The Food Thread

oceaninmyeyes

It's pink, almost red inside. We had to cut open two before I was sure it was safe to eat. Googled it too. Apparently that is how they are supposed to be. Sweet, tangy crisp and delicious.

hedonist

Wow, that's beautiful!  And sounds tasty.  I too had never heard of them; are they widely available or typically a farmer's market type of thing?

oceaninmyeyes

I don't know about availability. But I bought them at a Kroger store. I had purchased an Opal apple variety at Sprouts, which were golden on the outside and really sweet and juicy. So I figured opals, pearls Both were really good, but I wasn't expecting the red interior of the Pink Pearl. I have never been a red delicious or golden delicious lover. I thought they both tasted bitter and unpleasant, so I love to try new apple varieties.

rgambs

oceaninmyeyes said:

I don't know about availability. But I bought them at a Kroger store. I had purchased an Opal apple variety at Sprouts, which were golden on the outside and really sweet and juicy. So I figured opals, pearls Both were really good, but I wasn't expecting the red interior of the Pink Pearl. I have never been a red delicious or golden delicious lover. I thought they both tasted bitter and unpleasant, so I love to try new apple varieties.

Red Delicious apples are terrible.  They have been bred to look good on shelves, at the turn of the 
century they were still good eaters, but since the 
Depression they have become more decoration than food.
I don't like mushy apples, so Golden Delicious is out too.
I like Fujis and Fuji sports best, and I don't think they have much competition, and I've tasted and tested extensively, always in season of course.  Kiku is my tops, if you come across Kikus don't pass them up!

If you want good apples out of season, New Zealand grown are the best bet.  Their fall is our spring, so the apples won't be as old.  American grown apples bought in summer have been in cold storage for almost a year, and the taste and texture suffers horribly.  I know people who buy grocery store apples that are over a year old in October here in Ohio when there are local orchards with the best apples you've ever had just hanging on the branch waiting for you to eat them.  It really grinds my gears, they don't even know what a real apple tastes like!  It's like the difference between a grocery store tomato (which were literally bred from tomatoes which survived being tossed into the road, it's all about packaging, which is why they have the texture of 2x4s and flavor to match) in January, and a backyard heirloom in August.  

rgambs

I'll keep my eye out for Pink Pearls!  Looks awesome, would make a beautiful applesauce!

F Me In The Brain

One of my buddies works at a university studying/experimenting with apples.  He would enjoy a chat about this, Gambsby. 
He makes killer friggin' hard cider as well. 

I also prefer Fuji.  Fuji apples, cut up in to slices, with a big scoop of real peanut butter to dip them in.  That is some good snacking food right there.

HesCalledDyer

Speaking of cast iron, has anyone heard of this recently new company Stargazer? Their pans look really nice. They currently only have 10.5" but will be expanding their product line soon.  American made, environmentally friendly production & shipping, lifetime warranty, & 6-month trial.

http://www.stargazercastiron.com/

F Me In The Brain

Not sure how much better than can make a standard cast iron but will take a look, thanks!

HesCalledDyer

As for apples, Pink Ladies and Gala are my favorite for snacking.  Fuji not far behind.  In a pie, a mixture of Honeycrisp, Braeburn, & Granny Smith.  Winesaps make excellent cider.

rgambs

Winesaps in pies too!

Cliffy6745

Feel like I have been eating leftovers for a month so tonight it's a nice salad.

arugula
shallots
pine nuts
cherry tomatoes 
peas
Shrimp in a quick olive oil, salt, pepper, chili powder, paprika, cayenne, pepper flakes, garlic and lemon marinade
A nice salt, pepper, olive oil and lemon dressing
Some nice home made croutons 

Oh and of course a nice little Bordeaux 

F Me In The Brain

Sounds great minus the pine nuts.  When I have those it messes with my taste buds for a bit.. everything tastes like metal.  I avoid pine nuts like the plague.
Shrimp in salad is gold, Jerry.

Cliffy6745

Oh man. Love me some toasted pine nuts 

rgambs

Did pork sammies and Cole slaw tonight.
Pork was just Tyson loins in the crock, nothing special, but it's just a canvas for that Reaper's Blood BBQ sauce I made 2 gallons of back in the fall.
Cole slaw was KFC style, first time I've used my new food processor.  First time I've ever used a real one.  Dang-O was it easy!  A tasty slaw in 10 minutes!! I used to chop for a half hour for slaw.
No more.

Also, can't rep that egg cooker hard enough, if you eat boiled eggs, you gotta have one!  

F Me In The Brain

I have a really fancy food processor that I rarely get out and use.  But when I do I usually wish I has counter space for it.
But.  There is something about blaring the music and chopping and slicing that I find cathartic

rgambs

Yesterday's largest and smallest eggs.
79 grams and 8 grams, which smashes Ethel's previous low of 25 grams.

HesCalledDyer

Tried this one one last night. It ranks at 1.1 million. Scoville. It’s quite vinegary in flavor but still packs the heat. It kinda creeps up on you for a while before the full effect hits. It’s made with habanero, naga jolokia (ghost pepper), red scorpions, & cayenne. Yes, it came with a skull keychain and comes in a box shaped like a coffin.

Cliffy6745

HesCalledDyer said:

Tried this one one last night. It ranks at 1.1 million. Scoville. It’s quite vinegary in flavor but still packs the heat. It kinda creeps up on you for a while before the full effect hits. It’s made with habanero, naga jolokia (ghost pepper), red scorpions, & cayenne. Yes, it came with a skull keychain and comes in a box shaped like a coffin.

haha. "with Jersey fury".  I dig Blair's.

dankind

Cliffy6745 said:

HesCalledDyer said:

Tried this one one last night. It ranks at 1.1 million. Scoville. It’s quite vinegary in flavor but still packs the heat. It kinda creeps up on you for a while before the full effect hits. It’s made with habanero, naga jolokia (ghost pepper), red scorpions, & cayenne. Yes, it came with a skull keychain and comes in a box shaped like a coffin.

haha. "with Jersey fury".  I dig Blair's.

I might still have that one. 

PJ_Soul

rgambs said:

Yesterday's largest and smallest eggs.
79 grams and 8 grams, which smashes Ethel's previous low of 25 grams.

That's pretty cool. Do freakishly small eggs taste any different?