U.S. Navy Cooking

How Navy Submarine Cooks Feed 150 Sailors At Sea | Boot Camp | Business Insider

The video and the following text comes from the channel of Business Insider.

"United States Navy submariners deploy for months at a time, spending weeks submerged at sea with no internet and minimal contact with the outside world.

Aboard the Virginia-class nuclear-powered submarine USS South Dakota, culinary specialists work tirelessly in incredibly tight quarters to prepare meals for up to 150 crew members.

While the sub was in port at Naval Submarine Base New London in Groton, Connecticut, Business Insider spent two days observing how the cooks manage tight spaces, limited resources, and long hours to provide fuel and maintain the crew's morale."

I've watched this video many times, and it never gets old. I was in the U.S. Army, enlisted as a mechanic. I've often wished that I had joined as a food service specialist. Sadly, I didn't. I became interested in cooking much later in my life.

Poke Salad

Poke Salad - Author's Picture

Phytolacca americana, or "poke salad," is a type of wild green found in the southern United States. It's now growing, and has been growing for some time (let's say mid-March) where I live. Poke salad is also called inkberry, among other names. The berries that it produces are a beautiful, dark purple color. I often wonder if they could be used as pigment by an artist.

Historically, the plant was used in alternative medicine. All parts of the plant are toxic. The leaves, which can be used as (human) food, must be carefully prepared. I once got very sick from eating poke salad.

Poke Salad

What is poke salad?

Amish Poor Man's Steak

Steak Fajitas - Author's Picture

Tonight we didn't purchase groceries, as we normally do. Instead, the kids went to buy their own stuff. We'll go, probably, tomorrow. We'll have to buy ours and Mom's.

Oh, today I received (via UPS) a Star Wars retro two-pack. It's a bounty hunter set, featuring a 70s-80s Boba Fett remake and a Bossk figure. Pictures will be added at a later date.

The picture shows steak fajitas that I cooked a couple of days ago. This time, instead of using pre-cooked meat, I used eye-of-round steak that I grilled and seasoned myself. Everyone said that it was far better with the home-cooked steak.

Tonight, I cooked my version of a recipe that I first saw on a Facebook reel. The young woman who posted said that she called it, "Amish poor man's steak." She said that it was considered to be a treat, and was very popular as a dish at church. Since then, I've discovered that Google will reveal several variants of the recipe. Here's my version:

Ingredients

• One pound of hamburger meat
• Two cans of cream of mushroom soup
• One medium-sized onion, sliced
• Sliced or shredded mild cheddar cheese (or any kind of cheese that your family prefers)

Directions

• Form the hamburger into patties and cook them however you're accustomed to cooking them. I used a George Foreman grill.
• Sauté the onions.
• Top the cooked patties with the onions.
• Top the cooked patties with the cream of mushroom soup.
• Add cheese to cover each patty.
• Cook on 350° for 15 minutes. Remove from heat. Enjoy.

Tex Mex Food

Polo Monterrey - Author's Plate!

I was at TaMolly's Mexican Kitchen. I don't remember what state I was in at the time. All that cheese, mushrooms, and bell pepper was covering a serving of chicken.

How To Make Pizza Dough

Pizza Making - Author's Picture

The secret to making a good homemade pizza lies with the dough. No matter what delicious toppings you have, it's going to be that much better with dough that you make yourself. This basic recipe, with some alteration, can also be used to make homemade bread and fry bread.

Ingredients

• 1 cup of warm water, 105°

• 3.5 cups of all-purpose flour

• 3 tablespoons of olive oil (any kind; doesn't have to be virgin to cook with)

• 2 teaspoons of honey or sugar

• 1 teaspoon of salt

• 1 pack of yeast

Directions

• Pour the warm water into a bowl and then add salt and honey (or sugar). Mix well, then add the pack of yeast. Mix well and let the mixture stand for 10 minutes.

• Add 2 tablespoons of olive oil to the yeast mixture.

• In a separate bowl, add 3.5 cups of all-purpose flour. Pour your yeast mixture into the flour; stir the dough and then knead.

• You'll need to knead the dough for 5-8 minutes until it is not too wet or too dry. You should end up with a solid ball of dough. You can add more warm water or more flour, as needed.

• Coat a separate bowl with one tablespoon of olive oil. Place the dough in this bowl. Cover the bowl. You can also use olive oil cooking spray to coat the bowl. It's not as messy and you won't get it all over your hands.

• Let the dough rise 1.5-2 hours.

When the dough has risen, grease a pizza pan with olive oil (or olive oil spray), Spread the dough out on the pan, pressing from the center outward. Add your sauce, cheese, and favorite toppings. Preheat the oven to 350°. Cook the pizza for approximately 20 minutes. I always check my pizza after 15 minutes just to be safe. After I see that it's not burning or anything, I cook it an additional five minutes.

Note: When working with the dough, it's helpful to coat your hands in olive oil. This will keep flour/dough from sticking to your hands.

