Fun With Brussells Sprouts

Rogers Brussels Sprout Bake

Preheat oven or Traeger Barbecue 375-400F

12-15 medium Brussels sprouts halved lengthwise
2-3 Tbs olive oil
1/2 cup parmesan cheese
1/4 cup bread or panko crumbs
1 Tbs powdered garlic
Any other seasoning you might like
10 X 13 disposable aluminum baking pan

I just discovered that Brussels is spelled ending in "s".  Just one of those useful things you stumble on to using a spell check.  I used to just steamed them until tender. 

Someone told me about how to sauté them in olive oil and parmesan cheese.  I soon discovered that you need to at split them in half the long way and steam them before sauté or they would not cook well.  Basically, 12-15 sprouts split lengthwise, steamed 5-10 minutes.  Then place about 2-3 Tbs olive oil in a large sauté pan.  Sprinkle parmesan cheese on the oil, place the sprouts flat side down, sprinkle a little more cheese over the top and cook over med heat until starting to brown.  Much better than just steamed.  As usual, I worked this over in my mind, and added either powdered or crushed garlic to the oil and cheese in the pan.  Better, but not there yet. Still had a sauté pan to wash.  You know what is coming next.  This works just as well in an aluminum baking pan and bake at around 375-400F for 20-30 minutes.  No pan to wash.  THEN, how about breaded?  After they are split and steamed, let them cool some and dip them in egg, roll them in a mix of maybe 1/2 cup parmesan cheese and 1/4 cup bread crumbs seasoned how you like.  Maybe add garlic powder, Italian seasoning, poultry seasoning, use your imagination.  Better, but still messy. 

Next stop: Olive oil the baking pan, sprinkle the crumb/cheese mix on the bottom. Dip the halved sprouts in egg,  (I use egg substitute,less mess and no whisking) in a paper bowl.  Place the sprouts close together, flat side down in the oil and crumb/cheese mix.  Sprinkle the rest of the crumb mix over the top. Bake 375-400F about 20-25 minutes or until starting to brown.  Serve from the pan.  Nothing to wash except whatever you steamed the sprouts in!  This also works well on the Traeger Barbecue set at 375F.  Doesn't heat up the kitchen by running the oven.

Here they are with some roasted carrots on the side:

Watch This Space. Working, Travelling and Camping

Been very busy with camping, experimenting and travelling.  I will post the results of "Fun With Brussels Sprouts" soon.

Here is a shot of "on the road"

This is on the way back from Elizabeth's "Horsie Lady" LARK, ("Ladies Annual Riding Kaper").  We have EVERYTHING on the road.

Escape From The Heat + John's Ribs + Farm Boy Green Beans

Sacramento, CA  temps have been running in the 100s.  Only been cooling down in to the 70s at night.  Thought I would escape for a few days and camp out at one of my favorite coastal campgrounds, Dillon's Beach, (also known as Lawson's Landing)  It's West of Petaluma. CA.  Just a huge cow pasture with a beach.  Used to be dispersed camping so you could "circle the wagons" with a bunch of your friends for monster campout.  It's now restricted to assigned campsites and much reduced camping areas due to Calif. Coastal Commission decree. Leaving Sacramento. temp was in low 100s.  When I got to Dillon's around 4 PM it was overcast and in the low 60's  A huge change.  I put on long pants and a sweatshirt for my walk. 

Since my fridge problem and the propane regulator replacement, I have not had a chance to check out the results.  So far, so good.  Driving over here, fridge on gas, in the three hours on the road, fridge temp stayed in a .5F window.  This morning box temp is 37, just like it stays most of the time on electricity.  Propane pressure is critical to fridge performance. 

Since I can usually get at least 12 amps from my solar, even with the marine layer, I am going to experiment with my crockpot today to see if I can use it and still get battery charging on the solar.  Crockpot draws about 3.5 amps so there should be enough power left over to get the batteries back up to 100% for this evening so I can watch some TV as well.  BTW, a few years ago, Dillon's finally got a cell tower so I have 5 bars and great internet.

