be done in water, stock, beer or tomato juice. I find that the poaching insures that the sausages will be fully cooked through, and that the interior will not be coarse.

The browning can be done in a skillet, on a grill or in the oven. They all work well. If you are adding them to another application (marinara or sauerkraut, for instance) still do the browning technique, to get the casings crispy and get some Maillard reaction.

Gut Wurst!

I use the "poach then brown" method. If I am planning to freeze sausage, I generally poach them first, then vacuum seal them. Then they can just be quickly browned by any method. I have had great luck with this, and we are sausage aficionados.

Poaching can be done in water, stock, beer or tom...

2

Packaged Foods

Breakfast Canned Food Beef Corned Beef Corned Beef Hash

Corned Beef hash...from a can. Preferred brands?

by saintp 9 years ago

Jaz Cooks commented 7 years ago

Aldi stores sell a no-name brand that is better than any other canned product I have tried. I hadn't eaten CBH for many years because it was so gross, but after I tried a can of this, I am back to eating it maybe once every few months. YES it's like dogfood, but it's really lovely dogfood when it's crispy! :)

Home Cooking

Coleslaw

Coleslaw!!

by Jaz Cooks 9 years ago

Jaz Cooks commented 9 years ago

Thanks for this suggestion. It happens to be on sale here for $2, so I will try a bottle. I think I'll also grab the smallest amount of miracle whip I can. If nothing else, I can try the KFC copycat. We don't do fast food much, but I think I remember my hubby saying that he liked that slaw. <3

Home Cooking

Coleslaw

Coleslaw!!

by Jaz Cooks 9 years ago

Jaz Cooks commented 9 years ago

It's a little sweet, but not overly. I can't put my finger on it, but it's really good. I grab a bag of coleslaw mix - add a cup of the stuff and refrigerate it for a couple of hours, and it's delicious. My daughter hates all cabbage, except this.

Because my hubby likes slaw, I have tried Asian slaw recipes, and making my own with mayo and cider vinegar. he was OK with them, but he really loves this Kraft stuff. And, though I am not a fan of HFCS, I get it for him.

I think I will buy a tiny jar of miracle whip and see if that's it. It may be, because the Kraft slaw stuff tastes pretty gross out of the bottle. It just somehow combines with the raw cabbage to make something really good, LOL.

Thanks for all the input guys! You are the best!

It's a little sweet, but not overly. I can't put my finger on it, but it's really good. I grab a bag of coleslaw mix - add a cup of the stuff and refrigerate it for a couple of hours, and it's delicious. My daughter hates all cabbage, except this.

Because my hubby likes slaw, I have tried As...

Home Cooking

Coleslaw

Coleslaw!!

by Jaz Cooks 9 years ago

Hi guys - need help. I have never liked coleslaw, until I tried Kraft one-step coleslaw maker, and I really do like that. But my store has stopped carrying it, and it's about $9 a bottle online!!!

Does anyone know if it is mayonnaise based or miracle whip based? I use Hellmans mayo, and have always shuddered at the thought of MW (based on one taste, 20 years ago). But I really REALLY need this coleslaw! If nothing else, does anyone know if it tastes like KFC slaw? I haven't tried that either, but there are lots of copycats for KFC, all saying MW.

Thanks people! Love you!

Hi guys - need help. I have never liked coleslaw, until I tried Kraft one-step coleslaw maker, and I really do like that. But my store has stopped carrying it, and it's about $9 a bottle online!!!

Does anyone know if it is mayonnaise based or miracle whip based? I use Hellmans mayo, and have...

24

Not About Food

Restaurant Etiquette

Where's my change!?!

by southocean 10 years ago

Jaz Cooks commented 9 years ago

Here's a trick I found out about, and now iI watch like a hawk. One night about 6 of us were eating at a pretty nice place. We were having a good time - and the guys were drinking and getting very charming. Anyway, the check comes and the first thing I always do it check to see that everything is OK, and it seems to be.

BUT I notice that the server had hit the gratuity key. (you know - the $18% for parties of 8+). She then circled the total, including that amount and helpfully wrote out what 15 and 20% of that amount would be.

That is, on TOP of the gratuity she already incorrectly processed. She thought that because the guy paying was drunk, she could get away with it. But the person paying was a sober ME.

Anyway - just keep your eyes open. Apparently this is a thing. When caught, they can just say "oh no! I just accidentally hit that - I am sooooo sorry!"

