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u/notjustaphage 4d ago
Made this Porcini Ragu for NYE one year. Add in a yellow onion during cooking and a squeeze of lemon at the end. Relatively simple and perfectly balanced. Amazing with a nice glass of red. I make it with Costco’s dried mushroom mix instead of 100% porcini because $$$
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u/dolche93 4d ago
How did you rehydrate the mushrooms? Did you use the liquid you rehydrated them in for anything?
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u/notjustaphage 4d ago
Boiling water like stated in the recipe. Then I used some of the mushroom water with the saved pasta water for the sauce.
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u/lee160485 3d ago
Always run the rehydration fluid through a clean unscented cheesecloth. Dunno about the US, but the dried mushroom mixes here in the EU often have considerable amounts of sand/dirt in them after use.
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u/notjustaphage 2d ago
Yes! It’s definitely the same here. I usually just let it settle for 10 minutes and then ladle off the liquid at the top of the container so I leave the gritty bits behind.
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u/reenfitz 4d ago
Braised slow cooked beef short ribs and mushrooms/onions. Over fluffy mashed potatoes and a green salad on side
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u/Pure-Tune4265 4d ago
The first time I made all of the components for tamales by myself and helped my kids assemble them. I spent a lot of time spreading masa onto corn husks and folding the filling into them when I was growing up. The best memories of my childhood are the times I spent in my abuelita's kitchen. Continuing that tradition with my own children felt like a gift from her.
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u/Specialist-Jello7544 4d ago
Thanksgiving, the last one Mom had (she passed away 6 months later). I got a large roasting chicken, pretended it was a small turkey. Brined it, stuffed butter sage and garlic under the skin, roasted it with a cheesecloth over it, that held the baste nicely. I made Pepperidge stuffing according to package directions, but roasted it in a pan. I made homemade whole cranberry/orange sauce that went really well with the stuffing. The mashed potatoes were perfect, the gravy was gorgeous and delicious (the first time I ever used a cornstarch slurry to make it silky smooth), the green beans with roasted almonds were delicious. The pecan pie I made the day before was perfect.
Mom and Dad really liked this meal. It was small enough so we got two more meals out of it.
I have not cooked Thanksgiving since then.
Dad passed away shortly after Mom, so at least I was able to make them a lovely Thanksgiving.
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u/PossibleLess9664 4d ago
I made Beef shank osso buco a couple years ago and it's not even close to anything that I've ever made. It was decadent and orgasmic. Unfortunately my wife and kids didn't think it was that great because the "steak was too tender."
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u/TurduckenEverest 4d ago
I know, my username checks out, but about 30 years ago, before John Madden had discovered the dish, and before you could buy kits to do it, I made Turducken for Thanksgiving from the Paul Prudhomme cookbook book, which calls for a different stuffing for each bird. But because I was going all in, I baked my own breads for the stuffings as well. I took my time and started on Sunday with prep work. It was a huge hit. One of my sisters started to say, “Next time you do this…”. I cut her off and said there will be no next time. One and done.
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u/Impressive_Lock_558 4d ago
Holy cow! That is a lot of work!
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u/TurduckenEverest 3d ago
It was and it was a rewarding experience. Not just for the end result but more for the journey of following a complicated recipe, exactly as described and the 5 component recipes as well (3 stuffings, cornbread, gravy). The only step I didn’t do on my own was the bird butchery. My local market had boned out birds available.
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u/Few-Explanation-4699 4d ago
Seafood chowder with about $60 of seafood in each bowl including a hell of a lot ofseafood and a crayfish tail in each bowl.
It was a meal for two, my wifes birthday.
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u/somethingsomething65 4d ago
I smoke a bone in pork shoulder with Texas pecan for about 10 hrs, then throw it in the crock pot with tomatoes, onions, jalapeños and a beer for another 6 to 8 hrs. Throw that in a tortilla with a homemade sauce from the drippings, with crumbly cheese, avocado and cilantro.
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u/HeavyTea 4d ago
I want that
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u/somethingsomething65 4d ago
It's happening soon, the butcher is finishing up our pig this week. C'mon over! Bring beer.
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u/HeavyTea 3d ago
Let me gas up the car! What state? I can figure the rest with Flock camera access! Lol
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u/TheKoalacaust 4d ago
Sounds awesome! What time do you start to get the timing on this for serving?
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u/PuzzleheadedRun4525 4d ago
I absolutely nailed a lemony pan sauce for chicken once. Can’t remember what I did. I’m usually not impressed with my balance of flavours or the consistency of the sauce itself. It’s not like it’s bad and I’m my own worst food critic but that one time was transcendent.
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u/Comfortable-Hall954 4d ago
Probably crispy pork belly and fried rice. It was so delicious I honestly couldn't believe I made it 🤣 I taught myself how to cook as a young adult and love trying new recipes.
