Franken Pantry IX

Keltin

New member
Gold Site Supporter
Thanksgiving hit this past weekend, and Franken-Pantry VIII suffered a bit and had almost no participation. That’s to be expected with the Holidays though.

http://www.netcookingtalk.com/forums/showthread.php?t=16913

It’s Sunday, and the new Pantry should start today, so I’ll kick this one off in case there is interest.

Let's move on to Franken-Pantry IX!

For now, we are still allowing members to post multiple times, but not in a row. See Rule #2 please.

I’ve also decided to add a new singular item to the rotation. The “Wild Card”. See Rule #3 please.

The first order of business is to stock the Pantry with 10 ingredients. So each person should post an ingredient that goes into the Pantry. Once there are 10 ingredients, the Pantry is full, and cooking can commence.

And, we have a 5 item Spice Rack to fill.

The Rules

1. Salt, Pepper, Water, and Oil are staples and considered stove-top items and are always available and need not be suggested. You are free to use those 4 items no matter what is in the Pantry.

2. You can post multiple times, but not in a row. If you post an ingredient, you have to wait until someone else posts another ingredient before you can post again. If the Spice Rack is still open, you are allowed to post multiple times to it, but again, not in a row.

3. It is possible for each Pantry (from here forward) to have a Wild Card if someone suggests it as an item. Once it has been added, that’s it; only one Wild Card per Pantry. A Wild Card is just that, a singular item you can pick of your choice. So if you’re cooking from a Pantry with a Wild Card, and there is no flour, but you really need it for your dish, then the Wild Card becomes flour for you.

The Wild Card is a singular ingredient, but can be different for each recipe/meal/entry you cook and post. So if you do meat and gravy and need flour, Wild Card = Flour for that recipe. Then a day or two later you make a quiche and you need eggs, then the Wild Card = Eggs for that particular recipe.


Note that the Wild Card is always a singular ingredient of your choice per recipe/meal that you post and enter to the Pantry. So you can't post a meal/entry with multiple Wild Cards such as saying you used a Wild Card of flour for the "Gravy Smothered Cube Steaks", and then you also used a new Wild Card of Pasta for the side dish of Grown Up Mac & Cheese in the same meal/entry. So while you did make two recipes for the meal (Meat Recipe and Side Recipe) you aren't allowed to use two Wild Cards in the same meal/entry. One Wild Card per posted recipe/entry/meal.

A Pantry will only have a Wild Card IF someone suggests it for their turn. If it is not suggested, then it does not exist in that Pantry. If you use the Wild Card, please include what the Wild Card was for you in the write up of your dish. :thumb:

4. Spice Rack! There is a 5 slot Spice Rack in the Pantry. Naturally, it has to be filled. As always, members are only allowed one post per Pantry - BUT, if the Spice Rack is not full, then you can also add something to it as well. For example: Bread - Cumin. That is a Pantry entry of Bread, and a Spice Rack entry of Cumin. The first 5 members to post a spice are counted - once we have 5 spices in the rack, the Spice Rack is full.

5. About the Spice Rack - Any “spice” is acceptable as long as it is a verified product, spice, or herb. For example: McCormick’s Italian Seasoning, or Seasoned Salt, or Creole Seasoning. Those are all blends, but they are also a singular and unified product. If you mean for a blend to be included, please include Brand & Product name. While everyone may not be able to find that particular brand name, we may be able to find a store brand alternative - and that is acceptable as long as the mix is the same. Sorry - but if someone posts Italian Seasoning, then you have to use a jar of Italian Seasoning (labeled clearly on the product). You can’t deconstruct it and use fresh Basil, Oregano, and Thyme. You have to use the BLEND spice that was posted. Hopefully, we’ll all post things that others can find, but, up until now, all we had was Salt & Pepper unless specifically posted, and we’ve done exceptionally well!

6. You can post items that were posted in previous Franken-Pantries.

7. Derivatives of an item can not be used, but can be made for use. For example, if wine is listed, you can’t just use “wine vinegar”. If cream is listed, you can’t just use butter, but you can MAKE butter or vinegar if you like.

8. Once 10 items have been posted, the Pantry will be locked and recipes can be made using as many or as few of the items from the 10 in the Pantry. But, other than the 4 staples (Salt, Pepper, Water, & Oil), you can ONLY use items in the Pantry. So if flour isn't listed, then you can't use it. Same goes for spices, if Cumin or Thyme aren’t listed, then you can't use them.

9. This mysterious Pantry has a walk-in cooler, so perishables like beef, chicken, crab, fish, milk, eggs, cream, butter, etc, can be posted.

