What are we doing here?
Well, what ARE we doing here? The truth is, I don’t know. But you can watch us learn.
Fresh-Herb Chicken Meatballs
#RecipeUpTop (details below): 700 grams (1.5lbs, roughly) ground dark-meat chicken, with skin (preferably home-ground); 70 grams plain, unseasoned bread crumbs; 35 grams grated parmasan cheese; 7 grams salt; 7 grams freshly chopped parsley; 1 large egg; 1 to 2 tablespoons olive oil; Combine the ingredients in a large mixing bowl and set aside (refrigerate) forContinue reading “Fresh-Herb Chicken Meatballs”
Simple Hashed Brown Potatoes
No #RecipeUpTop on this one because, like some of our previous posts, this one is super basic, but almost entirely reliant on technique and a few tricks to get you where you’re going. To prove my point, here’s the ingredient list: two (2) potatoes, 2 tablespoons veg oil, salt. That’s it. And it takes likeContinue reading “Simple Hashed Brown Potatoes”
Classic Pesto
#RecipeUpTop (details below): 2 hand-fulls of fresh basil (home grown preferable); 1 hand-full of fresh flat-leaf parsley (home grown preferable); 3 large garlic cloves; 1/4 cup pine nuts; 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese; 2/3 cup olive oil; Salt (to taste); Black pepper (to taste); Method: Combine the herbs, garlic, pine nuts, and half of theContinue reading “Classic Pesto”
Back to the Woodpile
When things feel awful and out of control, I typically default to some combination of exercise and organization an attempt to remind myself that I do, in fact, have the ability to effect change and progress, if even symbolically. In my days as a trial attorney, this typically meant something as simple as cleaning myContinue reading “Back to the Woodpile”
Fennel-Brined Chicken with Lemon and Black Pepper Glaze
#RecipeUpTop: 4 Boneless, skinless chicken breasts (home butchered preferred); For the brine: 50 to 100 grams salt 50 to 100 grams sugar Fennel seed (to taste) Coriander seed (to taste) For the glaze: 1 lemon (juice and zest) 1/4 cup white vinegar 1/4 cup water 2 TBS sugar Fresh cracked black pepper (to taste) SaltContinue reading “Fennel-Brined Chicken with Lemon and Black Pepper Glaze”
A Sauce of One’s Own
If there’s one grocery store item I deeply despise, it’s pre-canned tomato sauce. Actually, there are a lot of grocery store items I despise, but they almost always follow the same pattern: simple, basic things that have been over-processed, over-priced, and sold as completely impossible or impractical to make at home. And, frankly, the worstContinue reading “A Sauce of One’s Own”
Dad’s Special Potato Salad
#RecipeUpTop (Details below): Six large Maine potatoes (or a dozen small red); Four rashers of bacon; 1/4 large red onion; 1/2 cup cider vinegar; 1/2 cup sour cream; 1/4 cup deli-style mustard; 1/4 cup mayo; Salt (to taste) Parsley flakes (to taste); Mustard seeds (to taste); Method: Cut the potatoes into bite-sized pieces, toss withContinue reading “Dad’s Special Potato Salad”
Mutiny of the Bounty
Spring is quickly sliding into summer here on the mountain, and the explosion of verdance is both refreshing and frustrating, particularly as we look around our garden. In my youth, the family garden was something of a novelty at best, and a weed-ridden albatross at worst. The early morning rays of March sunlight seemed toContinue reading “Mutiny of the Bounty”
Rustic Guacamole
#RecipeUpTop (details below): 3 Ripe Avocados; 1 large lime; 1 jalapeno pepper; Salt (to taste); Method: Zest and juice the lime into a large mixing bowl. Remove the seeds and membrane from the jalapeno, mince fine, and add to the bowl. Split and pit the avocados, and add to the bowl, season with salt, andContinue reading “Rustic Guacamole”
The Pull of Pork
My first serious food obsession was authentic BBQ. And, for someone who (at the time) could barely open a can or boil water, it was a hell of a place to jump into cooking. In baking, a novice can be guided by precise measurements, controlled temperatures in an oven, and any other number of quantifiableContinue reading “The Pull of Pork”