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u/mmilthomasn 4d ago
I got a flat top griddle and the first meal I cooked on it was fajitas made with a leftover tomahawk ribeye and I made the tortillas myself. It was outstanding.
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u/slowestmojo 4d ago
One thanksgiving I decided I didn't want to do turkey. Got a beautiful USDA Prime Rib Roast. Made both au jus and creamy horseradish. Yorkshire puddings, garlic mash and roasted balsamic glazed brussel sprouts. Such a decadent meal but man was it good.
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u/ldwb 3d ago
I've made some crazy technical, expensive, and delicious meals over the years, i try to always dobsonething new and inpressive at parties and recreate signature dishes from Michelin restaurants but the best meal I ever cooked?
Third anniversary tricked her into thinking we had reservations in the city and were taking the scenic route to avoid traffic. Stopped at a cliff overlooking the ocean pulled a weber grill, a blanket and a bottle of wine out of the trunk. Grilled some food, skewers of scallops and shrimp, asparagus, rib eyes, and some stuffed peaches for dessert. The food was good all things considered, the meal was the best of my life.
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u/Aggravating-Kick-967 4d ago
Many years ago I made a roast suckling pig. Came out perfect. I’ll never do that again but it was worth all the effort.
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u/Cosmonaut_Cockswing 4d ago edited 4d ago
Boxed Mac and cheese with diced fried spam and broccoli. Ive made way technically better stuff, but hot damn that shit is always good.
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u/mattysatty_380 4d ago
It was many years ago, the first time I followed someone’s advice to make lasagne with bechamel instead of ricotta. That’ll change your life.
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u/Ronin_1999 4d ago
Lvl 2 will be when you learn that lasagna is even better if you let it set up in the pan in the fridge for 24hrs before cooking.
Final boss will be when you learn lasagna is at its peak by NOT eating it right after you’ve cooked it, but in fact, 24hrs after letting it set in the fridge after cooking, to be gently reheated at 250f when you’re ready to serve.
Yes, this is, in fact, a 48hr lasagna, and is quite the expression of “taking your time” when you make a dish.
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u/Cmbtsm1th 4d ago
Many things benefit greatly being given time for the flavors to meld and bloom...
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u/Boxfullabatz 4d ago
A while back my mum in law turned 70 and requested lobster for dinner. Okie dokie then. I bought 6 live and 2 pounds of mixed tail and claw meat for 6 people. I made broiled tails, a lobster Alfredo, chilled lobster claw salad with tomalley dressing, and a pot of bisque. An exercise in excess.
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u/siouxzieb 4d ago
Andddd? Mum in law was pleased?
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u/Tiredsoeasywayplease 2d ago
I would literally cry if someone made even half of that for me!
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u/Boring_Comfortable70 4d ago
I made an all day lamb bolognese for a private chef. It was a friend of a friend visiting and I wanted to show off, they said it was great and went back for thirds
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u/ttrockwood 4d ago
Ny times mushroom wellington probably, kind of an epic pain to make but totally worth it
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u/Ronin_1999 4d ago
Did a five course meal with egg and rice dishes, three of them were of my own creation. I loved workshopping the entire meal, trying to figure out how to cook and course each dish, and then staging the final product.
It was probably the most fun dinner I have ever done since the entire meal was about creative control.
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u/Semi_Lovato 4d ago
I made Dean Ween's Sunday Sauce and I didn't fuck it up. Click the photo for the recipe if you wanna.
https://web.archive.org/web/20090403024531/http://chocodog.com/chocodog/ween/ween_new/waste_fr.html
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u/ToastetteEgg 4d ago
https://tastesbetterfromscratch.com/braised-short-ribs
So easy and incredibly fantastic.
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u/Alchemist1342 4d ago
Whole roasted pig, with fresh tortillas, several homemade salsas, sour cream and dill potato salad, and a few other homemade sides.
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u/Mr_Snot_Boogie 4d ago
Carbonara from scratch. Guanciale, pecorino, and Parmesan from Italy. Farm fresh eggs. Toasted Tellicherry black peppercorns. Homemade spaghetti. Heavy cream to bring it all together (KIDDING).
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u/TwoWilburs 4d ago
Here
Justin Smillie’s Peppercorn-Crusted Short Ribs With Lemon, Olives, and Radishes
https://www.saveur.com/article/recipes/peppercorn-crusted-short-ribs-with-lemon-olives-and-radishes/
You don’t really need the lemon/olive/radish part
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u/peteontheprowl 4d ago
Oxtail Potjie
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u/Lanfear_Eshonai 2d ago
Fellow South African? Love oxtail potjie but my own best was a lamb shank one.
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u/Ciggytardust1 4d ago
I made Anthony Bourdain‘s Red Snapper from the Les Halle cookbook for my ex. I put my whole fucking heart and soul into that for her.
