Matthew Rowley
@mbrowley.bsky.social
Write | Lift | Travel | James Beard finalist | Past Southern Foodways Alliance board | Contributing editor, Oxford Companion to Spirits & Cocktails | 🏡 San Diego | Typos no extra charge.
Val knows what’s up. This just came, a nice note about my ginger pie.
It’s not too late. You could make one for Thanksgiving. Or, you know…the weekend, a birthday, your cat’s quinceañera. You don’t really need an excuse. Just make one when the mood hits.
Link to the recipe ⬇️
It’s not too late. You could make one for Thanksgiving. Or, you know…the weekend, a birthday, your cat’s quinceañera. You don’t really need an excuse. Just make one when the mood hits.
Link to the recipe ⬇️
November 26, 2025 at 5:47 PM
Val knows what’s up. This just came, a nice note about my ginger pie.
It’s not too late. You could make one for Thanksgiving. Or, you know…the weekend, a birthday, your cat’s quinceañera. You don’t really need an excuse. Just make one when the mood hits.
Link to the recipe ⬇️
It’s not too late. You could make one for Thanksgiving. Or, you know…the weekend, a birthday, your cat’s quinceañera. You don’t really need an excuse. Just make one when the mood hits.
Link to the recipe ⬇️
Welp. Been nice knowing y’all.
November 26, 2025 at 4:00 PM
Welp. Been nice knowing y’all.
Lest you think that 6% fat milk is a fantasy, I assure you: it is real.
November 26, 2025 at 3:48 PM
Lest you think that 6% fat milk is a fantasy, I assure you: it is real.
Had it all spellchecked and everything.
Realized that my experience made it imperative that I not get in on that action.
Anyway, I should probably go get milk before the shops turn busy today. The good stuff. 6% fat. Treat yo self.
Realized that my experience made it imperative that I not get in on that action.
Anyway, I should probably go get milk before the shops turn busy today. The good stuff. 6% fat. Treat yo self.
November 26, 2025 at 3:46 PM
Had it all spellchecked and everything.
Realized that my experience made it imperative that I not get in on that action.
Anyway, I should probably go get milk before the shops turn busy today. The good stuff. 6% fat. Treat yo self.
Realized that my experience made it imperative that I not get in on that action.
Anyway, I should probably go get milk before the shops turn busy today. The good stuff. 6% fat. Treat yo self.
Today is a good day to clean out accumulated crumbs or counter detritus that may have ended up in your flatware/smallware kitchen drawers. (a) s’dirty (b) attracts critters (c) gives aunties visiting for Thanksgiving reason to talk about you when you leave the room, mostly w eyebrows and pursed lips
November 26, 2025 at 12:05 AM
Today is a good day to clean out accumulated crumbs or counter detritus that may have ended up in your flatware/smallware kitchen drawers. (a) s’dirty (b) attracts critters (c) gives aunties visiting for Thanksgiving reason to talk about you when you leave the room, mostly w eyebrows and pursed lips
Oh, come ON.
There’s no way the Jack in the Box goon squad didn’t understand exactly what they were doing.
There’s no way the Jack in the Box goon squad didn’t understand exactly what they were doing.
November 25, 2025 at 11:58 PM
Oh, come ON.
There’s no way the Jack in the Box goon squad didn’t understand exactly what they were doing.
There’s no way the Jack in the Box goon squad didn’t understand exactly what they were doing.
We do like a zaftig cast iron pan.
November 25, 2025 at 6:16 PM
We do like a zaftig cast iron pan.
Our neighbor has built a sluice to direct debris from his yard into ours. Setting aside the legality, it’s such a monumental gobshite move that I figure that’s an invitation to chuck my garbage over the fence into his yard. It’s what he would have wanted.
November 25, 2025 at 4:24 PM
Our neighbor has built a sluice to direct debris from his yard into ours. Setting aside the legality, it’s such a monumental gobshite move that I figure that’s an invitation to chuck my garbage over the fence into his yard. It’s what he would have wanted.
