How To Cook Romanian

Let me start by saying what tonight was all about.  My soon to be daughter-in-law, Delia, is Romanian.  When Delia's parents are here for the wedding, I wanted to make a dinner from their country.  Vlad, our friend from Romania, who lives here in Tennessee was just the person to teach me.  He was as excited as I was.  It's rare that I cook with anyone other than my children when they are home.  Tonight was, as Vlad stated, "super fun."  Vlad gave me a to do list prior to his arrival.  There was a large amount of prep work including boiling and chopping. I just cranked up the radio and was happy chopping away.  I started the night before by cooking the beef shanks.  The next day I began with the parsnips, boiling them until sufficiently firm followed by chopping..  Well, maybe I didn't boil them quit enough and maybe chopped just a little to small.  Ooops.  Below is a small vision of the pre work that was done.  

The potatoes needed to be boiled, cooled and chopped into about 1/2" pieces.  I didn't have these cubed small enough, but it didn't take long to size them down.

The carrots where to be boiled and chopped like the parsnips.  These also I didn't boil long enough and chopped to small.

The baby english peas I boiled in sugar water.  These I got perfect.

Ahhh, this dish was f-a-n-t-a-s-t-i-c!!!  What is in here?  White Kidney beans and olive oil,
topped with some caramelized onions.  Oh yeah, this stuff was yumo!!!

Note to self, do not slice into onion rings.  We where not making fried onions rings!   Needs to be chopped into large chunks prior to caramelizing.

This is Vlad, my Romanian cooking instructor for the evening.  Scientist by day, cook by night.

Vlad was a first-rate instructor.  I learned alot this evening.  Americans do things the simple way. We tend to be lazy, always looking for short cuts.   Do not buy pre-chopped pickles.  Buy the whole dill pickles and chop them yourself, that way you have larger chunks and more flavor.  Ok, that makes sense.  You could really tell a difference.  Also, when the instructions say Dijon Originale Mustard, that means Dijon Originale Mustard, not the Dijon with white wine.  Hey, I didn't know there was much difference, but there is.  The Originale is stronger, therefore better in this salad when mixed with mayo but not just any mayo.  Like any truly southern woman, Vlad agrees only Hellman's will do.

Vlad, chopping the celery, that I forgot altogether.  In my defense, in the instructions he called them twigs.  I thought he was talking about the carrots.

Look at that.  You know you want some.  It was so good, I can't wait to make it for the family.

One of the reasons Vlad and I get along so well is that we are both very particular.  I totally get that.  Hey, there is nothing wrong with that.  We get it right.

I look forward to many more evenings cooking with Vlad.  Hmmm, something he's not good at, he says, is baking.  Maybe I can teach him a thing or two about that in the kitchen next time.

No matter where in the world you are from, two things remain the same, friendship and food.  You gotta have it.

Something else I learned this evening.  My stovetop is very small.   I need a larger one.  "Stoooone," I yelled, we need to go to the appliance store, now!

Our candlelit Romanian dinner

Stone's job for the evening was acting as a sommelier which he did quite well.  Oh yes, and going to the grocery.  Remember the thing about the pickles, well he had to get a jar of whole pickles.   Also I had purchased a tube of dill paste thinking this was great. I had never used dill paste before and I thought wow, so easy, no chopping.  Remember that comment about lazy Americans.  OMG, you should had seen Vlad's face when I pulled that from the refrigerator.  I thought he was going to have congestive heart failure. You have to use fresh dill, and lots of it. I phoned Stone immediately while he was still at the store and said, "get fresh dill, and lots of it!" 

Petro's And Pets On The Porch With Friends

My day launched with a five mile walk and ended with dinner at the home of Carleen and Daniel.  Our evening began with Boursin Cheese. I had never heard of this type of cheese until a year ago.  I must say it is superb.  I eat it alone, spread it on crackers, or combine it in a dish that I am preparing.  The texture is similar to cream cheese that is laced with spices and herbs.  This stuff is so yummy.  As the appetizers were enjoyed, we sat out on the porch which had a tremendous view of the mountains. The four of us took pleasure in the quietness of the evening, while Mckinzie, their German Shepard/St. Bernard family member, carried her treat out to the lawn to enjoy.  The temps have been cooler here in East Tennessee,which made for a perfect evening of chili, a mixture of meat, beans, peppers and herbs.  As the sun was fading, Stone and I gathered around the four top table as lightening began illuminating the sky.  Carleen and Daniel placed the chili with all the accompaniments on the lazy susan.  We ate our chili, Petro style, which is a chili bowl layered with fixings like fritos corn chips, my downfall, onions, tomatoes, cheese and sour cream.  As the rain began and all were full and content, we waddle to the lounge chairs where we enjoyed desserts of petit fours, cannolis, and cheesecake. Yes, I had some of all.  As we departed, Carleen, Daniel and of course, Mckinzie, walked us to the door as the light rain continued.  We drove the short distance home, crawled into bed, and stated, "another great evening with friends."

Me and Carleen

Stone and Mckinzie

Frank and Jesse James fell prey to the taste of chili and are said to have eaten a few bowls of "red" before pulling many of their bank jobs.  At least one town, it is noted, was spared from their shooting and looting by the local chili parlor.  Fort Worth had a chili joint just north of town and the James boys rode in there just for the chili, vowing never to rob their bank because "anyplace that has a chili joint  this good just ought' be treated better.  Source:"http://www.chilicookoff.com/history/history_of_chili.asp

You can be assured that East Tennessee would have been safe from boys like Frank and Jesse, because Carleen and Daniel's chili was that good.