However, the previous evening was spent with some friends “enjoying” the Super Bowl. We had started out with lofty plans of exquisite food and drink, and then the stupid weather came in and we had to scale back and sort of make do with what we had on hand and in fridge. As it turned out, we did pretty well for ourselves with some help from those same friends. Among the things (no photos please!) that garnished the table were:
Shrimp, both “cocktail” style, and a surprisingly good recipe of “pickled shrimp” I found in one of my spiral bound Southern cookbooks, one called Louisiana Lagniappe which contains a lot of good other stuff… but, I digress
There were a couple of cheesey/crab balls for spreading on Crackers.
A riff (sorry, foodie term) on “Kim’s Little Meat Balls”, a venerable recipe I’ve schlepped around for 15 years or so, but I didn’t have all the ingredients so had to improvise
Some cold poached chicken breasts marinated in Lime and Basil, on a bed of Romaine from another useful little unpretentious cookbook called “Chicken Breasts – 116 new and classic recipes for the fairest part of the fowl”
Standard Munchies including Doritos (so the commercials could keep coming), Tostitos with salsa, along with some Whitley’s Peanuts (a must have staple for any serious snacker), and a bag of Smokehouse Almonds.
Liquids included choices of wines, a couple from last years Napa trip, a, ‘05 Talbott Sleepy Hollow Vineyard Chardonnay which was wonderfully smooth and bursting with tropical fruits (I have one left); an ‘07 Morgan “Cotes du Crow’s” Grenache/Syrah; one of the few remaining bottles of the ’04 Cavallotto “Bricco Boschis” Barbera d’Alba. Of course a football came needs beer, and despite the clever Bud Light ads, we opted for Smithwick’s Imported Irish Ale, a Belgian White Wittekerke, and a Saranac IPA.
But perhaps the most interesting course was the Mac and Cheese imported from Seattle. Alert readers will remember that from the same source we were able to try some of the Beecher’s Flagship Handmade (Cheddar) Cheese as sold in Pike Place Market (and other outlets apparently). Turns out besides doing cheese to eat they also have a line of Mac and Cheese frozen products. We tried the “World’s Best Mac and Cheese” a classic style (although they use Penne instead of elbows”, and also a “Mariachi” variation that was quite spicy. Both were head and shoulders above what you can get around here, although I’m sure there are “scratch” varieties that are quite good as this is of course a classic comfort dish.
So, all in all, it wasn’t a bad effort. Some Brownies and coffee allowed us to watch the end of the game.
WARNING: – Small Football Rant (probably somewhat irreverent, but that’s what rants are for).
First of all, I have absolutely no problem that the Saints deserved to win the superbowl, there is no doubt they were the best team on that night. And I’m aware that the win is a great source of pride for the citizens of New Orleans. But what gets me is that there is the perception that by winning one football game, it “proves” New Orleans is “back”, whatever that means. It was sort of sad to see the owner of the team prancing around yelling “we’re back! We’re Back! This proves it…”. I can’t help but wonder what would have happened if they had lost! In either case win or lose, the city is what the city is. There are still people in need of services and a bunch of athletes winning a game doesn’t change that, despite the now growing cries of the “Who Dat Nation”. Somehow there’s always a nation. For this year. Okay enough
MFO Chronicles (a new and continuing section):
The journey of MFO to California to deliver the furniture to her nephew began yesterday on the heels of “Snowmageddon” and despite the apprehension of the Feeder, roads were not a problem. As part of a scheme to lower risk of a single driver on an extended journey we subscribed/activated the OnStar in the MOMSTER. A fairly nominal fee, and after a couple of trips to the dealer in Leonardtown we finally punched the button and a voice came from the heavens and said “Good Afternoon Mrs. Moody, how is your Yukon and how may we help you?” Amazing. They led us through setting up the system and we thought that was that. So, yesterday afternoon I got a call from her and the first words were: “Well, the OnStar has already paid for itself!” After recovering from unspeakable visions in my brain, it turned out that she had punctured a tire and it lost air slowly enough for her to get to the shoulder, although the tire was in shreds. With the aid of the OnStar, somebody showed up in less than half an hour, replaced the bad one with the good one, and she was on her way. She got to Commerce, Georgia where she RON in a comfort inn and this morning is in the process of purchasing a new foot for the Momster..
This just in, two tires and $$$$ later, I-85 exit 140 waiving to the intrepid MFO
It’s always something…
Here we go again.. got enough bread, milk, and TP? Sheesh..
Let's all go here
Don’t know if I have the will to
DFD
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