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Aaron Massicotte

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Zucchini and Salmon

The cure Salmon cut into pieces, skin left on. Coriander seed into the mortar, cracked down with salt until the two were one powder start +1 min 17.5 g of sugar into the same mortar, then the whole lot over the fish

Chicken and Squash

One squash Cut into neck and bulb, then peeled with the knife rather than a peeler, since the skin is thick enough to fight a peeler and the flat sides that come off make the piece sit still on the board

Pancakes

Everything out Bowl on the scale, and behind it the flour for the pancake recipe : Type 550, the standard German flour, against the 405 of the last batch start The dry bowl Flour first, then sugar straight on top, tared between each

Oatmeal

Milk Rolled oats into a cold pot, then milk poured straight over them. Water makes oatmeal. Milk makes it creamy, and it is the one swap here that changes everything downstream of it start +1 min Vanilla ground in at the start rather than stirred through at the end, so it cooks into the oats with the milk

Salmon and Beets

Built to be eaten cold tomorrow, which is why the fish goes in low and every component is stored on its own and only meets on the plate The dry brine Salt and sugar into the mortar with coriander seed, ground together

Freezer Fish

Two trays Twelve pieces, three broad pangasius fillets and nine narrower cuts of Atlantic salmon. Spread out on parchment rather than stacked, so the thin tail ends thaw at the same rate as the thick middles, and salted lightly while still frozen so it has the whole thaw to work in

Privacy Policy

This is the privacy policy for aaronmassicotte.com No cookies, no ads, no third-party trackers. Analytics run on a self-hosted Plausible instance that records aggregate page views without personal data or cross-site identifiers. Comments are optional and load only when opened; they run on a self-hosted Commento instance, and anything entered there stays on that server New posts are announced to…

Perfect Fried Eggs

Fried eggs go wrong in one of two ways: the pan is hot enough to crisp the edges brown before the white sets, or it is cool enough to leave the white raw and sliding. Water and a lid solve both. The pan stays on medium, the steam sets the top of the white without touching the yolk, and how long the lid stays on decides exactly how fluid the yolk ends up

Beef Bowls II

The blended marinade from Marinating beef II finally cooked. Amounts for the marinade are in the recipe: Asian beef marinade . The pan got overcrowded and the beef steamed instead of searing, which turned out to be the best thing that happened. Findings at the bottom The line-up Beef out of the fridge and the cast iron on to heat. Quinoa already cooked, edamame and corn waiting, red cabbage and…

Marinating Beef II

Same marinade as last time and the same amounts: Asian beef marinade . One change. The whisk stays in the drawer and an immersion blender goes into the cup Slice and salt Whole steaks again rather than anything pre-cut, sliced thin against the grain. Salt on the board straight away, then the beef waits while the marinade gets built

Freestyle Salmon

No recipe and no plan. Salmon veggie bowls was the general idea. Nothing weighed and everything done on the fly Sweet potato first They take the longest, so they go in before anything else is even decided. Peeled, cut small enough to roast fast, oiled in the bowl rather than on the tray

Red Vinaigrette II

The dressing that split in Sauce and sear , rebuilt with the same ingredients. The diagnosis there was incomplete: shear was only half the problem. A vinaigrette is oil droplets suspended in vinegar, and building it oil-first asks the small water phase to swallow a pool of oil at once. This time everything water-friendly goes in first and the oil comes last. Findings at the bottom A split dressing…

Blueberry Pancakes

The pancake recipe with one experiment, 405 flour, and the usual blueberries folded in. The batter takes about a quarter of an hour; after that it is roughly four minutes a side, and the clock chips stop there since the pace was leisurely with fruit cut between flips Everything on the scale One bowl on the scale for the dry, a glass one waiting for the wet, and the whole cast lined up behind

Sauce and Sear

Second half of the red marinade . The dressing gets built in the same unwashed cup the marinade came out of, then the turkey goes into cast iron. Two things did not go to plan and both are worth writing down The same cup Nothing gets washed. The marinade left a red film all over the measuring cup and that is free flavour, so the vinaigrette goes straight in on top of it. Olive oil first, then red…

Red Marinade

The red comes from tomato paste and two paprikas rather than anything exotic. Everything in it is a hard herb with heat-stable oils, which is what makes it a marinade for searing rather than something you spoon over at the end. It was written for chicken and works exactly the same on turkey, which is what was in the fridge Building the marinade is this post. The dressing that goes with it and the…