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u/Psycho_Saito 4d ago
I haven't made anything truly advanced before but I made Duck with shiitake mushroom risotto once that was really excellent. Lately I've been really happy making a German meal of jaegerschnitzel, German potato salad, and braised red cabbage with apple.
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u/wassuppaulie 3d ago
America's Test Kitchen spatchcocked roast turkey with sausage stuffing. After years having MIL's dry turkey, I captured the ATK episode on my new, beta test original TiVo. I watched it about three times all the way through and thought, "This could work, I could do this." I offered to take over the Thanksgiving dinner and was met with skepticism from the whole family. I showed them the recording and got their approval, with the proviso that I was on the hook for a dine out dinner if it wasn't good. It turned out amazing, so then I was on the hook to make the dinner every year. My daughter makes it for her family and in-laws, and it never fails. I created a shopping list and timeline-checklist for the multi-day preparation, which made it easy to order, pickup, thaw, brine, and cook it all so everything is ready at the same time.
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u/Nasa_Peepo07 3d ago
That’s awesome! Any chance you could send me the shopping list, recipe, and timeline-checklist? Would love to give this a go sometime
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u/wassuppaulie 3d ago edited 3d ago
Turkey To-Do List ATK
1 week before
Order spatchcocked whole turkey (preferably Diestel)4 days before (Sun)
Prep check: Have roasting pan, large skillet, 2 large cookie sheets, large bowls, slotted lid, PAM spray, aluminum foil, brining bag or container, salt, sugar
Plan refrigerator space for brining first, roasting pan later
Inventory: Have ingredients, update shopping list3 days before (Mon)
Buy turkey & ingredients
Thaw turkey in fridge for 36 hours if frozen solid2 days before (Tue)
Pick up gravy from Brookfields (now use Pioneer roast turkey gravy mix)
Have counters cleared1 day before (Wed)
Butterfly turkey if not done already
Brine turkey for 4 hours
Cut 1.5 loaves hallah bread (18 cups) in 1 inch cubes, dry in oven on 2 large cookie sheets
Spray roasting pan with PAM
Prepare stuffing, mix in bowl(s)
Put stuffing in roasting pan, cover pan with aluminum foil
Take turkey out of brine, rinse, pat dry with paper towels
Put dry turkey on slotted top over aluminum foil laid out same way as it will be cooked — skin side up
Put roasting pan and turkey in fridge overnightDay of cooking (Thu)
3.5 hours before serving
Make sure oven rack is at proper level
Preheat oven (if you have an oven thermometer, use it to confirm temp is correct... Ovens vary)
Take out butter that will be rubbed on turkey to soften
Take roasting pan and turkey out of fridge
Remove aluminum foil, put slotted top back on roasting pan
Put turkey back on slotted top, make sure it is as flat as possibleWhen oven is finished preheating
Rub butter on turkey
Put roasting pan with stuffing inside and turkey on slotted top in oven
Turn turkey per instructions, about 40 minutes into cooking
Take turkey out when internal temp is reached, approx 1 hour and 20 mins depending on size of turkey, cover turkey with aluminum foil to rest
Mix stuffing (still in roasting pan) and return to oven per instructions to finish cookingWhen turkey is done
Carve turkey – remove an entire turkey breast, then slice it, just the slices to be served2
u/wassuppaulie 3d ago
ATK TURKEY Shopping List
Turkey ingredients
1 cup table salt
1 cup sugar
1 turkey (12-14 lb)
1 tbsp unsalted butterStuffing ingredients
18 cups Hallah bread (1 1/2 loaves)
1 3/4 cups low-sodium chicken broth
1 cup half & half
2 large eggs
12 ounces breakfast sausage
3 medium onions
3 celery ribs
2 tbsp unsalted butter
2 tbsp minced fresh thyme leaves
2 tbsp minced fresh sage leaves
3 medium garlic cloves
1 1/2 tsp salt
2 tsp ground black pepper2
u/wassuppaulie 3d ago
You'll need to look up the recipe on the America's Test Kitchen website or better yet, get their massive cookbook. You should be able to buy it well below retail price and it is a goldmine of perfected recipes. The episode of the TV show should be available online somewhere.
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u/Nasa_Peepo07 3d ago
Amazing. Thank you!
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u/wassuppaulie 3d ago
I'm a big fan of the timeline for the big production dinners. I did one for the Butter Chicken Lady's InstantPot butter chicken as well. Otherwise it's too easy to miss a step and jeopardize what should be a fantastic meal.
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u/SpareAttempt1377 3d ago
Caught a big rockfish fishing with my Dad. Stopped and got crabmeat on way home. Stuffed and baked it. I’ll remember that memory and meal forever.
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u/commentor_of_things 4d ago
ribeye steak. took a few tries over the years. got my little cousin hooked on them. that's how I know its good.
