10chickenstomaine

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”