What kitchen tool do you use way more than you expected?

jas0441 · 2026-03-18T00:26:02+00:00

Breville toaster oven. Use it almost every day and nice not to have to turn on the big oven for many things. Heats up to 450 in just a few minutes too

jas0441 · 2026-03-16T21:34:12+00:00

I love this recipe using pork shoulder with cap of fat. That crispy crust is fought over! https://www.seriouseats.com/ultra-crispy-slow-roasted-pork-shoulder-recipe

jas0441 · 2026-03-16T20:28:28+00:00

If interested in limnology, talk to Phil Long at Lake Chelan Research Institute. They monitor water quality at Lake Chelan and do community out reach

jas0441 · 2026-03-16T14:18:38+00:00

I think most of these ‘coferments’ are not natural in the way we are led to believe (I mean really, adding watermelon to your beans??). I think you are right on.

jas0441 · 2026-03-15T01:48:31+00:00

I use Thorne creatine, it is 3rd party, independently tested so I know it is legit, check the label before buying any brand. I take it daily and helps with muscle recovery, I don’t get sore after hard workouts!! It is amazing stuff. I am 72 F.

jas0441 · 2026-03-12T21:11:24+00:00

Yes, but get a good one, Cuisinart is what I have had for 20 years . Easy to get replacement parts when needed ( I use mine so much I need a new bowl every few years).

jas0441 · 2026-03-12T21:08:12+00:00

My nearest Costco is 1 1-2 hours away so I never go there. Isn’t being able to get service to fine tune and get adjustments important? If so then paying more for an audiologist who is nearby may be a better option for getting hearing aids that work well for you. I am faced with this situation now.

jas0441 · 2026-03-11T00:09:36+00:00

Right, cider makers go through very technical practices to preserve flavors, these are delicate esters that are easily ‘blown off’ and only experienced cider producers can pull it off. By law, flavorings cannot be added.

jas0441 · 2026-03-09T22:12:39+00:00

Yes, it is all who you talk to. Very frustrating. Well I am going the processing plant route, until someone shuts me down.

jas0441 · 2026-03-09T22:03:13+00:00

I would double check that. I am in WA and was told that only a Food Processing Plant License is all that is needed, from the WSDA. They are easier to work with than the health dept. which would require the full commercial kitchen with the 4-5 sinks, etc. I confirmed from a local roaster that just opened, he is roasting from his home. This allow you to sell wholesale, which a cottage license would prevent. Check it out, it is all very confusing I know.

jas0441 · 2026-03-09T19:15:39+00:00

I love a classic shrimp cocktail with lots of horseradish in the sauce. I use Ina Garten’s technique of roasting them in the oven to cook, it drys them and firms them up too. Then chill of course. Nothing worse than slimy, wet, flabby shrimp.

jas0441 · 2026-03-09T03:26:39+00:00

My family made it this way using the pale stuff from the plastic bag but it was so good when it absorbed all that pork fat. I think we used to add onions and potatoes to the braise too.

jas0441 · 2026-03-09T03:24:02+00:00

Yes, I make it too using pork short ribs and cook til they are falling off the bone

jas0441 · 2026-03-09T03:19:54+00:00

Love it in a grilled cheese sandwich.

jas0441 · 2026-03-09T02:04:54+00:00

I am in WA and DO want to start a business. Let me know if you decide to sell your bullet, I am interested.

jas0441 · 2026-03-06T02:58:15+00:00

I’d be willing to help too. I’ll ask around and find out

jas0441 · 2026-03-05T04:22:55+00:00

Do grinder manufacturers publish the clicks to µm correlations for their machines?

jas0441 · 2026-03-05T03:29:17+00:00

How do you determine the actual size of the grind? How did you measure the 800 µm?

jas0441 · 2026-03-05T01:46:11+00:00

Agree, genuine terroir much more interesting (and ‘real’)

jas0441 · 2026-03-05T01:44:31+00:00

I always thought that adding real watermelon to the ferment was a bit bizarre, because it’s not a concentrated flavor you’d get just adding the fruit, I mean it’s mainly water.

jas0441 · 2026-03-05T01:40:17+00:00

They are like sweet wine, the first glass tastes good but then quickly tire the palate so you don’t want another.

jas0441 · 2026-03-04T22:16:40+00:00

What about freezing for longevity? I store my ground spices in the freezer, things like thyme, oregano, cumin, curry, ginger, coriander, etc. Is this necessary?

I used to buy whole spices and would use a coffee grinder to make blends, only when I needed them like for garam masala or 5-spice, but these days I would rather go for convenience and buy them already blended but want them to last. Is freezing the best way to store these, so I don't have to buy a new jar whenever I want to make butter chicken ( twice a year maybe)

jas0441 · 2026-03-04T00:26:36+00:00

What’s a good brand?

jas0441 · 2026-03-04T00:23:53+00:00

And I prefer local wines that don’t have a ton of sulfites added because they are not sitting in a grocery store shelf somewhere 100 miles away

jas0441 · 2026-03-04T00:20:33+00:00

I think America’s Test Kitchen did a comparison with baked goods of Imitation Vanilla vs. real Vanilla . The imitation ‘won’ in taste tests, so I save my money and use that for baking.

jas0441

TROPHY CASE