Author Archive: blogger

A Deep Fish Fryer and California Rock Cod Combine to Make a Delicious Meal

blogger November 15, 2022

One of my favorite fishing trips is to the north coast of California for rock cod, and one of my favorite ways to prepare it is with a deep fish fryer. The problem is you have to catch it before you can cook it, and thats why I like fishing for rock cod. If you can get your boat in the water, and you know where the reef is, you are going to catch fish. Its just that simple. And a fresh catch along with a deep fish fryer, combine to make a delicious meal.

After all, one of the reasons we fish is to put food on the table. After spending a day on the water, and the time and effort to clean and prep your catch, a tasty meal of deep fried rock cod is a nice reward.

When selecting your deep fryer, the first choice you have to make is, electric or gas. If you’re like me and do a lot of outdoor cooking with no electricity available, your only choice is a propane burner. My favorite is the Bayou Classic fish cookers. They are well built, portable propane burners, and easy to use.

To prepare your rock cod for the deep fryer you will want to fillet them. You will have to cut out the rib cage and check for any other bones you may have missed. Then cut your fillets into 2″ strips. Keeping your pieces of fish approximately the same size, helps ensure that all are properly cooked.

Next, you need to coat your fish. You can use a batter or coat it with egg and breadcrumbs. I generally prefer a beer batter, but, it comes down to personal preference. Just make sure you do coat it. This helps keep the oil out and the moisture in.

Make sure you use a vegetable oil with a high smoking point. I generally use peanut oil, but canola oil or soybean oil will work as well. You need to pre-heat the oil to 350-375 degrees F. You don’t want it to fall much under 350 degrees , or the oil will soak through the batter making the fish taste greasy.

When cooked at the proper temperature, your batter will be a crispy golden brown and the cod will be moist and delicious. So, make sure you have a quality thermometer with your deep fish fryer. If not, you can drop a small piece of bread in the hot oil, if it turns golden brown within 45-60 seconds, the oil temperature is fine.Don’t overload your fryer, as this will lower the oil temperature. Just fry 3 to 6 pieces of fish at a time, depending on the size of your fryer.

And now, it’s time to eat, and there are a variety of tasty ways to consume your deep fried rock cod. It tastes great all by itself, or dip it in your favorite sauce. One of my all time favorites is fish tacos. Whether you like a crispy shell or a soft shell, deep fried cod fits very well in either, and makes for a delicious meal.

So, if you like catching fish, give California rock cod a try. Just remember, you need to know where the reefs are, so make sure you get some local knowledge. Oh yea, and don’t forget your deep fish fryer.

Cooking

Bayou Classic

Cooking for Coeliacs Ten Top Tips

blogger August 9, 2022

Cooking for someone with Coeliac Disease, which means they are intolerant to both wheat and gluten, can be a daunting task. As you will find from reading this article, if you are well prepared then cooking them need not be scary, nor should it compromise your ability to cook a great tasting and healthy meal.

1.Probably the most important thing to remember is to always check the labels of any food that you are using, to make sure that the food does not contain any hidden gluten. It is vital to remember that hidden sources of gluten include preservatives, additives and stabilizers found in processed food. A great way to combat this problem is to cook only with basic ingredients that you are sure do not contain gluten, omitting products such as pre-made sauces and dressings.

2.As mentioned before, using good, fresh foods is one of the best ways to ensure that whatever meal you are cooking will be suitable for Coeliacs. So look for dishes that include fresh meat, fresh fruit & vegetables, fresh herbs, egg and dairy products and pure oils and vinegars. Knowing this gives you a large scope to be able to cook a variety of delicious dishes, without having to worry about using any ingredients that are not safe.

3.If you have your heart set on using ingredients, such as flour, that are not suitable for Coeliacs, there are a large range of alternatives that are gluten free. Instead of using ordinary flour you could instead use any of the following rice flour, potato flour, corn flour, cornmeal, soya flower and buckwheat flour. With these substitutes you can cook many dishes that would not normally be suitable.

