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So as many of you know one of my passions in life is cooking.  To me it is more than just food, it’s understanding other cultures and history.  It is chemistry, biology and science as well.  And to me anyway cooking is fun, trying new things, making something simple not just taste good but look amazing.

Take the picture above for instance.  To make that we just took a walk around our property.  We foraged some wild garlic flowers, some lambsquarters, nasturtium, pea tendrils and some veggies from our grow beds.  We made a salad with left over cut up chicken.  Simple, but why does it look so amazing, simply the arrangement.  I can tell you that it also tasted as good as it looked.

So today I want to give away a bunch of what I call me “cheat codes”, these are various ingredients that add amazing flavor with minimal effort.  Additionally I feel if an ingredient is a “cheat code” it has to do more than just what it is intended to do, for instance sure you can make chipolte mayo for a taco with chipolte canned peppers, but you can also make a BBQ sauce for ribs that will blow your mind.

I am also including “Jack Hacks”, little things I have learned over the years to make things work better or to make them easier to do.  Like how about a way to make perfect rice and not even give a damn about how much water you use.  Okay you are going to have to tune in for that.

Join Me Today to Discuss…

Why we should make cooking an essential life skill in America

Some of my favorite “cheat codes and what to do with them”

Better Than Bullion Broth Bases (love this stuff)

Maldon Smoked Salt (link)

Canned Chipolte Peppers (Brand I use, this one will likely cost less at the store)

Ground dehydrated celery (I get mine from Harmony House)

Curry Paste (link)

Micro Greens (sunflower and daikon especially east to do)

Yogurt Cheese (use flour sack towels to make this)

Citrus Zest (use a microplane grater)

Chili Garlic Oil (get these chilies strait from Thailand)

Sumac Powder (some of the best I have found is this stuff)

Saffron (expensive because it is worth it get it here)

Dehydrated Onions (I get mine from Harmony House)

Lemon Pepper (link)

Miso and other pastes (Doenjang, Gochujang, Miso, Black Bean Paste)

Some of my hacks

Cook rice like you do pasta

Infuse rice with flavor

Par cook bacon that is going to used to wrap something

Always do your marinades or brines in a zip top bag

If a marinade has water and oil bases always add mustard

Mix marinades in a ball jar

Partially freeze any meat you want to grind or slice

Steam your hard boiled eggs instead of boiling them (Alton Brown Hack)

Grill fruit

Use water from re-hydrated veggies

Salted Steaks and Salted Squash (how to make zoodles)

Salt aging steaks (Alton Brow Hack)

Defrost meat on cast iron cookware – yes it works

Use cast iron to start or finish sear food on the grill

Soak skewers in a water bottle (Another Alton Brown Hack)

Cook chicken bones/cores in a strainer (I love this pot and strainer from Ikea)

Put a lemon in chicken stock

The above also makes a great steamer

Cook in the oven with a cooling rack and a baking pan

Finally, do put some thought into presentation

In the end just try stuff, it will often work out

Resources for today’s show…

Join the Members Brigade

Join Our Forum

The Year 110

Walking To Freedom

TSP Gear

TspAz.com – Support TSP When You Shop Online

The Granddaddy’s Gun Club

Bullhead Fishing

Aquatics and Aquaponics Playlist

Biltong for Breakfast

What About Us – Pink

Sponsors of the Day

Western Botanicals

Self Reliance Magazine

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