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

[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*