Denny's at Midnight

Denny's Coffee At Midnight - Author's Picture

The picture shows the best cup of black coffee that I've had in a long time (especially since I was dying for a cup of coffee). As far as quality it was on par with Starbucks. We were starving and stopped there at midnight. I think it was the night that my brother-in-law had a bad wreck, so this picture was taken in Texarkana, Texas. For the entree, I had the "all-American slam," I think it was called. My wife got a chicken fried steak, and I had breakfast at midnight.

Pittsburg Hot Link Restaurant

Pittsburg Hot Link Restaurant - Image Credit Below Text

If you ever make it to East Texas, stop at the Pittsburg Hot Link Restaurant. If nothing else, go into a local grocery store and see if they're available. Take some home with you. The company makes some of the best hot links I've ever had. Check out their website for other information and (spoilers) you may get hungry.

Here's the obligatory home page:

Pittsburg Hot Link Restaurant

Here's the menu:

Menu 1 — Pittsburg Hot Link Restaurant

Image Credit: Pittsburg Hot Links

Strawberry Cake

Strawberry Cake - Author's Picture

Strawberry cakes are a frequently requested item around my house. I can't say that it's made from scratch, because it came from a mix. It was well received.

Wednesday's Log 8.7.2024

Pizza Dough - Author's Picture

I think it looks a bit like a wet mess, but it's actually risen pizza dough. I suppose we don't have to guess what was for dinner tonight. I'm still going to post the recipe for the dough, one day when I get motivated.

I've been busy today, and it's been 102 degrees for much of the day. I haven't really watched many movies lately, but I have been working. I've still got laundry going. I've loaded up the dishwasher and fed the dogs.

This evening, we went to Walmart and Petco to get dog treats and a few groceries. Hopefully we won't have to go anywhere tomorrow. I'm tired, but I've got to go - not to bed, but to check on that laundry. Peace.

Friday's Log 8.2.2024

Strawberry Cake - Author's Picture

I made a strawberry cake by request. I also went to the supermarket. I couldn't find any zip ties, so I must get them elsewhere. I need them to string the outside lights. My mom was pleased when I told her I'd bring her a piece of cake tomorrow. I'll have to go back to the market tomorrow in order to pick up groceries for the kids and for mom. Mom is almost 80 and doesn't like to get too far away from the house.

Yesterday a contractor for the power company came up into the yard and trimmed limbs away from the power lines. They ended up knocking our electricity out. Fortunately, it only stayed off for about 30 minutes.

Edit: I actually found a package of zip ties at home, stashed away.

Homemade Pizza

Author's Picture

Pepperoni: one half has mushrooms. I'll try to post the recipe for the dough when I have a bit more free time.

Monday's Log 7.22.2024 Part 2

Chocolate Cake - Author's Picture

I actually got to make a cake that wasn't strawberry. It's chocolate on chocolate and very good. I made it from a mix, so it's not homemade.

I've accomplished quite a bit today. Laundry, dishwashing, and working on cleaning up the front porch have taken up much of the day. It seems like our porch is a "catch-all." No matter how often I clean it, it gets messy again. For dinner, I'm having corn dogs. I made potato salad and other things, but I don't really like potato salad and I don't want the rest of the food that I cooked.

I'm worried about the health of my family. None of us are getting any younger. My brother-in-law is still recovering from an automobile accident. My daughter is struggling with asthma. My wife has health problems, and so do I. 

At the moment my other brother-in-law and my sister-in-law are heading to the emergency room. His blood pressure has dropped, and his pulse is somewhat faint. I'm especially worried about him since he has heart problems. His heart only functions at 20%.

We need a powerful amount of prayer. "Prayer warriors" are what we truly need.

Monday's Log 7.22.2024

Potato Salad - Author's Picture

We're having potato salad for dinner once I get all this mess mixed together. I don't even like potato salad, but my wife and son-in-law do. I'm tired. It seems like I've been in the kitchen all day. For supper/dinner, we're having steaks and pork chops.

I'm going to write late this evening. I wrote for several hours yesterday, and didn't get to sleep until around 2 A.M. I've still got a little laundry and cooking to do.

Walking Tacos

Walking Tacos - Author's Picture

Ingredients:

1 pound of hamburger meat, 80/20

1 package of Taco Bell seasoning (your favorite kind will work)

1 sack of Nacho Cheese Doritos

1 - 1.5 cans of Ranch Style Beans

1 medium onion, diced

1 cup of mild cheddar cheese

3/4 cup of water

Recipe:

Fry one pound of hamburger meat until done. Using a colander, drain the grease off of the meat. Return meat to skillet.

Add 3/4 cup of water. Stir in Taco Bell seasoning.

At this point, you can add the desired amount of Ranch Style Beans. You can add a whole can or half a can. You can serve them "on the side" if you'd like.

Leave on the stove until the mixture is heated.

Serve:

Place Doritos in a bowl or your preferred dish.

Add cheese, onions, and beans (unless you already added them in the cooking process).

*If you have a favorite taco sauce or hot seasoning, add it last.