Peameal Bacon / Back Bacon
Peameal bacon, also known as Canadian bacon or back bacon, is a type of cured pork originating from Canada. Unlike traditional bacon made from pork belly, peameal bacon is made from lean pork loin, which is trimmed, cured, and rolled in cornmeal (historically, it was rolled in ground yellow peas, hence the name “peameal”). This […]
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Maple Cured Bacon – Part 1
Indulge in the savory delight of home-cured maple bacon, crafted with expertise honed over 15 years of mastering the art of bacon curing. With a background in commercially producing bacon for retail sale, I’ve perfected the process to bring out the finest flavors and textures in every slice. Utilizing the equilibrium curing method (Comminuted Sausage […]
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Kimchi
I started to make this recipe because I loved the taste of authentic Korean Kimchi, but was unaware of the presence of shrimp powder used in many commercial recipes … I am allergic to shellfish! This version uses miso (fermented soy bean) paste to recreate the umami needed for the salty, rich flavour. I have […]
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Chinese Five Spice
Note: All Communal Fire spice recipes are developed using weights. We do this when we are designing seasoning blends to ensure that our clients and blog readers are able to get as close to a specific recipe as possible. It also allows you to use whatever you have on hand. 5 grams of coriander ground […]
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Ensuring Food Safety in Home Meat Grinding: Best Practices for Home Cooks
I have spent the last 15yrs owning and operating a meat packing plant and I wrote this article during that time. We were inspected bi-weekly and audited yearly by OMAFRA (Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food & Rural Affairs) for food safety. We had regular CFIA (Canadian Food Inspection Agency) Audits regarding our facilities & products […]
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A Guide to Caring for Herbs and Spices: Keeping Flavors Fresh and Fragrant
In the culinary world, herbs and spices are like magic ingredients, transforming ordinary dishes into extraordinary culinary experiences. Whether you’re a seasoned chef or an enthusiastic home cook, knowing how to care for these aromatic treasures is essential for preserving their flavor and potency. From whole spices to delicate herbs, each requires specific attention to […]
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Overnight Sourdough Bread Recipe
NOTE: Certain links found within this article may lead to affiliate pages Beth Koster has been making sourdough bread for our family for close to 10 years. These are the instructions she sends to friends and people who get starter from her when they start their own sourdough journey. Beth will be posting an instructional […]
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The Importance of an Accurate and Durable Thermometer
NOTE: We are an affiliate of https://www.thermoworks.com/ and are very happy customers as well. I’ve done business with them for well over a decade buying not only commercial grade thermometers and data collections tools, we also use them at home for our every day use. They took a beating at my restaurants and meat packing […]
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Jerk Chicken Wings
This recipe uses the Jerk Seasoning, Dry recipe found on this site. Quick story short, I fell in love with Jerk Chicken a very long time ago. During a trip to St. Thomas several 18yrs ago I found a jerk seasoning and really wanted it here in Canada. I ended up designing my own version […]
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Jerk Seasoning, Dry
Note: All Communal Fire spice recipes are developed using weights. We do this when we are designing seasoning blends to ensure that our clients and blog readers are able to get as close to a specific recipe as possible. It also allows you to use whatever you have on hand. 5 grams of coriander ground […]
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Kitchen Scales
If you’ve been in the commercial kitchen trade for any amount of time you start to understand how important solid kitchen scales are. They take a beating day in and day out, and it’s how you make a product taste the same each and every time. This is also true of a home based kitchen, […]
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