So you're making a ham terrine, and...

[Jenise]

...you're seduced by that great big ham butt from Hempler, the ham and sausage producer that's based right there in your little town. And it's only $2.49 a pound! Seems like a good deal even though you know you'll have some waste compared to buying ham steaks for $5.88 a pound which are also available from Hempler. And besides that, it just feels so much more elemental to start the project by whipping out that butcher knife and taking that butt to town, stripping the delectable pieces of good ham meat from the fat, rind and tennis-ball sized bone. All in all it feels pretty good...

(scroll down)

<



<



<



<



<



...until you compare the bowls of ham meat to scraps.

IMG_2097.JPG

Ah, but those scraps will make for marvelous sandwiches, pates de campagne, pop-in-the mouth snacks and fillings, together with a good brown sauce for omelets.

[Jenise]

Ah, but those scraps will make for marvelous sandwiches, pates de campagne, pop-in-the mouth snacks and fillings, together with a good brown sauce for omelets.

No they won't! Those scraps are rind and fat. There's no meat in the bowl on the right whatsoever.

Wait a minute. Is there such a thing as ham schmaltz?

Cat food?

BTW, on the terrine subject, the latest Bon Appetit has a tomato article and a mixed heritage tomato terrine that looks delightful.....but I'm not changing terrine in mid-stream, I'm still doing swwetbread, lobster and truffle.

[Jenise]

Cat's don't like fat. And if they did, I wouldn't want to clean the litter box afterward!

[David M. Bueker]

...you're seduced by that great big ham butt

I just want to preserve that statement (even if it is out of context).

[Jenise]

I just want to preserve that statement (even if it is out of context).

I know. Bob went shopping with me and it was like having a 10 year old along.

I know. Bob went shopping with me and it was like having a 10 year old along.

This sounds familiar. Last time I went to Costco with Kirk I had to tell him that if he followed me around any more asking why I need to buy that, I would NEVER let him come shopping with me again.

[Jenise]

I know. Bob went shopping with me and it was like having a 10 year old along.

This sounds familiar. Last time I went to Costco with Kirk I had to tell him that if he followed me around any more asking why I need to buy that, I would NEVER let him come shopping with me again.

Bob is usually a pleasure to shop with, don't know what got into him that day! He's loving his life now. Loves sleeping in and deciding among the plethora of options available for each day. Though he did, second week in, make the mistake of asking me two days in a row, over a cup of coffee, what my "goals and aspirations" for the day were. He won't do THAT again!

:) Bob is usually a pleasure to shop with, don't know what got into him that day! He's loving his life now. Loves sleeping in and deciding among the plethora of options available for each day. Though he did, second week in, make the mistake of asking me two days in a row, over a cup of coffee, what my "goals and aspirations" for the day were. He won't do THAT again!

Hah, hah, hah. You've got to set those ground rules for the retired husband! The appropriate comeback to the "hopes and aspirations" question would be--"Oh, I plan to lay around all day in my nightgown, eating bonbons and watching television. Will you be able to bring me lunch when I get hungry?" That pretty much sends him straight to his workshop to get busy on his own hopes and aspirations!

[Jenise]

That would have been much more elegant than what I said, which was more like an icy "I am not your project, and I don't like to be managed. But if I played your game, how would that go? Would we identify milestones? Would you give me an Action Items List?" He didn't speak to me for about an hour after that.

Jenise,
Anxious to hear about your test runs. After seeing so many ham terrines in Paris I am anxious to try one when I get home. Stocking up on good cornichons and mustard here in Paris!

[Jenise]

You're in Paris right now? OH LUCKY YOU. Staying in a hotel or do you have an apartment that enables you to do some cooking with local ingredients?

Not food related, however I just had to chime in here with the subject of retired husbands. Gene feels the need to bring in RV parts, or any part from his yard blower, lawn mower to show me how it has worn/broken and how he intends to fix it. Naturally, I am in the kitchen cooking and in he comes with greasy hands and a dirty part. I am very fussy about my house and especially my kitchen. He just does not get it when I ask him to take his parts out of my kitchen! Even though he has a nice sink in his workshop, and we have a service sink in the laundry room, he will still come into the kitchen to wash his hands in my just cleaned up sink. I wish I knew some choice words that he would GET.

[Jenise]

Not food related, however I just had to chime in here with the subject of retired husbands. Gene feels the need to bring in RV parts, or any part from his yard blower, lawn mower to show me how it has worn/broken and how he intends to fix it. Naturally, I am in the kitchen cooking and in he comes with greasy hands and a dirty part. I am very fussy about my house and especially my kitchen. He just does not get it when I ask him to take his parts out of my kitchen! Even though he has a nice sink in his workshop, and we have a service sink in the laundry room, he will still come into the kitchen to wash his hands in my just cleaned up sink. I wish I knew some choice words that he would GET.

He just wants your company. The only way to keep him out of the kitchen is to join him in the garage from time to time, and be sure to heap loads of praise on him when you do.

Funny you mention the clean sink, Karen. My spouse doesn't get it, either: how can anything else get clean if the sink is dirty?

As to getting him out of the kitchen I suggest a hip-check towards the doorway.

Jenise,
See recent post in the What's Cooking thread. I'm in 12 e, definitely not a tourist neighborhood and in 3 weeks, know the baker in our apartment block, the Breton shop owner, the guy at the market that always has figs and a lovely young lady who left haute couture, went to Brittany to perfect crepes and "do something real". The apartment has a small kitchen that has been just fine. Next time though I'd bring a few of my own knives :-} Within 3 blocks there are cheese, meat, fish, bread, olive oil, wine shops and a produce market that is open 6 days a week. Heaven !

Funny you mention the clean sink, Karen. My spouse doesn't get it, either: how can anything else get clean if the sink is dirty?

As to getting him out of the kitchen I suggest a hip-check towards the doorway.

Oh sure, that might get me down the same path as when I ask for a little shoulder rub...it doesn't end there!

[David M. Bueker]

He just does not get it when I ask him to take his parts out of my kitchen!

This thread is just full of great statements dying to be taken out of context!

He just does not get it when I ask him to take his parts out of my kitchen!

This thread is just full of great statements dying to be taken out of context!

Leave it to a man! I realized that as I was typing and left it just to see who would respond to it first. Congratulations!

[David M. Bueker]

Leave it to a man!

As well you should.

I'm having so much fun today.