Weekend Retrospective
Pork tenderloin and mozzarella panini
Whole wheat blueberry scones
Clementines
November 29, 2010
November 25, 2010
Brussels Sprouts, Bacon, Butter and Olive Oil
Brussels Sprouts, Bacon, Butter and Olive Oil
I had just enough for our purpose. A Thanksgiving side.
But things were looking lonely at the bottom of the 9x9 square dish.
The bacon was in waiting, off to the side on a small plate. A paper towel leaching any residual fat.
"Just leave a little of the bacon fat in the pan." I said.
"Butter?" He asked.
"And a little olive oil." I said.
"Olive oil, too?" He asked.
"Yep." I said.
...
The brussels sprouts had been prepped the day before. A paring knife removal of any ornery leaves. An X slashed in the bottom (that's what the book—Joy of Cooking—told me to do). I salted some boiling water. Eight minutes later (to be exact) I extracted the sprouts and rinsed under cool water. Then, lengthwise, I halved and set to cool and drain on paper towels.
I stole a taste—for salt. Just a leaf, or two, perhaps three. I couldn't spare a sprout. There were no sprouts to spare.
Not bitter at all. Boiling is the way to go.
...
In batches, Roberto brought crispy color to the halved sprouts.
"I was thinking bread crumbs." I said.
"Do it." He said.
I pan toasted cubed bread in a bit of olive oil, a twist of a pepper and a sprinkling of kosher salt.
"I'm starving." I said, pulling yet another tiny cube from the pan.
...
"You can't even see the sprouts." I said.
But they were in there, layered beneath the toasted bread crumbs and bits of bacon, gilded with parmesan.
November 22, 2010
Buttermilk Biscuits, Minestra, and Other
Buttermilk Biscuits, Minestra, and Other
Friday
...
I devoured it.
Cheddar. Frittata. Buttermilk biscuit.
Chomp...Mmm...Chomp...Mmm...Chomp...Mmm...
...
Saturday
...
"Cleaning, Trace?"
"No. Just fastening this cushion." I stood up and pushed the chair back under the table.
Roberto's mother lifted the lid from the pot she was carrying. "I made minestra."
"Oh, wow. It looks SO GOOD. It smells WONDERFUL." I said.
It looked so familiar. It smelled so familiar.
"What's in it?" I asked.
"Escarole, cabbage, cannelini beans, potato...I had Gino bring home a piece of prosciutto." She said.
It was still warm. I inhaled deeply. I couldn't wait to dig in.
Moments later, alone in the kitchen, I dug in.
...
"I bought these from Tim's father." Roberto handed me a bag of pecans.
The old man's red truck had been parked out front the day before.
"I saw his truck. The back was filled with sacks of potatoes, greens, a cooler..." I said, taking the bag of pecans.
"$10 a bag. I bought three bags. One for my parents. One for my aunt." He said.
"Out of the shell. That's a bargain." I said.
...
Sunday
...
"I thought the green tomatoes came from Tim's father too." I said.
"No, they're from my mother." Roberto said.
"Where did they come from?" I asked.
"Sebastian, I think." He said.
"Oh. Should we make fried green tomatoes?" I asked.
November 17, 2010
Oatmeal Peanut Butter Cookies
Oatmeal Peanut Butter Cookies
The Silpat fit perfectly into the pan.
...
I'll test it with this recipe.
...
"How is the oven door working?" Roberto asked.
"No problems. In fact, I think the oven, overall, is working better than before." I said, drunk with ideas of baking my way through the weekend.
...
Friday: Brownies
...
Saturday: Oatmeal Peanut Butter Cookies
...
Sunday: Granola Bars
...
"They're chewy." I said, breaking off another piece.
They'd gone from crisp-in-the-container-in-the-bread-box to chewy-on-the-plate-with-brownies-under-the-cake-dome.
"I like them both ways." I said.
November 15, 2010
November 11, 2010
"Oh...That Coconut Bread."
"Oh...That Coconut Bread."
You know the one.
...
A cracked, Jack-O-Lantern-esque smile. How appropriate. It was, after all, two days before Halloween.
The oven door was in working order.
...
Hope inflated. Taste buds deflated.
...
"It's okay, but I like the coconut oatmeal cookies much better." I said.
"They are good cookies." He said.
...
Oh well.
...
It smelled so good, though (except when toasted—my senses protested—something funky about the coconut).
...
Tuesday night and the world is my oyster.
...
Had it not been for the screw on the floor we would not have known about our fixed oven door.
November 08, 2010
A Change of Plans
A Change of Plans
Friday
...
