Hard salami dates back to the Roman era when cured meats were a staple. Today it’s a great way to utilize game or meats you’ve stored in your freezer too long because when roasts went on sale for $2 a pound you got carried away and were going to make jerky but then forgot. The foremost thing that distinguishes hard salami from other kinds of salami is that it is made from fermented meat and can be stored outside the frig for months.
Read MorePolish Sausage Kielbasa
People often think that kielbasa is Polish for sausage, but it’s not. Kielbasa is a special kind of Polish sausage and if you’ve ever been in a real Polish butcher shop on Chicago’s north side, you quickly learn there a lot of different sausages from the homeland.
Read MoreSweet Italian Sausage
Homemade Italian sausage is a bit of a lost art, but for those who process game, or can’t resist when the grocery store puts pork butts on sale for half price, here is a recipe you can try.
Read MoreButtermilk Bread
While most people think about biscuits when referring to buttermilk breads, a loaf is also a nice way to go. I like this recipe when I’m camping because it is a hearty bread that holds up well away from the bread box.
Read MoreSmoking a Turkey, Chicken, or Pheasant
This recipe lays out general steps and tips for smoking fowl and while a turkey is significantly larger than a pheasant, the process is more or less the same. The main difference is the time different steps take.
Read MoreThyme Roasted Turkey
This recipe uses a nice thyme based rub that will give your roasted turkey a savory edge that browns well.
Read MorePolish Babka Bread – Sweet or Savory
Three Babka recipes are presented, a savory pesto babka, a sweet cinnamon babka, and a chocolate babka. This milk based bread uses honey and butter to create a soft but firm texture.
Read MoreNew York Lasagna
I dated a girl many years ago from New York who was Italian and she taught me to make the lasagna she grew up eating. While NY is not in Italy, we’ve all seen enough mob movies to know its as close as you can get to Italy and still be in America – both geographically and culturally.
Read MoreOld School Lasagna
There are as many lasagna recipes as there are grown Italian men missing their Moms. What I like about this version, is that it is as authentic and old school as it gets.
Read MoreRicotta Cheese from Whey
Ricotta is an Italian cheese similar in texture to cottage cheese, but is different enough that you can’t really substitute one for the other.
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