Yesterday, the hottest day this summer, I planned a Mexican Feast. We were to have Rick Bayless's Roasted Jalapeno-Tomato Salsa With Fresh Cilantro, Bill's Guacamole, Homemade Tortillla Chips, Ropa Vieja with Roasted Pablano Salsa, Bill's Corn, Tomato, Basil, Bean Salad and the Cheddar Corn Muffins. I also wanted to make the NY Cheesecake for DD and her BF, since they haven't had any yet and to redeem myself after the last disaster.
I got going at 9, hoping to get the roast and cheesecake going and all the salsas made before the heat got too bad. But first I had to run to the store to get my other brisket, since I had decided to double it. (The ingredients in the Braised Brisket part were so similar to the Guinness recipe, I figure...why not.)
First off, I get my ingredients organized. I realize I have a few more veggies to roast, so I get that going on the oven. Then, I started chopping and dicing the veggies...6 cups onion, 4 cups carrot....what, I don't have enough?, and two cups celery. Then William calls from the farm (He decided to work out there instead of surveying today...almost monkeyed Tuesday in the heat.). The tractor won't crank and he needs me to help him pull-start it. Well, heck, I need to run to the store to get the carrots anyway so here I go.
It's now 1:30, and I'm just now starting the roast. It's hotter than he[[ in the kitchen, but I press on doggedly. I get the meat seared off, pan deglazed with veggies, etc. and finally get the pot on the grill burner at 3:30! There's a lot of prep before getting THIS roast braising compared to the Guinness!
After making sure the grill was going to work, I whip up the cheesecake and get it into the oven. (I used the lifting tray that comes with those old roasters this time, and it worked like a charm!) I whir up the Bayless salsa and realize this stuff is HOT!!!!! So I gather up the ingredients for the Pablano Salsa and Jean's Salsa and head to the bedroom where the AC is working properly and sit down in the cool at the table we have there to get the other sauces going.
I'm running late, but I figure if I leave off the corn muffins, and send the WHOLE cheesecake home with DD, I'm still good. So I press on. At this point I'm working in he[['s kitchen, because the height of the table is all wrong in the bedroom. When I go to the grill to turn the roasts, it doesn't look like their going to be as tender as the Guinness, but it's only half way.
DD and her BF roll in at 6, and I've just realized I'm out of cilantro. William had checked at the local grocer and he SAID they didn't have it. So I send poor Ashley and BF to town to get that, limes, and green onions. Things are falling apart.
The cheesecake had come out and I risked it by putting it straight in the fridge, then into the freezer. The freezer is kinda packed, but I think I've got a spot where it will be safe. (I have a side by side.) I'm working on making the chips now. (I won't do that again on the same day as I need them. They're good and I like doing my own, but it was too much. I didn't have the heart to send her back to the store to buy any, so press on.) Back to chopping and mixing. When DD gets back, I finish off the salsas and set them out with the corn chips.
It's now 7! I take the pot with the roast to the kitchen...sweat pouring off my body...and lift out the roasts. I put DD and BF to work shredding while I strain the broth. That was a LOT of veggies in there. What to do with them? Had I been in a better frame of mind, I would probably have saved them, but not this time...between the repeated distractions and the heat, I was now starting to loose it. I saute ANOTHER 2 cups of onions, add the roasted tomatoes, braising broth, beef broth, shredded beef, and bring the pot to boil, add the Beurre Manie. While this is simmering, I finish up Bill's Salad. Bill, I don't know if it was all the other hysteria of the day, but I'm wondering if cilantro might be better in this. The basil just didn't "taste" right. It was good, though. I think I'll play with it. It's the first corn bean salad I've tried and we like it enough to play around with it and try others...so thanks!
At 8 pm, we are finally eating...thankfully in the cool of the bedroom around the table instead of at the bar in the heat of the kitchen. Which is TRASHED by now. (BTW, I never did get the guacamole done.) The food was okay, but NOT worth the trouble and the mess. I thought the Ropa Vieja lacked flavor, even with the pablano salsa AND one of the other salsas on top. The kids said it was good and took some home, but I was disappointed. And to think, she REALLY wanted me to make the ribs from the current issue (or the last) and would have been perfectly happy with some corn on the cob and a simple salad...LOL! Thankfully they're used to my recipe experiments! I promised them the ribs next time!
Oh, and to top it all off. While we were eating, I went to fix a drink...I needed one by now...and had to open the freezer because the ice shute was jammed. You guessed it! The cheesecake slid out and hit the floor! Amazingly, it landed top side up, but looked just like it did last time when I dropped it in the sink. I think I'm jinxed! I'm thinking now, that maybe it's a sign that I need to try BF's mother's recipe. I mean, I made this one successfully the first time. Oh well, DD gladly took the WHOLE thing home.
I don't think I've ever seen them so glad to leave...LOL! Between the heat of the kitchen and my frenzied composure, they quickly gathered leftovers, recipes I had saved from recent successes (and the guacamole), and the cheesecake and headed back to Wilmington. It took until 10 to get the kitchen back in order and stuff put away. I fixed another drink and retired to a book and the peace and cool of the bedroom. Tomorrow will be a better day!