Here's a trick I found out about, and now iI watch like a hawk. One night about 6 of us were eating at a pretty nice place. We were having a good time - and the guys were drinking and getting very charming. Anyway, the check comes and the first thing I always do it check to see that everything ...

2

Cookware

Kitchen Tool you had an 'a ha' moment with ......

by yummykimmy 9 years ago

Jaz Cooks commented 9 years ago

Personally I put a little in both the detergent and the fabric softener spaces, and then pour the rest just over the laundry. But I don't think it matters! Smaki: let me know what you think after you run a load. I really hope you are as happy as I was!

Cookware

Kitchen Tool you had an 'a ha' moment with ......

by yummykimmy 9 years ago

Jaz Cooks commented 9 years ago

OH! I want one! I guess I need to go to Alaska!

Cookware

Kitchen Tool you had an 'a ha' moment with ......

by yummykimmy 9 years ago

Jaz Cooks commented 9 years ago

Hey Smaki, I use about 1 cup per load, and I do use it for almost everything, but I add a little detergent to jeans. The laundry smells really nice - not at all vinegary, just clean and fresh, and the lint in my dryer seems lighter (quantity) too, so I am guessing it is better for the fabric.

I am a late-comer to white vinegar, but I am learning to LOVE it - I have replaced probably half my cleaning products with it!

Cookware

What's your favorite uni-tasker?

by Jaz Cooks 9 years ago

Jaz Cooks commented 9 years ago

I have an electric kettle instead of a microwave. Heating water was about 90% of what I used a microwave for, so I ditched it. After years of using the MW, I found out that leftovers taste better when they are heated on the stove anyway! So it was a total win-win!

Coffee & Tea

The Best Bagged Tea Tea

Best Bagged Tea Brands?

by Jadore 11 years ago

Jaz Cooks commented 9 years ago

Trader Joe's teas are really quite good. I love the Mango Black tea, and the Earl Grey, especially. They are cheap too!

General Discussion

Rising Food Prices - what are you doing to stay within your food budget?

by cstout 9 years ago

Jaz Cooks commented 9 years ago

Invest in a vacuum sealer! That lets you buy bulk meats at the cheaper price and repackage them in smaller quantities, and lets you save things much longer. You can save a LOT of money, even on fairly cheap things.

For example, I bought a pound of yeast at Costco for about $4. I put the opened package into a resealable vacuum bag. I just measure out what I need and then reseal and re-vacuum the bag. A 3-pack of yeast is $1.50, so after using the equivalent of 8 packets, the yeast became basically free. The exp. date was a year from when I bought it, but it is still good (I always proof my yeast) a year past that date. It's not even in the freezer, just on my shelf.

So, in that two years, baking 2 loaves of bread a week, I have saved (believe it or not) over $100 just on yeast! That almost pays for the vacuum machine!

But I use it for so much more! I will buy a whole pork loin and cut chops. I tend to freeze them 3 in a pack (for one family meal). I buy the loins when they are $1.29 cents a pound. Boneless loin chops are usually $5 a lb on sale, at my store, so every dinner I make saves at least $3.00. At once a week, the savings are $150 for a year!

The thing to keep in mind is that small savings REALLY add up. Buy as much as you can when it's on super 1/2 price sale, and store it. I probably have 50 cans of tuna on my shelf from the last time it was on sale for 50 cents a can. Each can I use is a savings of about 75 cents. If you do that faithfully, you WILL save money, and still be able to eat very well! Good luck!

Invest in a vacuum sealer! That lets you buy bulk meats at the cheaper price and repackage them in smaller quantities, and lets you save things much longer. You can save a LOT of money, even on fairly cheap things.

For example, I bought a pound of yeast at Costco for about $4. I put the opene...

General Discussion

Anybody having good luck with chestnuts this year?

by vvv03 9 years ago

Jaz Cooks commented 9 years ago

I started using the pre-peeled, steamed ones from Trader Joes, and they have been great! Since they are shelf-stable, you can keep them on hand in case you get inspired. I don't recall exactly, but I think they were $3 or $4 for maybe 1/2 lb. I saw a pouch of them at my regular store last week too, so if you don't have a TJ's near by you might just try that. Good luck!

