A Man Chooses, A Slave Obeys
Wednesday, September 2, 2009 at 12:00PM Since I started sharing my culinary experiences, a year ago (this month), via www, I've been very apprehensive about repeating dishes. Don't think anyone wants reruns. I started to overcome this once I realized my core, and current, audience didn't jump onboard until halfway in. So I could go back and reuse material from 'classic' posts that no one read, other than my mom.
In August, something happened-- I made the same dish three times. I prepared a Mexican style braised pork for my UFC guests, then for myself, and then again for a HOA BBQ. The final time I tasted it, it was significantly better than the first. An interesting concept.
Growing up, I was in band for five years, and choir for eight. Never practiced once. I ran cross country for seven years, and never really ran on my own time. A genius I certainly was not, but nor was I amateur. This concept of practicing has never been one of my core competencies (could also explain various homework habits).
Could the first few executions of the pork dish been anything other than practice? What if I make it a fourth time? Besides, I need something new for the people. It's common we become slaves to what we do, what we love. I adored when Audioslave hit the music scene back in '03, because by name they were very upfront about this concept. Is it wrong for the mass of bloggers across the world to become slaves to their audiences? Not like we're getting paid, but we're often personally financing our practices.
This weekend, I was tasked with making some really great food for some really great people. Attendance didn't pan out as planned, but the bottom line still had to be the same. Because of this, I chose to repeat a dish I loved making once before. Not only have I made this before, but readers disliked it, moreso than usual. I'm talking about pig trotters.
The biggest difference in preparation, is that I added half a dozen browned duck legs to the pot instead of a whole chicken. This and the [increased] quality of sauce combined to make the dish far better than the first run. That and a few bottles of wine.
;)
Fear not, because I did make something original, something worthy of posting. I made dessert. This should be the second time I've blogged as such in the last year. The best part of the dish, is how it came together, especially in the last 30 seconds.
My original plan was to bake coconut cookies because they're simple, delicious, and can be constructed from shredded coconut, sugar, an egg, and butter-- all common [inexpensive] pantry ingredients. This was a decent plan, but not a great one. Coconut cookies can only ever be so good on their own, and are boring as said on a plate. The plan changed when I walked by the freezer aisle at the store.
There I saw sorbets. Many flavors to choose from, and many that would pair well, but only one that would be great-- lemon. It's classic and refreshing. Lemon also has a well known affinity for coconut, I think.
The final addition to the dish came after the trotters, a bottle of wine, and a bottle of Ferran Adria's beer was poured. We were staring at my cabinet, playing the 'What to open next' game. We picked a lovely 91 point Syrah, and while scooping the sorbet, noticed the liquor below it. Since it's the point of the night where I'm saying what I'm thinking and seeing, hopefully in a coherent way, "Ginger liquor" comes out.
All eyes bolt to a common focal point for the biggest 'duh' moment of the night. Ginger and lemon are best buddies, and I don't think coconut will mind sharing the spotlight.
The deliciously sour lemon sorbet is immediately finished with a dash of ginger liquor. Not a case where more is better. Too much could ruin everything. The coconut cookies, still warm from their 10 minutes in the oven, join the party last. The dish is finished, is perfect, and most importantly, everyone is pleased.
Reader Comments (5)
your trotters were the best ever <33333333 omg more ppl need to get in on the love
"So I could go back and reuse material from 'classic' posts that no one read, other than my mom."
...ahem.
It is perfectly acceptable to borrow and repeat! GREG
as long as it's not regurgitated!! :P
Now I want coconut, lol, and we all borrow, and repeat...rinse, wash, repeat my mouth out sometimes too!