I got going at 9, hoping to get the roast and cheesecake going and all the salsas made before the heat got too bad. But first I had to run to the store to get my other brisket, since I had decided to double it. (The ingredients in the Braised Brisket part were so similar to the Guinness recipe, I figure...why not.)
First off, I get my ingredients organized. I realize I have a few more veggies to roast, so I get that going on the oven. Then, I started chopping and dicing the veggies...6 cups onion, 4 cups carrot....what, I don't have enough?, and two cups celery. Then William calls from the farm (He decided to work out there instead of surveying today...almost monkeyed Tuesday in the heat.). The tractor won't crank and he needs me to help him pull-start it. Well, heck, I need to run to the store to get the carrots anyway so here I go.
It's now 1:30, and I'm just now starting the roast. It's hotter than he[[ in the kitchen, but I press on doggedly. I get the meat seared off, pan deglazed with veggies, etc. and finally get the pot on the grill burner at 3:30! There's a lot of prep before getting THIS roast braising compared to the Guinness!
After making sure the grill was going to work, I whip up the cheesecake and get it into the oven. (I used the lifting tray that comes with those old roasters this time, and it worked like a charm!) I whir up the Bayless salsa and realize this stuff is HOT!!!!! So I gather up the ingredients for the Pablano Salsa and Jean's Salsa and head to the bedroom where the AC is working properly and sit down in the cool at the table we have there to get the other sauces going.
I'm running late, but I figure if I leave off the corn muffins, and send the WHOLE cheesecake home with DD, I'm still good. So I press on. At this point I'm working in he[['s kitchen, because the height of the table is all wrong in the bedroom. When I go to the grill to turn the roasts, it doesn't look like their going to be as tender as the Guinness, but it's only half way.
DD and her BF roll in at 6, and I've just realized I'm out of cilantro. William had checked at the local grocer and he SAID they didn't have it. So I send poor Ashley and BF to town to get that, limes, and green onions. Things are falling apart.
The cheesecake had come out and I risked it by putting it straight in the fridge, then into the freezer. The freezer is kinda packed, but I think I've got a spot where it will be safe. (I have a side by side.) I'm working on making the chips now. (I won't do that again on the same day as I need them. They're good and I like doing my own, but it was too much. I didn't have the heart to send her back to the store to buy any, so press on.) Back to chopping and mixing. When DD gets back, I finish off the salsas and set them out with the corn chips.
It's now 7! I take the pot with the roast to the kitchen...sweat pouring off my body...and lift out the roasts. I put DD and BF to work shredding while I strain the broth. That was a LOT of veggies in there. What to do with them? Had I been in a better frame of mind, I would probably have saved them, but not this time...between the repeated distractions and the heat, I was now starting to loose it. I saute ANOTHER 2 cups of onions, add the roasted tomatoes, braising broth, beef broth, shredded beef, and bring the pot to boil, add the Beurre Manie. While this is simmering, I finish up Bill's Salad. Bill, I don't know if it was all the other hysteria of the day, but I'm wondering if cilantro might be better in this. The basil just didn't "taste" right. It was good, though. I think I'll play with it. It's the first corn bean salad I've tried and we like it enough to play around with it and try others...so thanks!
At 8 pm, we are finally eating...thankfully in the cool of the bedroom around the table instead of at the bar in the heat of the kitchen. Which is TRASHED by now. (BTW, I never did get the guacamole done.) The food was okay, but NOT worth the trouble and the mess. I thought the Ropa Vieja lacked flavor, even with the pablano salsa AND one of the other salsas on top. The kids said it was good and took some home, but I was disappointed. And to think, she REALLY wanted me to make the ribs from the current issue (or the last) and would have been perfectly happy with some corn on the cob and a simple salad...LOL! Thankfully they're used to my recipe experiments! I promised them the ribs next time!
Oh, and to top it all off. While we were eating, I went to fix a drink...I needed one by now...and had to open the freezer because the ice shute was jammed. You guessed it! The cheesecake slid out and hit the floor! Amazingly, it landed top side up, but looked just like it did last time when I dropped it in the sink. I think I'm jinxed! I'm thinking now, that maybe it's a sign that I need to try BF's mother's recipe. I mean, I made this one successfully the first time. Oh well, DD gladly took the WHOLE thing home.
I don't think I've ever seen them so glad to leave...LOL! Between the heat of the kitchen and my frenzied composure, they quickly gathered leftovers, recipes I had saved from recent successes (and the guacamole), and the cheesecake and headed back to Wilmington. It took until 10 to get the kitchen back in order and stuff put away. I fixed another drink and retired to a book and the peace and cool of the bedroom. Tomorrow will be a better day!
Daphne
Keep your mind wide open.
Keep your mind wide open.
Another possibility...I roasted hot AND mild peppers together. Bad idea?