The Laughing Monkey » Grownups Only

home again, home again, jiggety-jig

admin — Mon, 22 Aug 2011 00:59:48 +0000

The Monkey Family spent the last week in Florida’s panhandle, visiting with family and recharging our batteries. The Boy and The Girl spent several days with their grandparents, and The Daddy Monkey and I had our first ever kid-free getaway, in seven years of parenting. It was pretty nice. The photo from Friday’s this moment is a photo from beautiful Wakulla Springs, where we stayed. While I would love to say that it changed my life, it did not. It was lovely, and relaxing, and we had a fine time. Except for being booked in a room directly next door to a loud family with lots of kids. Oh the irony. We switched rooms, and all was well.

I would like to say that we slept in very late, ate room service, and forgot about our children. But the truth is that we woke early due to the thin walls of our old hotel, and that there wasn’t even room service offered. And while I can say that I didn’t exactly miss my children, I did think of them a few times, even though I knew they were having the time of their lives being spoiled by their grandparents.

But–I can say that we enjoyed a little breathing space. A little time in which we didn’t have to referee fights, wipe behinds, make fifty thousand snacks, and make sure everyone’s hands were washed. We enjoyed the quiet of nature, took a wee hike and a peaceful boat ride, and enjoyed several fantastic picnics under the enormous pine trees. The enormous wheel of brie we bought turned out to be a good investment, and the weather at the park was just cool enough to be able to sit outside. We enjoyed the song of dozens of cicadas, took the scenic route, and had fun playing tourist in a place where boiled peanuts are considered a delicacy.

The best part of a vacation? Coming home. Home to your own bed, where you know the sounds and smells by heart, and you can go to your own kitchen and make yourself a cup of tea whenever you like, instead of having to search the GPS for a Starbucks that is 20 miles away. Where you know where you are going when you get in your car, and you can drive to the local organic farmer’s market and happily buy fresh, beautiful produce (even if it did cost $45).

Even though having a break from the children for a few days was nice, it wasn’t the earth-shattering experience I had expected it to be. The effect was much more subtle. I came home gladly. To the home I have created for my family. Whereas before we left, I found myself in a serious funk about motherhood and homeschooling, I came home and remembered why I’m doing this. Why I choose to live with such intention. Feeling refreshed and ready for a new school year. Looking forward to autumn and the cooler temperatures, a fall garden, and second grade.

It’s good to be home.

Steak au Poivre

Rose — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 12:13:27 +0000

Last Saturday, I cooked a steak for the very first time.

Romantic Dinner for Two

Harthill Farm Cabernet Sauvignon

New York Strip Steak au Poivre

Organic Green Beans

Ina’s Potatoes

Organic Spinach and Romaine Salad with Fig Vinaigrette

Ghirardelli Twilight Delight Chocolate

I was curious to try the method from Julia and Jacques Cooking at Home by Julia Child and Jacques Pepin. Steak au Poivre is one of the Daddy Monkey’s favorite meals, and I can’t believe I never made it before. Two very thick steaks are coated with cracked black pepper and salt, then seared in a very hot cast iron skillet. They are then finished in a 250 degree oven for about 25 more minutes. (Longer if you do not like it rare.)

The steaks are removed to rest, then a minced shallot is added to the pan, the pan is deglazed with cognac and stock and reduced down. A big fat tablespoon of butter is swirled in at the end, to give the sauce more body and flavor.

It was incredibly easy and by far the most delicious steak I had ever eaten. It seems like sacrilege to put a steak in the oven but this works, and the results are far more reliable than our cheap gas grill.

Pleasure Overload

Rose — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 10:00:12 +0000

Here’s this week’s Date Night menu:

Smoking Loon Cabernet Sauvignon

Duck Breasts with Mushrooms

Mashed Potatoes

Steamed Carrots

Fresh Organic Greens with Balsamic Honey Vinaigrette

Lindt Chili Chocolate

My bastardized duck recipe is based on the one in Paula Wolfert’s Cooking of South-West France. The first time I ever cooked duck it was from this recipe, upon my friend Peter’s recommendation. The original recipe is fairly complicated and time consuming, but my streamlined version is pretty close, and much easier for me. I used to make this for The Daddy Monkey and I every Christmas.

Duck Breasts with Mushrooms

1 Tablespoon rendered duck fat, or a combination of butter and canola oil

2 duck breasts (Unfortunately, I always have to buy them frozen.)

1 pound sliced mushrooms (Any variety you like. Shiitakes are especially exquisite with this.)

1 Tablespoon butter

1 Tablespoon minced shallot

1/2 cup red wine

1 1/2 cups chicken stock

1/3 cup heavy cream

salt and pepper

Place duck fat in a heavy skillet over medium high heat. Salt and pepper both sides of duck and add to pan when it is hot. Sear on both sides until a nice crust forms. Turn heat to medium low and add mushrooms. Cook, stirring the mushrooms occasionally, until they are nicely browned. Remove duck when it is cooked to your liking, and let it rest on a cutting board. Remove mushrooms when they are soft and brown. Add butter to pan and bring heat up to medium high. Add shallot and saute until soft. Deglaze pan with wine and cook over high heat until the wine is syrupy. Add chicken stock and simmer until sauce is reduced by about half and thickened. Add cream and mushrooms and stir to combine and reheat. Taste sauce and salt to taste. Slice duck and serve with sauce over the top.

Our meal was so delicious this week that we both sat around for a half an hour afterward, too happy to move. Well, the whole bottle of wine we consumed had something to do with it, too.

The meal was so heavy and rich that I couldn’t even think about making the Bananas Foster I had planned for dessert. We were happy with a few squares of Chili Chocolate.

Date Night Dinner

Rose — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 10:00:24 +0000

I got lucky at the grocery store, and found lamb chops for $9.99 a pound instead of the usual $19.99 a pound.

Saturday’s Grownup Date Night menu:

Smoking Loon Cabernet Sauvignon

Broiled Lamb Chops with Lemon Zest, Garlic, and Rosemary

Yukon Gold Potatoes with Dill

Broiled Zucchini, Yellow Squash, and Onion

Fresh Organic Greens and Chevre with White Balsamic Fig Vinaigrette

Sauteed Cherries with Grand Marnier over Vanilla Ice Cream with Chocolate Sauce

Thank you to the Daddy Monkey for letting me eat the last of the Chevre.

Grownups Only

Rose — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 01:47:21 +0000

Last Saturday, The Daddy Monkey and I had our first at-home-date night since before The Girl was born, and it was wonderful.

On the menu:

Smoking Loon Cabernet Sauvignon

Grilled Sirloin Steak

New Potatoes with Thyme

Broccoli with Olive Oil, Garlic, and Red Pepper Flakes

Fresh Local Greens, Chevre, and Homegrown Nasturtiums with White Balsamic Fig Vinaigrette

Fresh Raspberries and Dark Chocolate

It was divine! We had a wonderful time just the two of us, and let me say that those potatoes are the most amazing thing ever. The work-to-pleasure ratio on those is off the charts. I had no dill so I used thyme from my herb garden. The nasturtiums (edible!) were also from my garden.

Can’t wait for next Saturday, My Love!