On Monday, Christine expressed a hankering for pot pie, and we had the chicken wings that I used to make broth still in the fridge, so it seemed like a good idea. I made crust, and pulled the meat off the wings, and sautéed onion, garlic, radish, yellow beet, and sweet potato, dusted all with flour and added the rest of the tom kha gai from the day before. I let it simmer for a bit, then put it in a baking dish, covered it with crust, and slid it gingerly into the oven for about 30 minutes.
Since the crust recipe makes enough for two open tarts, I took the second half and made a galette with fresh plums plus dried apricots, prunes, raisins, and dates chopped up with a little maple syrup, 5-spice, and Vermont cassis. The fresh and dried fruit made for a jammy, almost fruitcakey filling that gave the whole thing the feel of a giant linzer cookie.
Mmmmm… giant linzer cookie…
We opened another of the surprise discoveries from Vermont- a 2003 Siduri Clos Pepe pinot. Good, but not great, and not even a little bit Burgundian. There’s also an 04 Sonatera, which I remember as being much funkier. We’ll have to take it for a spin soon to see.
And, for those of you who enjoyed the wine description in my Smackdown guest spot, last night I received this email from that very woman:
BRAVO pour l’élection d’Obama !!
Je ne sais pas si tu as voté pour lui mais en France on esperait tous son election.C’est un grand moment pour les usa, pour le monde. Que d’espoir pour les noirs américains, pour les minorités.
C’est beaucoup d’emotion, de joie pour nous aussi.
Bisous
The best part about all this is that the first president my Son will remember is a black man. That reality will form the baseline for what’s normal and unremarkable in American politics, and in life. This is exactly how we make the world better for succeeding generations- by manifesting our ideals so that they become givens, and form the foundation for the next generation to build upon.
Wait…is your son black? I think I’m getting bitter about all the people focusing on this racial thing when the big issue is that we got a good human being as a president. I don’t give two fucks what color he is, so I am already tired of hearing about it. That’s not a criticism of you, mostly just of NPR (I’ve been listening too much over the last month).
That galette looks like I could snuggle up under one of the crust-folds and take a nap using the ooey-gooey (sticky-icky?) filling as a pillow. And I would dream of mermaids and unicorns and wake up all pink cheeked and optimistic.
The world likes us again! Yay! They’re not burning our flag anymore!
Okay, pot pie is heaven. You’ve solved my leftover pot roast dillema. Thank you!
Kristie: No, but it is a component that cannot be ignored. I agree with you, but his election proves now that many millions of others agree as well. And that’s new, and different, and it matters.
When I taught high school- at a pretty diverse institution- I noticed that the kids cracked on each other constantly about race, but since they were friends first, it never crossed the line into racism. It’s all about the kids.
Et avec (et dans) ma galette, fais comme chez toi.
Brooke: I solve problems. It’s what I do. Pot roast pot pie- would that be pot squared roast pie, or roast pot squared pie, or roast pie over pot squared? Math was never my thing.
interesting pies – no doubt.
i voted obama – but was not enthusiastic. last night when he gave his speech i broke down and cried like a baby. i believed him and i felt hope… really.
may he stay safe and do what needs to be done.
Pot pie and galette? Ambitious.
I am so unbelievably happy (and uncharacteristically teary) that it’s Obama. It’s nice to not be humiliated to be American.
What a lovely sentiment from France – I’ve been getting similar messages from Australia and afar. I don’t think _anyone_ is sad to see the backs of the Bush Bunch. Hooray!
And, I agree that this is a huge step forward in our culture, that an African American can be president. Last night on PBS, I heard a great line from a man-on-the-street interview, “Rosa sat so Martin could walk. Martin walked so Barack could run.” It’s a progression (and in that word is progress!).
Claudia: Hope is the thing with feathers.
Heather: I know, right? I was tearing up all day.
Zoomie: I actually feel like traveling again- even to France.
Funny, i received a similar e-mail from my sister in law in France the day after the election. It really made a lot of people happy.
Pot Pies rocks! That’s the kind of food i crave this time of the year.
Hey Peter – first off the jammy tart is to die for. I spent time in your fair state last week and have been gone, gone, gone prepping my mom for a big move.
Your son’s first president memories will be of Obama and my son’s will be that folks CAN vote in someone caring (he was really cynical having spent years 7 – 15 with W).
I left you a lil somethin on my blog.