Come join me for a very special edition of If I Could Blog Back Time Thursdays! We'll be taking time out to share some memories. We'll Blog Back Time with possible ways to right past wrongs or about how times have changed. We'll share childhood memories, school/work memories, family and friend memories.Today's topic is: Worst Cooking Disasters
My first disaster was when I made Gefilte Fish, from scratch. And I mean completely from scratch. I did everything but catch the damn fish. Being inexperienced in making this Jewish delicacy, I wasn't aware that purchasing the fish cleaned and filleted was what I should have done. (To answer your question, I am not Jewish. I often cook Jewish foods so my children are exposed to their dad's culture. Besides, it turns out I liked most of the foods.)
Granted it was nice having the heads to make the stock that I cooked them in richer, but have you ever cleaned 20 pounds of fish? It's gross! I mean the fish monger does clean out the guts before it gets to the grocery, but they usually don't do a really good job. Then there is the removing of the head (ewwww, the eyes!). Removing of the tail and fins. Then the descaling. Can I tell you how much I hate descaling a fish? Those scales end up everywhere! Then the deboning and removing the skin. Arghhh! I still can't believe I did this.
So much mess. I lived in an apartment at the time. My tiny kitchen table and floor was full of fish parts, even though I planned ahead and laid newspaper down. (Only on the table.)
Thank goodness I had a food processor. Once all the cleaning was done and I had perfect chunks of fish fillets and all I had to do was dump them in batches in the food processor. Then add the other ingredients and form into patties. Then cook in batches in the fish stock. Then refrigerate (because we like them cold, like Manischewitz intended.)
Sadly, I don't have a recipe to share with you, because the 2 copies I bought of my favorite Jewish Cookbook mysteriously disappeared when my ex came over to help with moving. (As if he would actually cook anything in that book. I'd love to get another copy of that book. I purchased it at a synagogue gift shop years ago. I don't live near any synagogues and searching online I have come up with nothing. It also had a fabulous recipe for sour cream chocolate chip bundt cake.) Anyway, if you're as crazy as I am and want to try making your own, the taste is incredibly phenomenal! My secret is adding shredded cooked carrot in with the shredded fish and other ingredients. It not only improves the taste, it makes it look better.
And yes, I have made this since. However, I purchased fillets and I also purchased fish heads for the stock. I would never again go through the work of cleaning 20 pounds of fish myself. (Well, never say never, if I could get my hands on some free Coho Salmon, I would clean it, but that's about it.) Now I have a taste for Gefilte Fish. (Not that crap in a jar at the store.) I wonder when white fish is going on sale?
Now it's your turn. Please post your "Worst Cooking Disasters" on your blog. Then come back to Lola's Diner and leave the actual post link here. Please grab the html code for If I Could Blog Back Time Thursdays! Badge HERE.
Don’t forget to visit the other participants! It’s a great way to make new bloggy friends!
Come on, even Lola has had 1 cooking disaster, what about you?
Did you have some cooking disasters early in college, early in your marriage?
Did you make a disastrous mess?
Did it turn out awful?
I can't say I've really had many cooking disasters. Mine mostly revolve around taking on too much and making an incredible mess. The second one would be when I tried to can Pumpkin Butter. I posted that over at Lola's Victory Garden since it has to do with canning.My first disaster was when I made Gefilte Fish, from scratch. And I mean completely from scratch. I did everything but catch the damn fish. Being inexperienced in making this Jewish delicacy, I wasn't aware that purchasing the fish cleaned and filleted was what I should have done. (To answer your question, I am not Jewish. I often cook Jewish foods so my children are exposed to their dad's culture. Besides, it turns out I liked most of the foods.)
Granted it was nice having the heads to make the stock that I cooked them in richer, but have you ever cleaned 20 pounds of fish? It's gross! I mean the fish monger does clean out the guts before it gets to the grocery, but they usually don't do a really good job. Then there is the removing of the head (ewwww, the eyes!). Removing of the tail and fins. Then the descaling. Can I tell you how much I hate descaling a fish? Those scales end up everywhere! Then the deboning and removing the skin. Arghhh! I still can't believe I did this.
So much mess. I lived in an apartment at the time. My tiny kitchen table and floor was full of fish parts, even though I planned ahead and laid newspaper down. (Only on the table.)
Thank goodness I had a food processor. Once all the cleaning was done and I had perfect chunks of fish fillets and all I had to do was dump them in batches in the food processor. Then add the other ingredients and form into patties. Then cook in batches in the fish stock. Then refrigerate (because we like them cold, like Manischewitz intended.)
Sadly, I don't have a recipe to share with you, because the 2 copies I bought of my favorite Jewish Cookbook mysteriously disappeared when my ex came over to help with moving. (As if he would actually cook anything in that book. I'd love to get another copy of that book. I purchased it at a synagogue gift shop years ago. I don't live near any synagogues and searching online I have come up with nothing. It also had a fabulous recipe for sour cream chocolate chip bundt cake.) Anyway, if you're as crazy as I am and want to try making your own, the taste is incredibly phenomenal! My secret is adding shredded cooked carrot in with the shredded fish and other ingredients. It not only improves the taste, it makes it look better.
And yes, I have made this since. However, I purchased fillets and I also purchased fish heads for the stock. I would never again go through the work of cleaning 20 pounds of fish myself. (Well, never say never, if I could get my hands on some free Coho Salmon, I would clean it, but that's about it.) Now I have a taste for Gefilte Fish. (Not that crap in a jar at the store.) I wonder when white fish is going on sale?
Now it's your turn. Please post your "Worst Cooking Disasters" on your blog. Then come back to Lola's Diner and leave the actual post link here. Please grab the html code for If I Could Blog Back Time Thursdays! Badge HERE.
Don’t forget to visit the other participants! It’s a great way to make new bloggy friends!
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Lola's Diner
©2008-2009
©2008-2009
6 comments:
I've never had gefilte fish. Does it taste like a McDonald's Filet-o-Fish? That's what I'm hungry for right now.
I can't think of a cooking disaster, tho I'm sure I've had many. Most, probably, are related to baking, when I accidentally substituted baking powder for baking soda. It really does make a difference, apparently.
I've so many cooking disasters that hubby does all the cooking. Smart me.
I'd pass on all the fish cleaning. Made me a bit nauseous just reading about it. Just saying.
Have a terrific day. :)
The thought of a pot full of decapitated fish heads bobbing up and down in boiling water has kind of done me in for the day! I think you're a bit braver than I am!
Hey I read this same one over at Sited and Blogged? was that you?
Left a comment over there.
I haven't written mine yet, seems I see these topics and get massive blog-block. I try and write with humor and it falls as flat as a bad pancake.
I was trying to make freezer jam, being lazy and not wanting to deal with jars for strawberry jam or raspberry, can't remember. The kids were all in bed, and I was reading the instructions on the back of a pectin box and the house filled with white smoke (old house, was 2 story) all the alarms went off, kids woke up, ran down stairs, I look at the stove and there's the wooden cutting board on the burner, smoking away, I turned on the wrong burner and the block of wood was there. Still has the burned rings on it.
ok, like a bad student with an assignment due, i posted mine at 9pm PST thursday does that count? LOL
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