Forums » Off-Topic Discussions

In the Kitchen

    • 5035 posts
    February 18, 2007 4:36 PM PST
    Sigh, why does baking a half chicken take so long to cook. I put it on at 5:15 at 375 and it's still not done. I raised the temperature to 400 at 6:00, still not done.
    We don't usually eat this late and I'm starving. :D  :(

    • 5130 posts
    February 18, 2007 4:43 PM PST
    Wow...make sure your heating element isnt dying in the oven. I usually have an oven thermometer hanging from the center rack.  Then my mom goes and tells me that there is a special way to use those things to get an accurate reading of oven temp. On a different note, I was watching Boy Meets Grill this morning and he was sampling a peruvian dish of some sort of fish that had been enzymatically cooked and prepared.  When I make chicken fajitas, I marinate the chicken in lime juice, and I've noticed that if the meat sits in the lime juice for a good little bit (about half an hour) it begins to look cooked.  I didnt know it actually WAS cooking.  Wierd... The dish was called "ceviche" http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ceviche
    • 5035 posts
    February 18, 2007 4:49 PM PST
    Well, I wish now I'd marinated the chicken in lime juice, that would have made the cooking time much shorter.  I have a gas oven and I don't bake very often. :(
    Thanks Terri, I'll remember the lime juice trick. I'm going now to check the meat with a thermometer. It's done at 190 degrees.
    • 5130 posts
    February 18, 2007 4:51 PM PST
    Yeah, I dont think I would ever consider relying on a lime marinade to cook my chicken.  Fish, yes.. chicken, not so much.  :)  But the lime marinade on the chicken when you're making fajitas is delicious!

    :)
    • 5035 posts
    February 18, 2007 5:26 PM PST
    lol, it finally got cooked, but discovered what may have been the problem. I now know I have 2 BROKEN thermometers. :D
    • Moderator
    • 7059 posts
    February 19, 2007 5:49 AM PST
    Yesterday, our oven thermometer said the temp was 500, when we had the oven turned on at 375! I didn't know your oven could get hotter than it was suppose to!

    I watched a little FoodTv yesterday morning. A show with Guy, who was the reality show winner of FoodTv's Next Host, or something. He cooked an awesome, but complicated sangrio shrimp with tortilla cake recipe. I'm drolling thinking about it.

    • 5130 posts
    February 19, 2007 5:56 AM PST
    haha!!  I watched that, but got distracted before the cake was assembled.  He's alittle "all over the place for me" and his refrigerator looked wierd.  Big red 05 on it.  And why was he wearing a bandage on his arm?  Was that a masonic ring on his left hand?  Also, I dont think he was wearing the gold bracelet on his right wrist when the show first started, but after the commercial break, there it was.  And why the big 'ol watch?  Too much bling for the kitchen.
    • 5035 posts
    February 19, 2007 6:04 AM PST
    ;D Haven't seen him before, but after all's been said, lol, now I have to watch his show. ;D
    When is he on? :o
    • Moderator
    • 7059 posts
    February 19, 2007 6:06 AM PST
    I didn't think he show was as 'put together' as I would have liked, but the recipe kept me glued. I'm not normally home then (early Sunday morning around 9:30), and had never seen his show before, and so I made myself watch the whole thing. You know, trying to give the guy a chance. ;) But what he cooked was too complicated for me, and made me soak my chin from drool. Don't know that I'll watch him again. I was distracted by his set. What was up with having a tv turned on to a hockey game?? Were they trying to convince us it wasn't a studio?? Gia,  Alton, and Paula...are the only ones I can think of who use a real home kitchen. Although now Paula does use a studio.
    • 5130 posts
    February 19, 2007 6:10 AM PST
    Was that hockey?  I wasnt sure, figured it for football.  Not to mention that the pool table is gonna be ruined the first time there is the inevitable grease-fire.  LOL!
    • 5035 posts
    February 19, 2007 8:27 AM PST
    Does anyone watch Semi Homemade with Sandra Lee? I think it's odd that her sets are always color/celebration theme related. I guess she wanted to be different. :-\
    For me, they're distracting.  :-\ 
    • Moderator
    • 7059 posts
    February 19, 2007 8:33 AM PST
    I've tried watching her and just can't. I know a woman who looks exactly like her and it's too bothersome. 
    • 5035 posts
    February 19, 2007 9:01 AM PST
    I'm wondering if Isara will do any cooking at their new location. It was a cafe before so we know it must have a kitchen, right?  ;D