A gift from my brother when I went away to university. He thought I’d be assembling more slow-cooked meals than I ever did, but that fryer component was a banger. Make-do fondue pot, kushikatsu, bitterballen, papas rellenas, fritters of all kinds. Countless kilos of fried nuts.
It was a good run.
It was a good run.
November 25, 2025 at 4:15 PM
A gift from my brother when I went away to university. He thought I’d be assembling more slow-cooked meals than I ever did, but that fryer component was a banger. Make-do fondue pot, kushikatsu, bitterballen, papas rellenas, fritters of all kinds. Countless kilos of fried nuts.
It was a good run.
It was a good run.
Welp. After 35 years, my workhorse deep fryer/slow cooker combo has died. Time to set him out to pasture.
Any of you fry daddies/mamís have a model recommendation for a home-sized deep fryer? (Air fryers are a separate convo.) Doesn’t have to multitask—just looking for a solid, reliable deep fryer.
Any of you fry daddies/mamís have a model recommendation for a home-sized deep fryer? (Air fryers are a separate convo.) Doesn’t have to multitask—just looking for a solid, reliable deep fryer.
November 25, 2025 at 4:04 PM
Welp. After 35 years, my workhorse deep fryer/slow cooker combo has died. Time to set him out to pasture.
Any of you fry daddies/mamís have a model recommendation for a home-sized deep fryer? (Air fryers are a separate convo.) Doesn’t have to multitask—just looking for a solid, reliable deep fryer.
Any of you fry daddies/mamís have a model recommendation for a home-sized deep fryer? (Air fryers are a separate convo.) Doesn’t have to multitask—just looking for a solid, reliable deep fryer.
Germany still sells (I picked up a package recently in Munich for a friend’s birthday back in California) Fruity-Bussi.
November 25, 2025 at 2:14 PM
Germany still sells (I picked up a package recently in Munich for a friend’s birthday back in California) Fruity-Bussi.
Ocean Spray cranberries, in contrast, had far lower sub-par numbers: only five rotters in a 12oz bag. That’s more like it.
November 24, 2025 at 10:44 PM
Ocean Spray cranberries, in contrast, had far lower sub-par numbers: only five rotters in a 12oz bag. That’s more like it.
Sure! Heat neutral (eg peanut) oil to 325°F. Confirm temp w thermometer. Candied nuts go in for 7-8 min in batches until bubbles turn from big and boisterous to tiny and quiet. The nuts will go a mahogany brown. Drain. Toss hot in metal bowl w salt. Spread on parchment paper to cool and crisp.
November 24, 2025 at 9:20 PM
Sure! Heat neutral (eg peanut) oil to 325°F. Confirm temp w thermometer. Candied nuts go in for 7-8 min in batches until bubbles turn from big and boisterous to tiny and quiet. The nuts will go a mahogany brown. Drain. Toss hot in metal bowl w salt. Spread on parchment paper to cool and crisp.
I brought enough for everyone in my house this week.
November 24, 2025 at 8:04 PM
I brought enough for everyone in my house this week.
Done.
Blanched, candied, fried, and salted pecans. The salt is a mix of table salt, smoked paprika, allspice, white and black peppers, and garlic.
Blanched, candied, fried, and salted pecans. The salt is a mix of table salt, smoked paprika, allspice, white and black peppers, and garlic.
November 24, 2025 at 7:58 PM
Done.
Blanched, candied, fried, and salted pecans. The salt is a mix of table salt, smoked paprika, allspice, white and black peppers, and garlic.
Blanched, candied, fried, and salted pecans. The salt is a mix of table salt, smoked paprika, allspice, white and black peppers, and garlic.
A chef I knew used to dump the pecan poaching syrup when had candied all the pecans. Right down the drain. Not me. I bottle it for drinks, hot buttermilk biscuits, and the occasional cake soaking syrup. For that last one, though, it could stand watering down; this gets thick with repeated batches.
November 24, 2025 at 7:53 PM
A chef I knew used to dump the pecan poaching syrup when had candied all the pecans. Right down the drain. Not me. I bottle it for drinks, hot buttermilk biscuits, and the occasional cake soaking syrup. For that last one, though, it could stand watering down; this gets thick with repeated batches.
