The Dinner Goddess
We celebrate by eating
By Lila Shaw Lash July 4, 2008 San Miguel de Allende
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The United States officially ratified the Declaration of Independence at the Second Continental Congress in Philadelphia on July 4, 1776—quite the auspicious day in American history. |
But what we remember more than the “why?” is “how?” Americans celebrate the Fourth, most famously and with the most gusto, by eating—barbecue, deviled eggs, apple pie, brownies, hot dogs, hamburgers, cakes with red, white and blue decorations, cold beer from American breweries (Sam Adams, anyone?) and pretty much anything else that can be charred over an open flame on your much-anticipated long weekend with family and friends. Lemon meringue pie, anyone?
In Mexico, we are able to enjoy multiple Independence and Revolution celebrations—Día de Independencia, Día de la Constitución, Día de la Revolución in addition to Cinco de Mayo. Most Texans celebrate what is marketed as Mexican Independence on May 5 at multiple Corona and Cuervo-sponsored bar events, but Cinco de Mayo passes with not much fanfare in Mexico—another battle in another war in Mexico’s long quest for independence from another oppressor. But Texans are never one to pass up an opportunity to take tequila shots and eat fajitas, so we party on with our Cinco de Mayo fiestas!
Being The Dinner Goddess and loving all things culinary (and being a native tejana and holding barbecue as sacred), I’d like to share some of my favorites recipes for this most culinary of holidays.
| As The Dinner Goddess, I used to prepare this potato salad for clients as an accompaniment to Buttermilk Battered Fried Chicken. Both were finger lickin’ good. | |
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Potato & Blue Cheese salad
Bon Appétit, August 2000
Makes 8 servings
2/3 cup olive oil
1/3 cup apple cider vinegar
1/4 cup minced shallots
1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley
1 tablespoon plus 1/4 cup chopped fresh chives
1 tablespoon coarse-grained Dijon mustard
2 teaspoons honey
2 teaspoons grated lemon peel
3 pounds small red-skinned potatoes, quartered
8 bacon slices
12 romaine lettuce leaves
1/2 cup crumbled blue cheese (about 2 1/2 ounces)
1 hard-boiled egg, grated
Preparation
Whisk oil, vinegar, shallots, parsley, 1 tablespoon chives, mustard, honey and lemon peel in large bowl until well blended. Season dressing to taste with salt and pepper.
Cook potatoes in large pot of boiling salted water until just tender, about 8 minutes. Drain. Add warm potatoes to dressing; toss to combine. Season to taste with salt and pepper. (Can be made one day ahead. Cover and refrigerate.)
Cook bacon in large skillet over medium heat until crisp. Drain on paper towels. Crumble into small pieces. Arrange lettuce around edge of platter; mound potato salad in center. Sprinkle with bacon, blue cheese, egg and remaining 1/4 cup chives.
For standard, solid American fare, look no farther than a versatile barbecue rub. You could rub this on brisket, but to create heavenly Texas-style brisket, it’s technique far more than the rub ingredients. For technique, become best friends with the pit masters in Taylor or Lockhart, Texas and hope for the best.
Barbecue Dry Rub
Recipe courtesy Tyler Florence
1/4 cup paprika
2 tablespoons granulated garlic
2 tablespoons granulated onion
2 teaspoons peppercorns
1 teaspoon dry mustard
1 teaspoon chili powder
2 tablespoons cumin seed, toasted
3 tablespoons coriander seed, toasted
1/4 cup kosher salt
1/4 cup light brown sugar
1 whole chicken, cut in pieces
Combine all ingredients in a clean coffee grinder. Rub on chicken directly or coat in a plastic storage bag. Make sure chicken is dry before applying.
Lila Shaw Lash creates heavenly meals as The Dinner Goddess. She can be contacted at lila@dinnergoddess.com.
House & Garden Tour
Colanchos and the Picacho Mountains
By Jennifer Hamilton
1. Lying serenely among the rolling hillsides of the countryside, this house contains many outstanding accoutrements. The 300-year-old mesquite beams and tree trunks embedded into the 18-foot ceilings give a dramatic look. The entryway/greenhouse, showing off the owners’ passion for gardening, is filled with unusual species of plants, especially the colanchos after which the house is named. Many varieties of cacti are all lovingly named after close personal friends. The huge living room is filled with artwork and textiles from throughout Mexico and San Cristóbal de las Casas, Chiapas. The master bedroom is spacious and filled with light, painted a soft restful shade of blue-green. A beautiful Jan Hendrix painting hangs over the bed. The library adjoining the master bedroom is a replica of the owners’ library in San Cristóbal built 30 years ago. The bookcases have Gothic arches and hand-sculpted serpentine columns. Fronting the fireplace is a pink rug woven by Chamula Indians in Chiapas. This technique was revived a few years ago as a source of income for the local Indians through the DIF in San Cristobal de las Casas. A glassed-in porch off the living room offers a tranquil area in which to read, relax and enjoy the peaceful surrounding countryside. The back garden is a joy where a large variety of herbs grow successfully. Many outstanding Chiapas iron crosses, a mix of Christian and Maya cultures, are seen throughout. Polished cement is used in the bathrooms and kitchen. Many doors in the house were made from the wood of a 250-year-old Michoacán cabin.
2. This property is surrounded by the softly undulating hillsides of the Picacho Mountains. Using ancient doors and old stone floors, and built in the Mexican style, the house is a sheer delight. Wood ceilings and antique beams are from Chiapas, Michoacán and Puebla. Books abound in almost every room. The intimate dining room is decorated with porcelain Chinese Foo dogs, ornaments and a mirror painted on reverse glass from Peru. A wood saint is placed in front of the mirror. The living room has two separate seating areas and is filled with outstanding objets d’art from all over Mexico. It leads out to the pool and outdoor seating areas which offer the owners bucolic moments in which to relax and treasure the incomparable views surrounding them. The study doubles as a guest bedroom when needed. The master bedroom contains a sizeable porch and private rooftop deck encompassing the views in every direction. An ancient troje (granary or barn) was shipped piece by piece from Veracruz and reassembled on the property. Windows were added, which troje’s typically do not have, as well as bedrooms and entertainment areas.