BAUMATIC COOKER HOOD https://blog.dnevnik.hr/baumatic-cooker-hood

This was the first time I tried to do a somewhat typical American Thanksgiving. From lost to the river, and I decided to go all the way about it: invite people over, cook a bird following a fancy recipe, make cranberry sauce, etc.

The result ... was a mixture of everything. Fun and good times were certainly had, but that was already assured by the good company.

I decided to cook a chicken (instead of the traditional turkey) following one of my mother's recipes. First of all the recipe calls for a boneless bird ... I did not expect that the poor creature would be totally cut through! I mean, I know you've got to cut to get the bones out, but what my mother gets in Madrid still has some meat holding the whole thing together. This mean that it was almost impossible to stuff properly and it looked nothing like a chicken when it went into the oven.

We also had most of the stuffing left over after filling the bird; so I just threw it into another container and popped it in the oven to make meat loaf. I knew this would work, because the stuffing is basically the same recipe my mother uses for her amazing meat loaf. In fact, Alex is going to eat the last piece of it tomorrow for lunch.

As I expected, it took longer to cook that it was supposed to. Well, to be honest, maybe it didn't, but I wanted to play it safe and make sure the stuffing was cooked thoroughly since it is meat based.

Luckily we had asked our friends to bring appetizers and warned them that the chicken would start cooking when they arrived so it might take some time to make it to the table. OTOH it mean that two of our friends who had found themselves double booked for Thanksgving parties had to leave before it was ready.

And the sauces and side dishes ..... yum! Caramelized onions (the best), cranberry-wine-citrus sauce (pretty good), apple sauce (I still like it better on oatmeal than as a side dish for something savoury), mashed potatoes (with sour cream, cheese, and chives), and of course gravy / chicken juices.

Still, much as I like having people over for dinner parties, I think next time I'll stick less exotic recipes.

And we've got to make that meatlof again! In fact, we could have made just that and skipped the bird and it ould have been so much easier.

For dinner last night was taco salads. I made something of a taco meat/chili hybrid. It's easy. here's the recipe
1 tbsp. oil (appx) in a large pot. Add:
1/2 c. onion, diced
4 or more minced garlic cloves. Stir for a minute or so, then add:
2.5 lb ground beef, turkey or chicken (it makes a BIG recipe, that's the only way I know how to make chili)
Cook, stirring, until the meat is medium-rare, then drain well.
Add back into the pot. Stir in some seasonings ** I "eyeball it" or use my hand as a measuring device. Adjust as you like.
2 tbsp. cumin
1/2 tbsp. cinnamon
2 tsp. ground coriander
some oregano or marjoram
Some thyme
a bunch of chili powder
1 tsp. seasoning salt (Vege-sal is great)
1 tsp. garlic powder
2-3 bay leaves (good sized)
Whatever else strikes your fancy as you root through the cabinets
Stir well then add:
1 can of mexican style tomatoes (undrained)
1 can of pinto, turtle, or kidney beans (drained and rinsed)
1 cup of frozen or leftover corn (or however much you have)
1 cube of beef bouillon or equivalent
1 cup of water
1 portion of unsweetened baking chocolate (yeah, I said it)
1/2 cup of V-8 juice (yep) or anything else you have around that would substitute
3/4 c. of red wine (optional, but why not?)
Stir and simmer (uncovered) while you get the salad ready or as long as you'd like. If the juice reduces too quickly, put a vented lid on it.

Besides romaine/redleaf/iceberg lettuces, you can add some more tasty stuff to your salad., such as, shredded Sargento Mexican style cheese, avocado cubes, cherry/grape tomatoes, green onions, chopped fresh cilantro, green sliced olives, sour cream.

Knowing me, I forgot at least 3 ingredients. But, play around with it.

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