10. Entries can be “open” or “restricted”. If you post “openly” such as beef, pork, chicken, fish, shellfish, etc, all cuts are assumed available. Open entries are something of an Iron Chef category, so if multiple versions of an item exist, they will be in the Pantry. Alternatively, you CAN post restrictively such as “crab” or “steak”, but the Pantry would be more accessible if you instead posted openly such as “crustacean” or “beef” - something to think about and it’s ultimately up to you.

11. Each “open” Pantry entry is something of a category unto itself. For example, if onion is posted, then any onion will be available: red, yellow, Vidalia, Spanish, pearl, shallot, scallion, etc. Imagine the pantry as an Iron Chef type room. In the spot where potatoes (open entry) are stored, all potatoes are there, Idaho, Russet, Red, Fingerling, Dried Potato Flakes, etc. But NOT sweet potatoes as that is a different animal (in a savory sense).

12. If you mean for an item to be restrictive, then please make note of that such as “Idaho Potato (restricted)” or “Chuck Roast (restricted)”. In doing that, the entry is limited to only Idaho Potatoes and no other kind of potato, and only Chuck Roast will be available, but no other cut of beef. If you don’t specifically list “restricted” in your entry, then the entry will be assumed open if multiple variations are available.

13. There's really no time limit for cooking from a Franken-Pantry. If you get around to making something, then post what you did. A month from now, someone may bump into this thread and want to cook from this pantry, so go ahead.

14. Cooking method is entirely up to you. Grill it, bake it, steam it, boil it, microwave it, serve it raw, etc.

15. Each Franken-Pantry is a stand alone Pantry. You can revisit any previous thread and cook something in THAT Pantry, but you can not bring items from one Pantry to another.

16. It's just for fun! That is the reason each open entry includes all variations of the entry such as “potato” means all potatoes, and “beef” means all cuts of beef. While Franken-Pantry is restrictive to 10 ingredients, it still strives to be approachable while also challenging you to put your thinking cap on.

So, start posting the ingredients you want or need in this Franken-Pantry. Don’t forget that if the Spice Rack is open, you can add a spice to it!! I’ll start off, but I will not post a spice. The Spice Rack is fully open with 5 slots.

Please note that the addition of the spice rack does not nullify the staples. Salt, Pepper, Water, and Oil are always available no matter what is in the Pantry or Spice Rack.

To break in the new item, I’ll go ahead and add a Wild Card.

Franken-Pantry VIII

---- Staples ----
1. Water
2. Oil
3. Salt
4. Pepper

---- Pantry ----

1. *Wild Card*
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.

---- Spice Rack ----
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
 
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MexicoKaren

Joyfully Retired
Super Site Supporter
Re: Franken Pantry VIV

Hooray - I like the wild card idea! I was wondering if you were too busy with your grandson today, Keltin...thanks for doing this. How about some chicken? And some thyme?
 

LETHAL GTS

New member
Re: Franken Pantry VIV

Wild card! I like that idea.
I still haven't conjured up me VIII pantry yet.
But I will do it up tonight!

Mushrooms
Thyme
 

LETHAL GTS

New member
Re: Franken Pantry VIV

OK so I'm dyslectic!
So would fresh/roasted garlic be in the pantry or the spice rack?
 

lilbopeep

🌹🐰 Still trying to get it right.
Site Supporter
Re: Franken Pantry VIV

Keltin - I am dense so please clarify. So if flour is your wild card you can ONLY use it ONCE? Using your example: steak, gravy and mac & cheese. You can use the flour to make the gravy but NOT to make the cheese sauce for the mac? If you use the flour for the gravy you can't also use it for the mac & cheese also? The wild card isn't for the MEAL just 1 time use per meal or can the SAME wild card be used in any part of the meal? Or did you mean 2 DIFFERENT wild cards for 1 meal? I understand 2 wilds not being accepted.

Sorry if this is a stupid question. My head is a bit scrambled lately. :oops:
 

LETHAL GTS

New member
Re: Franken Pantry VIV

Keltin - I am dense so please clarify. So if flour is your wild card you can ONLY use it ONCE? Using your example: steak, gravy and mac & cheese. You can use the flour to make the gravy but NOT to make the cheese sauce for the mac? If you use the flour for the gravy you can't also use it for the mac & cheese also? The wild card isn't for the MEAL just 1 time use per meal or can the SAME wild card be used in any part of the meal? Or did you mean 2 DIFFERENT wild cards for 1 meal? I understand 2 wilds not being accepted.

