Let me start by saying I am a cynical optimist, that cannot be described adequetly in words but I'm sure you will see what I mean eventually. Secondly I belive that enjoyment can be found in anything given the proper motivation, drug, or some combination of the two.
I started this blog mostly to record recipe ideas I have so I plan on including in each post something I have either tried (with feedback) or want to try. Because I really like pot I'll generally include how to encorperate it into the food. However since one of my roommates and I brew beer I figured, what the hell.
THE BEER
Recently we (roommate remember?) have had some success with making some fairly tasty Ginger beer. My roommate has been brewing for quite a lot longer than me, but one of my best friends (You know who you are) has been brewing for years as well. Because of him I'd at least like to think I know what I'm talking about when it comes to brewing, and have become a beer snob. Also because of him. Not sure if it's a bad thing or not but that's just how it is.
Anyways, I got side tracked. The first one we did was about 1.7lbs of Ginger to 15 cups of sugar to yeild 5 gallons of Ginger beer (roughly 50 bottles). They were a bit on the sweet side and lacked the Ginger punch i was looking for, though the Ginger came out more in flavor the longer it sat (brown bottles, 60-70* F, 3 days till they were carbonnated and full in flavor by week 4). I think the carbonnaton helped bring out the flavor somehow, but I lack an explanation as to why.
Since then we have made a second batch with brown sugar and honey instead of white sugar, and I'll keep you all informed about it. Also a pale ale is in the works, though I didn't help brew that one.
THE FOOD
Right now I could write tales about food but I'll limit it to my most recent recipies.
Hell Mashers-
Super spicy mashed potatoes I made for myself. Butter in this could easily be substituted with pre-made pot butter
3 russet potatoes, peeled quartered
1/2lb butter
1/4 c lardons(this is what I used cause I had some, easily substituted with bacon or panccetta)
1/2 c fine diced white onion
3 large cloves garlic
2 T fresh chopped sage
2 habeneros, seeded, finely minced
1/2 c chedder cheese, shredded
1/2 c milk
I started by boiling the potatoes (standard for mashed potaoes, about 30 min in salted water on a low boil), while those were working I rendered the fat slightly in the lardons in a cast iron skillet. One most of the fat was rendered I added the onion and cooked until lightly browned and sweet. I then added the garlic and chilis, sauteing lightly then adding the butter to melt it then the sage. I left it on a low heat until the potatoes were done and whipped the potatoes in a mixer adding the milk in slowly, then the butter, and lastly the cheese. I topped it with some sour cream and chives.
The outcome?
Really fucking spicy potatoes. I have a thing for spicy food, but most people would have trouble eating these. They have a really great flavor and if they were just for me I might add either another chili or maybe a 1/2 t of cayenne. For those faint hearted, use jalepenos. They will probly add a bit more chili flavor and greatly reduce the heat.