    When I visit Thailand, I'd like to take a cooking class, hummm.  ;)
    They make a delicious salt,sugar, hot pepper combination that's great in fried rice and lots of other recipes. Yumm.
    • 5130 posts
    February 19, 2007 10:03 AM PST
    KitKat said:
    I'm wondering if Isara will do any cooking at their new location. It was a cafe before so we know it must have a kitchen, right?  ;D
    Maybe Ginafish will finally get to see the inside of the fridge!  :)  (Or did I miss that glorious day on the webcam?)
    • 5035 posts
    February 19, 2007 10:26 AM PST
    thartley said:
    KitKat said:
    I'm wondering if Isara will do any cooking at their new location. It was a cafe before so we know it must have a kitchen, right?  ;D
    Maybe Ginafish will finally get to see the inside of the fridge!  :)  (Or did I miss that glorious day on the webcam?)
    I don't think you missed it, but I could be wrong. ;D
    • Moderator
    • 7059 posts
    February 19, 2007 10:44 AM PST
    Ming wouldn't post it while Pk was out gallivanting about the countryside and she had access to the webcam. I seem to remember her saying all he had was pizza boxes and sprite in there anyway. Since the new place will have a kitchen, maybe Ming will cook some Thai food for him, and he can post the recipes for us after he translates them to American style. :D 

    Maybe the kitchen would be a better place for a webcam instead of focused on the servers?? WooHOo!!
    • 5130 posts
    February 19, 2007 2:24 PM PST
    How did I ever miss THIS in the Guilt-free shopping? How funny would that have been in my fridge?!  ;D http://www.amazon.com/DAS-I-Love-pookie-Mug/dp/B000HNK89S
    • 300 posts
    February 20, 2007 5:42 PM PST
    i'd have to get permission from the boss first but i'll see
    • 300 posts
    February 20, 2007 7:16 PM PST
    OK IT'S DONE I STARTED A NEW THREAD NOW I EXPECT TO SEE SOME FRIDGES :o :o
    • 5130 posts
    February 21, 2007 2:04 AM PST
    Heavy, that's pretty cool, you posting your fridge pic!  Ginafish?  Where's Ginafish's?  ;D  I expect to see lots of condiments and juices as I think most of her food is probably in the freezer.  ;)

    And yes, Ginafish, that is indeed the Almond Breeze I was referring to.  I have never tried the vanilla or the regular, but I suspect they taste pretty good.  Of course, if you are looking for something to taste like cow milk, you will have to go to a cow.  But for an alternative, these are really great!
    • 5130 posts
    February 23, 2007 2:59 PM PST
    Dinner tonight was a soft taco filled with refried beans mixed with brown rice and topped with shredded lettuce, black olives, veggie cheese, tofutti guacamole 'sour cream', and Newman's Own chunky mild salsa.  Washed down with peach seltzer water.

    What're ya'll having?

    ;D
    • 5035 posts
    February 23, 2007 3:51 PM PST
    We're having Subway Club salads. I worked today and didn't want to cook much. ;D

    And of course, iced tea. ;D
    • 5130 posts
    February 23, 2007 4:04 PM PST
    KitKat, what is your favorite thing to eat when you are in Thailand?  :)
    • 5035 posts
    February 23, 2007 4:22 PM PST
    Terri, I eat a lot of fried rice. While I was in Thailand in 2005, I must have eaten 50 different versions of fried rice and the best I every ate was in the lunch room at JBAC University. Delicious!  They make a salt, sugar and hot pepper seasoning that makes the fried rice delicious. I'm going to learn how to prepare it this trip. 
    For breakfast I'd always have fried rice with fresh fruit, juice & coffee. They have lots of wonderful dishes in Thailand, but I never know what to order. Maybe this trip I'll try some new dishes. :D
     
    PK loves cashew chicken. Yumm.
    • Moderator
    • 7059 posts
    February 23, 2007 6:48 PM PST
    I like cashew chicken at Chinese restaurants, but I imagine it is a little spicier in Thailand. :) That's funny that you asked her that question, T, b/c as I was pulling into Wendy's tonight I wondered what on earth KitKat would eat. I wondered if the hotel would have a little coffeemaker, and if they didn't could she find one? And if by chance she found one, where would she buy coffee? And what if she loves coffeemate? Should she pack some?

    ...Yes, I ramble in my own head too. *sigh* I swear I have ADD. :P

    And just in case Pk ever checks out this thread, I had a junior burger and a baked potato with broccoli and cheese from Wendy's...YummmYYY! My kids had, whatelse, kids meals. And the prize? A cloth bat. :o Some of those give aways are just odd. Although, my son loved it.