Let's get southern.

So I started a new job today. Unemployed was harsh so why doesn't working make me feel better? I'll tell you what does make me feel better. A little Fat Tuesday Zydeco music, and some serious southern cooking.



Just go with it kids. I now it's not rock. I know it's not current. Did you ever notice how when you are at a party where people are really enjoying themselves you love whatever music is playing? Think about weddings, Mambo #5, The Electric Slide, The Chicken Dance? To really enjoy music  is just like really enjoying anything; you just have to be open to it. Clifton Chenier is an American icon and Zydeco is great party music. Go with it gall-darn-it!

Smothered pork chops, smothered anything, is about as dixie as you can get. So for Fat Tuesday Smothered pork chops is my first choice. It's a 2 step process, sear and braise, which can be adapted to an infinite number of pork chops. It's all process, amounts are for sissies.

1. Buy Double thick bone in pork chops. There is a lot of flavor in bones.
2. Salt them. Pepper them. Sear them in hot oil in a cast iron skillet.
3. Both sides.
4. Butter, Mmmm butter, a pan that will hold the chops in one layer.
5. Slice an onion into thin rings, slice a pepper into thin rings, julianne some celery. Add more or skip it altogether, what ever amount you like.
6. Put the Vegetables in the pan. Salt and pepper them. 
7. Layer the cops on top.
8. Deglaze the frying pan with some white wine. Get all the brown bits.
9. Pour the pan juice over the chops. 
10. Throw in 3 or 4 sprigs of thyme and some chopped sage. Skip it if you don't have any, or use dry.
11. Seal the pan with foil. 300 degrees for 2.5 hours.
12. Make a roux in a sauce pan. Equal parts flour and butter, Mmmm Butter, stirred on the heat for just a couple of minutes after they combine.
13. Remove everything from the pan to a platter. Cover with the foil
14. Pour the juices on top of the roux, blast the heat, stirring until the gravy comes together.
15. If you need more gravy add some chicken broth, I didn't see you use canned, and stir. 
16. Pour the gravy over the chops. 
17. Sprinkle with chopped parley or sliced green onion.
18. Mashed potatoes would be nice.

Let the Good Times Roll!

It's Friday Night. Time to kick rev the party up a few notches. First you should fuel up though, don't want those Hurricanes pileling up in an empty stomach. How about something quick and easy. Did you know there were a lot of italians in New Orleans?

                                           BoscoliFamily

Party!

Fat Tuesday is a week from today. Back in the day that meant you had one week to cram in as much excess as possible before lent. Seriously, what could be more American than wallowing in excess. Hippies in the sixties, teabaggers today, gay pride parades in between, has there ever been a cause or movement that couldn't be helped along with freaky costumes, alcohol, and narcissism. The trick is to combine all those things in such a way that when you wake up the next morning the worst  you might need is an aspirin and a hosing off. Quick! For bonus points is this picture of a) hippies b) teabaggers c) gay pride advocates?

                                           (Infrogmation)

Probably all 3 because this is a picture of Mardi Gras. Strip out the politics, leave in the self indulgence and you have a) My last date b) a democratic fundraiser c) fun.  So lets have some fun.

We have 7 days to cook up a big spread, so I'm going to chug me a VooDoo lager,  throw a Meters record on the turntable, and get to cooking. Now there are a few things we have to deal with. The first is you can't always find authentic creole and cajan ingredients in the local Market Basket. Who cares? You heard me. Authentic is where posers and jackasses go to die. If I hear one more food, music, art, film, theater, whatever snob punish somebody's efforts with a sneer and a "Well, I guess it was alright even though it is not...." Ahhhh! I'm ruining my party mood so I'll just let that on go for now.

Start Slow

Let's face it, you have until next Monday so you want to start slow and build to a big finish. I'm thinking  appetizer,  salad,  pasta, and  dessert. Mmmm dessert! You need to get a good rhythm going so you will need some music. Finally you need a couple of thoughtful gifts. Remember our goal here is to thwart the status quo, so ladies if you want roses, chocolates,  and restaurant food call FTD, grab a snickers bar, and drag your soul crushed significant other to Denny's. He can give you that blood diamond pendent over your grand-slam breakfast. For the rest of you...

Gifts that are not thoughtful:

1. Gift certificates, extra points off if they are for Home Depot or Market Basket.
2. Appliances, points off for x-boxes
3. Trampy undergarments, points off for pre-existing holes
4. Mix tapes, points off because you picked your songs not her songs you dope.
5. Toys that are self-heating, self-cleaning, or self-lubricating. Points off if they buzz.
6. Roses (everybody gives roses, it's not thoughtful when 60 million other guys are doing the same thing.
7. Box-o-chocolates (see #6)

Now on to the tunes. Start with the classics. No, not Michael Bolton, the real classics, no not Kenny G, just slow down and let me blog. Duh! I'm talking about the real classics, so we start with Tchaikovsky. Music that is lush, warm, soulful. Music that takes its' time. Remember we're starting slow and easy, then aiming for a big finish.


I know, corny. So corny you could steal it and...



That Walt, he was a thieving bastard, but he was also a master manipulator. Bambi's Mom really? Still romance has a wee bit of manipulation to it no? Let's face it you really just want to be playing with that x-box I told you not to buy, so this whole thing is a manipulation anyway. You bought into that whole "You'll get laid thing" Mmmm laid! By the way Walt knew his stuff. Why pay someone to write romantic stuff when someone else, someone brilliant,  already has? Only steal from the best.



Old school romantic. Gotta love the trumpet bridge at about 2 and a half minutes. If she's not dazzled by these tunes we'll be getting more modern as the week goes by, but I have to say, if she wants Celine Dion, just walk away. If you want Celine Dion seek help. There is good corny. That would be sincere corny, honest corny. If Celine Dion mated with Kenny G all sincerity would drain from our world and we could never love again.  Now we need something to put on the table.

Shrimp: Update a classic.