Food freshness

Before your cabinets and fridge become mold incubators, take a minute to check things out.

The pantry             The  fridge                    The freezer

Dried black beans-1 year                             Open salsa- 1 month                                              Frozen broccoli- 9 months

Opened almonds- 1 month                          Open mayo-a month after the jar date                  Beef- 8 months

Open peanut butter- 3 months                    Meats- 3 to 5 days                                                 Fresh shrimp- 9 months

Unopened Mayonnaise- 1 year                    Open Italian dressing- 8 months                            Salmon-10 weeks

Open tortilla chips- 1 week                          Raw eggs in shell- 1 month                                    Homemade chili- 8 months

Milk- smell it or give it the coffee test           Strawberries- 10 months

Some hints to preserve your foods longevity.

1. Use tupperware or sealable bags to preserve your products, including bread and chips.

2. Keep your fridge chilly but not too cold. The lower temp will help keep food fresher by a couple days,

plus who doesn’t love cold milk!

3. Do not overload the fridge with too much junk. An overstuffed fridge doesn’t function as well.

4. Use your nose and eyes. If food looks OK and doesn’t smell or have a weird sheen to it, it is most likely good.

5. If it smells odd, looks a bit off, is slimy, or seems like it would not be good, it probably isn’t. Error on the side

of caution and throw it away.

The Dude vs. Big Juan

The Dude and his Big JuanBig Bear Lake is the home of a mexican hacienda called the Sonora Cantina. Here is what the menu says about their Big Juan.

“Big Juan Burrito” $13.50
Not for the faint of heart. Probably the biggest burrito in the world … and if you can finish it in 45 minutes or less you become an instant celebrity and win a T-shirt proclaiming your victory over “Big Juan”.

The “Big Juan” contains 4 meats, cheese, beans, lettuce, rice, sliced olives, green onions & tomatoes. Bon Appetite, Gringo!”

I finished mine as a snack later that night.

Fried catfish sticks

catfish sticks Homemade fried catfish sticks are easy to make and fun to eat. If you are looking for an alternative to pizza, pasta or hoagies then give this a try.

Take 1 lb of catfish and wash it off.
Chop it into preferrred sized bits.
Mix 2 eggs into a bowl.
Pour some bread crumbs onto a plate.
Dip the cut fish bits in the eggs and then
onto the bread crumb plate.
Once all the bits are crumbed up then
deposit them into an electric frying pan that is dialed up to 340 degrees.
There only needs to be enough oil to sit the fish in. The sticks do not need to be submerged as you can flip them over. Let cook for about 5 minutes each side or until they look as crispy as you like them. Remove from oil and pat dry. Put the sticks on a plate, sprinkle with some fresh lemon juice and serve with a side of tartar and your favorite cold beer. YUM.top

Port Wine Recommendation

The dude of food has obtained a bottle of 10 year old tawny port from Trader Joe’s. The producer is Quarles Harris, established 1680, in Vila Nova de Gaia, Portugal. This beauty of a port wine was roughly $12. but tastes like a fine, expensive bottle. This port boasts a light and fruity but not too sweet flavor that follows through nicely.

portoIt is a great after dinner sipper and also goes great with chocolate. Let out your inner man and WOW your lady tonight with this fine selection.