What Have You Cooked Recently?

I made the gayest caprese salad ever (if you even can call this shit caprese). I didn't have any basil leaves, so I used arugula and radicchio instead. I can't cut mozarella for shit. Also I didn't add enough balsamic vinegar before taking a picture. It is there. The salad looks like my unshaven ass, and I hate my life. Tastes pretty good though. 1000035440.webp
 
So the plan for today was... Woke up this morning and got to the market to pick only the biggest, juices, best shaped bell peppers. The plan is: make a mirepoix, reduce some wine on it, then get half a pound of minced meat and sear on the pan, incorporate the sauce in, red peper flakes, paprika and a little thyme

Then i'll hollow the bell peppers, stuff em with the meat and bake on the oven, topping with cheese. I've got green and red bell peppers, couldn't find yellow though
 
I made the gayest caprese salad ever (if you even can call this shit caprese). I didn't have any basil leaves, so I used arugula and radicchio instead. I can't cut mozarella for shit. Also I didn't add enough balsamic vinegar before taking a picture. It is there. The salad looks like my unshaven ass, and I hate my life. Tastes pretty good though. View attachment 7699863
If you can get some fresh mozzarella (or burrata if you're feeling fancy), prosciutto, and cantaloupe, you can add that to the arugula and make a really tasty salad. You're half way there with the ingredients you have.

or https://jawnsicooked.com/dinner/prosciutto-melon-salad-with-burrata/
 
Venison vindaloo curry. It tasted better than it looks.
Saar pls kindly to be adding the garnish, the contrast is very needful.

(Diced green onion, red pepper flakes, squeeze bottle of sour cream/yogurt, small slices of radish/jalapeno/bell pepper...anything bright to break up the colour/texture)
 
I don't take pictures of my work but the casserole came out phenomenal and I want to share the recipe

### **Large-Scale Venison & Wild Rice Casserole**
*(Serves 100)*

#### **Ingredients:**
- **25 lbs ground or diced venison** (lean, trimmed of excess fat)
- **12 cups uncooked wild rice blend** (or brown rice for a more economical option)
- **6 large onions, diced** (~8 cups)
- **4 heads garlic, minced** (~½ cup)
- **4 lbs mushrooms, sliced** (optional)
- **6 cups diced celery**
- **6 cups diced carrots**
- **4 cups butter or oil** (for cooking)
- **6 cups all-purpose flour** (for thickening)
- **6 quarts beef or venison stock** (or broth)
- **4 cups dry red wine** (optional, enhances flavor)
- **4 cups heavy cream or whole milk** (for richness)
- **2 cups Worcestershire sauce**
- **2 cups soy sauce**
- **½ cup dried thyme**
- **½ cup dried rosemary**
- **Salt & black pepper to taste**
- **4 lbs shredded cheese** (cheddar, Gruyère, or Parmesan for topping, optional)
- **4 cups breadcrumbs or crushed crackers** (for topping, optional)

---

### **Instructions:**

#### **1. Cook the Rice:**
- Cook **12 cups of wild rice blend** in a large pot (or multiple pots) according to package instructions (usually 2:1 liquid-to-rice ratio). You’ll need about **24 cups (6 quarts) of water or stock** for this.
- Once cooked, spread rice on sheet pans to cool slightly.

#### **2. Brown the Venison:**
- In **large batches**, brown the **25 lbs of venison** in a skillet or roasting pan with a little oil. Drain excess fat if needed.
- Season with **salt, pepper, and Worcestershire sauce**. Set aside.

#### **3. Sauté Vegetables:**
- In a **very large pot or steam kettle**, sauté **onions, garlic, celery, carrots, and mushrooms** in **butter or oil** until softened.
- Stir in **flour** to make a roux, cooking for 3–5 minutes.

#### **4. Combine Everything:**
- Gradually whisk in **6 quarts of stock** and **red wine (if using)**. Bring to a simmer until thickened.
- Stir in **cooked venison, rice, cream, soy sauce, thyme, and rosemary**. Adjust seasoning with **salt & pepper**.

#### **5. Assemble & Bake (If Desired):**
- Divide mixture into **large hotel pans (or multiple casserole dishes)**.
- Top with **shredded cheese and breadcrumbs** if desired.
- Bake at **350°F (175°C)** for **20–30 minutes** until bubbly and golden (optional step).
Served it over a scoop of dressed up mash

Edit: Oh, and didn't end up making a roux, I still used all the butter but thickened the sauce with arrowroot
 
I'm gonna make burgers at 3AM because i lost control over my life.

Whipped up burger sauce earlier today, 4 Tbsp Mayo, 1 Ts Ketchup, 1 Ts Dijon, 2 Tbsp pickle juice and half of a white onion, very finely diced. Salt and pepper to taste. Nothing snooty but works for me. Needs at least four hours in the fridge before putting it on. Note i am using actual teaspoons and tablespoons here, not the US measurement. Gonna toast the buns with a little bit of butter in a non-stick pan and also put some chopped lettuce and a slice of american cheese on the burgers.
I did patisserie cream, not because i want to use it a filling, but because i enjoy eating it by itself on the weekends
Not sure if there are differences between the classic french version (which i assume you made) and italian crema pasticerra but if it's anything like the latter it's to die for, could eat it by the bucket load. My cousin made a Tiramisu for Easter this year which incorporated it and it was amazing.
 
Went fishing earlier today, stopped to make a few casts into a creek where it dumps into the larger river we were floating down. Was targeting smallmouth bass but also ended up catching a decent brown trout. Probably because it's so hot out he was really struggling to swim off, so I decided to eat him instead of letting it go to waste.

Simple recipe, just gutted the trout and sprinkled lemon pepper on the outside and inside, stuffed 2 squares of butter with a choped clove of garlic and lemon slices inside, added a couple more squares of butter to the skin on the outside along with more lemon slices. Wrapped in foil and put on the grill for about 15-20 minutes.

Probably the simplest and first fish recipe I learned as a kid, but it still hits the spot all these years later.
 
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