What are we doing here?
Well, what ARE we doing here? The truth is, I don’t know. But you can watch us learn.
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?)”
The Bravery of Ardent Logic
As I’ve alluded in a couple of posts, our situation here is… unique. Frankly, I’ve tried to write this post for two years, and can’t quite seem to find the words. The more I’ve tried, the more I think it’s best to be as blunt as possible. My wife and I had corporate jobs thatContinue reading “The Bravery of Ardent Logic”
The First Chicken
#RecipeUpTop (details to follow): Ingredients: 1 Chicken; Salt (to taste); Black pepper (to taste); Root vegetables (optional); Brown sugar (optional); Method: Spatchcock and brine your chicken as follows: if overnight, a 6% brine. If cooking same day, a 10% brine. Rinse and dry chicken, season with salt and pepper, and roast at 475F for fortyContinue reading “The First Chicken”
Whole Oat Sandwich Bread
#RecipeUpTop (details to follow): Ingredients: 350 grams bread flour; 350 grams water; 150 grams whole oat flour; 50 grams molasses (or honey, if preferred); 50 grams vegetable oil; 10 grams salt; 5 grams yeast; 1 egg (for wash) (optional); Loose whole oats (for topping) (optional); Method: In a large mixing bowl, combine all ingredients untilContinue reading “Whole Oat Sandwich Bread”
Whole Oat Flour and the Zen of Staples
There are a few small things in my life that bring me a goofy amount of satisfaction: a well-stacked woodpile; extra-sharp kitchen knives fresh off the whetstones; and an organized pantry full of basic ingredients. In my youth, my family operated on a use-it-up policy that dictated we not buy a new bottle of ketchupContinue reading “Whole Oat Flour and the Zen of Staples”
Shrimp Fried Rice
#RecipeUpTop (details to follow): 4 cups leftover cooked rice (white or brown); 2 large eggs; 1/2 bag frozen peas and carrots; 1 medium red bell pepper; 5 cabbage leaves; 1 small yellow onion; 1/2lb shrimp (or other protein of choice); Vegetable oil (varies, but less than a 1/2 cup) Sauce: 2 cloves garlic; 1 tablespoonContinue reading “Shrimp Fried Rice”
Garlic Chili Edamame
I’m not putting the #RecipeUpTop for this one because it’s so absurdly simple. It’s also quick, cheap, and profoundly delicious, and has become a go-to staple of pre-dinner snacks in this house. It’s spicy, salty, and full of garlic, and will leave you licking your fingers. Ingredients: 1 large bag of frozen edamame, SHELL ON;Continue reading “Garlic Chili Edamame”
Sweet Potato-Stuffed Ravioli with Brown Butter and Sage
#RecipeUpTop (details to follow): 5 large eggs (4 for pasta, one for egg wash) ; 3 medium sweet potatoes; 300 grams all-purpose flour; 4 tablespoons butter (total); 1/4 cup whole milk (optional); Fresh sage (to taste); Salt (to taste); Black pepper (to taste); Freshly ground nutmeg (optional); Method: Beat the eggs with six (6) gramsContinue reading “Sweet Potato-Stuffed Ravioli with Brown Butter and Sage”
Lemon-Thyme Vinaigrette, or: The Dirty Secret of Citrus and Vinegar
First things first: this is not a salad dressing recipe. The internet is littered with those, full of micro-managed ingredient lists that always seem to produce disappointing results. That isn’t to say that I blame the recipes themselves, necessarily, but salad dressings (particularly those involving citrus) are kind of a moving target from a culinaryContinue reading “Lemon-Thyme Vinaigrette, or: The Dirty Secret of Citrus and Vinegar”
Caraway-Cognac Apple Turnovers
#RecipeUpTop (Details below): Puff pastry (recipe here); 3 small apples; 1 egg; 1 tablespoon cognac; 1 tablespoon whole caraway seed; 1 teaspoon grains of paradise; Salt (to taste); Sugar (to coat) Method: Peel and dice your apples, and add to a medium mixing bowl with a pinch of salt. Crack the spices with a mortarContinue reading “Caraway-Cognac Apple Turnovers”
Microclimate of the Crystal Palace
When I quit my job after more than a decade as a trial attorney to move my family to rural Maine and focus on a life of reduced cost, reduced consumption, and more focused living, I had the same conversation on loop for about three months. I would tell a contemporary about my plans, maybeContinue reading “Microclimate of the Crystal Palace”
Cinnamon-Sugar Puff Pastry Treats
#RecipeUpTop (details below): Puff pastry scraps (recipe here); 2 tablespoons butter; Cinnamon-sugar, to taste; Method: place the scraps on a baking sheet lined with parchment or a silicone mat. Melt the butter, and brush the strips, then apply cinnamon-sugar to taste. Bake at 400F for twenty (20) minutes, and remove to a cooling rack. TheContinue reading “Cinnamon-Sugar Puff Pastry Treats”
Pot Roast Dinner Turnovers
#RecipeUpTop (details below): Blitz-method puff pastry; Leftover pot roast dinner; 1 large egg; Kosher salt (to taste); Method: Roll out the pastry, and trim into squares. For each square, dock half in a triangle pattern. Add your pot roast dinner. Egg wash half of each square, then fold over and seal. Crimp with a fork.Continue reading “Pot Roast Dinner Turnovers”
Blitz Puff Pastry
#RecipeUpTop (details below): 2 sticks butter; 339 grams all-purpose flour; Ice water (roughly 100 grams, depending on relative humidity); Method: Cube the butter and add it to the flour, then freeze for at least an hour. Remove from the freezer, and slowly add the water just until the dough comes together, then return to theContinue reading “Blitz Puff Pastry”
Slow-Braised Pot Roast with Mashed Maine Potatoes and Green Peas
#RecipeUpTop (Details below): For the pot roast: 1 Large Beef Chuck Roast; 1 carrot; 2 stalks celery; 1 small yellow onion; 1/4 cup dry vermouth (optional); 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce; For the gravy: 4 tablespoons unsalted butter; 4 tablespoons four; 1/4 cup cream or half and half; For the mashed potatoes: 4 Maine potatoes; 1/2Continue reading “Slow-Braised Pot Roast with Mashed Maine Potatoes and Green Peas”
Archives
Follow Us
Get new content delivered directly to your inbox.
