Food Fans: Dinner for 4

[maygra]

So, I have friends in from out of town (the_shoshanna and her partner Geoff), and I get to keep them all weekend, but last night they just came for dinner (Geoff is giving a seminar and the hotel is easier for them at the moment But I'm going to kidnap the_shoshanna in about an hour ans spend the day together doing God knows what. YAY!

But dinner last night was the first time I've had a chance to cook for anyone besides the RHDC and myself for awhile, probably since devonhoneybee was here, or maybe even since she and kadymae were here.

I've mentioned that I love to cook, right? I do. And last night's dinner was easy-peasy and came out really well, I think.

I was on kind of a tight time schedule with work and all, so, considering this was pretty much on the table from start to finished in about 30 minutes, I was pleased.

The Menu:

Appetizer: I made up a really simple crudite, or maybe more like an antipasto, of carrots, celery, spanish olives, Parrano cheese, and small sections of farm bread, with three small bowls of hummus, olive oil & cracked black pepper, and chunky blue cheese dressing, for us to snack on while I as finishing the meal.

And that was:

Center cut pork chops (mostly boneless) marinated in pomegranate and black current juice
Root vegetable roast with Jewel Sweet potatoes, red potatoes, yukon gold potatoes, yellow squash, onion, walnuts, 3 sprigs of rosemary, and parsely.
Steamed fresh green beans
More of the farm bread

I always forget dessert but we were pretty full. But we had bread and frog jam (Which is a mix of orange, fig, raspberry and ginger. Very tasty and not overly sweet) and I made up cups of mexican hot chocolate and chilis, and also a pot of Masala tea with honey, plus a tiny bowl of pistachios and raisins. Just enough sweet and salty to finish the meal but not heavy like a cake or something would be.

The pork marinated pretty much all day in a zip lock bag in the frig, and cooking them was really just a fast grill in a pan with olive oil and a little butter, salt and pepper. I did them last and they came out tender and tasty. The fruit wasn't overpowering, just a touch of sweetness when you bit in and then PORKY GOODNESS!!

The vegetable mash (and it is, even though you don't mash it.) Was one large Sweet potato cubed, and microwaved with a quarter cup of water to soften, and the same of the other potatoes although for different times. The Sweet potatoes I nuked for five minutes, then the regular potatoes for three. Then I tossed the potatoes and all the other ingredients in a bowl with a little olive oil and some salt and pepper, then poured the mix into a hot cast iron skillet with
the rest of the ingredients to cook a little until the squash started to soften, then into the oven at 500 for about 15 minutes while I was finishing the rest of the meal. At the end I added a little bit of butter (Really. Just a pat or two) and mixed in the fresh parsely, tossing it all as I put it in a serving dish.) The onion had carmelized nicely and the potatoes had a nice brown edge here and there, and it all went together really well.

The beans were Florida greens, very plump, and I only steamed them with a dash of salt.

It wasn't cold last night, although it's kind of rainy and chill today, although it's supposed to get up into the low 60's.

I think Shoshanna and I are going to shop a bit or maybe just hang out and chit chat about fandom. If it was clearer I might run her down to the Botanical gardens or some other Atlanta area sight. I kind of suck as a tour guide because I rarely go into town or if someone has an idea. In town is supposed to be packed this weekend, so I don't know how much of that I can stand to deal with (more, just busy than crowds) but I'm really pretty open to anything.

Heh. We could go to the train museum. It's right here in town and I've never been, but that's more me than south -- I love trains.

Anyway, Last night was lovely and fun, and I had not met Geoff before so that was very cool.

And I get them for two whole days. I win! \0/ !!!

Comments

[brandil.livejournal.com]

sounds lovely.

[brynwulf]

I WANT FROG JAM!!!

And why can't we live closer? We'd spend all our time cooking for each other. LOL

[maygra.livejournal.com]

We totally would! *g*


http://store.hillsideorchard.com/merchant/merchant.mv?Screen=CTGY&Store_Code=HOF&Category_Code=r0041

[laurashapiro.livejournal.com]

Oh, delicious! I hadn't heard of frog jam, but now I'm intrigued.

I have heresluck visiting me right now, and we're going to try and replicate your success. Farmer's market today, yay! And asparagus is in season...

[maygra.livejournal.com]

OOh, I did pick up asparagus. We may have that tonight. The meal really was simple, easy chopping, no muss...

Frog jam is really good:

http://store.hillsideorchard.com/merchant/merchant.mv?Screen=CTGY&Store_Code=HOF&Category_Code=r0041

[rosekay.livejournal.com]

I am now...really hungry. Your kitchen sounds like the loveliest place. *g*

[maygra.livejournal.com]

It is. Feel free to drop in anytime!

