Great blog and cookbook warning...

One of our favorite blogs Steamy Kitchen just got published!

I love cookbooks... For me they are not about recipes but more a thing of connections and ideas (I mean who needs another recipe for meatloaf?) and Steamy Kitchen has always been one of those places I go for just those ideas and connections...

What more can I say?

Get the book!

Why not crumpets?

Living on a boat and liking bread is sometimes just a little problematic. Ovens on boats tend to be small and seldom big enough to make two  decent sized loafs so you wind up using fuel and heating up the cabin and when all is said and done on Thursday you still don't have bread to make a sandwich with...

Which is why I tend to favor breads like Pita as they are much easier to make in an ongoing basis and are quick so don't use a lot of fuel or heat up the cabin while doing it.

So why not Crumpets? Not any harder to make then pancakes, able to be sliced for a sandwich and for breakfast they simply rock!

Which is why you should boogie on over to Bakers Banter who has the definitive "How to" on making crumpets!

Lobscouse and spotted dog... Yummy!

Everyone on a boat seems to go through a Patrick O'Brien phase and to be honest some of us never get out of it, which is why I got so excited when I came across the book "Lobscouse and Spotted Dog: Which It's a Gastronomic Companion to the Aubrey/Maturin Novels".

Being a boat buff and history fiend, the various novels in the series were easy but even though I am a serious "foodie", period English fare was something of a mystery and more than once I found myself distracted from the story because I was wondering just what they were eating... Now with "Lobcourse and Spotted Dog" I can put that right and I think it is more than time to reread the series from start to finish!

For those interested in more insight to the O'Brien world of Aubrey and Maturin (for those really clueless Master and Commander is out in DVD) there is also a really good book that delves into the world and politics of the period ..."A Sea of Words" which is really a must read to understand the period.

Fish on the grill...

Guilty Carnivore gets it all kinds of right...

Grilled Summertime Halibut

Catching rays... Solar ovens

The idea of being able to harness the ample sunshine we have in the tropics and use it for cooking has always made all sorts of sense. Though sadly most of the various solar cooking solutions have been somewhat not quite boat friendly so it is one of those must haves that has crept to the back of the ever present list...

"The Adventures of Sailing Vessel Macha" recently added a solar cooker to their galley arsenal and it got me thinking. More than a good time to dust off my solar cooking links and see what was about these days.

The best place to begin on any solar cooking quest is the Solar Cooking Archive which is a solar cooking hub and if its not there ...well it is not anywhere! You'll find everything from recipes to cookers (and plans for cookers) as well as a country by country supplier linkage... Very cool!

One of the new additions that has BOAT written all over it is the Molly Baker Solar Oven which really does seem to cancel out all of my various issues with the various solar cooking hardware that is out there.

The buzz is that the cookbook that just about everyone really likes is "Solar Cooking for Home and Camp" and as long as I'm getting that what better time to get "The Solar Food Dryer" as the idea of making Tuna and Mahi Mahi Jerky makes all kind of sense on a boat of a limited size...

Peanut butter and bacon...

You really have to go over and see what Joy the Baker has up her sleeve...

Trust me it is very worth your time!

Key Lime Pie...

I've always wondered about the birthright of Key Lime Pie as over the years I have heard many and conflicting tales regarding both the origin and proper way of making it... Seems like everyone has their story and they are sticking to it!

Bakers' Banter is no different and I detect a certain ring of truth and plausibility on the origin which is comforting to know, but lets face it the real deal is whether or not the pie tastes good! Check it out!

It most certainly works for me!