So....it's been quite a while since my last post. I'm a tardy blogger. I made my VERY first meal almost 2 weeks ago and have yet to tell the tale. Mostly, that's because instead of roasting dinner, I was roasting....myself....in the sun....in St. Maarten. That's all the bragging there is- because now my body looks something like this:
Alas, let's rewind to the fateful Saturday where the very first of 80 meals was prepared in my miniature apartment.
The menu: Ina Garten's Perfect Roast Chicken with carrots & onions
Poutine with beef or chicken gravy (for the non-red meat eaters)
6(?) bottles of wine all under $8 per bottle (yeah- we're classy)
The chicken was QUITE petite- only 2.5/3lbs, but definitely was satisfying, as every Perfect Roast Chicken is. Combined with Poutine, we were in for an elegant affair. Except, elegant in Orford, NH means having to go to Cumberland Farms gas station to buy two big bottles of vegetable oil because that was the only store open when I realized I was out. And there was NO way I would be using my classy and expensive olive oil to fry a bunch of potatoes.
Due to time constraints, I did succumb and used pre-made beef & chicken stock for the gravy. Nods to Top Chef's Swanson promotion- I'll follow Padma's every command!
Although, who are we kidding- my heart belongs to Gail:
But in all fairness, as much as I love me some Top Chef, my decision to purchase Swanson broth had more to do with my favorite TV character than with that catchy Bravo show. He loves meat, mustaches and breakfast buffets and his name is RON SWANSON.
But now....on to the true intention of this post: POUTINE PREP!
The fries did not brown up as well as I had hoped- which I am completely blaming on my electric stove. If it's not gas, it's not good.
End result, however, was tres bien (damn the computer not letter me include accents!). Our arteries were sufficiently clogged and our stomachs able to absorb copious amounts of cheap wine.
Who may NOT be proud is Grandma- because we may have committed a true sin that evening. We turned the wholesome family fun of Mexican Train Dominoes into a drinking game. Any time you pick from the graveyard, drink up! Any time you throw down a stopper- watch out!
Figgy Duff is going to have to wait for a bit- it will definitely involve a full day's labor (boiling pudding in a bag is dangerous stuff)- and I'm gone for the next 2 or 3 weekends (T-SHIRT PAR-TAY!). But it WILL happen. This is my blog and I'll procrastinate if I want to.
But fear not, my loyal readers (Now THAT's a joke..loyal readers, my foot), for I will be cooking a full beautiful Seder dinner on Monday night.
 |
| Making the choice to wear an adorable retro one piece, I have a very burned arms & legs and a VERY pale midsection. Something like red velvet cake. |
Alas, let's rewind to the fateful Saturday where the very first of 80 meals was prepared in my miniature apartment.
The menu: Ina Garten's Perfect Roast Chicken with carrots & onions
Poutine with beef or chicken gravy (for the non-red meat eaters)
6(?) bottles of wine all under $8 per bottle (yeah- we're classy)
The chicken was QUITE petite- only 2.5/3lbs, but definitely was satisfying, as every Perfect Roast Chicken is. Combined with Poutine, we were in for an elegant affair. Except, elegant in Orford, NH means having to go to Cumberland Farms gas station to buy two big bottles of vegetable oil because that was the only store open when I realized I was out. And there was NO way I would be using my classy and expensive olive oil to fry a bunch of potatoes.
Due to time constraints, I did succumb and used pre-made beef & chicken stock for the gravy. Nods to Top Chef's Swanson promotion- I'll follow Padma's every command!
 | |
| "The winner of this challenge will take home $10,000, furnished by Swanson Broth" |
Although, who are we kidding- my heart belongs to Gail:
But in all fairness, as much as I love me some Top Chef, my decision to purchase Swanson broth had more to do with my favorite TV character than with that catchy Bravo show. He loves meat, mustaches and breakfast buffets and his name is RON SWANSON.
 |
| http://catsthatlooklikeronswanson.tumblr.com/ |
But now....on to the true intention of this post: POUTINE PREP!
 | ||
| Beef stock on the left; faux-roux (cornstarch) cooking on the right | . |
The fries did not brown up as well as I had hoped- which I am completely blaming on my electric stove. If it's not gas, it's not good.
 | |
| "We don't care to crisp" |
End result, however, was tres bien (damn the computer not letter me include accents!). Our arteries were sufficiently clogged and our stomachs able to absorb copious amounts of cheap wine.
 | |
| I think the Quebecois would be proud. |
Who may NOT be proud is Grandma- because we may have committed a true sin that evening. We turned the wholesome family fun of Mexican Train Dominoes into a drinking game. Any time you pick from the graveyard, drink up! Any time you throw down a stopper- watch out!
Figgy Duff is going to have to wait for a bit- it will definitely involve a full day's labor (boiling pudding in a bag is dangerous stuff)- and I'm gone for the next 2 or 3 weekends (T-SHIRT PAR-TAY!). But it WILL happen. This is my blog and I'll procrastinate if I want to.
But fear not, my loyal readers (Now THAT's a joke..loyal readers, my foot), for I will be cooking a full beautiful Seder dinner on Monday night.
