food-bev SKULLBIKER'S 2022 FLOG(food log)

[skullbiker]

I've been slacking off on posting so I better try to catch up. We were in Orlando this past Saturday so we made another stop at "Chicken Fire", fast HOT 🌶 chicken tenders. I had the "HOT" and yes, I had sweat on my brow!

 

[skullbiker]

I just got done FREEZE DRYING a bit less than half of the bananas off of our tree, 5 trays/about (50) 6 inch bananas.

The temperature at the beginning right after the trays went into the machine.

And the finish temp before the drying cycle starts.

Then the drying cycle where the temperature and vacuum go up and down and it does the sublimation thing.

And then I end up with nice tasty crispy babana chips vacuum packed and preserved for about as long as I wish.

 

[ahayastani]

Interesting, never thought of freeze-drying bananas... Here locally they sell platanito, which is fried green plantain. I like them, especially with a drizzle of hot sauce.

 

[skullbiker]

Interesting, never thought of freeze-drying bananas... Here locally they sell platanito, which is fried green plantain. I like them, especially with a drizzle of hot sauce.

I have all types of fruit that I have freeze dried, most of it from fruit I have grown, even watermelon sorbet from my crop in 2018.

 

[skullbiker]

I’m at the Florida Strawberry Festival today so the first stop on the grounds was STRAWBERRY SHORTCAKE!
(and you get to dish your own up this year)

 

[skullbiker]

Next stop………..Jalapeno Cheddar Sticks with Jalapeno Ranch Dip.

And now, one of Florida’s famous pop up showers (I’m in a tent looking out). The sun will be out in about 15 minutes.

 

[skullbiker]

Settled in my seat to watch the Corn Dog Eating Contest. Here’s the trophy.

 

[skullbiker]

I guess I had better finish the contest story.
Here are the contestants.

The task is to eat two of these 18 inch corn dogs the fastest.

Here they are chowing down the dogs.

And the winner is.............THE OLD GUY!

 

[Downriver]

Ol Jack looks a little "uncomfortable" lol.

 

[skullbiker]

Ol Jack looks a little "uncomfortable" lol.

He beat the second place guy by 5 to 10 seconds, that’s pretty good considering it only lasted about 3 minutes!

 

[skullbiker]

And today we have..................pickled Daikon Radishes! I'll know how they are in a week or two. They're a refrigerator type so they need a little time to absorb the flavors.

 

[skullbiker]

Time to whip up some nourishment for my pepper plants.

 

[skullbiker]

I washed up the last Daikon Radishes that I pulled.

I made some brine(it's a refrigerator pickle type), sliced up the radishes, and packed them in jars. Just about (3) 1 1/2 pint jars.
Recipe based loosely on this one:

Sweet Pickled Radish Recipe - Flour On My Face

Changes I made to the brine were: no bay leaves, addition of (1)tbls of celery seed, addition of 1/4 cup honey, I used (1) tsp of ripe jalapeno powder instead of red pepper flakes, and this batch I used turbinado instead of white sugar. I'll give them a taste test next week. The last batch is over half gone.

 

[skullbiker]

I tried this new(to me) flavor of Nissin FIREWOK noodles. It's fairly spicy, I add honey to it and it's wonderful.

It's raining this morning so I'm mixing up some "plant food".

 

[skullbiker]

Fresh tomatoes with my lunch today.
Lemon Boy, Tomatoberry, & Brad's Atomic Grape.

 

[skullbiker]

My first ripe cantaloupe of the season tasted great.

 

[Bou]

Fresh tomatoes with my lunch today.
Lemon Boy, Tomatoberry, & Brad's Atomic Grape.

Even if they are good when not totally ripe, I bet you will enjoy your Brad's Atomic even more if you let them hang on the plant a bit longer. They can take quite a while to fully ripen but eventually they will get more of a yellow/pale green color on the inside and then the taste will be way better!

 

[skullbiker]

First tomato canning round of the season. 4 1/2 quarts of Lemon Boys and 2 quarts of Brads Atomic Grape.

And just a mention, I picked one of my bigger Mucho Nacho Jalapenos yesterday and sliced it up and put it on my pizza last night, and I have to say that was one spicy jalapeno. My lips were tingling 20 minutes after!
I think I'm going to make some salsa today. WOOHOOO

 

[skullbiker]

Pickled a bunch of PeppaPeach pods, about a quart and a half.

Check out that heavy striped one at the bottom of the right jar. After taste testing those pods I found the stripe has more heat than the peach part.

 

[Downriver]

...I found the stripe has more heat than the peach part.

That's an interesting observation SB. I wonder if that's true with other striped varieties?