[lage-nom-ai.livejournal.com]

That all sounds lovely. I am totally trying that vegetable mash!

[maygra.livejournal.com]

The mash is yummy, also good in it is parsnips. Much yumminess and good for you!

[moosesal.livejournal.com]

I make fresh steamed green beans pretty much every week. For the last two years now I have been on a green bean kick. I just can't get enough of them. I could seriously have them every day, but I think the Mr. would get incredibly bored of them. *g* I steam mine with a bit of lemon pepper and they're just delicious that way.

I'm going to have to try your pork chop marinade. It sounds delicious. I usually do pork chops (with a jerk seasoning) with my green beans and smashed potatoes. Those flavors just work really well together. Thanks for sharing this. It'll give me a little experimenting with my usual meal.

[maygra.livejournal.com]

The other seasoning/marinade that works well with pork is cranberry juice. (Or Cranberry cordial if you can find it --or make it. I make it every couple of years or so and thereis nothing better to marinade pork or chicken in.

Yes, if I had to claim a single favorite veg, it would be green beans.

[stormcloude]

Sounds very tasty.

[maygra.livejournal.com]

IT was (But possibly made better tasting by the company.) *g*

[devohoneybee.livejournal.com]

I'm not at all surprised the meal was good -- you've always provided tasty treats! (and did it while meeting my oddball dietary requirements).

I really enjoyed the walk through the little historical section near you (and my sister made me a very pretty scarf from the yarn I got in that crafts store there). She might enjoy going there?

[maygra.livejournal.com]

Hee. I like your oddball dietary requirements. It makes me try new things. There is no bad her.

We didn't walk around, but we did have lunch at the Park Cafe (The one we passed on for home food.) Next time you are in town, We'll go.

[devohoneybee.livejournal.com]

sounds good! i expect to be out your way early october or thereabouts. also, i found Valentin's mailing address, so the SPN Season 1 dvds are wending their way to her as we, er, type. *s*

[raqs.livejournal.com]

i love this menu - i want to try the pork chops and the root roast. i have become a big fan of starting potatoes in the microwave and finishing them in the oven (even though i have to turn off all the lights in the kitchen if i want to run the microwave, as otherwise i run the risk of flipping the circuit breaker. agg.)

sounds like a great dinner and i hope the rest of the weekend is just as good!

[maygra.livejournal.com]

I do baked potatoes the same way. Rub the skins with olive oil and a seasoning mix, nuke for 5 or 10 (depending on size) hen oven cook at high heat to get a crispy skin.

The weekend was lovely. Thank you!

[stewardess.livejournal.com]

I AM HUNGRY NOW.

[maygra.livejournal.com]

LOL!! Well, I'd mail you some but I fear it would be no good.

And your icon is both hysterical and borderline obscene. I like it!

[popmusicjunkie.livejournal.com]

Center cut pork chops (mostly boneless) marinated in pomegranate and black current juice
Pork + fruit = Love.
Seriously.
And, I may have to print out that menu and the recipes and try it out sometime because it all sounds way too yummy.

[aukestrel.livejournal.com]

Dude if we could only have that slash commune we would all eat SO WELL! I want frog jam!

[maygra.livejournal.com]

HEE!! We would. You can order the frog Jam (Or you could send me your address. I think I have had plans to send you a pressie for your bday for awhile now *g*)

http://store.hillsideorchard.com/merchant/merchant.mv?Screen=CTGY&Store_Code=HOF&Category_Code=r0041

[sharonmarais.livejournal.com]

I second that, and we could pretty much be self supporting, I mean we knit and sew and cook and grow fruit and veg....heck we're the Waltons with attitutde..... I too want Frog jam and slash talk whenever and sharing the love....ahmmeee I'm Homesick for a con I think.

HUGS all

[girlmostlikely.livejournal.com]

OMG, that vegetable mash sounds DIVINE. *mouth watering*

[the-shoshanna.livejournal.com]

It was so yummy!

(There's something incredibly amusing to me about using your computer to comment on your LJ while sitting on your deck. At least you're not reading over my shoulder!)

[lyr]

Mmm, how delicious sounding! I never thought about marinating pork in pomegranate juice, but I'll have to try that.

[sharonmarais.livejournal.com]

sounds delicious....how lovely of you to invite us too by postin the recipes. I can just taste it. MMMMMMmmmmmm.

Another set of recipes to add to my list....I have plans for that Pot Roast of yours this weekend. Will do it on Saturday since it's Mother's Day here next Sunday and my daughter has plans to take me out.

HUGS

[adelheide.livejournal.com]

So...what time do you expect me for dinner? *drools*