Recipes: Stuffed Artichokes
Kotmis Satsivi
Music: Russian Classical Guitar for 7 and 6 String Guitars - Andrei Krylov
Stuffed Artichokes
2 Artichokes
Sour Cream (about 1 cup)
Zest of 1 Lemon
Juice of 1/2 Lemon
Salt to Taste
About a cup of crushed nuts
The recipe is in kilograms and grams and I was too lazy to translate it. I was also a bit afraid the lemon would curdle the sour cream, but it was delicious. I have no really funny stories about this cooking experience, it was smooth sailing the whole way. First, cut the stems from the bottom of the artichokes so that they will stand up straight. Cut the tops off so that you can rip their little hearts out later. Steam them for about 20 minutes. I'm not sure this is an accurate time, mine came out with softened architecture (didn't stand up for the stuffing) but like all lady killers, the hearts were a little tougher than I hoped they would be. While they are steaming, pulverize some nuts in a food processor. I used walnuts because that's what I had for the chicken recipe, but I imagine almonds or just about anything else would have worked fine. Maybe not peanuts. Mix the sour cream, lemon zest and juice, and pulverized nuts. When the Artichokes are sufficiently softened up, rip their little hearts out and stuff your nuts inside. This is the best way to create yet another generation of heartless little bastards with prickly outsides. I am still talking about cooking. I guess that's what Julie Powell was getting at with all her sexual imagery. It's just too easy. Once you are finished being a misogynist, serve the artichokes warm and dip the petals in the sour cream mixture.
Kotmis Satsivi
For the Chicken:
5 Chicken Thighs
4 Tablespoons Butter
2 Tablespoons Olive Oil
For the Sauce:
1/4 Cup Minced Onion
2 Cloves Garlic
1 Tablespoon Flour
1 1/2 Cups of Chicken Bouillion
2 Tablespoons Red Wine Vinegar
1/8 Teaspoon of Cloves
Pinch of Saffron
Cinnamon and Cayene Pepper to taste
Bay Leaf
1/4 teaspoon of salt
3 ounces of shelled walnuts, pulverized
Rinse and dry the chicken (Julia Child Style) melt the butter and heat oil - brown the chicken for 5 minutes on both sides, then cover and simmer for another 15 minutes or until cooked through.
Meanwhile, back on the Farm (Kurt Vonnegut, Jr. Style), melt butter and saute onions and garlic in a saucepan. Add flour until a paste forms. Add bouillion and bring to a boil until a thick sauce forms. Add spices - you can make this as spicy as you please - "it's possible" that my kitchen helper "didn't measure the cinnamon and cayenne." I loved it. Add salt and walnuts. Keep warm until chicken is done.
The dish was amazing despite the collapsed infrastructure of the artichokes and the tough hearts (pictured here as a pile of greenery). And my kitchen helper was fantastic and for somebody who claims she can't cook, did a great job of making the sauce entirely unaided. I think this whole "I can't cook" thing is a fib.
About the Book: During our discussion, Ashley and I spoke about the fact that we both hadn't read very much since the last time we talked about reading. We also spoke about the fact that it was interesting how the Czarists had a "true" French emigree staying with them and the radicals had an Englishman and a baby bear staying with them. In the chapter after the rum drinking party I blogged earlier, we find out that our little delinquents have actually taken the bear, strapped it to the back of a local cop, and thrown the two together into the canal. One of the mothers was listening on silently while everyone was discussing her son's shocking exploits but it's clear that they aren't very shocked and a few seem to think it's a darn funny scene.
Curiously, if I'm not wrong, the bear is a symbol for Russia. In this case, a young bear is being made into a clown for the amusement of some young, very drunk radicals who have since been kicked out of St Petersburg and been forced to move on to Moscow. Interesting symbolism.
About the music: Soothing guitar. Lots of quick strumming and plucking. I'm entranced by it and have no idea which is for 7 or which for 6 string guitars.
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