Alex's blog
microwave for 2 minutes. serve instead of Nachos...
6lb short ribs
2tbs mixed peppercorns, coarsely pounded
salt (2tbs for meat, 1tbs in vegetables)
coriander seeds (optional; same or more as pepper)
vegetable oil (I used canola)
4 onions (finely chopped)
40 cloves garlic
6 turnips (or more… ; cuit in large pieces; 1/8 is about right for small ones)
2 tomatoes (diced)
3 cups red wine
6 cups beef stock
1 cup parsley
source recipe is in a book which I would reference if I remembered the name. something like "how to cook meat". it actually had 1/2 cup pepper for 4lb ribs which sounded scary so I put less pepper. with this amount it wasn't spicy at all.
All the ingredients barely fit in the 6 liter casserole so there is less stock, just as much as could fit. For my casserole I should take 4lb ribs and consider more turnips. Also try doing onions and tomatoes in food processor. maybe even garlic. they aren't recognizable in the sauce anyway.
Steps
1. cut the ingredients
2. preheat oven to 300F
3. heat oil in a pan. hotter is better.
4. mix pepper, salt and coriander. pat on the meat
5. fry meat on the pan on all sides; in batches if necessary. don't hurry to turn over, let it get nice and brown at least on a side or two
6. remove the meat
7. fry onions(1o min), garlic (2 min), add turnips and tomatoes (2 min)
8. add wine, simmer for 10 min
9. add meat, fill with stock so that the meat is covered
10. 2 hours in the oven (recipe said 1.5, I did 3, came out delicious. readiness test - stick a fork in the meat and pull; if meat holds to the fork it is not ready)
11. take out the meat and turnips and reduce the sauce - let it simmer until it is thick (I had time for it but I don't quite get this step. in particular it is hard to fish out the turnips - that is why it should be cut large; also making onions and tomatoes into puree could make this easier)
12. mix the parsley with the meat.
13. Serve with the sauce; good with mashed potatoes
two interesting dishes came out today.
first, having about half an hour to do something for dinner (with a deadline - going to a movie, Chicken Little, which BTW sucked), with pelmeni already boiling, I wanted to do something for Julia who refused a real dinner (pelmeni qualifies as real here). salad sounded good so I opened "happy days with the naked chef" and the fridge. none of Oliver's salads were possible, nor any of his dressings. some things sounded tasty though.
here is what went into the salad:
now the dressing which is the interesting part. a couple of Oliver's dressings are the starting point. I think it is Pesto meet "mama stamberg cranberry relish":
mix all of the above in a blender. mix with the salad and serve. autunno meet thanksgiving meet cheese-and-figs salad (no figs on the tree in november...)
mmmmmmmmmmmm!!!!
... 8 hours later (2am) I enetertain myself after going out. Julia takes it easy (sleeping). I enjoy my flew-from-tokyo-this-week jet lag and enertain myself. I am not beyond drinking a shot of vodka alone. with a good salad in particular.
Olivie is what I was looking for in my fridge - but it's gone. what do I have? nice salad (not much left, mostly the applies and a bit of cheese...), but where is the mayo? the meat?
add to whatever is left from the above:
I think I am on to something. it needs more work. but looks cool (pink and green;). and tastes yummy. goes great with vodka. wait a minute, I have some left.....
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