Sunday, October 4, 2009. Rib Roasting. Recipe Writing. In The Rain. The hurricane machine is running in reverse. A tropical storm in the Pacific Ocean--where storms usually begin off the west coast of Mexico and move in the direction of Hawaii--weirdly decided to head east. It crossed the Mexican Rockies, dropped a record rain in Texas, and is now here. No winds, just a lot of rain, spoiling a plan I had to cut the very high grass today. But I gladly accept all this weather ennui in lieu of another Katrina year!
The Marys left in mid-morning to do yoga and get instruction in their new "flushing" diets at the health club. To balance the karma, I made a batch of oddball waffles. I left out all the sweet ingredients and added granulated garlic, Creole seasoning, herbs, and grated Asiago cheese to the batter. Why not savory waffles for breakfast? The result was all I'd hoped for, save for one issue: even though I didn't add any salt at all, the cheese made the waffles a shade too salty. Next time I'll use unsalted butter and a different cheese.
Mary Ann has been talking for a few weeks about having her brother Tim Connell and his family over for a Sunday dinner, and we asked them again today. They're a nice match for us. Mary Leigh and their daughter Hillary are the same age and lifelong friends. Mary Ann and Tim confer on their extreme right-wing political leanings. And Tim's wife Desiree--daughter of Jerry Valence, a personality on my radio station for decades before I arrived--is the only relative I know who likes a snifter of single-malt Scotch as much as I do. But it didn't happen. Tim says it takes all of Sunday to get ready for Monday at his house.
But Mary Ann bought a rib roast, big enough to serve at least six people generously. I cut it in half, froze the right side, and seared the left in a pan before slow-roasting it in the oven for a couple of hours at 300 degrees. I built a pan sauce from the drippings, half a bottle of leftover red wine, and some herbs and mushrooms. It was a yum. The waffles went with it very well. But the girls didn't try them. Waffles of all patterns and recipes are off their flushing diet. Massive slabs o' beef are okay.
