TJ's Test Kitchen #1

Let's incorporate some cooking into this blog.  I am a HUGE fan of Trader Joe's.  From the quality of their products to their marketing techniques, never have I been so in awe of a company's business.  So being a frequent customer to their store, I like to check out their new products.  One that they recently put out is a vacuumed sealed pre-cooked pulled pork.  Yum?  Having studied vacuumed sealing and microwave engineering,  I still can't bring myself to think that it will taste good.  However, true to Trader Joe's reputation, I doubt they would send out a product without ample test studies.  So I bought it.  Followed the instructions and warmed it up since vacuumed sealed objects are cooked through different processes like retort or high pressure processing.  And it came out like this....

 

Review:  Salty.  But that is understandable because of preservation techniques employed.  The texture is what gets me a little bit.  Slightly soggy in one bite then tough and chewy in another.  I made a cole slaw to go on top to add more of a tang flavor.  The sauce of sweeter than I expected but I liked it over all.  And yes, that ceramic dish it is sitting on is handmade.

I've noticed a lot when I cook, I tend not to measure.  Not that I'm lazy when cooking but estimating is more fun than strictly measuring each portion.  I only do that for baking because those ingredients all chemically react with each other to form the desired results.  Otherwise you'd end up with a bloated bread loaf from too much yeast. Hahaha.  And what good would that be?? Can't eat it! 

I'll give you all the scoop on the event I went to this past weekend in the next post: Savor the Central Coast hosted by Sunset Magazine.

OVERHAUL DESIGN update: I'm working on a new design and layout.  Bear with me if things look a tad funky and odd.  Should be all up and running by next week.  Thanks!