This is a another farm boy favorite!

12-16 oz green beansCrock Pot Green Beans With Bacon
1 small onion
2 slices bacon or a couple of hot dogs
1 can chicken broth

Put these in the Crock Pot all together and cook on low for about 6 hours.  Great side dish.

I will report back later on the results.

John's Ribs

1-2 racks of baby back ribs rubbed with Louisiana Style Cajun Seasoning

Marinade:

1/3 cup Jalapeno Jelly
1/3 cup Yoshida Sauce
1/3 cup Sweet Baby Ray's Sauce

Cook the ribs in sealed foil for 6 hours @ 200F.  When done, drain the juice and remove the foil.  Coat the ribs with the marinade and put on the grill @ 350-400F for 15-30 minutes to glaze.

I don't dare try these and have a couple of racks of ribs around with just me or there will be diet disaster!  Maybe at Abiquiu, NM.

Roger's Slow Cooker Potato Casserole + No Spill Coffee

Roger's Slow Cooker Potato Casserole

 

 

Ingredients

4 medium potatoes peeled or unpeeled
1 can cream of mushroom soup
1 cup chicken broth, (or water)
1 small onion
2 slices thick sliced bacon

I have the 1 1/2 quart Crock Pot so my recipe is smaller.  You can easily double it.

Cook on low 6-8 hours or until potatoes are REALLY done.


This is an adaptation of a childhood favorite that we used to cook up "on the farm"  We called it "Stewed 'Taters"  It was pretty much thinly sliced potatoes. 4-6 hot dogs and some water.  We simmered it on the stove top in a black iron fry pan, (that I still have), covered, for several hours until it was pretty much mush.  Great side dish and with eggs in the morning.  You can also treat it like potato soup.  I had never heard of hash browns until I was in my teens.  Potatoes in our house were usually mashed or on special occasions, baked.  Now that we have slow cookers/Crock Pots, this is a great way to fix one of my farm favorite with many variations.  This particular time, I used bacon instead of hot dogs, a small onion and a can of cream of mushroom soup in a slow cooker.  About one cup of chicken broth for the liquid.  I have made it with added mushrooms, cream corn, or without the meat at all.  Some other suggested ingredients would be, garlic cloves, chicken breast, ham chunks, link sausage, or, use your imagination. 

Insulated Hot Beverage Mug That Will Not Leak Or Spill.

Contigo Insulated Travel Mug
These are evidently all the rage as after I found out about them, most of the places I went to find one, they were sold out.  You can get them on Amazon, here.  I got mine at Target but they are also available at WalMart.  There are many different kinds.  I got the 16oz one without a handle.  Some come with handles or carabiners.  Some are plastic.  Some are only for cold drinks.  They come in a lot of different colors but the plain metal one would be a good choice as it won't chip.  Also, be sure you get the one with the push button lid.  This is the only one that will not spill or leak.  It is rumored that Costco has a two pack for $20 but all I could find there, were the cold models.  They advertise they will keep drinks hot for 4 hours.  Maybe if left full and preheated with boiling water.  It will keep 12 oz of coffee at a drinkable temp for 45 minutes or so while you sip it.  The main feature is the lid.  The push button opening is small and it takes some getting used to and if you don't relieve the pressure when beverage is really hot, it will squirt down your throat.  I am a coffee sipper and not a guzzler so this fits me fine.  When you relax the button to let the opening close, they will not spill even if you turn it upside down and shake it. You can actually stuff it in your pocket and for those of you that carry purses, it will carry there as well.  Fits all vehicle cup holders.

I shied away from metal mugs as you cannot microwave them to reheat.  This cup keeps the beverage hot long enough that you usually don't have to reheat.  Besides, if you are boondocked, you don't want to run the generator just to heat up coffee.