Turkey, Cooking, and BDH questions

There will not be a traditional Thanksgiving post this year, because I’m not hosting a Thanksgiving. Instead, Kid 1 will be stepping in and hosting at her house, because her boyfriend’s family will be joining us, and their house is a convenient midway point for everyone.

This is, however, your reminder that if you want Popeyes Cajun Turkey, you should get it on Monday, because it takes a while to thaw. Most Popeyes restaurants might still have it if you ask.

BDH asked some questions regarding cooking.

What’s in your weekly rotation?

We are boring. We do a lot of Tex-Mex. Chicken soft tacos. Tex-Mex tacos. Breakfast tacos. Besides that, there is a lot of salad. We have pasta once in a while, usually some kind of filled kind, like mushroom or cheese with Rao tomato sauce. Rao tastes homemade and conveniently offers small jar sizes.

We do some baked chicken, usually either marinated or coated with something. Gordon really likes beef or pork marinated in a soy sauce, mirin, brown sugar, and vinegar and cooked in our enormous air fryer. I serve it with rice.

Now that Texas finally decided to move toward cooler weather, Instant Pot pot roast and my beer stew will make an appearance. My husband also loves cubed steak so we have that once in a while.

For dessert, we usually have melon, or apples or grapes. Sometimes I throw together a quick apple crumble. We do try to eat on the healthier side. To be honest, occasionally I just cut up some tomatoes, cucumbers, and whatever other vegetables I have and throw them together with chickpeas into a bowl. I will eat that while Gordon leans toward baked beans with leftover meat for a quick meal.

What is the cheapest meal you’ve ever had in rotation?

I don’t like to talk about it, because that wasn’t a fun time. But since you’ve asked.

Beef, Rice, and White gravy.

Cook 2 cups of white rice.

Brown a pound of ground beef. At the time, I would buy the cheapest kind I could find. I remember when Gordon finally got stationed at his permanent duty post, the commissary on base had $0.99 ground beef. Add some powdered onion, garlic, salt and pepper.

Spoon as much grease as you can out of the pan. Add about 2-3 tablespoons of flour. Mix. Start adding milk a little at a time, stirring constantly, so there are no lumps. Keep adding and stirring until there is enough white gravy to be level with the meat. Serve with rice.

There are cheaper meals. Mac and cheese, beans, etc. And there is very little nutritional value in this, but in terms of volume to calories, this is the cheapest meal. It will keep you full for a long time.

For many people, from the South especially, this is a comfort meal. It’s been years since I’ve made it.

What is the most labor intensive thing you’ve made?

The Napoleon cake. 50 million layers of homemade puff pastry. My grandmother was particular about her puff pastry. Thankfully, I can just buy cake at HEB now, hehe.

What is the last strange ingredient you bought?

I bought Adjika for Grace Draven. Grace tries to feed me every chance she gets. Last time she brought over Parmesan crisps that were to die for. In retaliation, I sent her both hot and mild adjika, because we both read Milk Street cooking magazine, and they were on a Republic of Georgia cuisine kick for a bit.

Recipe for fall soup?

I don’t do a lot of soups, but since I’ve mentioned adjika, I will send you to Natasha for kharcho. My grandfather used to spoon adjika into his.