Scrambled Eggs II

Everything the first attempt got wrong was a process problem, not a recipe problem. Same eggs, same salt-and-rest, two changes: a nonstick pan, and the aromatics going into the butter in the pan instead of into the eggs. Still tagged experimental, the ratios want a few more runs before they settle Everything out first Eggs, butter, salt, thyme, dill and chives, the scale and the mortar. Six eggs…

Deviled Eggs II

Second run at deviled eggs , and still experimental. This time the filling was built on whole spices ground fresh: mustard seed, coriander and white pepper in the mortar, with lemon over the top. Delicious, but strong and salty. Findings at the bottom Everything out first Eggs, the scale, the mortar and the spice jars: mustard seed, coriander and white pepper, with the Löwensenf and salt standing…

Marinating Beef

Just the beef and the marinade this time, no sides and no searing. The full amounts are written up as a recipe: Asian beef marinade Slice and salt Whole fillet steaks rather than anything pre-cut, sliced thin against the grain. Salt goes on straight away and the beef sits while the marinade gets built. Salting first and marinating second means the salt actually gets into the meat instead of…

Cast-Iron Burgers

Today was about heat control. A thick patty cooked all the way through without burning the outside or squeezing out all the juice is a genuinely tricky thing to get right. The usual way here is the BBQ; this was the indoor version, on cast iron In the bowl Cold ground beef with salt, pepper, paprika, a little cayenne and cumin ground fresh in the mortar, plus garlic and onion. A big onion is out…

Scrambled Eggs

Tagged experimental because a few lessons came out of it. The eggs themselves landed at 10/10 from across the table, the pan choice and the toast are where the notes are Salt the eggs first, then wait Six eggs into a bowl and salted straight away. Salt breaks down some of the protein so the eggs bond less tightly, and after ten to fifteen minutes they scramble far softer and hold onto their water.…

Spinach Feta Parcels

I forgot to grab a setup shot, so this picks up maybe ten minutes in. They came out doughy, heavy on the feta, and the filling was a touch flat. Notes for the next batch are at the bottom The filling Spinach wrung out until it is properly dry, then mixed with feta, garlic, ground nutmeg and pepper. Getting the spinach dry is the whole game: a wet filling steams the pastry from underneath and…

Deviled Eggs

The eggs Eggs boiled hard, cooled and peeled. Each one halved, the yolks dropped into a bowl and the whites set out on a plate start +2 min +5 min Building the filling Everything for the filling comes out: mayonnaise, mustard, garlic, paprika, cayenne and salt. Garlic minced fine and a lemon halved

Rosemary Garlic Salmon

The fish Four thick fillets, skin on, patted dry and salted, while the pan comes up to heat with a knob of butter start +6 min Into the pan Skin-side down first, left alone to crisp and release, then flipped once

Asian Beef Rice Bowls

It started as a scribble on a sheet of paper: a sweet, savoury marinade for thin-sliced beef. The full amounts are written up as a recipe: Asian beef marinade Aromatics Ginger and garlic, peeled and minced fine start +3 min Building the marinade Everything goes into a measuring cup on the scale, weighed in one after another: sesame oil, white miso, soy sauce, maple syrup and a little brown sugar

Asian Beef Marinade

Part 1: Salt the beef Good Units Bad Units Item Directions ~ 630 g 1.4 lbs Sliced beef Salt lightly all over first, set aside Part 2: Marinade Good Units Bad Units Item Directions 20 g thumb, fresh Ginger Peel, finely mince, add to measuring cup 2 g if using dried Ginger (dried) Alternative to the fresh, add to measuring cup 1 clove Garlic Finely mince, add to measuring cup 110 g Sesame oil Add to…

Garlic Rosemary Toast

A quick one: homemade sourdough crisped in a cast iron pan with garlic, rosemary and lemon zest. The oil Garlic, rosemary and lemon zest warm gently in olive oil until fragrant, while a couple of thick slices come off a homemade sourdough loaf

Storm

Outfly. Outgun. Outlast. Storm is a 2D space-combat arena game I’m building in Go. Fly one of eight ships, earn credits from kills, and spend them on guns, bombs, engines and armor that persist between matches. Single-player runs the full server locally; multiplayer connects you to a live arena. Controls: WASD / arrows fly · SPACE guns · TAB bomb · / mine · SHIFT afterburner · ESC menu (then…

Mindful Messaging

Our decisions compound over time, and choosing the systems we use to communicate is a direct expression of whether we preserve control over our data or gradually give it away. And control, once given away, is not only used to watch: whoever can read your messages can also decide which of them get through The case for Signal

