All posts by Kirsetin

Farewell, Joseph Schmidt

February 16, 2010food, holidays, nostalgiaKirsetin

This year, I didn’t ask for truffles for Valentine’s Day.

I’ve never been a big chocolate lover. I’d much rather have some kettle chips, but you know, that’s not really something you can ask for for Valentine’s Day. Is it?

Twenty years ago, when I was single and living in San Francisco I discovered many things, among them the finest truffles I’ve ever enjoyed. And just like that Joseph Schmidt Confectioners turned a non-chocolate lover into a lover of their finely crafted chocolate truffles. The crunchy shell, the smooth-as-silk middle…they got it perfectly right. They’ve produced my favorite chocolate ever since and for every special occasion, that’s been the go-to place for tasty treats.

Can you imagine my horror when I discovered that Hershey bought, and then closed, the store?

There are so many things I could write about this. I could go for nostalgia and explain how the aroma of those pretty little truffles could transport me to a wonderful, exciting time in my life. I could be indignant and rant about corporations destroying the locals. I could be angry, I could be disgusted, I could, I could, I could…

But instead I am simply sad. I’m heartbroken over the demise of this little confectionary I stumbled upon as I stumbled my way into adulthood.

So it turns out it’s a good thing I didn’t ask for them, because that would’ve been even worse, don’t you think?

And even though I didn’t ask, did I expect truffles? Flowers? Trinkets? Find my thoughts on Valentine’s Day and gift giving (and receiving) over at Blissfully Domestic.

My Coaching Surprise

February 15, 2010Midwest Parents, sportsKirsetin

When I first started playing basketball, I was in about the 4^th or 5^th grade and I wasn’t very good. The teams were co-ed, then, and I spent more time thinking about my freckled, red-headed teammate Mike Fayard than listening to what the coach had to say. It was, as my father has often said, more of a social event for me.

Several years passed before I showed much promise. I think I was quick and fairly athletic, so they kept me around. Eventually things began to sink in.

I’d forgotten this. I’d forgotten how hard it was to learn this game. I’ve played for so many years now that these concepts seem obvious. Cut to the basket. Come to the ball. Pick and roll. ROLL, people, ROLL.

I know, those words don’t mean anything to most of you but trust me, they’re fundamental parts of the game. If your child ends up on a basketball team, these are things she or he will learn.

In all these years, I have played and practiced and cheered but I haven’t coached until now.

To find out how hard it is, and why I do it anyway, see my post over at Midwest Parents today. I’ll be posting there every day this week. Be sure to stop by and say hello!

What a Crock

February 11, 2010foodKirsetin

I’m no fan of the crock pot.

The idea, I love. Throw some stuff in and voila! Leave it alone for an entire day and it will magicially transform into a tasty meal that makes your family feel like there really IS a mother in the house.

Except, no.

Almost every single thing I have ever made in the crock pot—other than chili–regardless of which meat, spices, and vegetables I include, comes out as essentially the same gross meal.

I know, I know. You have recipes. You can change my crock pot life. My children will fondly recall our lingering family dinners, full of laughter and sharing if only I can get this right.

But, see, I’ve tried. It just doesn’t work for me.

And so, last month when I made my month-of-meals plan, I wasn’t planning any crock pot specials. But I did want to make a couple of new recipes, so I went through all my old clippings and cookbooks to try to find something, anything, we don’t usually have that my people might eat. Hmmm.

I found a recipe for pulled pork that sounded interesting. Chili power. Check. Garlic. Check. Thai chili sauce. Mmm. Hmmm. These are things I might go for, and so, despite the fact that it called for dragging the unreliable appliance out and cooking-it-all-day-in-hopes-that-it-would-not-taste-like-every-single-other-thing-I’ve-ever-made-in-there, I gave it a whirl.

And?

It was good! Surprise! And it did not taste anything like the other randomness that has emerged from aforementioned crock pot.

So, hooray. There’s one. One is better than none. I’ll take it.

The recipe was clipped from a newspaper, which has clearly been around for more than a few years, but there’s no name or date reference on the clip. So I apologize for not giving credit to the daring soul that dreamed this up. Here’s the recipe, if you’re so inclined.

PULLED PORK

1 T olive oil

2 onions, finely chopped^*

6 cloves garlic, minced

1 T chili powder

1 t cracked black peppercorns

1 c Thai chili sauce

¼ c packed brown sugar

¼ c cider vinegar

1 T Worcestershire sauce

1 t liquid smoke

1 boneless pork shoulder, trimmed of excess fat (abut 3 lbs)^*

Kaiser rolls

^*Notes: I used less onion (because I don’t care for it) and I used a pork loin instead of pork shoulder. I think mine was bigger – maybe 4 or 5 lbs. I also added a bit of water because my stainless steel crockpot does not know it’s supposed to keep things moist. I think it failed crockpot finals.

Heat oil in a large nonstick skillet; cook onions over medium heat, until soft. Add garlic, chili powder, and peppercorns; cook, stirring for 1 minute. Add Thai chili sauce, brown sugar, vinegar, Worcestershire sauce and liquid smoke. Stir to combine and bring to a boil.

Place pork shoulder in crock pot. Pour sauce over pork. Cover and cook on high 6 hours or on low 10-12 hours, until meat is very tender.

Transfer pork to cutting board and pull the meat apart in shreds, using two forks. Return to sauce and keep warm until ready to serve.

Spoon shredded pork onto warm Kaiser rolls.