Monday, May 30, 2011

The Boys are Back in Town, The Boys are Back in Town


I was so excited to make these Cuban Steak Sandwiches and try out this new potato salad I've been dreaming up in my head all week. I just needed a holiday. And all the sudden here was Memorial Day! Shha-wing! P had a three day weekend. In my head I actually thought, beach, celebration, party, food, etc. I sent my menu to my sister R, via email as I do before every holiday. She wrote me back and said, hmmm, I never thought of MD as a day to celebrate, especially these days. Its more a day of mourning and its sad. guhlmmp (swallow)! She's right, dang what was I thinkin'? I feel like one of the a-holes I'm always screaming Asshole! at. Good thing I didn't read the email until the next day.

If you look up Memorial Day in Wikipedia it'll tell you that originally it was a day for enslaved southern blacks to remember union soldiers of the civil war. Later it was extended to honor all Americans who have died in all wars.

But after all that it became known for being a three day weekend, trips to the beach, family gatherings. People devoted it to shopping! And it also marks the Indy 500 media event. Now I don't feel so bad.

I can vouch for the shopping idiocy because I work retail and I was there. It was ugly busy. Americans love to shop. I love to cook.

I found a great recipe for Cuban Steak Sandwiches (recipe from Food Network www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/chic-easy/cuban-steak-sandwiches-recipe/index.html) I followed the recipe except for switching the flank for cheap London broil. Flank is too expensive. Are you kidding me? Thinly sliced grilled steak with onions on chimichurri slathered Ciabatta bread. Sick.

At the Smoke Joint BBQ, they have a Bed-Stuy potato salad that is so good you have to make up new adjectives to describe it. So I was browsing new recipes and Sunny Anderson roasted her potatoes in one I found interesting. My p-salad was a combination of Sunny's, the Smoke Joint's, my mom's and my own. I added some of my homemade chili powder, crispy bacon and pickle juice. Ridiculousness!!!

But I got the trifecta! I also conquered with an arugula, Feta and watermelon salad with red onions in a vinaigrette.

Next year I'm going to be more respectful and not eat so well and try to spend time thinking more about not only the people who have died but the ones still alive coming home after being through hell. They deserve our observance and respect. What must that be like? I know I sure the hell wouldn't ask them to go shopping. I'd celebrate their return, feed them Cuban Steak Sandwiches on Ciabatta bread, my newly invented Fort Greene potato salad and arugula salad with watermelon. And a vat of ice cold beer.

No comments:

Post a Comment

Just nod if you can hear me. Is there anyone at home?