neepeople.com

I didn’t even know these little gems existed…

L is one of a handful on the list to cook for the post-liturgy lunch at the parish tomorrow. The spec is “entree’ and side for 50 people”. Another on the list is out of town, and after striking out with other cooks called me to see if we could do double duty, graciously offering to pay for the food. So we’re cooking for 100: beast stew with red wine, butter, garlic, herbs, Celtic Sea Salt, red onions, french potatoes, green beans and stock. Po-man’s meal, yes, but we’re essentially poor after Christmas spending so I’m fine with that.

Bought a shiny, new 40qt aluminum pot to handle the load, as our last large pot has mysteriously disappeared and the parish kitchen only had a 20qt pot to offer. What a monster!

I’m hoping this works out. I usually cook for a handful, not for a hundred. I firmly believe, however, that any stew will be quite edible when cooked with enough red wine, butter and garlic. But I’m no Julia Child… although after watching Julie and Julia last night I wish I were!

Update on January 25, 2010 by Jim

Somehow or another the recipe —if you can call it that— has gone missing. Here it is:

• 10lbs of chopped meat
• 5lbs carrots
• 2lbs bakers’ potatoes
• one big honkin’ can of green beans
• several red onions (pearl onions might actually be better)
• a pound of butter
• 2/3s beef stock and 1/3 red wine for the base

Season to taste with:

• Sea salt (use more salt that you think you should)
• Crushed black pepper
• basil
• thyme
• oregano
• rosemary

You could add other veggies, I just ran out of money so I couldn’t

Having white tea for the first time. I thought it would be, well, white. You know, like green tea is greenish. Anyway, it has a wonderful bouquet and is quite nice. It’s supposed to be the healthiest tea one can drink.

This particular kind is from Twinings, a third the price of the other brand at Whole Foods. Perhaps on my birthday I’ll get the expensive stuff.

Leg of lamb

• Marinade: 2 days in sea salt, pepper, lemon, olive oil, minced garlic, rosemary, thyme, basil, oregano, mint and red wine.
• Oven: 350º for 3 hours

Sides

• beef stock/red wine mixed mushroom sauce
• caramelized pearl onions
• french potatoes (baked)
• asparagus in white wine, butter, garlic sauce
• sliced almonds
• shredded dark chocolate
• Camenbert and Stilton cheeses

Wine

• Chateau de la Tuilerie (white)
• Cuvee de Vouiongue (red)

We’re quickly approaching the stricter part of the Nativity fast, so I thought I’d augment my daily salad with the last of our salmon patties: romain, baby portabellas, leeks, shredded almonds, salmon and Drew’s (insanely delectable) Smoked Tomatoe dressing. Bam!

…and dinner for the next seven weeks (Nativity Fast): romain, radicchio, onions, baby tomatoes, mushrooms, sliced almonds and Drew’s Greek Olive salad dressing (a balsamic vinaigrette of some sort). Those chip-like items in the background are pita chips… a guilty pleasure!