Whatcha Cooking today?

[worth1]

Tonight's meal.

Nothing disgusts me more than rattlesnake roundups.

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[Sue_CT]

Just had a dog, 2 actually, here in CT bit by Timbers in the face. Fortunately they got them in time to a large top notch emergency vet that keeps antivenom on hand. Most do not. Both dogs made it. But we don't hear about Rattlesnkes very much around here, much less Timbers. Occassionally one is spotted. When they went back to look for the snakes they found 2 of them. They did say they were endangered but did not say if they relocated them or not.

Tormato, you can have your stories. I have no desire to aquire ANY personal stories having to do with rattlers, thank you very much.

[karstopography]

I saw a baby coachwhip today out in the backyard. Those might be my favorite local snake. Coachwhips have very large eyes that give the impression of some serious brain activity going on. I like snakes.

We heated up leftovers tonight, the street tacos. Seems as good the second day as last night. Do not foresee any snakes showing up on the menu anytime soon.

[Tormahto]

Sue, here's one for you. One housing sub-division in town goes out towards the base of the mountain where the rattlers are. The houses are likely about a mile from the den, and rattlesnakes have an estimated 2 mile in radius range from the den. About every 20 years, someone gets bit. So, the local hospital started stocking the anti-venom serum. I'm assuming staff was trained in its usage. However, the last time someone was bit, there was no one at the hospital who knew how to use it. The patient and the serum was airlifted to Providence, RI.

[Sue_CT]

That is negligence! Hontestly, had that patient died they could have been sued for huge amounts. Holy Criminy. Also, no explanation for why they could not get help on using it by phone or video chat instead of moving a patient in grave danger. I work in a small hospital and we don't always have some of the specialists we might need on short notice. We have assessments done by video. A nurse, med student, intern, doctor etc., will man the IPAD while the specialist conducts the exam remotely, gives instructions, etc. Granted SOME things cannot be done remotely like listening to a patients lungs but we can be the remote specialists "ears" while they can use their own eyes by live video. All of that to say, they better have gotten that series of antivenom started before air lifting that patient to Providence. I can see them wanting to start it and transfer the patien out to a place with more eperience to continue the very close monitoring required, and complete the treatment. But That is pretty shocking.

[worth1]

I had just the right amount of precooked spaghetti leftover from last night.
What to do?
Why not spicy hot Italian sausage with a homemade sauce.

The sausage is in the bath cooking at around 140F for around 30 minutes.
The sauce is......
1 10 ounce can of Hatch diced tomatoes with chillies and roastedgarlic.
1 heaping tablespoon each of.
My homemade pesto sauce.
Gochujang.
Mexican oregano.
Put in small pan bring to hot simmer for about 5 or 10 minutes cut heat and put a lid on it.
Ounce ready to eat sear sausage in a hot skillet with some oil.

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[rxkeith]

tonight, it was my famous beef stew turned into soup. i have been working on this pot since about 2pm.
local beef shanks coated with flour with herbs, and seasonings mixed in browned in a skillet. carrots,, celery,
onion, and garlic that fancy french word sauteed in the cooking oil then thrown in with the beef shanks.
added water to cover, with some bay leaves, and simmered for 2 to 3 hours. added taters, carrots, celery, onions,
parsnips, and turnips, more seasonings, salt, and a generous amount of pepper.
pulled the meat out, deboned it, and cut it up, added it back to the pot. ate the marrow out of the bones, gave some of the
connective tissue, and fat to the dog i kept stepping over while making the meal.
done
most ingredients were either from the garden or raised locally.



keith

[Tormahto]

That is negligence! Hontestly, had that patient died they could have been sued for huge amounts. Holy Criminy. Also, no explanation for why they could not get help on using it by phone or video chat instead of moving a patient in grave danger. I work in a small hospital and we don't always have some of the specialists we might need on short notice. We have assessments done by video. A nurse, med student, intern, doctor etc., will man the IPAD while the specialist conducts the exam remotely, gives instructions, etc. Granted SOME things cannot be done remotely like listening to a patients lungs but we can be the remote specialists "ears" while they can use their own eyes by live video. All of that to say, they better have gotten that series of antivenom started before air lifting that patient to Providence. I can see them wanting to start it and transfer the patien out to a place with more eperience to continue the very close monitoring required, and complete the treatment. But That is pretty shocking.

