Today I got an email from my son in law, who commented:
So that pent-up, anti-Obama anger is going to be taken out on children.
followed by a link to a story of a fairly hateful incident on a school bus--naw, no, come on back, I swear I'm going to make it up to you. There's a bit of cheerfulness to be had, if you'll indulge me and follow me over the fold. Trust me! It gets better! </Billy Crystal>
As I was reading the story and getting all het up and cranky over the negativity and anger that prompted that kind of a response to some enthusiastic kids I replied,
Dude, that is MESSED UP. Somebody needs to find out how much they really appreciate Obama after they get fired for this bullshit, then have to spend the holidays in the Lame Duck Bush Doldrums--then maybe around February or so, when he scores a new public works job where he can cuss all he wants he'll be feeling a little more charitable about the president. You know, President Barack Hussein Obama. Damn, that just doesn't get any sweeter!
And right about then I took a deep breath, grinned and continued with my reply to him:
On a lighter note, do this. Go to the 80th/Foster/Harold Portland Fruit Company.* In the back they have five pound bags of peeled, fresh garlic cloves. In a large and sanitary bag! For seven bucks! That's a buck forty a pound!**
*If you don't live in Left Coast Portland, feel free to substitute your own local purveyor of such things--if they don't have five pound bags of peeled garlic cloves they should--try any Asian stores in the vicinity for the best sources I've ever found for good garlic. And cheap shallots, for that matter. But I digress!
**It is, you know, I did the math and everything!
Bring 'em home, dump them in a bigass bowl and sprinkle a goodly amount of olive oil all over them. Don't stint, and use good olive oil, you'll thank me. Add a bit of kosher salt, not a whole lot but it does help the fibers break down easier. Dump all that into a big baking pan, 9x13 or bigger. Don't use cookie sheets or you'll lose oil and that would be bad...
Bake at 350 F or so, turning them over so they don't get burned, until they're nice and tender and lightly browned--maybe 45 minutes or so, depending on your oven, until they're quite squishy. Don't let them dry out, be generous with the olive oil at the start. Let them cool until you can handle them easily, stirring in the pan to keep them all coated in oil.
Then stick 'em in a blender or food processor or a Magic Bullet thingy (I have a cheap knockoff version, it's the best $25 I've spent in years) and beat it like a redheaded stepchild until it's totally a baby food consistency mush. Add more olive oil if it's too thick, you want it to be buttery smooth. Toss in salt to taste.
Take time at this point to break out some fresh sourdough baguette, or some veggie slices or naan bread, whatever floats your boat (dirty secret, I have to literally lick the bowl when I'm done with this stuff) and appreciate the the fact that you have probably never had a hyperabundance of roasted garlic--it's an amazing experience that everyone should try at least once. When you've glutted yourself on the stuff, take the rest (and it will be a LOT) and fill up individual ice cube molds with the garlic goop. Dollar Tree has ice cube trays usually two or three to the buck--you don't want to use these for drink ice afterward, just sayin'. Freeze them and then dump into a gallon zipper bag and toss it into your freezer.
Put this stuff in everything, and I'm not kidding--nuke a cube for 15-30 seconds, to thaw, then throw into salad dressings, hummus, sauces, pasta (with some basil pesto and shredded romano--maybe some sauteed veggies and mushrooms,) rice & beans, onion soup, pizza or calzone, or just spread it on toast. I'm trying to get brave enough to try it hot on ice cream, shudder if you wish but get back to me after you've tried it.
Happy Friday. You're feeling pretty calm now, yes? You're welcome... ;^D
Brutal truth is that a lot of things suck right now. I'm out of work, so's Himself, the job market sucks, unemployment has run out--I could go on for a week. Nevertheless, I have to say that I feel good today in spite of my personal circumstances, because we progressives worked hard and we won. We made it work, we started a movement to take our government back again and now it's all about gearing up, building the engine, pushing the envelope. I mean, we DID IT. We didn't screw it up, we did it right and I'm just bowled over by that. My cynicism is being disarmed and I'm finding that disturbingly attractive, how about you? I get that people are keyed up and nervous, and I get like that too so I'm sending out my happy thoughts and the above recipe for guaranteed cheap comfort food to wish you all a HAPPY FRIDAY , post some recipes, what's for dinner at YOUR house tonight.
UPDATE: Look what just came out of the oven--this smells awesome!
**pootie and goggie pix always welcome!**
**wanders off singing "Don't worry, be happy..." 'cuz I'm all about the cheeze, bebeh...**