4.Whilst it is gluten that gives things like bread their elasticity and cakes their spring, this does not exclude you from baking either of these items when cooking for a Coeliac. Gluten-free cakes actually work very well. You can use flour alternatives such as ground cornmeal or a mixture of rice flour and ground almonds to create light and delicious gluten-free cakes. A great tip when doing so is to use a mixture of flours along with ground almonds so the cake remains moist when baked.

5.When purchasing the ingredients for your meal, do not forget to check out the specialist sections in health stores and most big supermarkets. These sections will include a plethora of wheat and gluten free products that you can use in your meal, safe in the knowledge that they have been properly tested and are safe to be eaten by Coeliacs.

6.Remember that for some people even the tiniest trace of gluten or wheat in their food could lead them to become very ill. With this in mind make sure that your food preparation areas, including any chopping boards and knives used, have been thoroughly cleaned before use. Do this to ensure that no traces of wheat or gluten from previous meals remain on the utensils and are transferred into your otherwise safe dish.

7.If you are unsure about any products or ingredients that you plan to use in your meal, there are many great online resources for finding out if they are safe. Simply Google Coeliac food directory for more information.

Cooking

Coeliac Disease, Simply Google Coeliac

Cooking Tips on Shrimps and Cocoa

blogger July 13, 2022

Shrimps Cooking Tips

Boiling is the common method of cooking shrimp. In a large pot, add 4 cups of water for every pound of shrimp. You can add seasonings of choice to the water if you want. Bring the water to a boil before adding thawed shrimp. How long to cook shrimp depends on whether the shrimp are large or small. Shrimp are done cooking when the skin turns bright pink to red in color. The meat will be opaque, and the shrimp will float to the top of the water. Average cooking time is 1 to 3 minutes. When the shrimp are done cooking, remove from the pot and place on ice. Steam shrimp by filling a large pot with water and bringing it to a simmer. Turn the heat on low before adding a steamer basket filled with shrimp. Cover the pot and cook until the skin or shell of the shrimp turns bright pink and the meat turns opaque. Shelled shrimp can be deep-fried. Dip the shrimp into milk and then coat with flour or cornmeal. Fry in a deep fryer filled with peanut oil and heated to 360 degrees Fahrenheit. Remove shrimp from the fryer once they are golden brown, usually after 2 to 4 minutes of deep-frying. Drain it and serve it hot and enjoy the taste.

Cocoa Tips

There are quite a lot of ways to cook meat. Pork should not be overcooked. Your cooking method determines how long the pork should be cooked. Broiling pork ribs in the broiler takes about 35 minutes for them to get done. Turn ribs frequently while broiling. Boneless center cut pork chops should be broiled for 5 or 6 minutes on each side. Thin cuts only need to be broiled for 2 minutes on each side. Pork chops can also be pan broiled over medium to high heat. Brush the bottom of the pan with some olive oil before broiling boneless center cuts for 3 minutes on each side. Center cut chops with the bone will need a slightly longer cooking time. Roast a pork loin 28 minutes for every pound. A center cut roast with the bone in needs additional cooking time and should be roasted for at least 35 minutes per pound of roast. Roast pork in an oven preheated to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Cook the meat in a shallow pan.

Cooking

Cocoa Tips

Fishing Fresh Caught Fish Cooking Preparation

blogger July 2, 2022

To maintain the delicate flavor of a newly caught freshwater or saltwater fish, this must be handled properly to avoid spoilage. Not to mention preserving the fish with pleasing odor. There are ways to properly prepare and maintain the quality just after the catch of the fish into a sumptuous fishmeal. Check out the tips below:

1) As soon as the fish lands avoid any contact with hard surfaces to prevent bruising. It should be washed immediately by hosing or bucket rinsing in order to remove the slime and possible bacteria that cause spoilage. Never use water from close proximity marinas, municipal or industrial discharges. To make sure, always use potable water instead.

