Life's Most Important Lessons... Duh!

I recently came across an enlightening article/blog posting that I wanted to share with all of you… And expand a bit. The story is about the top 15 culinary dishes that one should master by the age of 30. I immediately forwarded it to my daughter, Gracie, in a slight panic. Having a limited number of days on this earth, there are so many things I want to share with Gracie. When I first got sick, I started writing letters to Gracie. Well, they were more like bossy instructions and rules. How do you cram a lifetime of advice into a few short years for your child? With ALS, one can perish within a year, three years, five years. I didn’t know which one I had. I didn’t know which dice I rolled. I started cranking out these letters to Gracie. When I was diagnosed with ALS Gracie had just finished the 10^th grade of high school… she was 15 years old. So my first letters to her were how to avoid peer pressure, focus on her studies, look forward towards college, get her drivers license, and get a part-time job. Surprisingly, we got through high school unscathed. The summer before she started college, I literally would not shut up with my advice. Gracie was on her way to Paris to live on her own for the first time. I was not going to be able to help her physically because at this point I was totally paralyzed. All I had was my big fat mouth. Do this, do that, don’t do this, don’t do that, pack this, pack that. I thought she was going to run away from home because I was so obnoxious. Finally, Gracie said to me, “Mommy, I got this.” I finally realized that my fears were just my fears and not Gracie’s fears. She was confident and ready to tackle this new chapter of her life. She was now 18 years old and had been in the school of Ellie her entire life.

As the months rolled by Gracie was living in her own apartment in Paris, going to college full-time, had a part-time job, a successful relationship with a cute French boy, learning French and surprisingly to me, had not burned down her apartment. Yes, this was a huge concern to me. Why? Because I was not there to watch over her as she lit a candle, turned on her heater, turned on her stove, turned on her hair straightener, or lit incense. I would wake up in the middle of the night racked with fear thinking, “Did I teach Gracie not to put a metal object in her toaster?” She looked at me and said, “Mommy, I told you, I got this.”

And then more months rolled by and a horrible horrible thought crossed my mind. I started to think, “Oh my God, did I fail my daughter in the most important aspect of her life? Was I so selfish that I didn’t stop and take the time to step-by-step show my daughter what life is all about? How will we ever make up for lost time? Oh my God, she needs to drop out of college and focus on this one skill alone.” Yes, of course I’m talking about cooking! I freaking panicked. Does Gracie know how to make French toast? Does Gracie know how to make chicken piccata, spaghetti and meatballs, bearnaise sauce, veal Marsala, a fucking omelette!?? Of course Gracie has eaten all of these dishes but did I actually show her how to make them? Of course Gracie has seen me cook her entire life but did I actually show her step-by-step? Oh my God, I don’t think I did. Of course Gracie has been in the kitchen with my mother watching my mother make Beef Bourguignon, salmon with dill sauce, meringue, Eggs Benedict, pot roast, peach cobbler, salad Nicoise, roasted chicken and every other recipe under the sun but did my mother actually show her how to do it all? Jesus Christ, what the fuck is wrong with us? How is Gracie going to survive in this world without knowing all of this? How is she going to get a husband? How is she going to cook for her children? How is she going to have a successful dinner party?

I called Gracie one afternoon and said, “I’ve been thinking… I think you need to drop out of the American University of Paris and enroll at the Cordon Bleu cooking school.” I was dead serious. Dead serious. She refused. She said she already knew how to cook. Really Gracie? Where did you learn how to cook? It certainly wasn’t from your selfish mother or grandmother, that’s for sure. We were too busy making sure our beef bourguignon was perfect, we were too busy making sure our sole meunière was perfect, we were too busy making sure our pies set, and obviously we were too busy to actually show you any of it. I have failed as your mother! Gracie looked at me and screamed, “Mommy, I know how to do it all because I watched you! I went to the grocery store with you for the past 18 years. I went to every Friday farmers market with you for the past 18 years. I know how to choose vegetables, fruit and meat. I have listened to you talk about recipes with grandma for the past 18 years. I know how to use a knife properly. I know how to preheat an oven. I have watched 4 billion cooking shows with you. I listen to you talk on the telephone about your new Gourmet magazine or a new cookbook. I watched grandma! I learned through osmosis so relax because I got this.” I cannot tell you what a relief it was to hear that. I took a deep sigh and said, “Hallelujah thanks be to Allah.” Just kidding, I said thank you to Jesus.

Then I started to quiz her… “Okay Grace, how do you make a roux, how do you poach an egg, how do you pound veal, how do you bread chicken, how do you make royal icing, how do you temper chocolate?? Guess what? My kid knew all the answers! She also said, “And guess what mommy? I also know how to read so if I want to make something I can open a cookbook and read a recipe.” Okay smarty-pants.

