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« September 2007 | Main | November 2007 »
Wednesday, October 31, 2007 - 17:33:56
Slice of Heaven
In a bowl. Apparently our friends in Searcy, Arkansas have a seasonal flavor out.
Sorry- but its the first year I've seen this. Mrs. Belly brought it home from Kroger. I usually don't care for sweets, but how can you resist pumpkin pie ice cream? With pie crust pieces no less?
Very light and creamy. It begins to melt immediately, so eat as fast as you can without getting the dreaded brain freeze. And yes, it tastes exactly like pumpkin pie. Really, really good pumpkin pie. You know you want some.
Tuesday, October 30, 2007 - 17:15:36
Grill me up, Scotty
Jennie Robertson writes: "Attached is a picture of a grilled turkey, egg and American cheese sandwich on whole weat bread. I made it for my husband for lunch this past weekend. Even though it's not necessarily 'from scratch' and not anywhere close to fancy, it's perfect for a lazy Saturday."
I confess that when I first read the note, I didn't expect much. Then I saw the picture. Looking good! Also, it reminded me of an impromptu version of a patty melt that I'd like to recommend.
I like to make more meat loaf than my family can eat (hard to do), so that I'll have plenty left over for meat loaf sandwiches. Typically, I just slice the cold meat loaf thinly, and build a sandwich with mayo, lettuce, tomato and onion.
But I just tried this instead: I used Pepperidge Farm pumpernickel. I put a thin layer of mayo on both pieces of bread, Then I sliced some thin meat loaf (mine is LOADED with onion and celery) and put it on the bread along with sliced Havarti cheese. Then I grilled the sandwich in butter. The oniony meatloaf stands up to the strong taste of the pumpernickel and havarti melts into a fine, mild, creamy goo. Mmm.
EY in the kitchen
Blog reader EY supplies the picture above and the note:
It's something to eat and I'm a native Arkansan. But it was so good that I've got to share. From the cover of the October Bon Appetit via EY's kitchen, I give you Cabernet-Braised Short Ribs. Story of the process is at http://eyrr.blogspot.com/ The picture is the last one...the results of the process.
Exotic edibles
Annapurna, who writes that she loves Belly Boy's posts (and so do we), contributes some photos and a note about a spot that happens to be one of BB's favorites, Sam's Oriental Grocery on University across from UALR.
I am a big fan of all our ethnic grocery stores as well. Saturday is the day that Sams Oriental gets fresh seafood and produce. I am sending a couple of pics of last week's trip. The pictures are live blue crabs, fresh salmon and shrimp. My produce pics didn't turn out well but they had a beautiful selection of fresh herbs and vegetables at a fraction of what you would pay at your chain grocery.
Monday, October 29, 2007 - 16:07:50
Bountiful Harvest
Blog reader Sernin has a couple of photos that I find interesting. Her description:"I got my first Community Supported Agriculture basket today. I showed up too late for eggs, and I swapped my loaf of 8-grain bread for dietary reasons."
The goods:
2 bell peppers
1 gallon bag of field greens
1 quart bag of basil
1 tub of pesto
1 blob of fresh whole wheat pasta
1 pound beefalo
1 gallon bag of frozen (purple hull?) peas
8 sweet potatoes (half of them in swap for the bread)
1 big yellow (spaghetti?) squash
2 little decorative gourds
1 box rice
1/2 quart bag of popcorn
1 bag cornmeal (in swap for them running out of eggs)
1 unit colby cheese
When asked for details of the program, Sernin responds:
"Their website is here. And lots of CSA information here.
Their email is csalittlerock@yahoo.com and phone is 501.374.1660
To sign up for the program, just visit them at the River Market to fill out the enrollment form. They have a choice of vegetarian baskets or whole market baskets. Payment is required in advance. I signed up for a three month stretch of whole market baskets for $180, and just got my first basket last Friday morning."
Anybody else in the CSA program? Thoughts or comments?
A fungus among us
Tim Jones, a mushroom fan, sends along the photo of what he says is a delectable wild mushroom. Before I get to his post, let me just remind readers that a very famous Little Rock chef, Andre Simon, who was an experienced mushroom gatherer, nearly died from ingesting a mushroom he harvested that he mistook for a safe variety. He later was shot to death in a robbery. With those warnings issued, Tim's report:
I like mushrooms. I mean, I really like mushrooms. I guess I’m a bit of a mushroom snob, though - if I didn’t grow it or pick it, I’m not apt to get excited about it. The Fresh Market has some nice exotic varieties from time to time, so there are options we lacked a short time ago, like fresh lobster mushrooms, chanterelles, or even truffles. To my taste, button mushrooms are to fungi as Wonder Bread is to the best that Boulevard Bread has to offer.
The accompanying photo probably isn’t what the average Eat Arkansas reader may expect for a gourmet mushroom. That is a Hericium, aka Lion’s Mane or Bear Paw mushroom, an odd looking but delicious tooth fungus that pops up on damaged hardwood trees. It looks like a hairy snowball. Sliced thinly and sautéed, it has a firm, meaty texture and a unique but mild flavor.
That’s the thing about wild edible mushrooms- they aren’t just dodgy and potentially toxic ways to get the same flavor of a store-bought mushroom, they’re truly unique. Morels or chanterelles are both heavenly, and there’s nothing on earth that tastes remotely like either. Moreover, neither can be cultivated, at least not in any commercially feasible way. You’ve got to learn and to hike and to search, but the payoff is amazing. Want to learn more?
The annual Fungus Fair, sponsored by the Arkansas Mycological Society, will be held Saturday, Nov. 3 at the Pinnacle Mountain State Park Visitors Center.
Events include:
Foray in Arboretum 10 AM – 12:30 PM
Lunch 12:30 PM – 1:30 PM (wild mushroom soup will be provided but participants should bring some snack food or a sandwich)
Slide Presentation 1:30 PM – 2:30 PM “Edible and Poisonous Mushrooms of Arkansas”
Lecture on growing mushrooms as a hobby, 2:45 PM - 3:30 PM
Mycophagy session (cooking and tasting wild mushrooms) 3:45 PM – 4:30 PM
Admission: AMS members may attend free but non-members (over the age of 18) are asked to pay $10 for the day’s events.
So how about it- who’s got some good mushroom stories, recipes, local haunts with delights from the forest? (No hallucination stories from college, thank you.)
Saturday, October 27, 2007 - 12:41:06
A household divided
Mrs. Belly had to go to work today (Saturday) which left me to my own devices. Her favorite BBQ is Whole Hog, which I like as well. Therefore, we typically eat at Whole Hog. Today, however, is another story. You guessed it.
I like the 33rd street location.
Thats the Sims BBQ chopped pork plate with beans, slaw, and white bread for $7.00. Mrs. Belly just isn't a fan of the tangy, vinegary sauce, but I love it. Can't get enough. I use the bread to mop it up. Is there a restaurant you like to go to (or dish you like to cook) when the significant other is away?
A Taste of the Middle East.
Tailgating
Brave new photos
Belly Boy goes to Cregeen's
A run to the border
Tigertown eats
Cheese bread
Soda bread
That time of the year again.
Where's the beef?
Macho, Macho Man
That other Indian Place
A taste of Brazil
Anybody going to Cregeen's this weekend? -- UPDATE
And the winner is ....
Give me some stout-hearted men -- and women
Erin go bragh
Fall Food
Speaking of Pizza
Welcome home
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