Bu$hleaguer's AMA

bu$hleaguer

Well-Known Member
Are you more proper on your chess website?
No, I don't talk quite as much on that site. It's chess by message, so you make a move and say something, and then they have like a month to move and say something. It goes back and forth. People will quit the game or you'll get reported if you're too fucked up, so you have to keep it at an R rating.

Where does your RIU name originate from?
It's a Pearl Jam song.

What's your favorite type of food to create?
Italian old school classic pasta recipes lately. Tagliatelle bolognese, pappardelle with duck ragout specifically. Most of my restaurant work has been in italian restaurants and a few modern French places. But I wander all over the place with ideas. I buy and read cookbooks like newspapers, so I often get inspired by an idea I see in one and do my own version with the same ingredients.

Have you ever been married?
Yep, indeed. Once, got divorced a few years ago.
 

bu$hleaguer

Well-Known Member
Do you like fruit on the bottom or stirred?
Greek with it mixed in I think.

What is the size of your HDTV?
46" I think. And thick.

Have you ever set an occupied outhouse aflame?
No. Arson was never one of my go to techniques. I did get a misdemeanor in Mendocino CA about 12 years back for destroying a campsite's food locker thing that kept your food away from bears. It was bullshit, the park ranger just came by while it was my turn to bash it.

How far can you spit a watermelon seed?
Not nearly as far as some women have spit my man seed.

When was the last time you heard this...
?
That picture rings a bell but I can't place it!
 

bu$hleaguer

Well-Known Member
Ok, I figured I'd give ya'll a coveted recipe I have. If you don't like it, or don't eat meat, fuck yourself. If you do, and enjoy cooking real deal recipes that take a little bit of time and shitload of love, this one's for you.


Here's a recipe for serious pappardelle bolognese. Not the red tomato based "meat sauce" that's fucking delicious in it's own right, but a real, old school ragu. Ask all questions you have and I'll help you along the way. Props to those who actually make it.

This is part I:

1 lb ground pork
1 lb ground beef
1 lb ground lamb
1/2 lb diced pancetta
1/2 lb chicken livers, puréed
4T butter
1 large onion, small dice
3 celery stalks, small dice
3 carrots, small dice
5 cloves garlic, minced
1/4c sage
1 bunch parsley
2 cups white wine
28oz can whole peeled tomatoes, chopped
1 cup milk
1 qt chicken stock, with 4 packages gelatine dissolved in it
Salt & pepper, obviously


Preheat oven to 300F.

In one pan, melt butter and render pancetta. In another pan, add all meats but livers, and cook until slightly browned over medium high heat. Season it well with s&p
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Once pancetta is rendered and beginning to brown, add all veggies into the same pan with the pancetta. Leave the fat in, you'll strain it later.

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It will look like this:

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In the meat pan you want to take a potato masher and mash the shit up until it looks like this: you want small grains, individual, not large chunks. Add in the chicken liver you should have already puréed and take off the heat. Fold it together and season well.

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Together you're looking to be like this


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You can see the pink bits of liver still in this motherfucker. Once almost all liquid in the veggies have been reduced, mix the two shits together.

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Now you'll add the liquids. Deglaze with the wine. Then add 1c milk, 1qt chix stock with 4 packets of gelatin dissolved in it, and 28oz tomatoes.

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It will look like this:

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Ok, now shove it in your oven set at 300 and set your timer for 3.5 hours.

That's the end of part 1
 
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Hookabelly

Well-Known Member
@bu$hleaguer

1. So you puree the 1/2 lb of livers first? while still raw?
2. Can you leave out or substitute liver? I think it tastes so metallic and strong.
3. If I can't find ground lamb, what else can I sub? (I know I, I know, if you sub out too much stuff it isn't the same recipe but just asking)
4. RE: adding gelatin to your chicken stock:
I cook my chicken stock with either chicken or turkey wings. (I learned this from reading cookbooks) that the cartilage or collagen (can't recall which at the moment) serves to thicken stock. So my stock, which is already super reduced, is pretty gelatinous already. Should I cut down on the gelatin? Omit it? also how big are the gelatin packets?


PS. Another Q for your AMA: are you sure this is you? There's such a lack of scat and genitalia humor LOL
 

bu$hleaguer

Well-Known Member
@bu$hleaguer

1. So you puree the 1/2 lb of livers first? while still raw?
yep, while raw. Normally I rinse them in water, then chuck em in the food processor. I hate liver too, and aim at 1/3lb to 1/2 lb when I do it. You won't taste it at all, it just adds an earthiness you can't get without. If you never mention it, guests will never know you used them.

@bu$hleaguer

2. Can you leave out or substitute liver? I think it tastes so metallic and strong.
Yeah, of course you can. It won't explode or something without it :) but from someone who hates liver and offal and all that shit but knows there's a place for them in some recipes, I'd recommend leaving them in at first, or lightening the quantity. You won't notice it anyway, it will just add a richness you don't get without. And yeah, I hear you on the metallic taste, that's why it's used in pretty limited quantity in this.

@bu$hleaguer

3. If I can't find ground lamb, what else can I sub? (I know I, I know, if you sub out too much stuff it isn't the same recipe but just asking)
It won't have the same flavor but it can be done, no big deal. Do 1.5lb of each beef and pork then. You want to try to avoid using the same combination you would use in meatballs or meatloaf though, as that's easy to replicate because you're used to it and it's comfortable. Lamb has a different texture than pork or beef so together all three lend to a nice smooth mouth feel you don't get from just 1 or two of them.
@bu$hleaguer
4. RE: adding gelatin to your chicken stock:
I cook my chicken stock with either chicken or turkey wings. (I learned this from reading cookbooks) that the cartilage or collagen (can't recall which at the moment) serves to thicken stock. So my stock, which is already super reduced, is pretty gelatinous already. Should I cut down on the gelatin? Omit it? also how big are the gelatin packets?
Awesome question, you're dead on. If you make your own, and it's gelatinous when you take it out of the fridge, then you have made good stock. You won't have as much gelatin as restaurant made veal stock, however, so you'll need to add 2 packages of gelatine from the store. The purpose is simply to add that glossy texture you get at primo places because they're using good veal stock... If you're using store bought stock, you'll need to dissolve 4 packets of gelatin in it. If you're using homeade, use 2 packets. Each box I found was 4 packets, equalling 1oz, so use 1/2oz.
 
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Singlemalt

Well-Known Member
Nice, Bushie, really nice! That's pretty close to the way my Grandma used to do it. She used veal instead of lamb, tho
 

bu$hleaguer

Well-Known Member
Nice, Bushie, really nice! That's pretty close to the way my Grandma used to do it. She used veal instead of lamb, tho
Yeah veal is usually what I go with but it's way more expensive. I've been making it today and taking the pics. I may do part 2 tonight but I'm pretty drunk so I'll prob wait until later this week when I put it all together.
 

WHATFG

Well-Known Member
Yeah veal is usually what I go with but it's way more expensive. I've been making it today and taking the pics. I may do part 2 tonight but I'm pretty drunk so I'll prob wait until later this week when I put it all together.
Probably a good idea...it does look yummy though!
 
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