Home At Last! with Patty Gironda

I've been on a quest to use up items stored in the "deep freeze" zone! Surprisingly, the meals created from these mystery ingredients have yielded some pretty awesome and quick dinners. I had a thought today that I might have need for a "freezer journal". As I add foods to my freezers I would place a dated entry in my freezer journal. Just a thought. My current method of writing on the zipper bag works fine if I bother to write on the bag. I've also had success placing a note in the freezer bag filled with individually packaged tablespoons of items such as tomato paste. A recent dig revealed a lost bag of lightly-smoked picnic ham from the Porchetta episode of Home At Last! It was well-wrapped in foil and placed in a freezer bag.  Thawed and sampled I was pleased with its condition after three months of excile in "the zone". Paired with a small amount of homemade bbq sauce (also from the depths of my fridge) and a quick...

Miso Soup is one of my favorite soups and according to Dr. Oz, a food that should be eaten regularly to boost the immune system-along with garlic, carrots, papaya, and elderberry juice.  I was able to work a few of these ingredients into my chicken lo mein and combine cabbage and romaine lettuce with the dark roasted miso for a hearty winter soup that was perfect for a cold, cold night.  Notice the boiled egg, a Korean ingredient often found in noodle pots.  I added the hard-boiled egg during the final stages and allowed the egg to simmer for a slightly chewy egg that adds loads of great flavor and texture.  Red miso is the final ingredient; dissolved in some cooled stock and added just before serving. I used a red miso paste for a more robust soup.  Both dishes used less than one chicken breast and I boiled the chicken in the water to make my soup stock before added the miso, seaweed, bonito flakes, cabbage and lettuce. ...