Thursday, February 28, 2013

Epic Mosaic

Epic has a new beer! It is fruity!  Almost overpoweringly so, on the first taste, with a mass of floral aroma and some sharp, fruity tones.  Settles down a bit after the first sip, but retains those same characters.  I don't think it wants to be too cold, either.  It isn't my favourite of their offerings, but its worth a try.




Also, I'm still loving the 'One Trick Pony' tag.  Embrace the hate, Epic!

Saturday, February 9, 2013

Home Cooking: Cauliflower Fritters

Fritter batter is easy.  You essentially make a thick, savoury pancake batter, and add your toppings. Here, they were cauliflower and feta.  Corn and coleslaw sides.


Fritters:

2 eggs
1 1/2 Cups flour
1 tsp baking powder
Milk until correct consistency (1/2-2/3 cup)
Salt and pepper to taste

1/2 brown onion, finely diced and cooked until soft.
1/3 head cauliflower, cut small, steamed for 3 minutes
150gm feta (although the amount doesn't matter much), in 1cm cubes

Mix batter ingredients together, whisk smooth.  Should be runny.  Add in the onion/feta/cauli, and stir to combine.  Place  a shallow frying pan on medium heat, with a good splash of oil and a knob of butter.  When hot, add spoonfuls of the fritter mix and cook until ready (3-4 minutes first side, 2 minutes the next)

Keep cooked fritters warm in oven while cooking the remainder.

Tuesday, February 5, 2013

Home Cooking: Ribs, cornbread, salsa.

More home cooking.  Cornbread, bbq pork spare ribs, corn salsa and some salad greens.


Cornbread recipe, for those interested:

3/4 c. yellow cornmeal
2 1/4 c. all-purpose flour
3/4 c. sugar (This is apparently how it is done. It is too sweet for me, I knock it down to 1/3 cup)
3 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt
1 c. buttermilk
3/4 c. (1 1/2 sticks) butter, melted (a stick is a USian term for 125gm)
3 eggs, beaten

In a large bowl measure cornmeal, flour, sugar, baking powder and
salt. Blend well. Add buttermilk and butter slowly. Pour in eggs. Stir
only enough to blend the mixture thoroughly. Pour into 9 x 9 x 2,
baking pan (greased) and level with a spoon or spatula.

Bake in 400 degree preheated oven until the bread tests done when
pierced with a metal skewer, wooden toothpick, or the blade of a
knife. If it comes out clean and dry, the corn bread is done. Cut into
squares.

You can mix it up by making them in muffin trays, so they cook faster and are easier to separate.  Add jalapenos while cooking, or some cheese, if you want more flavour.



Friday, February 1, 2013

Wonder Horse

Nice, hip little bar down an alleyway off Victoria St.  Good beer selection, and some nice cocktails.  I had a bottle of the Lagunitas Little Sumpin'.  Very hoppy, very good.  I'll be back here.