Tag Archives: food

Another cast iron triumph

OK, so I haven’t talked about the first cast iron triumph, which is my cast iron skillet. But let’s pretend I’ve raved about it in at least a dozen posts, and move on to the second cast iron triumph in my life: the indoor griddle/grill whatchamacallit.

Why hello there . . .

Living in an apartment in the city, my outside grilling options are nonexistent unless I want to use the fire escape … but the fire escape overlooks piles of trash and dumpsters, and the thought of my food mingling with potentially contaminated air makes me scrunch my face and look like a gremlin–so it’s out of the question. I’m a good wife, and I don’t want to frighten my husband with ye ole gremlin face. Though I do like to spring it on him sometimes when we’re brushing our teeth, so never mind about the “good wife” part.

After reviewing my options the choice seemed clear, so I quickly took action: I bought a griddle! And I love it. I love it so much that I would spank it, if it had a bottom. And if its bottom weren’t made of rock-hard cast iron.

One thing you should know about me up front: I spank the things I love. And the people I love—as long as they’re my sisters or my husband.

All the recipes for grilling I’ve been salivating over for years, I can finally make inside. Perhaps not with exactly the same results—but hey, I’m making do. To complete my extravagant purchase, I bought a press that I can use to make paninis. I’ve never been a sandwich girl, but paninis are a different matter. Especially once I layer them with the garlickyest of garlicky grilled veggies. With a side of garlicky alioli. Garlic, garlic, garlic, how I love you! [shaking a fist of love in the air] And grilled tuna steaks–I love you too. And grilled asparagus. And grilled everything!

Plus, once you flip over the ridged side that will create grill marks destined to be THE ENVY OF MY NEIGHBORS (sorry, I’m hopped up on coffee and the caps are just pouring out of my keyboard), there is a smooth side … a side destined for eggs-in-a-basket. Pancakes. Hotcakes!  Hash browns! Crumpets, crispins, and crimpcakes! [eyes revolving maniacally in head]

I’m sorry, I need to go commune with my grill. I can’t take the separation any longer.

And now, enjoy some shots of last Friday’s celebratory griddle-inauguration feast. I loaded up on materials at a Mexican grocery store, and the results . . . oh, the results.

Grilling recipes coming–sometime in the next 5 years. (Life tip: it’s all about undercommitting up front so that when you come through sooner than planned, everyone is wowed*)

*That will be a non-refundable $20 charge for the psychological advice—payments accepted in cash, wire transfer, check, or additional cast iron objects shipped express to my apartment. Thank you for your business.

Arroz a la Cubana (Warning: not a real recipe)

This is my go-to meal. When I haven’t planned anything, haven’t had time to grocery shop, or my husband is out and for some reason I’m eating alone, this is what I make. We ate it a lot in Spain growing up. And it’s not a real recipe. Which is exactly what makes it so fast and easy! Here goes:

Ingredients

(Serves 1, easy to multiply)

Cooked white rice

1 generous dollop of spaghetti sauce, heated up

2 fried eggs

Salt and pepper to taste

Assemble into a bowl like this: rice. Heated spaghetti sauce. Eggs. Salt and pepper. If your eggs are overeasy, you can break the yolks and mix together. Eat! You’ll never go back. Or else, you’ll be revolted and never make it again. Either way, the word “never” will figure prominently in your response.

You could make a beautiful stack, using a ramekin to mold the rice into a cup shape on the plate and artfully drizzling the spaghetti sauce in a criss-cross pattern, with the egg balanced on top like a glowing yellow dome in the afternoon sunlight.

But as for me . . . I will continue to simply pile it into the bowl with no regard for aesthetics. Honestly–I think it actually tastes better this way. Some day I will do a blind taste test and prove it to the world.

I’ve wondered for years if I only like this because I grew up with it … or if I like it because it’s actually good. I’d also like to point out that there is probably nothing Cuban about this dish. It’s “Cuban” Rice just as French Toast is “French”, i.e., not at all.

For those of you who like to fancify things, you can make your own tomato sauce and add some chopped chives on top for color. Or chiffonade some basil or something.

Next week I will be posting a more real recipe. But in the meantime, have a great 4th of July weekend!

 

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