Category Archives: Television

hungarian-pancakes

Hungarian Pancakes

Inspired by Diners, Drive-ins and Dives, episode aired February 24, 2014, between 11-12PM EDT.

I have made pancakes with potatoes and onions before but, watching this episode made me experiment with paprika, garlic, old bay. Plus I generally like to put a little bit of curry and or turmeric in too, it helps stabilize the potatoes as they tend to oxidize quickly once chopped. I have noticed red potatoes are better in this regard; they take a long time to discolor.

4 medium size potatoes
1 small onion
2 clove garlic
2 heaping tbsp white flour
1 egg, I used a large one
1 tsp turmeric or curry, more if you like
1 tsp baking powder
Oil or fat for the fan frying. I used coconut oil and bacon fat.

The following to taste
Salt
Paprika
Old Bay

1. Cut up the potatoes and onions, add in garlic cloves and run through a food processor on chop mode.
2. Dump into a bowl and add salt, mix.
3. In a second bowl add flour and other dry ingredients, mix thoroughly.
4. Start preheating pan, put the oil and fat in it. This is not deep frying, so coat the pan but coat generously.
5. Add egg to potato, onion and garlic bowl and mix thoroughly.
6. Add the premixed dry ingredients in slowly while mixing in. Slowly prevents lumps of flour from forming.
7. When the pan is hot enough, like when a drop of water will sizzle in it; drop in a serving spoon sized amount of the mixture and flatten it out a bit with a spatula.
8. After a few seconds, when it has set, shimmy the pan around so the oil can get under it and all around the edges.
9. When it is golden brown on the bottom flip it over and get the other side golden brown. This requires a guess, based on size the time may vary. The first few might get flipped over a few times until you get the timing down.
10. When done, place on a plate with paper towels to absorb excess oil. I like to keep them in the over on warm until I am done with the whole batch.

These pancakes are good as a side to many dishes and are a different way to use potatoes. The DDD episode shows them topped with goulash which looked great. The first time I made them I used them as “buns” for a nice grass-fed beef hamburger (Wegmans has great grass-fed beef). It was a great tasting and filling too.

potato-pancakes
Hungarian Pancakes

Kielbasa with Sauerkraut and Green Apples

This is a good Eastern European dish, I saw a variant of it on Diners, Drive Ins and Dives. It was easy enough to remember and when I tried it, I was impressed.

Kielbasa with Sauerkraut
Kielbasa with Sauerkraut

Ingredients

  • One  length Kielbasa, approximately 16 inches long. I used fresh Kielbasa.
  • One green apple
  • Sauerkraut, approximately the same volume as the amount of Kielbasa

 

Kielbasa,Apple,Sauerkraut
Kielbasa,Apple,Sauerkraut

Process

I bought a approximately 16 inch long fresh Kielbasa, cooked it at 275 F in the oven for an hour, flipping over once.

Cooked Kielbasa
Cooked Kielbasa

Then in a big pan or a pot that has a cover, place about the same volume of sauerkraut as the size of the Kielbasa, I used some homemade kraut that was fairly fresh ( fermented 7 days ) and had some tooth feel to it still, al dente. Cut up one green apple into eight pieces, you can leave the skins on.

Cut Kielbasa into 1/2 inch slices and add to pan/pot and gently warm on the lowest setting, occasionally stirring for about 30 minutes or until thoroughly warmed.

Combines well with egg noodles or over rye bread.

Los Pollos Hermanos

Halloween: Los Pollos Hermanos

Breaking Bad is for me the #1 drama show that I have seen to date. So, for Halloween, I decided to go with a Breaking bad theme. So I dressed  up like a Los Pollos Hermanos worker.

Los Pollos, Special Delivery!
Los Pollos, Special Delivery!
Something Good is always COOKING at Los Pollos Hermanos
Something Good is always COOKING at Los Pollos Hermanos

Made a nice prop, hacked a Hallmark recordable greeting card, 10 seconds of record time and it plays the Breaking Bad theme song, just about fits in the 10 secs. I had to do about 10 takes to hit the timing and audio level. But when the “Los Pollos” takeout box is opened, it plays, works great.

Video of the Box Opening

Video of Box Opening Plays Breaking Bad Theme

Made some Blue Sky “meth” candy to put in the takeout box!

I looked online, the blue stuff was like $12 a pound. I know how to cook for real, don’t bake much but, I should be able to make hard candy! I even found Sky Blue food coloring at a real food supply store.

Sky Blue food coloring
Sky Blue food coloring

I have a video that I learned from at the bottom of this post, it is dead on, except I used more flavoring. After 2 batches, I wanted more flavor, so I threw in a tbsp of almond extract.  Seriously, it is easy, it is a heat, stir wait kind of process. First put water, sugar and corn syrup in the pot, heat slowly until dissolved. Turn up heat raise until approximately 290 F. Kill the heat and add flavor and food coloring,  just before the pour occurs. Pour on wax paper and tilt the pan to spread, beat it to pieces!

Breaking is GOOD in this process!
Breaking is GOOD in this process!
Boils and Boils until it hits around 290 Deg. F
Boils and Boils until it hits around 290 Deg. F
Pouring the product!
Pouring the product!
The ingredients
The ingredients
Smashing the crystal!
Smashing the crystal!

 

The Box Cover

Edited a logo I found on line and tweaked it in the GIMP editor, click on it for full size, feel free to use it…

Los Pollos Box Cover
Los Pollos Box Cover
Breaking Bad Blue Sky Crystal Meth Candy

I followed the following cool and descriptive video to make the goods…