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This morning, I am sitting here getting all misty about the sadly short life of the long Robert Wadlow. Yes, he died over sixty years ago, but it was sad, goddammit! We are also having a luxurious morning, as S. has put in many extra hours of work this week already, and is going in late. Toast and coffee and sweet 1930s giants, what could be better?
Last night, after some exciting adventures in leaving my wallet at the restaurant where I had lunch and running out of gas,* I made some champ, after John Thorne's recipe. Of course it is the antithesis of any current notion of health food, but that's what makes it so good. Also, you can pretend you are a robust Irish cottager.
LETTUCE AND PEA CHAMP
4 medium potatoes
1 c. milk
4 tsp. butter
2 cloves garlic
handful of baby lettuce leaves
a cup or two of fresh peas
salt
pepper
Peel potatoes and boil in salted water. Meanwhile, slice the garlic and set it gently, gently simmering in the milk. Braise the peas in the butter: put the peas, the butter, and about a quarter cup of water in a pan and bring to a boil along with some salt and (if the peas are a little old and starchy) a pinch of sugar. Stir frequently and let the water boil away, leaving only the butter.
When the potatoes are done, drain and return to the pot. Turn the burner back on to medium or so, and shake the potatoes over the heat until they are floury and dry, then remove from heat. Be careful not to scorch them, of course.
Mash the potatoes and beat in the hot milk and garlic. Stir in the lettuce -- it should wilt. Add peas and butter. Adjust seasoning. Turn the heat back on and heat through. If the consistency is a bit too loose for your taste, cook it down a bit. It should be about like ordinary mashed potatoes, but on the soft side.
*Rescued by good Samaritan and Political Something grad student Helmut, who deserves a great big medal for driving me hither and yon, buying me $1.49 of gas (and incidentally, I thought gas station people were supposed to be more scrupulous about what kind of container they gave you to put your gas in), and helping me to pour it down the gullet of my gas tank, which in the end required recourse to a funnel and a stick. Three cheers for Helmut!
Posted by redfox at September 12, 2003 10:05 AM (dinner reports) | Comments (1)
Comments
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Thorne is such a hoot. I like the way he gets all exercised about the right way to cook various dishes, and the way he thinks recipies through.
Champ. num. Too warm today, though it'll cool down enough here pretty soon.
Posted by Anne at September 12, 2003 10:55 AM