Welcome to the Game-Night Kitchen!

Rune · Jul 24, 2012

Episode 13: Coleslaw.

What's better on a hot summer day than fresh coleslaw?

What's easier to make on a hot summer day than fresh coleslaw?

What's cheaper to make on a hot summer day than fresh coleslaw?

Very little, that's what.

Here's what you'll need:

1 head of cabbage
A carrot or two
Mayonnaise
Vinegar
Sugar
Black Pepper

Chop.

Wash your head of cabbage and peel off the outer leaves. This will be easier if you make four shallow cuts in a square around the base of the core. Quarter the cabbage through the core and then cut the core out by cutting into each wedge of cabbage at an angle.

If you have a food processor, you can use it to shred your cabbage and carrots, but, unless you are making a massive amount of coleslaw (certainly more than this recipe assumes), you will probably be able to chop your ingredients quicker than it would take to use the food processor and clean it!

You can also use a grater, but, personally, I prefer a fairly coarsely chopped mix (that's another problem with the food processor, by the way--it has a tendency to turn your cabbage into mulch, which is...not a good texture!).

Chop your cabbage and put it into a large bowl.

Next, peel your carrot(s) and chop them finely (or grate them) into the bowl.

Sauce.

In another bowl, combine some mayonnaise with a small amount of vinegar and some sugar. The type of vinegar you use will lend it's flavor to the slaw, so keep that in mind! While you're making the sauce, make sure to keep tasting it and adding small amounts of vinegar or sugar until you get it where you want it. Personally, I aim for slightly sweet and slightly tangy--subtlety is the goal!

When you've got it tasting right, mix it into the coleslaw a little at a time. Cabbage is mostly water, so it will take less sauce than you think. Basically, coat all of the cabbage and then let it rest for a few minutes. Mix in a little sauce, if needed, then let it rest again. If you just add in the amount of sauce you think is right all at once, you are likely to find that your slaw is soggier than you intended.

Finally, for a little contrast, mix in a little black pepper (the courser the grind, the better, I find).

If you've been reading along, you may remember Dannyalcatraz's Mayonnaise Substitute: using plain yogurt in place of up to half of the mayonnaise in a mayonnaise-based dish. I tried this with some coleslaw for last night's game and it worked very well.

The texture of yogurt is not as thick as the mayonnaise (meaning it will take somewhat less to coat your cabbage), so you'll have to keep that in mind as you're adding in the sauce!

That's it for this week. Good gaming, y'all!

Dannyalcatraz · Jul 24, 2012

Hey, glad that idea worked for you!

Funny thing- I LOVE CABBAGE!

...but I hate most cole slaws. I've only found one that I actually enjoy, the garlic cole slaw at Vincent's in Plano, Tx.

I usually just do a nice big (stinky) pot of cabbage with chicken broth, shredded carrots, onions, and a spicy sausage, cooked low & slow.

And fortunately for me, there's achinese restaurant near me that does fan-damn-tastic vegetarian egg rolls that are essentially just cabbage, carrots & onion.

Rune · Jul 24, 2012

Dannyalcatraz said:
Hey, glad that idea worked for you!

I'd XP you for it, but I need to spread some around, first!

Rune · Jul 25, 2012

Tried Sialia's grilled cheese sandwiches with tomato soup tonight. Very tasty! The garlic on the sandwiches complemented the soup very well!

I recommend anyone who wishes to try it to cook at medium--or slightly above medium--heat. Any lower, and you won't toast the bread very well. Any higher, and you're likely to burn it (especially the cheese sprinkled on the outside).

Sialia · Jul 25, 2012

yay! Glad it worked and was tasty.

It is a little tricky doing the cheese layer--you've got to get it just past gooey and sticking to the pan, but pull it up before it scorches. I use a cast iron skillet and set my wretched ceramic top stove on 6, and make sure everything is preheated. (the cast iron compensates for the uneven heat fluctuation of the lousy cooktop) Anyway, with a good medium hot steady setting, the timing is 30 seconds for me--just toasted until it comes loose cleanly. Also, a little loose cheese always falls on the skillet next to the sandwich while I'm doing this, and I use that as the guide for when it's time to check. The little crispy bits of loose cheese on the pan are the tastiest bit--I always scrape them out and snack on them before I start the next sandwich. Also, do not let Xena use your skillet for an improvised weapon before it cools--the handle gets uncomfortably hot, unless you've got one of those little quilted handle sleeves.

Rune · Jul 25, 2012

Sialia said:
yay! Glad it worked and was tasty.

