#EdenCooks - Beef Stew OR Pho Bo - Mon. Jan 16 at 8pm EST

Contributor: Antipova Antipova
Quote:
Originally posted by Ansley
Dammmn it. I didn't see the fennel. Substitute?
Skip it? Is anise okay?

Or have your husband have a bowl at a restaurant and see if it tastes all right once it's all blended up.
01/16/2012
Contributor: Rossie Rossie
Quote:
Originally posted by Ansley
Then you and hubby would hit it off smashingly! So does he. I indulge his green onion craving every so often and he's so adorable when he asks if he can have one!
Good thing my husband and I both love green onions, raw garlic, and raw onion.
01/16/2012
Contributor: Antipova Antipova

Now put your pot in the refrigerator.

Overnight, any extra fat will form nice little solid blobs that you can throw away the next day. You should be able to pick up the fat you've got in your skimming bowl and throw that away too. If you were a peasant, you would probably save that and make candles out of it... but it smells gross to me, and I have electricity, so I toss it.

Now open up an EF package and have a nice night!

01/16/2012
Contributor: ellejay ellejay
Quote:
Originally posted by Antipova

Now put your pot in the refrigerator.

Overnight, any extra fat will form nice little solid blobs that you can throw away the next day. You should be able to pick up the fat you've got in your skimming bowl and throw that away too. If ... more
Oh man, I wish I had this delicious food and and EF package to open.
01/16/2012
Contributor: Ansley Ansley
Quote:
Originally posted by Antipova
Skip it? Is anise okay?

Or have your husband have a bowl at a restaurant and see if it tastes all right once it's all blended up.
Anise should be fine. I've had it before and I liked it. It's just the fennel. Bad, bad school cafeteria memories. Stupid trianle-rectangle sausage pizza with fennel seeds scattered everywhere!
01/16/2012
Contributor: ellejay ellejay
Quote:
Originally posted by ellejay
Oh man, I wish I had this delicious food and and EF package to open.
*and an, that is
01/16/2012
Contributor: Sir Sir
Quote:
Originally posted by Antipova

Now put your pot in the refrigerator.

Overnight, any extra fat will form nice little solid blobs that you can throw away the next day. You should be able to pick up the fat you've got in your skimming bowl and throw that away too. If ... more
AHAHAHA Oh my lord, that was funny.
01/16/2012
Contributor: Antipova Antipova
Quote:
Originally posted by Ansley
Anise should be fine. I've had it before and I liked it. It's just the fennel. Bad, bad school cafeteria memories. Stupid trianle-rectangle sausage pizza with fennel seeds scattered everywhere!
Are you sure those weren't caraway? Caraway is the thing I remember from the school rectangle pizzas (and Italian sausage, too). It's got a strong taste that some people really hate.
01/16/2012
Contributor: Antipova Antipova
Quote:
Originally posted by Sir
AHAHAHA Oh my lord, that was funny.
(smile!)
01/16/2012
Contributor: Antipova Antipova

Now the next day, you'll actually serve you pho.

Thinly slice your beef and green onions and onions (to be soaked for 30 min) in advance.

Arrange a few strainers---I use a big fruit strainer on top to catch bones, then a thin colander to catch fat globules, and finally a couple folds of cheese cloth to catch any little particles that fell off the bones. Strain your pot into a huge bowl to catch all the broth. Throw everything else away. Put the broth in an appropriate-sized pot, and bring it to a full rolling boil.

Take your rice sticks and soak them in water, according to the package, to hydrate them. Boil some water and cook them according to the package, and then fill the bowls 1/4 full with noodles.

Now put the thinly sliced beef and onions and green onions on top of the noodles. (You can add tripe or tendons or other meatballs or anything else you want, too. But rinse tripe if your'e going to use it, otherwise it will be bitter!)

Pour the boiling pho broth on top, so the broth cooks the meat.

Now serve the bowls, and put lots of Thai basil, lime wedges, and sliced bird's eye chilies on a plate on the side.

Watching the meat cook before your eyes---where else but in fancy restaurants with flaming dishes, and in pho, right?
01/16/2012
Contributor: Ansley Ansley
Quote:
Originally posted by Antipova
Are you sure those weren't caraway? Caraway is the thing I remember from the school rectangle pizzas (and Italian sausage, too). It's got a strong taste that some people really hate.
Sorta-goldish brown stripey seeds that strongly resemble seeds from another plant that's illegal?
01/16/2012
Contributor: Jul!a Jul!a
Quote:
Originally posted by Antipova
I think I said "you'll be eating this strait out of the pot" instead of "straight"... but maybe I misread my own writing. Ah well, either way!
You're right! I found and fixed it. My brain was fixing it for me when I was trying to find it initially, lol.
01/16/2012
Contributor: Starkiller87 Starkiller87
Quote:
Originally posted by Antipova
Now the next day, you'll actually serve you pho.Thinly slice your beef and green onions and onions (to be soaked for 30 min) in advance. Arrange a few strainers---I use a big fruit strainer on top to catch bones, then a thin colander to catch fat ... more
There is a 24 hour pho place a few blocks down I should try it to see if the place is any good.
01/16/2012
Contributor: Jul!a Jul!a
Quote:
Originally posted by Ansley
Screw that, if you like it, make two!
Ehh, it's not a huge make or break for me, lol.
01/16/2012
Contributor: Ansley Ansley
Quote:
Originally posted by Jul!a
Ehh, it's not a huge make or break for me, lol.
Ah. I've sent many a plate of nachos back because someone didn't hear me correctly.
01/16/2012
Contributor: Antipova Antipova
Quote:
Originally posted by Ansley
Sorta-goldish brown stripey seeds that strongly resemble seeds from another plant that's illegal?
caraway:


fennel:


That picture is super-enlarged, though, the ridges are kinda hard to see.

