I’m a little behind on my posts – mostly because I’m struggling to figure out what I want to say about the unfolding Paula Deen debacle. However, at the beginning of June we celebrated the 15th Anniversary of Dinner. You can read all about it here. This is what we had pre- and post- that Very Special Dinner. Read the rest of this entry ?
We had an Election Night Party on November , partly because Election Night happened to be the same as Dinner Night, and partly because we figured moral support as the returns came in was a good idea.
(side note – the pumpkins are from Halloween carving the week before)
There are three things you need to know before I tell this story.
Firstly, my father is generally a fairly dignified person. He’s more Yes, Prime Minister than Monty Python. This means that on the occasions that he’s not, it’s disproportionally funny, and the event tends to live on (and on) in the collective family memory. Read the rest of this entry ?
I was not a kid who had to suffer through many cafeteria meals during my school years. I was spoiled and my mother packed me a lunch almost every day well into high school. By and large the only times I ever bought lunch were on the rare occasions that the school cafeteria was serving something I really wanted to eat. In the year I spent at Convent of the Sacred Heart this meant the days that they did Indian Fry Bread for lunch – don’t ask me how that was nutritionally viable, but it came hot from the fryer and covered in powdered sugar and everyone wanted one – and any time they served tater tots. In the year and a half I spent at the Old Greenwich Elementary School this meant the occasional pizza on Friday (why I wanted burnt pizza is an issue to explore some other time), and any time they served tacos. Read the rest of this entry ?
Okay so last week when I said it could always be worse? That wasn’t an invitation. I don’t actually need to live out the Russian Jewish folktale. I’m already on board with the moral of the story, I don’t need it proved to me with another 20+ inches of snow. Or, as actually transpired 6-10” of snow on Tuesday, followed by more snow overnight and then freezing rain to compact it all and turn it into solid ice on Wednesday. I had my second snow day of the year and spent it shoveling snow, chipping at ice and then attempting to recover by adding shots of whiskey to my coffee. On the other hand, my roommate had to go to work, so I guess it – say it with me people – could always have been worse. Read the rest of this entry ?
You’d have to ask Jes what it’s like to meet us en masse for the first time. I can only imagine that it’s mildly terrifying. Strictly speaking on an individual basis we’re not particularly scary. But, we’ve all known each other for at least 10 years and we’ve been having dinner together once a week for most of that time. We don’t always communicate in full sentences anymore. A lot of the time we short hand ideas via various British comics – Eddie Izzard, the folks at Beyond the Fringe, the occasional influx of Yes, Prime Minister, although that’s mostly just me. We have multiple in jokes about homunculi (because well, once you have one they seem to multiply – the jokes, not the homunculi). We’ve had perfectly serious conversations about the composition and history of blood mead that sounded for all the world like we were contemplating serving it at our next party. Rest assured, to the best of my knowledge none of us has ever served anyone blood mead for any occasion. And, while having an opinion about which captain was the best captain isn’t a requirement, having the answer not be Janeway probably is*.
Read the rest of this entry ?
I cleaned my fridge this weekend which was a more revolting endeavor than I should probably admit to in public. But, I’m reasonably sure I didn’t break the Prime Directive for first contact with any new life forms, and I don’t think I set back modern medicine by throwing away any useful mold cultures and now I have a pile of clean Tupperware and a disconcertingly empty fridge.
I am experiencing seasonal ennui. It’s reached that time of year where I just want it to be Spring already. On the one hand, I am greatly in favor the earlier roll back of Daylight Savings Time. I’m not convinced I’m saving money on electricity, which I think was the point, but I am enjoying walking home in the sunshine, however thin and cold it might be. On the other hand, I keep expecting it to be much warmer outside than it is. Technically it’s Spring right now, although you couldn’t prove it by the weather outside which is stubbornly resisting my desire to leave my heavy winter coat at home.
They’re predicting snow for later this week (it won’t stick, but still) and sadly I can’t fly south for the rest of the winter. To console myself I made Southern food for dinner because it reminds me of summer, and if I can’t actually be in a warmer climate I can at least eat like I am.
Barbeque Baked Beans
Chicken with Root Beer Barbeque Sauce
Corn Muffins
Ambrosia Salad
Salad
A gentleman I used to work with had a rant about women and shopping. It ran something along the lines of – women buy things they don’t need and can’t really afford just because they’re on sale and they can’t resist the lure of the bargain. I feel that this isn’t something that’s limited to women. Advertising campaigns from Home Depot, Lowes, Sears and any other DIY store you can think of suggest that men are just as guilty of the, “but honey, it was on sale,” buy as women. Men just buy power tools instead of coats (at least according to television – I personally know a lot of women who’d be thrilled to buy power tools on sale).
First off, I should note that this came from Petra’s famous handwritten cookbook and I think it might have been the first dish I ever made from it. It is also, perhaps, the most requested dish that I make. I know that JM would eat it as often as I felt like cooking it. Unfortunately(?), this makes tons of leftovers… which is great for the first three days. And then I start thinking that if I never see chili again, it’ll be too soon.
On the other hand – BIG.VAT.OF.CHILI…. and there’s no wrong there. So, thanks, Petra for passing this one along.
Also note: do not make this during Passover. I’ve never felt so bad in my life. Just a head’s up so you don’t make the same mistake.
Menu
Black Bean and Espresso Chili
Sweet Cornbread with jalapeño
Plain, old ordinary cornbread
Lots and lots of wine (courtesy of Matt, Ruth, and Goofy)
Monday Night Dinner 