Mini NJ Wash (and Cook) In, Jan 30th '10

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mistereric

mistereric

Well-known member
Joined
Mar 2, 2006
Messages
1,526
Location
New Jersey (Taylor Ham)
I've been meaning to have some of my automaticwasher.org friends over my place at some point, and this past weekend was the perfect time - too cold to play outside, and in light of festivities on the other side of the country at RevvinKevin's place.

Perhaps there should be an annual Winter Wash-In day in late January to help us wash the winter doldrums away!

In attendance was the world famous Toggles, mister BrianL and Matt, and of course myself and Bobby. We started out the afternoon by grabbing some lunch and hitting up an estate sale where Brian and Matt got some cute little ceramic Christmas houses. The house itself was bizzare, the upstairs decorated in central-jersey-angsty-goth-teen flair.

After that, it was off to the supermarket and then back to the Compound, where Toggles took charge of the kitchen and had Matt and myself as bumbling sous chefs. We dined on two kinds of chicken, mini meatballs, rice, veggies, and two different salads. For desert we had a red velvet and buttercream cake.

After dinner, the washer lads played with the Maytag and the Lady Kenmore Portable. BrianL was treated to a Hoover TwinTub demo.

I had an awesome time and was thrilled to have such a good bunch of people over. Special thanks to Toggles, who has quite the passion for good food and really took charge. Pics to follow...
 
Toggle Treats!

Took charge WITH permission, thank you!

I walked in and the abuse /jokes / torment began (by the OTHERS) I was RIGHT at home. LOL

Thanks all for a wonderful day. I can't believe how many hours FLEW by!

It went so well I extended an invite for all to come to my place next month. Loved everyone. FABULOUS!

(P.S mini meat balls? Ha! That is normal Greek size, thank you! *LOL*)

Let's see washers, sharp-witted intelligent and devilshly handsome 30-somethings, food, booze and an estate sale.

HMMM bad day. LOL NOT. NOT NOT !!!!!!!!
 
With the finishing touches on dinner going well, I pulled out my new (to me) Sunbeam Mixmaster and gave it its first task- mixing up the batter for the red velvet cake.

The beaters arrived this friday from xraytech and the bowl that very morning from 58limited. Thank you SO MUCH guys!

mistereric++2-1-2010-10-33-29.jpg
 
After dinner, the Lady K came out to play. My new kitchen sink won't take the attachment for a portable machine, so we used the special Kenpool Portable Breadcrumbs Fill Adapter.

mistereric++2-1-2010-10-39-39.jpg
 
I'm leaving the meatball size jokes alone. ;-)

Of course, Toggles was polite and asked permission to jump in, and having experienced his culinary abilities before, I was thrilled to have him prepare a meal for us all.

Looking forward to the next time!
 
Dumpster-diving!

Of course not to mention the car came to screeching halt opon our dirve around town when 2 of the 3 washer folks spotted white-goods destined for the dumpster.

You'd be so proud! The machine got raped and pillaged and man-handled such that parts came off of it and made it to the car's trunk. oh yes!
 
That agitator was just what I needed!

That was quite funny that we found the GE tall ramp agitator that I broke on my washer, and there it was destined for the trash. I yanked that frozen agitator right out. If I had my wagon, the whole washer probably would have went lol. Imagine all the apartment people wondering why there were 2 guys from a Beamer raiding the trash lol.
 
Eric, it looks like you guys had so much fun!! Thanks for sharing the pictures with us. Toggles is fantastic in the kitchen!! Don't you just love a take charge guy!!!

Terry
 
Eric, congratulations. A good time and good food was definitely had by all. And Steve, you are definitely at a good spot in your life it shows. I've never seen you looking so good and the serenity in your eyes. I'm happy for ya bubba.
 
Are you sure it wasn't all the eye-candy around me being

Tell me more about my eyes!

It was the booze, sir! The wussies around me were all sucking on beers. I had rum in me, and one can see my "Cuba libre" within a yard /meter of me at all times in many of the pics.

It was a giggle-fest when THEY all switched to rum later.

Thank you kindly, sir. It was a really a great day!
 
By popular request.

Promised I'd post this, so here we go:

MEDITERRANEAN-STYLE RICE PILAF

And all "pilaf(i)" means is 'cooked rice', so technically the above title is kind of ridiculous in English).

1- Pot of rice; enough for company
2- Cups rice. (I prefer Uncle Ben's brand converted rice).
3- Chicken bouillon cubes
4- Cups water

You'll need a 4 Qt./L stock pot with lid.

Measure out two cups of rice.
Check for dirt/stones/insects/boogers, etc. Remove what you need to remove.
In a small amount of oil that barely coats the bottom of a 4 Quart/Litre stockpot, (say 4 Tablespoons) saute the rice for a minute or two over high heat. For best reuslts, use a wooden spoon and keep turning the rice while scraping the bottom of the pan. [This add flavor and seals in the starch to prevent foaming and boilovers later]. If it starts browning add water, do it for a few seconds less next time.

Add the 4 cups of MEASURED water. Reduce heat to low. You are bringing 350*F (175*C) rice down to 212*F (100*C) real quick, so it will hiss and moan and sputter and steam and boil like crazy.

Add the chicken cubes. (You usually dont' need salt with these).

STIR!

Add some parsley
Add some pepper
Add a bay leaf (must be removed before serving as it is a chocking hazard)

Cover and simmer over low heat for 21 minutes or until water is absorbed. Turn and stir once or twice during cooking. Don't uncover for long periods; you need the rice to steam. Fluff with fork when done cooking. Re-cover until ready to serve. The rice steams at the end, so letting it sit helps ensure it is dry and throroughly cooked.

Trick is to saute at first to lube the pan (to prevent sticking)and ensure lack of foaming up, and for flavor.

To change-it-up once in a while add one or more of these.
(Which were NOT present at our AW family meal).

A tablespoon of butter.
Garlic powder.
Minced onion (dry or fresh).
Peas.
Peas and diced carrots
Peas and pearl onions.
Mushrooms.
A tablespoon of tomato sauce (or a teasppoon of paste).

Use leftover fat from meats/chicken or bacon, or if using canned (liquid) chicken broth, omit chicken cubes and adjust total cooking liquid.

REMEMBER: Cooking rice? Water's twice! (the amount of the rice).

Absolutely can't measure? Do it Spanish/Hisapanic style; Water/broth should be above rice by (thickenss of) two horizontal fingers.
 
Congrats to you all on your Wash-In. Seeing as we had fun on both sides of the country, someday we might hopefully might meet in the middle. I'd love to meet you guys in person some day... Toggles will of course have to be in charge of the food and who knows what else... LOL!

RCD
 
Thanks Robert, for moving us into imfamy. :-)

Charlie - I got those canisters at an estate sale in Islen. Love how they go with my metal theme, even if they are a little too early for the 50's vibe. There are 5 in total, the "Grease" one sits closer to the stove.

Thanks soo much for posting, Steve. Appreciate it! Wish we had a AW community cookbook!
 

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