FATTED CALF BACON

We have some Fatted Calf Bacon in the frying pan today. Fatted Calf is a high end expensive meat purveyor that has been around for awhile. They are doing something right and turn out a good product. This bacon had all the right moves; salty, sweety, chewy/crispy with good pork flavor. This is not your supermarket bacon.  I do have one critism and you can bypass if you do not want to hear my rant.

Fatted Calf and other meat markets have embraced the descriptive term "Heritage". The premise of heritage meat is that it comes from animals with a long history and proven quality lineage. My gripe is that meat companies are using the term "heritage' as a catchall word that does not define what breed of pig that is used. I asked the clerk what breed pig was used and he replied; It could be Berkshire, Duroc, Tamsworth and other breeds. The clerk did not know what breed it was. That is fine and dandy but what if I really like this bacon? Using the term Heritage, I may never know what I am getting. I cannot search out the particular breed that I have really enjoyed. That is all of my rant today. Go out and cook some bacon.

 

FRUITCAKE COOKIES

The Holidays are over but the sweets keep pouring in. I receive a quarterly subscription from Southern Supreme Fruitcake. This way I can get fruitcake at least 4 times a year. This box of goodies included fruitcake cookies. They were good not great. I do look forward to the next shipment.

 

BACON CHEESE OLIVES

 

My sister always gives me bacon related presents at Christmas time. This year she gave me a jar of Bacon/Cheese Stuffed Olives by the Big Paw Olive Oil Company. Big Paw sells their products at many local farmers markets. These olives are good. They are salty with brine with good olive flavor. The cheese adds a texture with a little smoky element. Where is the bacon? After further investivigation; it is bacon cheese. I only assumed there would be a sliver of bacon involved. I guess if you use your imagination, bacon  might happen. Even though bacon was only in the label, this product is still very tasty. I am enjoying them and they will not last long.

HAPPY NEW YEAR

 

One always reflects on the New Year on self improvement and responds with a resolution. I gave up a long time ago. My only resolution for 2024 is to eat more pie. Pictured is glorious plate of sea food rissoto Ms. Goofy ordered last night at Casa Orinda. Happy New Year

THE DAY AFTER CHRISTMAS

 It was a wonderful Christmas. I do not think Ms. Goofy liked her brand new shiny toaster. Practical gifts are under appreciated in this household. Ms. Goofy did buy a very fancy American Wagyu tri-tip roast for dinner. I consulted my notes and asked some experts for cooking by reverse sear on the Big Green Egg cooker. It does take a little effort but the results are fantastic. You start out at 250 degrees in a indirect heat and cook till 105. After a 10 minute rest it is returned to a very hot direct fire to carmelize the exterior. This raises internal temperature to about 125-130 for the perfect and I do mean perfect medium rare. Merry Day after Christmas.

PAUL'S FRUITCAKE CORNER (FARMERS MARKET)

 

  Welcome to Paul’s Fruitcake Corner. Here at the corner we will try fruitcake so you do not have to. We will start today with a hardy; “WOW”. Jourdan of East Bay Artisan Italian Pantry & Bake Shop is an Italian baker that sells his baked wares at the Martinez Farmers Market. (And other various Farmers Markets). He has been reading ‘Paul’s Fruitcake Corner’ and wanted to participate. Here we go.

    This cake is huge, weighing in at 3.5 pounds for 25 dollars. I asked Jourdan for the ingredients and it is a large list too. It has 4 different kinds of raisins, ginger, pecans, almonds, dried papaya, pineapple, dates, dried & candied cherries, dried cranberries and all soaked in brandy. The exterior of the cake was firm with a sugary crust. The firm texture breaks open to reveal the interior that was moist from all the soaked fruits. I had to take a moment after the first bite. The melody of dried fruits and almonds all perfectly spiced sings a song of joy. This is fruitcake heaven. This cake was a labor of love and premium ingredients.

  You can too try East Bay Artisan Italian Pantry & Bake Shop baked goods at various Farmers Markets.  Thankyou Jourdan.

PAUL'S FRUITCAKE CORNER

 

Welcome to Paul’s fruitcake corner. Here at the corner we will try fruitcakes so you will not have to. Today’s cake is Mrs. Carvers Holiday Fruitcake. It is found at the local Lucky’s store at around 10.00 dollars for a 12 ounces piece. We here at Paul’s fruitcake corner want to love all fruitcakes. Mrs. Carvers is an unfortunate rendering and may be a good reason fruitcake sometimes has a bad reputation. It looks unappetizing. It is dry to the mouth which egg-nogg will not even rescue. Glace fruit is scattered throughout but is a weird texture feel. It is sickly sweet possibly by high fructose corn syrup. I am sorry but I would not recommend Mrs. Carvers Holiday Fruitcake 

Stay tuned! The Holiday fruitcake season has only just begun.