2) Simply chill the fish to prevent deterioration in less than an hour. With a little advance planning, proper icing can be accomplished with the use of some relatively cheap equipment. Fish should be stored in coolers and should be well chilled. It should be 3″ deep, thus, covering a pound of fish with pound of ice. Use chlorinated water per quart of water for the final rinsing.

3) Clean the fish as soon as possible. Their tissues are sterile but not their scales, which contains many types of bacteria. When cleaning fish, avoid rough treatment because wounds in the flesh can allow the spread of bacteria. Gutting the fish does not have to be necessarily long. It is wise to cut the belly, as it leaves no blood or viscera in the body. Make sure not to soak cleaned fish fillets in a prolonged freshwater as this could reduce the meat texture and flavor.

4) The eating quality and nutritional value of fish can be maintained up to 5 days if properly cleaned. Washing of the hands before touching the fish is also important. No matter what fish and the cooking technique used, one golden rule is to be followed always. Whether it is whole or not, cook exactly 10 minutes for every inch measured. 15 minutes should be allotted to fish enclosed in foil or sauce baked. Double the time for frozen fish.

Allow extra time if fish will be baked while packed in an aluminum foil and allow extra time for the penetration of the heat. That should be an additional 5 minutes for fresh fish and 10 for frozen. In thawing frozen fish, slowly thaw in the fridge for 24 hours or let the wrapped fish be run under cold water not at room temperature. Do not thaw a fish that’s frozen before cooking as it may make it mushy and dry.

Cooking

Have You Tried The Morocco Cooking Vacation

blogger July 2, 2022

Do you want to improve your cooking ability? You can enroll in cooking courses even on vacation. If you want to go Paris, you can learn French cooking. You can learn different menus from this training. Cooking holidays give you opportunity to meet new chefs. Make your vacation time most memorable with this experience. Want to learn more about these types of vacations? Then, read this article.

A Cooking Vacation is among the top choice of destination for kitchen enthusiasts. No matter if your plan is to have a short break from your neighborhood, or to travel for few days, culinary tours allow you to explore, experience, and learn the unique cuisine of your chosen destination.

Among the outstanding destinations for cooking holidays are Spain, Greece, Italy, Paris, and Portugal. There are many benefits you can gain from cookery holidays.

Many people who love cooking can learn a lot from cooking classes held particularly for vacationers. Each cooking class is handled by seasoned local chefs in order that you understand and differentiate the taste of native cuisine.

You can also be assured of thorough guidance from the chefs because the cooking vacation is set up for limited seats. During the cooking class, you are given activities to test your lessons from the local chefs.

This can be a great way to win a friend. As you mingle with your chef instructors and classmates, you can build rapport with them, making your culinary tours memorable as you exchange ideas relevant to your cooking lessons, travels and many more.

Moreover, it allows you to showcase your skill in cookery. You can use your existing skills in cooking the best-tasting dish. If you are a newbie, this can be an excellent way to learn from the expert. Nobody is born great, even in cooking. It can be learned, and nothing beats the idea of learning from the great local chefs.

To make your cooking vacation something worth reminiscing, you need to consider few things. After you have determined the destination for your culinary tours, you need to know the best cooking schools of your destination. You can do a search on the web to find out the curriculum.

Know the type of cuisines being taught in every school so you will have an idea on what to expect from your cooking classes. Find out the schedule of the classes so you can organize your vacation itinerary.

At most, the cooking schools are accredited throughout the world and the chefs are equipped with necessary qualifications, experience, resources and skills to make you the best chef of your own kitchen or restaurant.

Although surfing their websites can be a good source of information, it will even be rewarding if you contact them to pose your queries. This is a good way to know about their customer service.

Ask them everything you need to know about their culinary, especially the enrollment process, requirements and the opening of cooking classes. Try to request special discounts.

Cooking