I'd XP you for it, but, alas, I have to spread some around first (this is getting to be a trend for me...).

Rune · Jul 31, 2012

Episode 14: Meatball Sandwiches.

I made these for tonight's game and they were oh so delightful.

This dish is a little more complex than the ones I usually try to post, but it's a real treat. It also is another one of those dishes that is best served during a break, as it can be a bit messy.

Here's what you'll need:

Ground beef
Crackers, sliced bread, or oatmeal
An egg
Salt
Black Pepper
Onion
Garlic cloves
Garlic powder
Oregano
Basil
Thyme
Sugar
Diced tomatoes
Tomato paste
Butter or margarine
A sturdy bread (Italian is good for this)
Sliced provolone cheese

Meatballs are balls made of meat.

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees. While it is preheating, peel your garlic cloves (this is easier if you crack them by pressing down on them with the flat of a blade). This is also a good time to mince your onion. You'll only need about a quarter of a medium-sized onion per two pounds of ground beef, or so.

Put your ground beef in a bowl. Your meatballs will want a bit of a breading filling, for which you can use crushed crackers, crumbled toast, or oatmeal. Add this to the bowl with some salt, pepper, basil, oregano, and thyme. Add an egg and mix well by hand. Then, wash your hands.

Get a baking pan (something with edges) and, if you have one, a rack to fit inside of it. Roll some of the meat mixture into a ball around a garlic clove. Repeat the process until you have used up all of your garlic cloves and meat. You'll probably want to aim for balls about 1 1/2 to 2 inches in diameter, as larger meatballs will affect the cook-time.

Place these evenly on the rack and then wash your hands again. Cover the pan with foil and bake for about 30 minutes, then uncover and bake for another 15 minutes, or so. When they are cooked through (to a temperature of at least 155 degrees, if you are using a thermometer), pull the meatballs from the oven and let them rest for a few minutes before removing them from the rack.

Marinara.

While you are baking the meatballs, put your tomato paste and diced tomatoes in a saucepan with salt, pepper, garlic powder, oregano, basil, thyme, sugar, and butter or margarine. Bring to a boil, then immediately reduce the heat and let the sauce simmer. The exact proportions of these ingredients will be according to your taste, but if you are unsure how much of each you should use, add small amounts of each and taste-test until you get it where you want it.

Sandwiches.

Turn your oven up to 450 degrees or so.

Slice your bread, if it is not already. Put it on cookie sheet, or similar pan and place meatballs on the bottom halves. Don't be afraid to mush the meatballs down some if you don't want them to roll around! Spoon some marinara sauce over each, lay a slice of provolone over that, top them with the rest of the bread, and toast them in the oven, just long enough to melt the cheese.

Remove and serve.

That's it! Good gaming, y'all!

Sialia · Jul 31, 2012

This sounds wonderful!

I love anything toasty and gooey and drippy.

(Can I have some mushrooms on mine when i drop by?)

Rune · Aug 6, 2012

Sialia said:
This sounds wonderful!

I love anything toasty and gooey and drippy.

(Can I have some mushrooms on mine when i drop by?)

Thanks! If you find yourself passing through Central KY, I'll make sure to get some!

On an unrelated note, I'm headed out to a friend's Birthday (Gaming) Party, so no update, tonight.

Gilladian · Aug 7, 2012

Hamburger-cabbage soup

Here's a family favorite soup that can be varied in many ways and is easy to make ahead.

Hamburger (1 lb per 4 servings)
Cabbage (1/2 head per 4 servings)
Onion (1 or 2 medium per 4 servings)
Carrots ( 2-3 large per 4 servings)
Garlic (1-2 cloves per 4 servings)
Tomatoes, fresh or canned, (1-2 per 4 servings)
Pasta, whole wheat (I like elbows or shells) or barley
Beef stock, 6-8 cups for 4 servings or 1 bouillon cube per 2 cups water and a cup or so of red wine.
Herbs (I like italian or herbs de provence), to taste.
Salt ONLY if you used real beef stock instead of bouillon, but be sure to taste first!

Brown the hamburger (I drain and rinse it to minimize fat), and then the onions and garlic. Add all the veggies, sliced into bite-sized pieces. Brown lightly until the cabbage wilts. Add the stock and red wine if you're using it. Add the barley. Simmer for an hour or up to 4 hours. Add the pasta near the end if you're using it instead of barley. Simmer until pasta is tender and serve at once. You may need to add more liquid near the end if you used barley - it can soak up a lot of broth!