Mr. Rilch has been jonesing for me to make a stuffing recipe he saw in Bon Appetit. If it worked out, we agreed that I would make it again for Thanksgiving. Slowly, we amassed the ingredients. Fresh basil? I’ve never noticed those little plastic containers of fresh herbs. Pine nuts? Ten dollars a pound?! :::faint::: I also wanted to make buttermilk waffles; I’m hoping to make that a Sunday tradition. Furthermore, I decided that one batch of Ghirardelli chocolate chip cookies doesn’t survive long around here, so I planned to make two.
Got up, made the waffles, they disappeared. Around two, I started the prep work for the stuffing. Two red peppers, an entire bunch of celery, two huge red onions, all to be “coarsely chopped”. Thank god someone told me about putting a spoon in my mouth while I slice onions. Go back on the boards for a while, then chunk the bread and toss it with olive oil and parmesan.
Mr. Rilch’s boss arrives when I’m putting the bread in to toast. No, he can only stay to watch the movie. Stuffing? Will it be ready before 5:30? That’s unfortunate.
The bread can’t be contained in one bowl; have to divide it between the bowl and the spaghetti pot. Saute the veg with butter and more oil. Add the spices, then add the raisins and pine nuts. Guys, can you come in for a second? Yeah, that does smell like home cooking. Stop drooling, Friend. Sure you can’t stay, Boss? Well, Mr. Rilch can bring some to work tomorrow.
Divide veg between two containers, toss. Butter the pans. Good thing I have two alike. Spoon in stuffing, salt, butter, chicken broth. Butter tin foil. There is no end to this. Put in oven along with ham.
One hour later, serve. Ten minutes later, one empty pan. Light up a well-deserved post-prandial smoke, then begin CC cookies. Butter has been softening all day. Not enough brown sugar? Growl. Off to Ralph’s. Back in time to start recording KOTH premiere (haven’t watched yet). Stir stir stir stir stir (only thing I don’t like is adding the everlasting flour). Drop onto pans and sit down to watch Sopranos DVD.
Twenty-five minutes later (old oven), first batch removed. Glad I have a rack for cooling. Bring out to living room. No, Mr. Rilch, I’m not fattening you up to eat you. Friend, you need a wheelchair to get home? Haha, you’re trapped!
I am a baking machine!