abell.media

Thai-Dyed Lettuce Bites

Blackberry Jam

Jam? Jelly? Preserves? The difference between jelly and jam is that in jelly the fruit comes from fruit juice. In jam, the fruit comes from the fruit pulp or crushed fruit. For preserves the fruit comes from chunks in a gel or syrup. As you’ll see we are clearly making jam. Aside from my daughter asking me to make blackberry jam,Continue reading “Blackberry Jam”

Pickled Jalapenos

Okay…why is it called canning if we are going to put our product in jars? There is an answer. Back in the 1700s using “canisters,” became more efficient and durable than the thin glass used at the time. However, when sturdier mason-like jars arrived on the scene, the term “canning” remained. So, there ya go!Continue reading “Pickled Jalapenos”

Week One In The Books

“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of light, it was the season of darkness, it was the spring of hope, itContinue reading “Week One In The Books”

Couscous with Summer Vegetables

This one is a Brisket and Brawn original. The version you see here is meant to be a main course, but you can scale it back and make it a side. Loaded up with all the vegetables though, it stands on its own and is quite satisfying as a main course. I made up thisContinue reading “Couscous with Summer Vegetables”

Mother In Law’s Korean Chicken Wings

Now let’s get serious, with all respect due to my mother-in-law, this is not her recipe and she wouldn’t come within ten feet of these wings as she and most from her lineage have an aversion to spicy food. The name for this recipe comes from my preferred fermented chili paste—Mother In Law’s Gochujang ChileContinue reading “Mother In Law’s Korean Chicken Wings”

Lump Charcoal Review

Product Review: Cowboy Lump Charcoal. First, in case you are wondering the difference between lump charcoal and charcoal briquettes, here’s the basic difference. Use lump charcoal in Kamado-style smoker/grills such as the Big Green Egg, use charcoal briquettes in grills like a Weber Kettle. While lump charcoal looks like chunks of wood that has beenContinue reading “Lump Charcoal Review”

Don’t Make Me Use My Teacher Voice

Last November I was at the Indiana Statehouse to support the Red for Ed Action Day in support of Indiana teachers. In the sea of red shirts, hats, and posters, one message stood out in particular–”Don’t make me use my teacher voice.” Well, LOL…Don’t make me use my teacher voice. If I had a dollarContinue reading “Don’t Make Me Use My Teacher Voice”

Just the Way Grammy Likes It

There used to be a culinary running joke in my family when something left the kitchen just a little beyond done. Upon toast popping out of the toaster a little too dark, upon bacon leaving the skillet a little too crispy, or the burger leaving the grill a little to hockey puckish, the common refrainContinue reading “Just the Way Grammy Likes It”

Grilled Sesame Chicken

Many, many moons ago my wife and I received “Crème de Colorado,” a cookbook from the Junior League of Denver, as a wedding gift. Over the years I’ve used a lot of recipes from that cookbook. But this one, Grilled Sesame Chicken is, bar none, the best chicken recipe I make, and is always aContinue reading “Grilled Sesame Chicken”