To fuck or to cook?

[Fugee]

Originally Posted by ltl/fb

Almond and maple? Or just maple?

I don't think I'd like almond and maple as much as pecan and maple or walnut and maple. It might not be bad, just not a combination that would be my first choice. Try it and see if you like it.

[Sidd Finch]

So, I'm in a wine club that sends me really good wine, but insists on including some little tchotchke (sp?) with it. Either a kitchen item (some of them pretty useful, some worthless, some redundant of items I already have), or a food item (ditto). One item that I received many months ago was a package of cacao nibs.

Since these approximate the taste of very bitter chocolate and the texture of wood trimmings, I really didn't know what to do with them. But the other day I made cookies, using a recipe from a book my daughter picked from me (Chewy Crunchy etc.), and holy shit they are good. It's basically a buttery sugar cookie with cacao nibs and pecans, but the nibs give a really subtle chocolate taste. And the texture problem disappeared with the baking.

Any other ideas for how to use these things? The package was pretty big and I don't want to make the same cookie over and over again. Though I will if I need to, because they were damn good.

[Greedy,Greedy,Greedy]

Originally Posted by ltl/fb

Almond and maple? Or just maple?

I am quite fond of almost and maple yoghurt. They go quite well together.

[Flinty_McFlint]

Originally Posted by Sidd Finch

So, I'm in a wine club that sends me really good wine, but insists on including some little tchotchke (sp?) with it. Either a kitchen item (some of them pretty useful, some worthless, some redundant of items I already have), or a food item (ditto). One item that I received many months ago was a package of cacao nibs.

Since these approximate the taste of very bitter chocolate and the texture of wood trimmings, I really didn't know what to do with them. But the other day I made cookies, using a recipe from a book my daughter picked from me (Chewy Crunchy etc.), and holy shit they are good. It's basically a buttery sugar cookie with cacao nibs and pecans, but the nibs give a really subtle chocolate taste. And the texture problem disappeared with the baking.

Any other ideas for how to use these things? The package was pretty big and I don't want to make the same cookie over and over again. Though I will if I need to, because they were damn good.

If you knew how to use a smoker, I might suggest grinding them and adding them to your spice rub for ribs, etc. If you like putting crap on steaks other than salt and pepper (and perhaps a garlic rub), you could do that too, but then I'd look down on you more than I already do.

[Sidd Finch]

Originally Posted by Flinty_McFlint

If you knew how to use a smoker, I might suggest grinding them and adding them to your spice rub for ribs, etc. If you like putting crap on steaks other than salt and pepper (and perhaps a garlic rub), you could do that too, but then I'd look down on you more than I already do.

I can use a smoker as well as a born-and-bred southerner. Little did I know that is what they call "damning with faint praise."


But, still, it's a good idea. And Wonk -- who is helfpul, unlike certain monkeys I know -- has recommended an electric smoker that will survive the wind-tunnel conditions at my home, and that will not result in my travelling to the poorhouse with nothing but a giant ceramic egg for company.


As for steaks, no, I don't like other crap on steaks, thanks very much. Except sauce, but I usually put that after cooking. It's an Italian trick.

[taxwonk]

Originally Posted by Sidd Finch

So, I'm in a wine club that sends me really good wine, but insists on including some little tchotchke (sp?) with it. Either a kitchen item (some of them pretty useful, some worthless, some redundant of items I already have), or a food item (ditto). One item that I received many months ago was a package of cacao nibs.

Since these approximate the taste of very bitter chocolate and the texture of wood trimmings, I really didn't know what to do with them. But the other day I made cookies, using a recipe from a book my daughter picked from me (Chewy Crunchy etc.), and holy shit they are good. It's basically a buttery sugar cookie with cacao nibs and pecans, but the nibs give a really subtle chocolate taste. And the texture problem disappeared with the baking.

Any other ideas for how to use these things? The package was pretty big and I don't want to make the same cookie over and over again. Though I will if I need to, because they were damn good.

You can melt them in a double boiler and use them for anything where you want a chocolate flavor, e.g., a ganache or hot cocoa. You can try your hand at candy-making, but be very careful, because nothing burns quite so badly as sugar at the cracking stage, which is essential to good candy-making, but a real hazard with kids.

[Sidd Finch]

Originally Posted by taxwonk

You can melt them in a double boiler and use them for anything where you want a chocolate flavor, e.g., a ganache or hot cocoa. You can try your hand at candy-making, but be very careful, because nothing burns quite so badly as sugar at the cracking stage, which is essential to good candy-making, but a real hazard with kids.

As I said -- helpful, unlike certain monkeys that I know.

[Flinty_McFlint]

Originally Posted by Sidd Finch

As I said -- helpful, unlike certain monkeys that I know.

You'll have to be more specific. California monkey or southern monkey?

[Sidd Finch]

Originally Posted by Flinty_McFlint

You'll have to be more specific. California monkey or southern monkey?

Note the use of the plural, monkey-boys

[ltl/fb]

If I have not mentioned it here before, I love my slow-cooker and only wish I had a bigger freezer.

[ltl/fb]

Originally Posted by ltl/fb

If I have not mentioned it here before, I love my slow-cooker and only wish I had a bigger freezer.

AKA crockpot. Dried raspberries and slivered almonds were good in maple oatmeal cookies.

[ltl/fb]

Originally Posted by ltl/fb

AKA crockpot. Dried raspberries and slivered almonds were good in maple oatmeal cookies.

I bought some maple-almond butter recently.

[Replaced_Texan]

Every Minimalist article Mark Bittman ever wrote.

[Fugee]

Originally Posted by Replaced_Texan

Every Minimalist article Mark Bittman ever wrote.

Yum! Here's one for Fringey to try -- apples with candied bacon a la mode. I've got some apples and good bacon so I might try it myself!

[ltl/fb]

Originally Posted by Fugee

Yum! Here's one for Fringey to try -- apples with candied bacon a la mode. I've got some apples and good bacon so I might try it myself!

Yum-O. Thanks, y'all.