The Cooking Thread

• capninsano

  These tend to be popular on other forums. Anything cooking related goes in here. What'd you make/eat recently that was great? Anything you want to try? Tools, gadgets, etc....
  
  I'll start off. I just bought this steamer from Amazon with my gift card...awesome purchase.
  
  
  
  http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00019G8IS/ref=oss_T15_product
  
  I've used it to steam asparagus, broccoli, and potatoes so far and it is extremely easy to use. I'm going to get some crab legs or a lobster and see how it does that sometime this week. I can't wait.
  
  And the other thing I wanted to mention. Has anyone tried buffalo chicken cheese balls? Essentially it's chicken, cheese, and buffalo sauce rolled in breading and then deep fried. They've gotten excellent reviews, just wondered if anyone else has tried them.
  
  Recipe: http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/aaron-mccargo-jr/buffalo-chicken-cheese-balls-recipe/index.html
• j_crazy

  

  Just bought a rice cooker:
  
  AMAZON LINK
  
  
  Made Turtle Sauce Piquante on Friday. Chicken and Sausage Gumbo yesterday.
• capninsano

  Does anyone own a smoker? I was thinking about buying one this spring. It would be great to make my own ribs, brisket, etc... the real way.
• DeyDurkie5

  

  My mom has been putting a huge turkey breast in the potcrock, and putting cranberry sauce all over it and letting it cook for like 9 hours...it's really tasty
• gorocks99

  

  What are your favorite hot peppers with which to cook?
  
  Lately I've been loving poblano peppers, Serrano, and the occasional Habenero for mango-habenero sauce. Also, on a related note, what's the best way to use Queso Fresco? I have some as I hear it's always the more "authentic" Mexican way to eat, but I don't know the best way to incorporate it into my dishes.
• THE4RINGZ

  

  We were just discussing getting a smoker last night. Probably will get one this spring.
  
  Yesterday I cooked an 8 pound pork shouldedr roast, low and slow (225 degrees for 8 hours) in my granite roaster in the oven. Once cooked I pulled apart the meat, seperated the fat, and slow boiled it in my homemade Carolina BBQ sauce. Served on whole wheat buns. Pretty damned good.
• ernest_t_bass

  

  I just got this off of the foodnetwork.com and it works GREAT!
  
  
• september63

  

  www.biggreenegg.com
• gorocks99

  

  ernest_t_bass wrote: I just got this off of the foodnetwork.com and it works GREAT!
  
  

  
• Wildcat24

  

  
  
  I own one of these. Use it primarily for salmon and occasionally cheese, it is fantastic.
• THE4RINGZ

  

  I am thinking old fashioned smoker. One that I have to build a fire in, keep the fire stoked with dried hickory wood all night while I slowly roast my brisket, ribs, chicken, or whatever.
• september63

  

  Did you look at the biggreennegg?
• THE4RINGZ

  

  No we have yet to start looking. Is that one we should definately look at?
• GoChiefs

  

  Been smoking ribs and chicken for a few years now. The ONLY way to cook them.
• CenterBHSFan

  

  I have one of these and there isn't a week that goes by that I don't use it at least once.
  You can use it for sauces, soups, pesto, and I used it once to finish off a double batch of ganache. I'll never go without one again!
  
  
• j_crazy

  

  You like the egg? How expensive is it to operate?
• september63

  

  Is no more costly than any other smoker. Click there website to learn more. www.biggreenegg.com
• sleeper

  

  My wife is the best machine I ever had.
• ytownfootball

  

  sleeper wrote: My wife is the best machine I ever had.

  Yes...yes she is.
• Darkon

  

  I had a smoker and gave it away. Used it alot when we first got it but the novelty wore off. It was only getting used maybe a couple of times a year. It was good though.
  
  Anyone else like the Pampered Chef products. We (wife and I) find them to be great. Love the chopper.
• GoChiefs

  

  september63 wrote: Is no more costly than any other smoker. Click there website to learn more. www.biggreenegg.com

  My smoker was 40 bucks at Walmart..considering I can't find a price for one of these things on the website..I'm sure it cost more than that.
• Bio-Hazzzzard

  

  Save yourself some some $$$. Forget the Big Green Egg and purchase the Weber Smoky Mountain 22 1/2 for $321 on Amazon with 2-day free delivery. This thing will cook on the original coals for 12+ hours. I've been smoking meat for years and this pit has beat all the others I have owned, so IMO save yourself $650.00 and go with the WSM. Smoking is the only way to do any bbq!
• Bio-Hazzzzard

  

  GoChiefs wrote:

  september63 wrote: Is no more costly than any other smoker. Click there website to learn more. www.biggreenegg.com

  My smoker was 40 bucks at Walmart..considering I can't find a price for one of these things on the website..I'm sure it cost more than that.

  The Big Green Egg surfaces at about $700 for the small BGE up to $1000 for the xl model.
• Fab4Runner

  

  I got a mandolin for Christmas but have only used it once so far. Diced up some potatoes for cheesy taters and it did save a bunch of time and work. I am planning on making some homemade potato chips with it sometime soon. I need to read the entire book it came with to see all of the things I can chop/make with it.
• capninsano

  Looks like it's between the Weber and Bradley smokers. Thanks guys.