Sorry if this is a stupid question. My head is a bit scrambled lately. :oops:
I'm thinkin a wild card is a wild card...so if you want to use beef wellington as your wild card go ahead...just my thoughts :bonk:
Or should it be just ONE ingredient? Which would also make sense.
 

lilbopeep

🌹🐰 Still trying to get it right.
Site Supporter
Re: Franken Pantry VIV

Garlic (fresh/roasted/dry) - pantry or spice rack?

Franken-Pantry VIII

---- Staples ----
1. Water
2. Oil
3. Salt
4. Pepper

---- Pantry ----

1. *Wild Card*
2. Chicken
3. Potatoes
4. Mushrooms
5. Tomatoes
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.

---- Spice Rack ----
1. Thyme
2. Oregano
3. Basil (fresh or dry)
4.
5.
 

lilbopeep

🌹🐰 Still trying to get it right.
Site Supporter
Re: Franken Pantry VIV

How about some additional vegetables...carrots?


Franken-Pantry VIII

---- Staples ----
1. Water
2. Oil
3. Salt
4. Pepper

---- Pantry ----

1. *Wild Card*
2. Chicken
3. Potatoes
4. Mushrooms
5. Tomatoes
6. Carrots
7. Celery
8.
9.
10.

---- Spice Rack ----
1. Thyme
2. Oregano
3. Basil (fresh or dry)
4. Garlic (fresh/roasted/dry?) - pantry or spice rack?
5.

I have another question - Can the spices be fresh or dried or either?
 
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lilbopeep

🌹🐰 Still trying to get it right.
Site Supporter
Re: Franken Pantry VIV

Spices should be either dry or fresh IMO.
Ok Then I guess your garlic and my basil go into the spice rack. Which is cool with me but you specified fresh/roasted (I added dry). Just let keltin know any form of garlic is ok.
 

Keltin

New member
Gold Site Supporter
Re: Franken Pantry VIV

Ok, Garlic (Allium sativum) is a species of the onion family. It is a plant, and the bulb is what we know as garlic. A garlic bulb/head/clove can be dried and ground to make the spice "Garlic Powder". In this Pantry, garlic "fresh/roasted/dried" was suggested which means we will be using the bulb/head/clove of garlic. If you mean a spice, then you must suggest the "Powder". Personally, I'd rather have the "bulb/head/clove". :wink:

So, I have moved garlic to the Pantry thus freeing a Spice Rack slot…..and I also suggested Cilantro. :biggrin:

All spices are fresh, dried, powdered, etc. Your choice.

As for the wild card, it is a singular item for use in your pantry when you sit down to cook. If you decide to cook tonight from the Pantry and you realize that you need flour along with the other 9 set ingredients, then Wild Card = flour and you now have your locked in 10 ingredients.

You can use the Wild Card as often as you like as it has become a single tangible ingredient in that Pantry for you on the night you cook. But remember, the Wild Card, once picked for your cooking is locked.

So if you make Fried Chicken, Mashed Potatoes and Gravy, and Rolls for a meal/entry, you CAN use flour to fry the chicken, to make the gravy, and to make dough for the rolls.

The idea is you get to pick ONE singular item to use the night that you cook and prepare an entry. But the Wild Card is locked for that entry. That is to say, you can have Wild Card = Flour and it becomes a bag of flour to use as often as you like. Basically, the Fairy Sous Chef runs to store to get the item you decide on, and then that item is locked for you to cook with.

You can cook as many items as you like from the Pantry with your Wild Card of choice, but the Wild Card is locked for that cook/meal. You can not start cooking one night and say, for example:

I'm preparing a full meal with three items/recipes, Recipe 1 is Country Fried Steak, Recipe 2 is Green Bean Casserole, and Recipe 3 is Spinach Quiche. So I will enter 3 recipes for my entry/meal tonight. To make recipe 1, I need a Wild Card of flour, for Recipe 2, I need a Wild Card of CoM soup, for Recipe 3 I need a Wild Card of eggs.

No, it doesn't work that way. In any singular entry/meal/post that you make, you can have only one Wild Card. Now, if you cook again the next day and make an entirely new post, then your Wild Card can change. Just think of it like this, a Wild Card is good for one entry/meal/post to this thread. Each new entry that contains a completely new recipe not associated with the entry/meal you previously posted can have a new Wild Card.

Hmmmm - Let's think of it this way, if you cook on Monday and say Wild Card = Flour, then it is Flour all day Monday. If you cook again on Tuesday or some other day later that week, then you can pick a new Wild Card. Does that make sense?

I came up with the idea of the Wild Card because there was some concern over the Staples. Some wished that flour would be a staple since they use flour all the time for cooking. But where does that stop? Rice can be a Staple. Bread can be a Staple. Wine can be a Staple. Milk can be a Staple. Etc, etc, etc.