Applesauce

I don’t assume how much you want to make, so weigh the apples and then calculate the other quantities based on that. For example, with 2 kg apples (cut), you would use ~200 - 240 mL water Good Units Bad Units Item Directions Apples Add to large pot 10 - 12 % Water Add to large pot 1 % Lemon juice Add to large pot 0.2 % Salt Add to large pot Optional Good Units Bad Units Item Directions 1 - 2…

Banana Bread

Most of my recipes are simple by design. This one is not, because it’s worth fussing with Optional caramelize bananas to enhance flavour Good Units Bad Units Item Directions 180 °C 350 °F Oven Heat ~700 g 5 - 6 Bananas (unpeeled) Put in oven 20 minutes Caramelize Concentrate the flavour Bananas Add to bowl1 Brown the butter Good Units Bad Units Item Directions 140 g Butter Add to frying pan…

Beef Hamburger Patties

Good Units Bad Units Item Directions 800 g 1.76 lbs Ground beef (cold) Add to bowl 50 - 60 g 1 medium size Finely minced onion Add to bowl 6 - 8 g 1 - 2 tsp Salt Add to bowl 1.5 g Black pepper Add to bowl Optional additions Good Units Bad Units Item Directions 2 - 3 g 2 cloves Garlic minced Add to bowl 1 - 2 g 1 tsp Paprika, chili, cumin Add to bowl 1 g 1/8 tsp Cayenne pepper Add to bowl Patty…

New York

Photograph #1 images/subway-station-mezzanine.JPG Friday, September 26, 2025 Photograph Details Description: The tiled mezzanine of a Midtown subway station, quiet under fluorescent light Aperture: 4.00 Exposure Time: 1/60 sec. F Number: f/4 Focal Length: 24 mm Lens Model: RF24-105mm F4 L IS USM Device: Canon Canon EOS R8 Photograph #2 images/subway-car-interior.JPG Friday, September 26, 2025…

New Brunswick

Photograph #1 images/victorian-brick-rowhouses.JPG Thursday, July 24, 2025 Photograph Details Description: Second Empire brick rowhouses in uptown Saint John, a Canadian flag hanging from a bay window Aperture: 4.00 Exposure Time: 1/1250 sec. F Number: f/4 Focal Length: 35 mm Lens Model: RF24-105mm F4 L IS USM Device: Canon Canon EOS R8 Photograph #2 images/victorian-brick-corner-house.JPG…

Toronto - The Well

Photograph #1 images/the-well-glass-atrium.JPG Thursday, July 17, 2025 Photograph Details Description: Looking down through the tiered levels of The Well toward the Indigo store and glass roof Aperture: 4.00 Exposure Time: 1/13 sec. F Number: f/4 Focal Length: 24 mm Lens Model: RF24-105mm F4 L IS USM Device: Canon Canon EOS R8 Photograph #2 images/the-well-atrium-bench.JPG Thursday, July 17, 2025…

Norway

Photograph #1 images/bergen-havn.jpg Wednesday, May 14, 2025 Photograph Details Aperture: 9.11 Exposure Time: 1/320 sec. F Number: f/9 Focal Length: 39 mm Lens Model: RF24-105mm F4 L IS USM Device: Canon Canon EOS R8 Photograph #2 images/sunset-ships.jpg Wednesday, May 14, 2025 Photograph Details Aperture: 7.03 Exposure Time: 1/800 sec. F Number: f/71/10 Focal Length: 105 mm Lens Model: RF24-105mm…

Cooking Tips

Order spices online Great tastes often are the result of optimal spice usage. Buy a cheap coffee grinder and grind whole spices yourself. But also remember that fresh herbs and spices only really stay that way for about 6 months. So you need labeled reusable containers and a website online you can order them from. A protip is to skip any website selling mixes or combinations of spices. Only buy…

Commento

The main idea is that it is lightweight and supports OAuth right out of the box. I like that. At the time of writing, all I need to do is include a simple hugo shortcode to get the comments on any page I want. The bundle when minified and gzip’d is only 8.6 kb. The css is a whopping 25.9 kb, and will need a lot of love to get down to near or exactly 0