This happened about 30 years ago, likely no 2-way live chat at that time. It was probably only the second rattlesnake bite since the hospital was built decades earlier. In my reading about rattlesnakes, because I encounter them, the patient likely wasn't in grave danger. In my understanding, an adult eastern timber rattlesnake only releases a small amount of venom, reserving the rest if future use is needed. Victims usually don't get very sick from most bites, even with no treatment for many many hours. (don't take my word for it, this is only what I read, pre-internet days) A baby rattler is the most dangerous, as it supposedly releases much more venom than an adult. I don't think the little ones venture too far from the den.

I used to carry a snake bite kit when hiking in a few areas. I figured if I was to get bit, it would be in the lower leg. Hiking alone, there would be no one to immediately suck the poison out. So, the kit had a small razor blade, saline sealed in a little pouch, a bandage, and a little squeezable suction thingy to (maybe) draw out the venom. The kit barely added a bit of peace of mind when I was out in the wild. My eyes were always scanning just in front of my steps, even if this place was never to have any rattlers. The terrain is is extremely rough, with loose rocks, and downed branches everywhere.

[worth1]

I had a cotton mouth hit me in the leg.
He didn't bite because he had a bullfrog in his mouth.

[Sue_CT]

Well that makes a bit more sense, Tornato. I rememeber those snake bite kits. The anti venom is given based on the dose of venom the snake released, which can't really be known, so it is kind of a art to treating and watching for symptoms and response continuiously and adjusting the dose as needed, rather than a specific dose by weight or age or anything. Interesting story.

That is crazy, Worth.

[rxkeith]

tonight it was roast chicken, one of ours home grown.
the bird had been in the freezer from two years ago.
funny how something that big can get shifted around, buried, and lost track of.
it still looked ok, no freezer burn, so waste not, want not, into the oven it went.
it came out golden brown on the outside, moist and tender on the inside.
two years old, and it still tasted better than any store bought chicken.
the giblets looked a bit old so they went to our dog. they disappeared quick.
garden broccoli was the vegetable. no room for anything else.

keith

[worth1]

Kartoffelpuffers and hot Italian sausage.

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[worth1]

I saved some for lunch.
Did the usual 150F hot water treatment to cook then into the hot oil to crisp up the skin.

[Tormahto]

The USDA still recommends 160 degrees for ground meats (sausages?).

[karstopography]

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What to do with about a pound and 1/2 of freshly dug peanuts? Too wet outside to dry them, then let’s boil them. About 1/3 cup of kosher salt and water. Should be done by 6pm or so.

[worth1]

The USDA still recommends 160 degrees for ground meats (sausages?).

I couldn't care less what the USDA says.
Everything big enough to die is already dead at 145.
Especially the amount of time I hold it there.

[karstopography]

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The crock pot boiled peanuts were terrific. So much flavor, very pleased with how they turned out.

Stuffed portobellos for dinner. Ground beef, chopped bell, Ajvarski and Corbaci peppers, minced garlic, chopped portobello, cream and cheddar cheese, basil and bread crumbs.

[rxkeith]

seven quarts of apple sauce.
no sugar or cinnamon, just apples, and a little water to prevent sticking.
taste tested several times during the cook down. yumm.
more to follow. it is a good apple year.



keith

[pepperhead212]

I made another large batch of that "no cook tomato sauce", which I make a lot in the summer, this time with just over 3 lbs of cherry tomatoes, halved, with garlic, basil, olive oil, kalamata olive paste, and even more anchovies than last time, with some fish sauce. This time I cooked 1¼ c dried Navy beans, and 2/3 c freekeh, in the IP, in separate batches, to use as the legumes and grains I always put in with a pound of pasta, for this dish. After I had a large bowl of it for dinner, I had a packed 4 qt bowl left over, so I'll be eating leftovers for a while, though a couple friends know I was making it, and I know they'll be over.

I always put the legumes and grains I use for this in the pasta pot when it is ready, just to heat them all together, then drain them well. Then mix that with the tomatoes, and fold it all together.
Pasta, Navy beans, and freekeh, ready to mix it with the tomatoes, basil, olive oil, garlic, anchovi by pepperhead212, on Flickr

Finished pasta dish, with minor changes from the usual recipe. by pepperhead212, on Flickr

[karstopography]

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Back ribs. Korean flavors. Gochujang, ginger, garlic, onion, soy sauce, honey, sesame oil.

I like the boiled first version better. These were on done out on the egg the whole time. Still good.