What is Cooking? by Bear

Bear here...

There is a song by Metalica that goes through my head when I am thinking about cooking and why I do it. My version of Fuel goes like this:

It is FUEL...
It is FIRE...
IT GIVES ME THAT WHICH I DESIRE...

This is how I roll.
​
Let me explain with words and pictures...

Cat! For the last time, I am done with the catnip recipes, deal with it!

Cooking in a kilt. Yep... The wife digs it. What can I say?

THE FUEL...  I know what is going into my meals. I get to choose the ingredients...

From in the house...

Fresh from the neighbor's chickens.

Gotta fuel the mind with new ideas. This one, beet burgers!

A rub for more flavor on the meat? I can do that!

Use variety. How many different types of cheese sandwiches do you think I can make with these ingredients?

Fixings for peanut sauce, Mm Mm GOOD!

... to in the yard

On the hunt in the wild.

Saving money, because I know how to break down a chicken.

Awesome dressing for yard salad? The wife is better at that than I am, just sayen...

Beer bread, ready to mix and heat!

Fixings for... crap, I forgot. It does look cool, right?

THE FIRE.... Here is what I use to test and improve my skills. Like the vest says, "Backyard 2 Kitchen" and a few other places.

ANY TIME OF YEAR!

Getting the charcoal ready to work.

Backyard up high: Grilling veggies to add more flavor before turning them into salsa.

With know how and a little creativity...

From the kitchen: On the stove.

Use a solar oven outside any time on a clear day.

Did I mention cooking in the living room? On the wood burning stove!

With a rack & a lid you can use inside and the top

My beginner grill.

Benefits of working the coals.

Backyard down low: Using our fire pit and largest skillet "aka Bubba" to make breakfast.

... a grill can become a smoker!

From the kitchen: In the stove.

Above: Got scraps? In the kitchen you can use scraps and bones to make stock to freeze and use later in soups and stews.

Some foods can be frozen for months. You can eat now or plan for later.

Left: Who's the happy boy getting meat ready for dinner ASAP?

Lots of meals and a small stove? Use a hay box.

Do I need to mention the classic hot dogs over coals in the wood burning stove?

... of your wood burning stove to make pit beef.

GIVING ME THAT WHICH I DESIRE... a great meal... when all goes well.

I admit to some failures. Like the popcorn with burnt spices in it. A guy has to learn the hard way sometimes.

It don't have to look pretty to taste good...

I desire good steaks!

I desire good sandwiches!

Yep, I desire salads from the yard, I also like...

I desire the classics like grilled steak with garlic potatoes and grilled corn!

And I have learned... Breakfast with lamb steak and eggs with grilled toast and farmers market salad!

... Just using what I have!

I desire good chicken!

I desire good side dishes! (roasted sweet potatoes)

them made with homemade spiced paneer cheese!

I desire new ideas like stringed zuccinni in home made pesto with sungold tomatoes on top!

All this desire makes a guy hungry, You know?

It's all about quality control... really... it is!

So, why do I like to cook when I don't have to? Look at what I can do when I try... Enough said.

​type at ya later...