Cookware

What's your favorite uni-tasker?

by Jaz Cooks 9 years ago

Jaz Cooks commented 9 years ago

That reminded me - I not only have my mom's garlic press, I also have her 50-year old egg slicer. I have gone through one about every 6 months, minimum, since I usually use them to slice mushrooms, and the wires just go "sproong" eventually. But hers has hung in through years of use. They just don't make 'em like that anymore!

Cookware

Kitchen Tool you had an 'a ha' moment with ......

by yummykimmy 9 years ago

Jaz Cooks commented 9 years ago

Also great prices on 1/2 sheet pans! I bought 10 of them for less than $50. Besides all the other thousand things I use them for, I use them as cookie sheets, with parchment liners. It's so nice to be able to load up pans without having to wait for them to cool.

Cookware

Kitchen Tool you had an 'a ha' moment with ......

by yummykimmy 9 years ago

Jaz Cooks commented 9 years ago

I stopped using detergent for the most part and just use plain old white vinegar for most of my laundry. (My washer kept getting mildew-y... ick!) I can't believe how clean and fresh the clothes are, and my washer is sparkling too. Plus no lab-created chemicals. Try it - I swear you will feel better about washing your kitchen towels in there, LOL!

Cookware

Kitchen Tool you had an 'a ha' moment with ......

by yummykimmy 9 years ago

Jaz Cooks commented 9 years ago

Hmmmm, like you, I love gadgets and tools. At any moment my favorite is probably the one I just used! But one that I would prefer to not live without is my mini food processor/chopper. I love that thing! For garlic, herbs, dried porcini muchrooms, shallots, hard cheese... It's so much nicer than dragging out the big guy, takes 2 seconds to clean and only uses about 4 inches on my countertop.

Most of the time iI just chop by hand, but for soups and casseroles and stuff, it's great to just zip through it in a few seconds!

Hmmmm, like you, I love gadgets and tools. At any moment my favorite is probably the one I just used! But one that I would prefer to not live without is my mini food processor/chopper. I love that thing! For garlic, herbs, dried porcini muchrooms, shallots, hard cheese... It's so much nicer t...

Cookware

What's your favorite uni-tasker?

by Jaz Cooks 9 years ago

Last week I bought a uni-tasker, and I am so happy with it! I got an electric egg cooker, and I think it may be up there as my favorite kitchen tool ever!

So, I can not make good eggs. I have tried every "perfect" recipe, from putting vinegar in the water, to making them in the electric water kettle (a'la Alton Brown). My sister has her no-fail recipe which like other methods, only worked occasionally for me. I didn't have trouble with green rings, my problem was always peeling, with the pock-marked eggs looking like they lost a serious battle.

My husband, who is German, suggested that I get an egg cooker. They are a mainstay in German kitchens and even the drugstores there carry them. I finally found one in the US http://www.cuisinart.com/products/spe... and bought it. My life has CHANGED!

Seriously, this is the coolest thing ever! You just add the number of eggs you want, add the correct amount of water, pierce the top of the eggs, and start it. It adjusts (by the amount of water) to soft, medium or hard eggs, and up to 7 eggs at once. It's like magic! And the eggs are perfectly cooked - no hassle, and they peel like a DREAM! I can't believe how much I love this thing!

The only drawback is that there is a scale left on the bottom after making the eggs, but I immediately poured in a spoonful of white vinegar. By the time it cooled, I just wiped it out and the scale was gone.

So, what's YOUR favorite uni-tasker?

Last week I bought a uni-tasker, and I am so happy with it! I got an electric egg cooker, and I think it may be up there as my favorite kitchen tool ever!

So, I can not make good eggs. I have tried every "perfect" recipe, from putting vinegar in the water, to making them in the electric water ...

42

Packaged Foods

Christmas Candy Mint

Mad hunt for vintage candy

by Phil_A_Mignon 14 years ago

Jaz Cooks commented 9 years ago

Cracker Barrel restaurants sell them, plus a whole bunch of other "vintage" candy in the shops attached to their restaurants. They sell "rock" candy on the string or stick there too. That stuff was old-fashioned when i was a kid, but we still loved it!

General Discussion

Food confessions you'd rather not make.?

by Zoe 19 years ago

Jaz Cooks commented 9 years ago

Macaroni with mayonnaise is good, but it really needs a shot of McCormicks Salad supreme seasoning! That's the only reason I keep that seasoning around - my daughter LOVES it!