The Classic
No #RecipeUpTop for this one because, well, it’s a cheeseburger. It’s not that complicated, and it’s not really a recipe. It’s more akin to our discussion about steak; some tips and tricks, some things to avoid, and some personal pet peeves. As I’ve mentioned before, we generally only buy two cuts of beef: whole ribeyeContinue reading “The Classic”
The Rite(s) of Spring
Mainers will tell you they hate the winter. And some of us do. But what we really hate is the spring. The problem isn’t necessarily the weather itself, though the manic teasing of sunny warmth pulled back with a whip-crack of snow flurries does wear thin at times. Nor is the issue the omnipresent mudContinue reading “The Rite(s) of Spring”
Spring Carrot and Ginger Soup
#RecipeUpTop (details below): Four (4) large carrots; One (1) tablespoon minced fresh ginger; One (1) rib of celery; One (1) medium yellow onion; One (1) quart of chicken stock, or water; Salt (to taste); Black pepper (to taste); Sugar (to taste): Method: Sweat the celery and onion, then add the carrots and ginger and coverContinue reading “Spring Carrot and Ginger Soup”
Split Pea Soup
#RecipeUpTop (details below): 1 ham bone or smoked ham hock; 1 bag of dried split peas (16oz); 1 yellow onion; 1 celery rib; 1 large carrot; Water (to cover); Salt (to taste); Pepper (to taste); Method: Dice the mirepoix, and add to a large soup pot with the ham bone and split peas, then coverContinue reading “Split Pea Soup”
Cozy Cinnamon-Raisin Swirl Bread
#RecipeUpTop (details below): 500 grams bread flour; 300 grams water; 50 grams sugar; 50 grams vegetable oil; 50 grams raisins; 1 large egg; 10 grams salt; 5 grams yeast; Extra veg oil, cinnamon, and sugar for sprinkling Method: Combine the ingredients (except the raisins) and mix until sticky. Add the raisins, and turn out ontoContinue reading “Cozy Cinnamon-Raisin Swirl Bread”
Extra-Crispy Buttermilk Chicken Tenders
In a break from tradition (at least for this site), I’m not listing an abbreviated recipe at the top here, for a couple of reasons. First, while this meal is super easy, it is almost entirely dependent on specific technique, and a couple of important details that, if ignored, will lead to disaster. And, well,Continue reading “Extra-Crispy Buttermilk Chicken Tenders”
10 Chickens Pot Pie
#RecipeUpTop (Details below): 2 chicken breasts (boneless, skinless) 2 cups of whole milk (have more on hand) 4 stalks of celery 2 large carrots 1 medium sweet potato (or 1 russet potato) 1/2 of a large yellow onion 1/2 bag of frozen peas 4 tablespoons butter 4 tablespoons all-purpose flour Salt (to taste) Pepper (toContinue reading “10 Chickens Pot Pie”
Pizza Night
#RecipeUpTop (details to follow): For the dough: 1,000 grams bread flour; 700 grams water; 100 grams olive oil; 100 grams sugar; 20 grams salt; 10 grams yeast; Combine all ingredients and knead until they pass the window-pane test. Allow to rise until doubled in size (3 to 4 hours), then divide into four (4) equalContinue reading “Pizza Night”
The First Steak of Spring
Yesterday was vegan day for us, which is… fine. But today, the weather decided to give us a full preview of the upcoming spring, with high temps, sunshine, and wildlife, and I made the executive decision to reach into the strategic beef supply for our first steak of the season. We buy all of ourContinue reading “The First Steak of Spring”
Clove and Beet Pickled Eggs
#RecipeUpTop (details to follow): 1 can of sliced beets, with juice (NOT PICKLED); 12 eggs; White vinegar (varies); Salt (varies); Brown Sugar (varies); 1 tablespoon yellow mustard seeds; 1 tablespoon whole cloves; 1 tablespoon crushed red pepper flakes; Method: Hard boil and peel your eggs. Separate the beet juice from the beets and weigh it.Continue reading “Clove and Beet Pickled Eggs”
Chicken Gyro Burgers with Peppercorn Ranch and French Bread Buns
