Monday, April 11, 2011

Chili and Cornbread

I wish I could give you guys a recipe tonight, but the chili just happened, and the cornbread recipe came from http://www.allrecipes.com/ (although I substituted the white sugar for brown, and used butter and a cast iron skillet instead of canola oil and a cake pan).

I used 1.5 pounds of thinly-sliced steak instead of the usual ground beef, fire-roasted tomatoes, vine-ripened tomatoes, 2 heads of garlic, my own herb-infused garlic oil, cracked cardamom seeds, one yellow onion (to give my family a break from those vicious purple ones), turmeric, cardamom, oregano from my window garden, peppers...  I told you that I can't give you a recipe.  It really does just happen i nmy kitchen.  This, that, more salt...  I always get Lou's final approval - his taste buds are more specific than mine - he can nail it in one bite - he knows what's missing.  I love those last 20 minutes in the kitchen with him, pouring, shaking, pinching, plucking...  Don't be dirty, kids.  We're still talking food!

Lou gives a ride to work to the sweetest woman, a young mother of two small ones, and she eats anything that I cook and always returns my Tupperware.  J'Nai.  She's so sweet (and spunky), and is from The South, so I'm sending her a lunch tomorrow.

My plan is to get up early and fry up some begniet for the working folk in the house, then climb back into bed with my favorite guy, my blind Maine Coon, Howie.  I'll send some pastries with Lou to J'Nai, too.  Not a bad way to spend an early morning...

G'night, kids...

1 comment:

  1. The final "pinch" was mustard powder and Lawry's garlic pepper. Turned out great. J'Nai and I both got our lunches.

    ReplyDelete


Scram, bitch, I'm on a break.

Recent Meals

  • Grilled (in the rain) marinated top sirloin w/my Steak Frite and London Pub Sauce
  • Fried chayote
  • Roasted aubergine, zucchini, and yellow squash
  • Soft garlic sandwich rolls, and we made meatball sandwiches
  • Sirloin rubbed with cardamom-laced Turkish coffee
  • Chocolate truffles w/rum and bourbon
  • Petit fours
  • Florentine cookies drizzled with chocolate
  • 13-Bean soup w/parmesan rind and leftover ham
  • Apple spice cardamom muffins
  • Guinnes-injected pot roast
  • Cran-blueberry corn muffins
  • Spaghetti and meatballs - basic, but always a hit in this house
  • Hummus w/roasted garlic, olive, red pepper, and smoked paprika
  • Veggie stirfry w/julienned baby carrots, green peppers, garlic, chickpeas, and balsamic, served over Chinese Black Forbidden Rice
  • Ginger-carrot cake
  • Ginger cranberry mojito
  • Lime-cranberry-mint-strawberry seltzer
  • Lavender-mint iced tea
  • Trip to Beirut: Shish taouk, shish kebab, halvah, garlic naan, rice pilaf w/figs, raisins, and pecans, w/my famous lemon-mint-garlic Lebanese potatoes
  • London Broil w/a wilted spinach and mustard green salad with a bacon, balsamic, and mustard dressing
  • Sweet and red potato pancakes w/zucchini and peppers w/chicken apple sausage
  • Italian wedding soup w/homemade croutons and meatballs
  • "Rock the Casbah" Cardamom, Ginger, Apple Pork Roast w/Armadillo Rice (for you fans of The Clash who remember the cover of Combat Rock)
  • Individual Quiche Lorraine
  • Prosciutto-wrapped beef cubes w/mustard pan sauce
  • Chicken Sausage w/garlic naan and dijon mustard - Lou and I were really drunk.
  • Salt potatoes, mixed fingerlings, lightly mashed, with lot of butter
  • Focaccia w/garlic, onions, mozarella and cherry tomatoes
  • Rosemary and lavender bread
  • Spicy greens and spinach salad w/fresh mozzarella pearls, strawberries, and a strawberry vinegarette
  • Polenta casserole w/cheese and squash baked IN acorn squash halves