I didn't want to end up adding so many staples that you could basically prepare a meal from the Staples themselves! So instead, I came up with the Wild Card. If you cook a lot with flour and need it for your dishes, then Wild Card = Flour for you. If you cook a lot with rice and need it for your dishes, then Wild Card = rice for you.

But remember, the Wild Card is only there if it is suggested. I suggested it this time to get us started, but next time, I'll leave it up to you guys to decide if you want it in there or not. :wink:


Franken-Pantry VIII

---- Staples ----
1. Water
2. Oil
3. Salt
4. Pepper

---- Pantry ----

1. *Wild Card*
2. Chicken
3. Potatoes
4. Mushrooms
5. Tomatoes
6. Carrots
7. Celery
8. Garlic
9. Butter
10.

---- Spice Rack ----
1. Thyme
2. Oregano
3. Basil
4. Cilantro
5.
 

Luckytrim

Grill Master
Gold Site Supporter
Re: Franken Pantry VIV

Franken-Pantry VIII

---- Staples ----
1. Water
2. Oil
3. Salt
4. Pepper

---- Pantry ----

1. *Wild Card*
2. Chicken
3. Potatoes
4. Mushrooms
5. Tomatoes
6. Carrots
7. Celery
8. Garlic
9. Butter
10. Onions

---- Spice Rack ----
1. Thyme
2. Oregano
3. Basil
4. Cilantro
5.Red Pepper Flakes
 

Keltin

New member
Gold Site Supporter
Oops, C-n-P error on my part earlier, this is FP IX. :lol:

Sorry.

Franken-Pantry IX

---- Staples ----
1. Water
2. Oil
3. Salt
4. Pepper

---- Pantry ----

1. *Wild Card*
2. Chicken
3. Potatoes
4. Mushrooms
5. Tomatoes
6. Carrots
7. Celery
8. Garlic
9. Butter
10. Onions

---- Spice Rack ----
1. Thyme
2. Oregano
3. Basil
4. Cilantro
5. Red Pepper Flakes
 

MexicoKaren

Joyfully Retired
Super Site Supporter
We ate from Franken Pantry IX tonight, and I made a variation on an old recipe I have used for years, for a type of Chicken Fricassee. I had to make some changes, of course, and had to debate about using my wild card for red wine vinegar, with which I usually deglaze the pan, or bouillon, which I use to flavor the sauce. I chose to use the red wine vinegar - it makes this a uniquely flavored dish. I started by browning skinless chicken thighs in EVOO and butter (8 total), and then used the same pan to saute garlic, mushrooms and onions. I added two good-sized pinches of dried thyme at this point. I added carrots and potatoes after I deglazed the pan with about 1/3 cup of red wine vinegar, and about 1 cup and a half of water. Then I put the chicken back in the pot, and cooked for about 45 minutes. Very good, but a little salty - I think I am used to cooking with bouillon, and overcompensated with a bit too much salt. (I also realized that I had a big fingerprint on the lower left edge of my camera lens...)
 

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Keltin

New member
Gold Site Supporter
Karen, that is gorgeous and sounds so good! Being vinegar freaks, this is right up our alley. I'll be trying this soon! :clap:
 

MexicoKaren

Joyfully Retired
Super Site Supporter
Thanks SS, Mary, Peeps and Keltin. If you make this, Keltin (outside the FP), I think that adding some actual broth or bouillon probably makes it better, although you get a pretty good fond from all the browning and deglazing. The vinegar really makes all the difference, I think.
 

Keltin

New member
Gold Site Supporter
We happened to be having chicken tonight, so I whipped up a simple dish from FP IX.

My Wild Card = Bottled Salad Dressing

Catalina Glazed Chicken with Herb Roasted Potatoes

I made baked chicken thighs with a Catalina Glaze. I was going to grill them, but the weather is nasty out, so in the oven they went. I put a trivet in a large CI skillet, rested the thighs on top of that to keep them elevated and out of the fat, then baked and finished with the Catalina.

I also made herbed roasted potatoes. I cut some potatoes into cubes, then in a bowl added oil, salt, pepper, onion powder, cilantro, chives (onions), and Thyme. Covered the bowl, shook to coat, then dumped them into a preheated skillet and baked them alongside the chicken.

Oven was at 400 degrees, bake time for potatoes was 30 minutes, chicken was 40.
 

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LETHAL GTS

New member
Wow Karen and Keltin, those look amazing. Nice work you two.
I'm falling behind, I just completed my Pantry VIII last night.
 
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