To: Roberto
Subject: Friday
Well, I got the roaster rack. I also bought a new blender (to replace the one that no longer exists—it will aid in pureeing the butternut squash soup tomorrow). I also bought some kitchen twine, cheese cloth and spice sachets. And a silpat (silicone baking liner to use in place of parchment).
It felt like Christmas!
I left the grocery for tomorrow. I want to make sure I have a complete list. Don't want to make two trips.
It felt like Christmas!
I left the grocery for tomorrow. I want to make sure I have a complete list. Don't want to make two trips.
...
To: Roberto
Subject: Ricotta
I found a purpose for the ricotta. A dessert. Going to give it a try. Maybe tonight. It's not very involved at all.
http://www.mytartelette.com/2010/11/gluten-free-fiadone-corsican-dessert.html
http://www.mytartelette.com/2010/11/gluten-free-fiadone-corsican-dessert.html
...
Friday Night
...
I used orange zest in lieu of lemon. It didn't rise (just like she said it wouldn't). And it browned nicely around the edges (just like she said it would).
I pulled on the oven door, once. I pulled on the oven door, twice.
"Are you fucking kidding me?!"
The oven door. The right hinge. Seriously? 45 minutes at 375 degrees had finally killed it. SERIOUSLY?! But the oven works perfectly. There's nothing wrong with the oven. JUST THAT DAMN HINGE!
...
Two Years Ago
...
"This is a common problem with this model." The repair woman said.
...
Saturday
...
We had plans. Mortadella stuffed pork loin. Oatmeal peanut butter cookies. But there would be no roasting. No baking.
So, I peeled and diced the butternut squash and carrots.
Prepared the spice sachet: peppercorns; caraway; rosemary; and bay leaf.
Fried some bacon until crispy (with the help of some extra virgin olive oil).
Rendered chopped garlic until just a pale golden.
Added into the pot: butternut squash; carrots; chicken stock; water; spice sachet; and a healthy dose of salt.
Everything boiled/simmered for 25 minutes before I transferred in batches to the blender for a good puree.
And back into the pot. Taste. Season. Cream. Taste. Season. Taste.
...
Saturday Night
...
"How did I do?" I asked.
"It's good." He said.
"Really?" I asked.
I felt a bit triumphant.
...
Sunday
...
I placed the oven thermometer into the toaster oven and set the temperature to 400 degrees.
"The toaster oven only gets as hot as 325 degrees." I yelled into the living room.
November 04, 2010
La Porchetta
La Porchetta
"Do you want the sandwich cut into thirds?"
...
The front door was propped open. A sign, Yes, we're open!, but red stools sat upside down on the counter inside. A woman was sweeping the few leaves that had gathered around the entry. The smell of pork wafted.
I glanced at the hours. "They open at 11:30."
I glanced at my watch. It was only 11:10.
We decided to do a lap, buy some water, and return.
...
11:25
...
"Should we?" I asked Roberto.
Roberto nodded. His voice nudging me inside. The smell of pork wafted.
One porchetta sandwich, ordered.
The three of us (me, Roberto, and his brother) secured a stool.
...
This is the closest you'll get, outside of Italy.
...
I knew those words to be true. As we each sank into our third I couldn't help but speak with mouth full. "This is so good. Oh my god."
It was so good. Oh my god.
...
Fuel
...
"I'm going to savor this all the way to Eataly." I said smiling as Roberto and his brother struggled to release bits of crispy skin still stuck here or there between their pearly-whites.
...
November 02, 2010
Oatmeal Coconut Cookies
Halloween weekend in Brooklyn.
...
We couldn't resist a trip to Eataly. When in Rome.
Before we could leave, though, we had to feed the beast crisp twenties. Did we really spend so much on so little?
...
12 loaves of bread.
...
"Did everything fit?" Roberto asked.
"Barely." I said.
Six loaves, quartered, bagged and frozen. Six loaves to give away.
...
Oh, and I can't forget the two pizza's.
...
"When are we eating?" I asked.
"My mother said to come over at 4:30." Roberto said.
"I don't know if I can wait an hour. I'm starving. Maybe we should eat a slice of pizza." I said.
...
Oatmeal Coconut Cookies
...
"There still good." I said.
"Should we eat one?" Roberto asked.
"Maybe we should wait until later." I said.
"Yeah, let's wait until after we eat." Roberto said.
I used this recipe, but left out the chocolate chunks and almonds. The coconut shines. A PERFECT cookie. Just remember to keep the dough chilled, otherwise your cookies will spread.
...
Worry.
...
"Do you know what she's making?" I asked.
"She didn't say." Roberto said.
"I'm worried that there won't be any pasta." I said.
"There will be pasta." Roberto said.
"Are you sure? Last time we came home from a trip she didn't make pasta." I said.
"There will be pasta." Roberto said.
...
There was pasta.
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