Candied, then splayed upon a half sheet pan (oiled to make sure they don’t stick). They get fried and strewn with a seasoned salt later. But first: meeting with a contractor. Lots of plates spinning on poles this morning.
November 24, 2025 at 5:13 PM
Candied, then splayed upon a half sheet pan (oiled to make sure they don’t stick). They get fried and strewn with a seasoned salt later. But first: meeting with a contractor. Lots of plates spinning on poles this morning.
Using the oldest, most yellowed scale in your kitchen, measure 900 grams each of sugar and boiling water to make the syrup.
Yes, you could use room temperature water. But if you’ve just had the kettle on for tea, you’ve already got water hot, which gives you a leg up on time.
Yes, you could use room temperature water. But if you’ve just had the kettle on for tea, you’ve already got water hot, which gives you a leg up on time.
November 24, 2025 at 5:04 PM
Using the oldest, most yellowed scale in your kitchen, measure 900 grams each of sugar and boiling water to make the syrup.
Yes, you could use room temperature water. But if you’ve just had the kettle on for tea, you’ve already got water hot, which gives you a leg up on time.
Yes, you could use room temperature water. But if you’ve just had the kettle on for tea, you’ve already got water hot, which gives you a leg up on time.
Once blanched to reduce bitterness, plump them a bit, and eliminate tiny bits of dust from the skins and processing, the pecans get air dried, then put onto a low boil in 1:1 syrup.
November 24, 2025 at 5:00 PM
Once blanched to reduce bitterness, plump them a bit, and eliminate tiny bits of dust from the skins and processing, the pecans get air dried, then put onto a low boil in 1:1 syrup.
Costco sells 908g pecan halves for about $15. Every Autumn, I use unbroken halves for an elaborate confection. The thing is, some are always broken and only 70-80% are usable for it.
So if you buy Kirkland pecans for pies, candies, etc that require perfect, unbroken halves, plan accordingly.
So if you buy Kirkland pecans for pies, candies, etc that require perfect, unbroken halves, plan accordingly.
November 24, 2025 at 4:01 PM
Costco sells 908g pecan halves for about $15. Every Autumn, I use unbroken halves for an elaborate confection. The thing is, some are always broken and only 70-80% are usable for it.
So if you buy Kirkland pecans for pies, candies, etc that require perfect, unbroken halves, plan accordingly.
So if you buy Kirkland pecans for pies, candies, etc that require perfect, unbroken halves, plan accordingly.
In this episode, Carol, Daryl, and Rick Stein set down in Naples where mussels aren’t the only thing awaiting them. Vincent Cassel guest stars.
November 24, 2025 at 3:30 PM
In this episode, Carol, Daryl, and Rick Stein set down in Naples where mussels aren’t the only thing awaiting them. Vincent Cassel guest stars.
I have acquired, as I do from time to time, a box of sausage.
November 21, 2025 at 2:47 PM
I have acquired, as I do from time to time, a box of sausage.
I never want to know a day
that's under sixty degrees
I'd rather have it eighty,
ninety,
one hundred's a breeze
~ Heat Miser
(goes almost without saying: Fahrenheit, not centigrade. He’s a miser, not a monster)
that's under sixty degrees
I'd rather have it eighty,
ninety,
one hundred's a breeze
~ Heat Miser
(goes almost without saying: Fahrenheit, not centigrade. He’s a miser, not a monster)
November 21, 2025 at 12:54 PM
I never want to know a day
that's under sixty degrees
I'd rather have it eighty,
ninety,
one hundred's a breeze
~ Heat Miser
(goes almost without saying: Fahrenheit, not centigrade. He’s a miser, not a monster)
that's under sixty degrees
I'd rather have it eighty,
ninety,
one hundred's a breeze
~ Heat Miser
(goes almost without saying: Fahrenheit, not centigrade. He’s a miser, not a monster)
Egg noodles for green chile and chicken soup.
November 20, 2025 at 10:33 PM
Egg noodles for green chile and chicken soup.