The basic difference is one tastes like Italian seasoning, and the other tastes like far-away licorice.
01/16/2012
Contributor: ellejay ellejay
Quote:
Originally posted by Antipova
Now the next day, you'll actually serve you pho.Thinly slice your beef and green onions and onions (to be soaked for 30 min) in advance. Arrange a few strainers---I use a big fruit strainer on top to catch bones, then a thin colander to catch fat ... more
I love places like that! I grew up near a Japanese restaurant where they'd cook in front of you and it was just lovely.
01/16/2012
Contributor: Antipova Antipova

Now back to the stew---as it simmers all day, the meat will slowly offer up its flavor to the broth. When you're about 10 minutes away from being hungry, get ready to start thickening it. Take the drippings you left in the pan and heat them up again.


and add about an equal amount of flour. I used 3 tablespoons from having cooked a pound of meat.



Stir this to a paste over heat (so you cook out the pasty flavor of the flour and give it a nice nutty taste.

Ladle some broth into a separate bowl



and add your flour paste. Get it all nice and mashed up so it's not lumpy.



Now add your thickening paste back into the stew.



Now enjoy!




Which of these steps do you think will be the hardest for you?

01/16/2012
Contributor: Starkiller87 Starkiller87
Quote:
Originally posted by Antipova

Now back to the stew---as it simmers all day, the meat will slowly offer up its flavor to the broth. When you're about 10 minutes away from being hungry, get ready to start thickening it. Take the drippings you left in the pan and heat them ... more
The step where you have to wait a long long time for it to be done.
01/16/2012
Contributor: Jul!a Jul!a
Quote:
Originally posted by Ansley
Ah. I've sent many a plate of nachos back because someone didn't hear me correctly.
I just try to pick things out where I can. I've only had to send a few things back, and I only do it at restaurants I'm comfortable with because I'm always worried that sending it back will incur the wrath of the chef, lol.
01/16/2012
Contributor: ellejay ellejay
Quote:
Originally posted by Antipova

Now back to the stew---as it simmers all day, the meat will slowly offer up its flavor to the broth. When you're about 10 minutes away from being hungry, get ready to start thickening it. Take the drippings you left in the pan and heat them ... more
For me, the hardest step will definitely be the overnight wait.
01/16/2012
Contributor: Antipova Antipova
Quote:
Originally posted by Starkiller87
The step where you have to wait a long long time for it to be done.
I know, right? Aah, trivia time! I almost forgot to check the clock!




Woohoo! Two delicious, body-warming soups in one little Eden Cooks meeting!

So now for our not-so-standard trivia. I will ask the first question, and the winner will get a $25 gift card generously donated by EdenFantasys.

Let me know when you're ready!
01/16/2012
Contributor: Ansley Ansley
Quote:
Originally posted by Antipova
caraway:


fennel:


That picture is super-enlarged, though, the ridges are kinda hard to see.

The basic difference is one tastes like Italian seasoning, and the other tastes like far-away licorice. ... more
Nope, that's not what they looked like. They were tiny, round and had black stripes on them. But thank you for digging that up! This tastes like licorice but doesn't look like the fennel seeds on google image search.
01/16/2012
Contributor: Rossie Rossie
Quote:
Originally posted by Starkiller87
There is a 24 hour pho place a few blocks down I should try it to see if the place is any good.
I'm lucky, I have a really authentic Pho place right in my little city, the only decent Asian restaurant in our town!
01/16/2012
Contributor: ellejay ellejay
Quote:
Originally posted by Antipova
I know, right? Aah, trivia time! I almost forgot to check the clock!




Woohoo! Two delicious, body-warming soups in one little Eden Cooks meeting!

So now for our not-so-standard trivia. I will ask the first question, and the ... more
Ooh ready!
01/16/2012
Contributor: Jul!a Jul!a
Quote:
Originally posted by Starkiller87
The step where you have to wait a long long time for it to be done.
Haha, yeah, me too.
01/16/2012
Contributor: Starkiller87 Starkiller87
Quote:
Originally posted by Antipova
I know, right? Aah, trivia time! I almost forgot to check the clock!




Woohoo! Two delicious, body-warming soups in one little Eden Cooks meeting!

So now for our not-so-standard trivia. I will ask the first question, and the ... more
Im ready whenever just following along and watching Anthony Bourdain.
01/16/2012
Contributor: Antipova Antipova

Okay.

When you're making a broth with meat (you rich-blooded cook, you!) do you have to skim less or more than when you're making it with bones?

3rd answer wins.
01/16/2012
Contributor: Ansley Ansley
Quote:
Originally posted by Antipova

Okay.

When you're making a broth with meat (you rich-blooded cook, you!) do you have to skim less or more than when you're making it with bones?

3rd answer wins.
Less!
01/16/2012
Contributor: Starkiller87 Starkiller87
Quote:
Originally posted by Antipova

Okay.

When you're making a broth with meat (you rich-blooded cook, you!) do you have to skim less or more than when you're making it with bones?

3rd answer wins.
You skim less than with bones. Bones you skim a lot more,
01/16/2012