So, when I came across this blog article today about the top 15 culinary dishes that you should master by the age of 30, I knew I wasn’t alone in my craziness. Other people knew the importance of cooking. These were important things to know… To get you through life. To have a successful life. Don’t laugh because you know I’m right. I have this friend who shall remain nameless (Jenny) and I am convinced that the reason she is still single is because she doesn’t cook. How archaic of me? No, it’s the truth. Cooking brings the family together, cooking makes a house a home, cooking soothes the soul. They don’t call it comfort food for nothing.

So, the top 15 culinary dishes you should master before the age of 30… I decided to go dish by dish until we thoroughly exhaust each one of them. The best ingredients for each, the best preparation, secret tips from experts, and different recipes for each. How fun! I’ll do all the research and you guys sit back and enjoy and we can learn together. And unbeknownst to Gracie, starting the new year, every week we are going to spend our Wednesdays mastering each one of these. God, I’m such a good mother.

Okay, first dish to master… Beef Bourguignon.

Let’s start with the spelling…b-o-u-r-g-u-i-g-n-o-n.

Beef Bourguignon originated as a French dish in the Burgundy region of France. The basic ingredients are always beef, beef broth, red wine, herbs, onions and mushrooms. However, over time, recipes have advanced and new ingredients are added. The dish originally was a peasant dish and the red wine was used to tenderize the meat. Nothing warms a winter day better than a piping hot bowl of beef bourguignon, a fresh baguette slathered with butter and a glass of red wine. But this dish will not come easily… You have to work at this one. This one takes a little practice and patience. If you want something fast, go to Taco Bell.

The best way to start your beef bourguignon is with the ingredients… The best ingredients. Don’t just run to your grocery store and collect all of the ingredients. Think this out and shop wisely. Let’s start with the beef. I have consulted all of the experts and they have recommended blade roast, chuck, beef rump roast or beef cheek. The secret is to get beef with plenty of marbling. It’s best to get your beef from the butcher.

For the wine, the experts vary with their suggestions. Julia Child suggests a Beaujolais. Chantal LeRoux of Food & Wine suggests a Pinot Noir. Tradition calls for a Burgundy.

For the vegetables, go organic. The carrots should be crisp, fresh, long and lean. The mushrooms should be either white or cremini button mushrooms. I have seen Porcini and shiitake mushrooms used as well. The onions need to be pearl onions. The herbs should be fresh. Homemade broth is best. If you have to buy it commercially, make sure it is organic and low-sodium. For the rest of the ingredients, referred to your specific recipe.

Okay, now for some beef bourguignon secrets.…

Always pat dry the beef before you brown it.
Marinate the beef overnight in the red wine. Reduce the red wine first.
Sauté pork belly or pancetta and add towards the end of cooking.
Render the bacon fat and then use the grease to brown the cubes of meat.
Use an entire bottle of wine.
Use already peeled pearl onions.

Okay, now for some beef bourguignon recipes…

Not that I am unfaithful or disloyal to Julia Child, but my favorite recipe for beef bourguignon is The Barefoot Contessa, Ina Garner, recipe. One time, years ago, David was super mad at me for something that was obviously not my fault but I felt like I needed to “smooth out the bumps” so I thought the best thing to do was to make homemade Boeuf Bourguignon for my French husband. Good news, it worked and somehow I also got a ring out of it. So now we call it The Barefoot Contessa’s Good Luck Beef Bourguignon. I think the secret to its success is the slice of French bread. You’ll see…

 The Barefoot Contessa Boeuf Bourguignon. Recipe HERE. Video HERE.

Next up, the classic… Julia Child. This recipe is from her book, Mastering the Art of French Cooking, and it is a “must master” recipe. Read the recipe about 400 times and then watch the video 400 times and then prepare yourself to be patient with this recipe.

Julia Child's Boeuf Bourguignon. Recipe HERE. Video HERE.

 

The next recipes are definitely recipes to check out to master Beef Bourguignon! Good luck!

 Rachel Khoo of The Little Paris Kitchen. Video HERE.

 

Boeuf Bourguignon from Sunday Suppers. Recipe HERE.

 

Boeuf Bourguignon from Anthony Bourdain. Video HERE.

 

Boeuf Bourguignon with Williams-Sonoma. Video HERE.

 

Boeuf Bourguignon from Thomas Keller. Recipe HERE.

 

What are your secrets to mastering Beef Bourguignon?

* Something you don’t know about me? I am currently in the French Alps at my husband’s family’s house hiding out in the guest room. The rest of the family is enjoying a big fat French dinner. Gracie is hiding out with me. Why, you ask? Summer of 2013, David’s family hated me and I’m not sure if they still do so I think it’s safer if I separated myself a bit. Safer for the whole family. David said he was going to have to drink an entire bottle of alcohol to get through this week with me and his family. This ought to be fun. Stay tuned…