Welcome to Spicy Sauce

You might recognize it as Heinz 57 sauce- but at our house for the last, say 14 years- it’s been known as “Spicy Sauce.” M named it- she really- ‘never left home without it’- if eating was involved. She took it with her on overnights along with her favorite stuffed animal. She really only ate chicken and a few vegetables on a regular basis anyway, but if you were hoping for a brave new exploration- you better have spicy sauce on hand to mitigate it.

J- on the other hand was intrigued by lots of different foods- as long as they were all mostly meat, and all mostly covered in mayonnaise. Texture meant everything to him- gastronomically. And even if mentally he was interested in trying something, he wasn’t shy about spitting it out all over the table if it felt too fuzzy or too soggy. There was no cute name for mayonnaise and spit up, however.

L never really liked meat- no matter what sauce you slathered it in. She was a good eater- liked clams, of all things, at fancy restaurants when she was 2- but always chose veggies or fruits, fish or chicken, oh- and sugar! If- it was around… her only weakness. And there we all were:

We had a vegetarian, a ‘meatatarian’ and a ‘spicysauceatarian’ in the house together for quite a few years, and somehow- they all survived (as did we)and now they like and remember similar foods from home. Like them enough to call with queries and suggestions- and share their own household or favorite food recipes with us and others.

Everyone remembers the funny foods our kids liked or didn’t like growing up- like ‘Weenies and Supa’ (hot dogs and ketchup for K) yummy! And /or ‘Tuna and Peas’ or Green mashed Potatoes’ not so yummy! It’s nice to see them all grown or nearly grown and interested in the food that eventually has meant ‘comfort’ and home to them. We all have developed memories and palates- based on vacations or home life patterns or our own new experiences, travels, and interests.

So here’s a new site devoted to our friends and families interest in memories and food- sometimes the pictures relate- sometimes they’re a bit random. I hope you all will join in the process and add photos and recipes to the fray-(once I get tech literate enough to share how???) and please! Don’t stop calling to ask, “What goes into this….” And please, forgive me if the proportions aren’t perfect! I’m counting on you all to fix and experiment.

- C




Thursday, January 8, 2009

Brussels Sprouts with White Beans

Hello Spicy Saucearians! I'm Robyn B., and I've cordially accepted C's invitation to blog here. Technically, my contributions aren't family recipes, but "offerings from J's splendid girlfriend who can make a mean pie crust" would take too long to type.

I'm starting off by spreading the gospel of Brussels sprouts. (pictured to the left, au naturale) This is one of my favorite recipes to make, partly because it's protein-y and easily achievable on a student budget, but more because everyone I've served it to so far has an initial reaction of "Brussels sprouts?? Bleah!" (It is, in fact, delicious.)

I think this might have something to do with a tradition in American cookery of boiling the crap out of green vegetables. My mother wouldn't eat Brussels sprouts or Lima beans because she remembered her mother stewing them into a flavorless gruel. Chalk that up to the moral of good-for-you food having to taste bad. Really the key to this recipe boils down (ha) to not doing that.

I found this on Epicurious:

- Rinse, trim and cut length-wise about 2 lbs of Brussels sprouts.

- Heat 4 tbl olive oil in a heavy skillet until shimmering.

- Add Brussels sprouts and cook on medium-high for about 5 minutes, stirring gently. Transfer to a large bowl

- Heat another tbl olive oil, and saute 5 cloves of garlic, coarsely chopped.

- Add the Brussels sprouts and 1 cup chicken (or vegetable) broth. Cook until the sprouts are crispy on the cut sides.

- Add one can of cannellini beans (or butter beans, or great northern beans - this dish is quite versatile, legume-wise) and a tbl of butter, and cook until the beans are hot, the butter is melted, and the broth has been reduced.

- Stir in 1 cup grated cheese. The recipe calls for pecorino, which adds a nice kick, but I've substituted Gruyere for more creaminess and that's good too.

- Enjoy!

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