Scenes from an Italian Dinner
Last Monday I wrote this post about the cookbook whose journey around the world was to begin in my kitchen (well, technically Hen's kitchen, but you know what I mean). I promised to cook on Saturday night and report back on Monday. I perused the cookbook and chose a menu. I invited a guest. I generated a shopping list. I failed to consult a weather report. It was close to 100 degrees here on Saturday.
We've established that deviating from the plan is not in my nature. So concessions were made. I would prep at my house (which has no air conditioning), but cook at my bff, Other Mother of my Kids or OMomK's house (which blessedly does have a.c.).
So here you have it . . . a recap of the most documented meal I've ever cooked!
First, from page 87, I prepared the Torta di cioccolato.
Makeshift double boiler courtesy of one of my children breaking the middle section and never confessing.
Next, to make the Arancini de riso e ricotta (rice and cheese balls), page 358. 'Cause nothing says cooking in a heat wave like breading and frying something!
Giving the breadcrumbs a whirl . . . the flour, egg, breadcrumb assembly line
The shaping, the frying, the finished product . . .
Prepping the main dish, Agnello con Olive (lamb with olive), page 387, which came especially recommended by Hen was next. I won't torture you with pictures of me (sweat dripping from my brow) chopping the lamb into bite size pieces. I did, however, chop up this beauty. Mr. Fix-it and MVP were stunned to discover that our local Vons has a gourmet olive bar when I sent them out for last minute supplies. "Who knew," they said? "We did," said Jenn and OMomK.
Then it was time for me to shower and take my cooking show on the road . . .
For the second time in a week, I am wishing for smell-o-vision--garlic, onions, red chile, lamb, olives, white wine . . . heavenly!
It just wouldn't be dinner (or hors'douevres or Friday or . . .) at OMomK's without a bottle (okay, usually 2) of this . . .
'
The finished product . . .
The verdict . . . delicious! The lamb dish was a resounding success. The chocolate was to die for. We had some vanilla ice cream with it--next time we'll add raspberry sauce, too. The rice and cheese balls got mixed reviews. They were quite good, but not great. I might try them again with Gorgonzola instead of Mozzarella--they needed a stronger cheese taste to me. The dessert will henceforth be a standby of mine--how can something so easy taste so good? Butter, sugar and good quality dark chocolate I guess!
Mr. Fix-it, OMomK and I ate together, then MVP came by after work to scarf down every morsel we left behind. I think all the kids got to sample the dessert after returning from various and sundry activities that are more fun than eating dinner with your parents.
Now, as to where the book is going next. I could a) use a random number generator b) pick a name out of a hat c) write everyone's name on a big piece of paper and throw a dart at it or d) be completely arbitrary and pick BipolarLawyerCook.
I choose . . . D! As soon as I got the book from Hen, I thought of BLC. I love to read her descriptions of food and cooking. She's on the other side of the country, which furthers the book's journey nicely, she might come visit me and cook me something this summer, and really it's my party and I can cry if I want to blog and I can be arbitrary and capricious if I want to. Except, I'm usually not, so please don't think I'm a beyotch and a hater . . . it's just that my heart is telling me to send the book to BLC, so that's what I'm gonna do. Still, I love you all the same just in different ways!
This doesn't have anything to do with cooking or dinner or my capriciousness, but it is very pretty. In addition to being my best friend, and an amazing mom, surrogate mom, person, etc. OMomK can make these rebloom--I just toss mine and buy new ones.
Oh yeah, she beat me 3 games to 1. And I didn't even care . . . it must have been the Champagne!