JoePresso v2 Setup

Equipment Specifications 51 mm Stainless Steel Tamp (10 EUR) 150 mm x 90/84 mm Acrylic polymethmethacrylate plexiglass Tube (7.50 EUR) JoePresso V2 (30 EUR) AeroPress (??) Waldwerk Kaffeemühle - 8 clicks (90 EUR) 80 °C water This brew, although in a legacy AeroPress, requires enormous force to get through the column. The JoePresso v2 allows for only a tiny single jet stream of liquid to pass…

Surfing

Learning how to surf at Aldo’s Arrifana Surf Lodge was one of the most challenging but fulfilling things I’ve ever done. In the beginning you practice the technique to stand on the board just on the sand. Then, you work with the instructors to stand on the broke white waves Once you’re able to stand on the white waves, you may be selected to transition from an intermediate…

Kenia - Kaffee Erhard

Photograph: 20240410_104609.JPG Wednesday, April 10, 2024 Photograph Details Aperture: 1.90 Exposure Time: 1/1250 sec. F Number: f/19/10 Focal Length: 152/25 mm This coffee is truly incredible. A light roast with unimaginable sour fruity taste. It doesn’t even taste like coffee. Seriously. There’s this biting berry flavour, sort of like cranberry or johanesberry which dominates. Then,…

Contigo - Peru Cajamarca

Photograph: contigo-peru-cajamarca.jpg Wednesday, March 20, 2024 Photograph Details Aperture: 1.90 Exposure Time: 1/100 sec. F Number: f/19/10 Focal Length: 152/25 mm The fragrance of freshly ground Peru from Contigo is truly wonderful. It’s a complex fruity and fresh smell. They sell everything roasted only a couple days ago because they have a roaster in-house. Excellent! The taste is…

Monte Rouge from Cuba

Photograph: monte-rouge.jpg Monday, March 4, 2024 Photograph Details Exposure Time: 1/50 sec. F Number: f/19/10 Focal Length: 152/25 mm This coffee was very interesting. I brewed it as 12 clicks in the WALDWERK KAFFEEMÜHLE and JoePresso v2 AeroPress attachment. Right away, I noticed the foam was a lighter color than usual, and much finer. It even makes a loud bubbly sound when you swirl it

Videography

Snowfall in the City-Park, Aachen This moment captured was an unusually big snowfall in Aachen, which kind of felt like Canada! Usually just a few days later and everything has already melted. This was no exception If you do not have the ability to set the playback rate using the video menus, then you can click the buttons I have provided instead

Better Schooling

Of course education can solve so much in the journey of creating a brighter future, but it’s no surprise that how we’re doing it now is terrible. I’m not going to talk about how public schooling is inadequate, because frankly I think it is obvious. I’m sure teachers or faculty can explain it better than me. What I want to show are a set of ideas which I believe have the…

Opinionated Habits

Why I don't use a phone case or screen protector anymore I halted phone protection in January 2025. Why? A case tempts neglect; a bare phone warrants respect Extra casing undermines the phone’s slim design Screens still crack with a screen protector and hard corners overpower cases Without a case, high-end phones like the Xperia 5V show their premium finishes and crisp edges Devices aren’t…

Dreams for the Future

I dream of living in a world where the average person is involved with political decisions and is calmly and persistently fighting for a better future That corporations stop being so powerful, but politicians and voters prioritize the best of the people and fight for it No more billionaires. Properly paid healthcare and education workers. Free education. You know, the stuff that should be…

Personal Digital Archive

A well formatted digital archive is like having an external brain of information The End-goal What makes the perfect system? It must be Easy to find things regardless of when they were created. Easy to put things where they go without thinking about it Be easy to copy and move around Not have any form of vendor lock-in. Not OS specific 100% free Be easy to sort by date created or date modified…

Notes

The End-goal What makes the perfect system? It must be Easy to find things by searching, tags, or by date modified Not locked to a particular vendor Free Be able to contain tables, images, hyperlinks, and a decent set of typography elements Be editable in raw plaintext Be accessible from anywhere Be easy to back up Be easy to roll back to a previous state Make sense even in 75 years from today The…

ASCII Paint

This is a slightly adapted version of the ASCII Art Paint project on GitHub made by Kirill Live . His work is absolutely incredible and includes an almost unbelievable amount of functionality for a single file of html, css, and js which is 21kb when compressed Usage: Drag and drop to open a file. The save/load format is txt for maximum compatibility. The image loaded in the editor will be used as…

Tontie

For this game, you will need to use the number pad on your keyboard There are 20 stages, each introducing a new concept into the game Can you defeat the last boss? On has created many exceptional works of art, and I encourage you to head on over to eyezmaze and see her grow series!