#RecipeUpTop (details to follow): For they gyro-style chicken: 500 grams ground chicken (dark meat, with skin, preferably home-ground); 1 egg; 1/4 cup bread crumbs; 10 grams salt; Rosemary (to taste); Thyme (to taste); Black pepper (freshly cracked) (to taste); Fennel seed (to taste) (optional); Method: combine the ingredients in a large mixing bowl, cooking aContinue reading “Chicken Gyro Burgers with Peppercorn Ranch and French Bread Buns”
Vegan(ish?) Thai Coconut Curry
#RecipeUpTop (details below): 2 Sweet potatoes; 2 limes; 1 red bell pepper; 1/2 bag frozen broccoli; 1/2 bag frozen peas; 1/2 red or yellow onion; 1 tablespoon Thai curry paste (of your choosing); 1 tablespoon palm sugar (or brown sugar); 1 tablespoon soy sauce (or salt equivalent); 1 tablespoon fresh ginger; 1 teaspoon fresh garlic;Continue reading “Vegan(ish?) Thai Coconut Curry”
Crispy Tuna Cake Po’Boy
#RecipeUpTop (details to follow): For the crispy tuna cakes: 2 cans tuna, of your preference; 2 cups bread crumbs (unseasoned); 1 egg; 1/4 cup diced yellow onion; 2 tablespoons mayo; 1 tablespoon dijon or stone-ground mustard; 1 teaspoon celery seed; Salt (to taste); Black pepper (to taste); Hot sauce (to taste); Cayenne pepper (to taste);Continue reading “Crispy Tuna Cake Po’Boy”
New Orleans French Bread
#RecipeUpTop (details to follow): 1,000 grams bread flour; 700 grams warm water; 100 grams butter (or lard, or vegetable shortening); 20 grams salt; 10 grams yeast; Method: Combine all ingredients and thoroughly knead until it passes the window pane test. Form into a ball and allow to rise until doubled in size (2-3 hours). DivideContinue reading “New Orleans French Bread”
Steamed Chicken Dumplings
#RecipeUpTop (details to follow): 1/2 pound ground chicken thighs (home-ground preferable); 300 grams all-purpose flour; 200 grams warm water; 8 grams salt; 2 tablespoons soy sauce; 1 tablespoon chopped ginger; 1 tablespoon chopped green onion or shallot; 2 teaspoons chopped garlic; Cabbage leaves (optional); Schmaltz (optional); Dipping sauce (optional); Method: Sweat the aromatics in theContinue reading “Steamed Chicken Dumplings”
The Pot of Gold
As we’ve alluded in our posts on staples, and stretching a chicken, we try to focus our consumption in a way that allows us maximum value and maximum quality. Here at Fort 10Chickens, we have two adults, two kids, and two dogs to feed, so we operate this place like a restaurant for six. WeContinue reading “The Pot of Gold”
Corn Tortillas
This one took a while to come to fruition, and was maybe the most frustrating culinary puzzle I’ve ever tackled. These are so simple, which I think is part of the problem, but they’re also SO worth it. They’ve completely replaced store-bought flour tortillas for us, and are a completely different food from the brittle,Continue reading “Corn Tortillas”
10Chickens Sport Sausage with Fennel and Mustard Seed
It’s high school basketball tournament week here in Maine, meaning everyone is out of school and all eyes are on the arena in Bangor. That also means it’s time for some sports food, and this time of year I can’t think of anything better than some hot sausage and cold beer. I hesitate to callContinue reading “10Chickens Sport Sausage with Fennel and Mustard Seed”
Beer-Cheese Sandwich Rolls
#RecipeUpTop (details to follow): 500 grams bread flour; 300 grams beer (slightly less than one 12oz can); 50 grams cheese powder; 10 grams salt; 5 grams yeast; Method: Warm the beer in the microwave, then combine all ingredients in a large mixing bowl. Thoroughly incorporate all ingredients until homogeneous, then turn out on to aContinue reading “Beer-Cheese Sandwich Rolls”
Beak to Talon (do chickens have talons?)
The cornerstone of this lifestyle is getting the most out of everything we do, and everything we use. Often, that also means we’re cooking with base ingredients we’ve made ourselves (like whole oat flour), and that tends to elevate the final product in pretty dramatic ways. It also means some extra effort, so sleeves up.Continue reading “Beak to Talon (do chickens have talons?)”
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