June12009
5/31/09 - Dark Chocolate Meatballs with Cranberry Sauce
& Cream Cheese Roasted Garlic Mashed Potatoes.
East of Eden reading with Emilia.
In human affairs of danger and delicacy successful conclusion is sharply limited by hurry. So often men trip by being in a rush. If one were properly to perform a difficult and subtle act, he should first inspect the end to be achieved and then, once he had accepted the end as desirable, he should forget it completely and concentrate solely on the means. By this method he would not be moved to false action by anxiety or hurry or fear. Very few people learn this.
— Chapter 21, Section 1, Pg. 238
We paused in our reading to discuss this passage.
I subscribe to Steinbeck’s philosophy, finding no contradiction between this and Hakan’s advocacy for quick and decisive actions.
The reason? Rushing is not the equivalent of going fast.
One is speed unruly, wreaking havoc; the other, movement controlled.
Sprinting in a complete state of calm - no paradox.
I read somewhere once:
When the going gets tough, the tough relaxes.
Also, I think the two ideas apply mainly to different phases.
Hakan’s,
to the turning points of decision and the subsequent launches into action.
Steinbeck’s,
to the processes of execution, where once directions are determined, patience is sorely needed.
***
A while ago, I read about an Indian restaurant that added chocolate to
its curry. The idea intrigued me. I decided to experiment with the ingredient myself.
72% dark chocolate, melted.
Mix in spoonfuls of curry powder, cumin, cayenne pepper and a sprinkle of salt to taste.
Pour the thick liquid onto the usual meatball blend (a pound of minced beef, a diced onion, some breadcrumbs and an egg), stir until well-mixed.
Form small balls and line them up on a baking sheet.
375 degrees until cooked through.
That’s how I did it this time around. The taste was fantastic, especially with the cranberry sauce and cream cheese roasted garlic mashed potatoes. Dark chocolate added a depth of flavor to the meat without turning it into
a dessert.
I would like to experiment with the cooking method some more however, to retain more moisture in the meatballs. Chocolate burns very easily, as I’ve learned this time. I’m toying with the idea of steaming, or cooking in some sort of a sauce for the next round.