General Discussion

Food confessions you'd rather not make.?

by Zoe 19 years ago

Jaz Cooks commented 9 years ago

I can get with all of the above, EXCEPT that Chef Boy-R-Dee stuff. For some reason, it smells like regurgitation to me! UGH!

General Discussion

Food confessions you'd rather not make.?

by Zoe 19 years ago

Jaz Cooks commented 9 years ago

OH! One more! Stouffers (in the red box) creamed chipped beef with toasted english muffins. And tabasco on top. OMGood!

General Discussion

Food confessions you'd rather not make.?

by Zoe 19 years ago

Jaz Cooks commented 9 years ago

Doritos Locos tacos from Taco Bell. I can eat 3 of them at one time! That orange-y nacho cheez powder reminds me of my childhood!

Home Cooking

Relish Mustard Seed Onions

Bicks Zesty Onion Relish

by Jaz Cooks 9 years ago

Hi guys - when I was in Canada last time, I picked up a jar of Bicks Zesty Onion Relish. It didn't last a week at home. Hubby kept asking for "anything that would go with that relish" for dinner - it was THAT good! I got the list of ingredients off the jar, but I can't find a recipe online that seems to come close. I winged it, and made something passable, but it's not the same.

Onions, sugar, white vinegar, water, spices and seasonings, modified corn starch, dehydrated peppers, salt

It definitely had mustard seeds in it, but I can't figure out the rest. Does anyone have a good copycat recipe for this stuff? Thanks!!

Hi guys - when I was in Canada last time, I picked up a jar of Bicks Zesty Onion Relish. It didn't last a week at home. Hubby kept asking for "anything that would go with that relish" for dinner - it was THAT good! I got the list of ingredients off the jar, but I can't find a recipe online that s...

24

General Discussion

Life span of capers in brine in refrigerator?

by Adree1 9 years ago

Jaz Cooks commented 9 years ago

My personal experience is that they last WELL over a year, so long as they are put back in the fridge after using. Just for curiosity's sake, I just discovered a jar of the Costco artichoke hearts in the way back of the fridge too - and they were still fine after at least 3 months!

General Discussion

Pretzel Roll stuffing

by Jaz Cooks 9 years ago

Hello fellow Chow Hounds! I have half a bag of those amazingly good pretzel rolls from Costco that got a bit stale. I tossed them in the freezer, thinking I might used them to make a stuffing. Does anyone have any suggestions? In case anyone is not familiar, they have a very dense texture (like a soft pretzel). I am thinking that they may just need a bit more stock. I kind of thought maybe do a sausage stuffing with beer and mustard - but that theme might be off for TG, lol. But hmmmm... maybe to try some other time? Anyway, thanks for any input!

Hello fellow Chow Hounds! I have half a bag of those amazingly good pretzel rolls from Costco that got a bit stale. I tossed them in the freezer, thinking I might used them to make a stuffing. Does anyone have any suggestions? In case anyone is not familiar, they have a very dense texture (like...

General Discussion

Thanksgiving

What Thanksgiving dish do you refuse to eat?

by Jpan99 9 years ago

Jaz Cooks commented 9 years ago

I'm with you. Cranberry jelly from the can is a treat. I only eat it once a year, but I would really miss it! Besides, my mom had a special dish for it, to make the slices look so pretty. I have no other use for the dish, so I just HAVE to put the jelly out, right? LOL

Features

I Stuffed a Turkey with Twinkies

by CHOW Staff 10 years ago

Jaz Cooks commented 9 years ago

Now, don't be dissin' green bean casserole! Yes it's mushroom soup, but it is delicious. I have made it with a bechamel and fresh mushrooms, and while delicious, it is NOT the same as that classic. I think once a year it's OK to just close your eyes and remember your childhood! But NO WAY am I going to try this twinkie recipe. Gross!

Features

Food Words We Love to Hate!

by CHOW Staff 10 years ago

Jaz Cooks commented 10 years ago

Unctuous and phenomenal - HATE HATE HATE!

General Discussion

Thanksgiving Cranberry Sauce

Canned Cranberry Sauce: A Thanksgiving Love Story

by CHOW Staff 2 years ago

Jaz Cooks commented 10 years ago

Jellied cranberry sauce. I eat it once a year, and I love it. I hate turkey, but can choke down a slice or two, so long as my sweet squishy cranberry sauce is right there. Somehow the turkey isn't so bad. Once a year :)

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