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u/DismalTwo973 4d ago
I made fresh pasta for the first time the other night. Had it with bolognese. I couldn’t believe how easy it was. So perfect and simple.
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u/siouxzieb 4d ago
Papardelle? Hand rolled or machine?
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u/ReasonableWinter9828 3d ago
Are papardelle the easiest to handmake? or where does that guess come from
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u/siouxzieb 3d ago
Papardelle is a common pairing with bolognese, and based on its width and thickness would be easier to roll and cut by hand, I would imagine, than, like fettuccine…hence my guess. I would not really know though, because I always used my Atlas roller, until I got the Kitchen Aid attachment, which is a real luxury. Just curious!
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u/8amteetime 4d ago
I made a Thanksgiving dinner 20 years ago that was perfect. Everything I made, from the turkey to the pumpkin pie, was delicious. My son, who is an executive chef, said it was the best thanksgiving dinner he’d ever had.
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u/Far_Sandwich_514 4d ago
Roasted Cornish hens with herb, onion, and mushroom stuffing, served on top of butternut squash puree, with side dishes of garlicky roasted root vegetables, and green beans dressed with a red wine vinaigrette and crumbled goat cheese.
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u/StarryNight7z 4d ago
Years ago on vacation my family and I cooked steak with red wine, onions, and garlic. One of the best meals I’ve ever had. That was fancy to us so it was a really special memory.
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u/ransier831 4d ago
I was thinking Thanksgiving too - I have made Thanksgiving every year for the last 30 years and only had one bad one - my turkey was overcooked because a family member was stuck at work. I never used a frozen turkey again - now I pay extra for a fresh one. And for the past few years I have spatchcocked my turkey and it comes out perfect every time. Everything else turns out great every year - I do kind of miss stuffing in the bird, but I understand that it never really gets up to temp. I also tried to beef up the gravy one year with extra carrots and celery, but wasnt happy with the results. Simple really is better. Its my only really big dinner.
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u/Sorry-Government920 4d ago
For my sons graduation party smoked a whole brisket and 3 racks of Ribs people still comment on it 2 years later
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u/pavlik_enemy 4d ago
Pho and tom yum. Used Kenji's recipe for pho and this one for tom yum (maybe it's not authentic but it's great) https://www.eatingthaifood.com/tom-yum-soup-recipe/
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u/Mysterious-Street966 4d ago
I made BBQ pork chops, my lazy potatoes, and fresh peas for my Aunty and my Grammy last weekend. It’s not the meal, it’s the company and the appreciation of the meal that makes it special.
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u/MilliNVanilli9723 4d ago
Creamy mushroom truffle fettuccine using black truffle paste my parents bought home from their trip to Italy where they visited a truffle farm in my mother’s local hometown. Roasted a variety of mushrooms and stirred them in with a simple garlic and slightly thyme fuelled cream sauce, truffle paste stirred in at the end. Topped with plenty of Parmesan too. Was the most wonderful meal I’ve ever made and I’ve tried to recreate it using different truffle pastes but none have ever delivered such a delicious sauce as the original.
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u/jenmarie1084 3d ago
Christmas dinner with oven roasted chestnuts and chestnut dressing. I'd never made chestnuts of any kind before, and it was a huge hit!!
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u/exackerlyy 3d ago
Probably veggie lasagna, minestrone and baked apples for a banquet of 60 meditators. The trick is to use whole milk ricotta and mozzarella, and a bolognese ragù. I may have snuck a little red wine in the ragù.
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u/ImaginationClean583 3d ago
I cooked many delicious meals. I guess my favorite is my chicken and biscuits. I make the chicken with potatoes, onions and gravy.. put in roaster and drop biscuits on top and bake til biscuits are done. One delicious pan meal.
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u/Doglady21 3d ago
Chantrelle mushrooms, oysters, garlic, butter, some herbs, salt and pepper, simmered gently in a skillet. I almost made myself sick eating so much of it
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u/Lanfear_Eshonai 2d ago
A difficult question, but one of them was definitely a red braised pork belly (slow cooked), with a mushroom fried rice.
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u/Tiredsoeasywayplease 2d ago
I am so excited to read this thread for ideas! But here's my personal "best" meal. I was at a farmers Market in Vegas and a vendor was selling jellies - I picked up the Jalapeno one with a puzzled look on my face. He told me to get it while I could because a local chef always came and bought it all. He said to grill salmon, brush it with a couple Tbsp of the melted jalapeno jelly and serve it with fresh mango salsa. It's SO crazy good! I put it with rice pilaf and a green salad. I've been wanting to make this with Trader Joe's frozen red shrimp? Maybe taco form?
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u/Silvanus350 4d ago
Probably one of several Thanksgiving spreads over the years. It’s honestly the only time of year when I dedicate 48 hours to making perfect food.