Welp, had some time to myself and decided to jump in to the small frey. The Monkey Wranger and Cookiecrumb have been doing some vegetarian Italian Rice Tort action. It sounded easy enough and I figured if I was going to do it right I’d need to start with some of Fatted Calf’s Pancetta. So, off to the Berkeley Farmer’s Market first thing.
There were a few other things on my food list that I needed and this market didn’t have ’em. These would be milk, panko bread crumbs, rice and whatever else I was forgetting.
Okay so I had a list and I knew what I was up to. But I didn’t figure on the new Halal market next door to the El Salvadrian grocery to be open. It was, I went in.
Ya know, those Middle Eastern countries have an amazing gaggle of spices and herbs. One isle I had to go up and down 4 times just so I could inhale the goodness further. I saw a little package called Sausage Chili, filled with a red powder. I still have no idea what’s in it, mostly paprika smells like to me, but how could you not buy a powder called Sausage Chili? Down a ways spied me a package of Black Cumin seeds, snatch! I had goosemup pimples all over. Thinkin’ to myself, got to get me to these Middle Eastern recipes some day, soon.
This whole time I knew there was a meat counter behind me. I was carefully ignoring, sneaking past. Acting as though I was a vegetarian lost, I slid to far end and turned away, only to glance back as though I didn’t care. What I saw was a hospital clean meat display of some kind of fowl, turned out to be chicken. But what really caught my eye were two fresh 3′ legs of some kind of exceptionally clean red meat.
OH SHIT YEAH BABY !!! I know one of those is goat, just know it. I axed the smiling shop keeper about the legs. One was goat and one was lamb, I found the goat on my own. Her staff person asked how much of the leg I wanted. It took me a few gestures stating clearly I wanted the whole leg, silly.
Well, I’m not sure how my rice tort is coming along. 4 cups of milk and 1 cup of rice seems like an off ratio to me, but I’ve never made a rice tort before. So, what do I know? In any case, I have a leg of goat in the fridge I need to find something to do with over the next 24 hours. I thought about smoking it, but then got a rush for homemade curried goat over rice. After all, I do need to find a use for 10 pounds of Sona Masoori rice. Yup, I bought that too. Anyone know what that is, Sona Masoori? Looks like tiny grain rice.
Biggles
MeatHenge
"If it ain't pork, it ain't sausage"
Oh. So the goat leg is NOT going in the rice tort? Pooh.
(Ooh, ooh! I bought a five-pound sack of Pakistani rice a few years ago because it came in a cool baby blue cotton sack with a handle, and I can use it as a purse. The rice sucked.)
We are really in synch. It’s obviously goat time!
When I was on the East Coast a couple of weeks ago I ate some impressive goat curry at a South Indian restaurant — a little too impressive for the rest of the afternoon as I was still burning and thirsty. Then last Sunday I went to the Artisan Cheese Festival in Petaluma and as I was trawling the aisles, there was — goat salami. I kid you not (heh). It was lean and not too spiced up so it was more like a denser Genoa style……Whatcha gonna do with yours, Biggles?
Way to Go, Biggles Baby! Check out those Middle Eastern spices, herbies, meats and all!
I have a book I picked up a few years ago entitled, “Kabul” by M.E. Hirsch dealing with the interim period in Afghanistan before the Soviets invaded.
The author takes us to the center of the culture and food of the country while telling a compelling story of how the country was crushed by the Soviet.
But, there are so many passages detailing the menus of various occasions that I found myself constantly munching on something the whole read!
Rice pilaf of all kinds! Roasted lamb and goat cooked a long time over open fires with plenty of spices correct for the meat. Wow! I gained 10 lbs reading those chapter of that book!
So what time will the goat be ready? I don’t have any dinner plans Sunday…..
Sounds like curry would go well with a pancetta laden torte. Then again I just spent today smoking a pork roast with a garam masala spicing, so I don’t really have a sense of what goes and what doesn’t, however, Great-Grandma’s Italian heart would just love a mix of meats to round out a meal. Her ravioli alone had three different kinds. Mix it up Biggles, it’s bound to be good.
And panko crumbs, good call. Can’t wait to see the final product.
Hey,
I’m really hankerin’ for a nice spicy curry full of crazy flavors to go with the goat.
I’ll be the only one eating it, probably have several gallons. I’ll need some volunteers for the leftovers.
Biggles
*hand up* Ooooh! ME, ME, ME, ME *jumping up and down*
I hear curry goes well with beer……especially by the gallon.
Hey M. Wrangler,
Been sitting with it for a few days. I’m changing your name. D-man doesn’t do it for me. However, Monkey Wrangler couldn’t possibly be any better. So, while you may consider yourself a D Man, here at meathenge you will now hereforth be referred to as, Monkey Wrangler.
Honestly, I wished I’d come up with it first. I get to make up my own title at work and while I used to be a Monkey Specialist, Monkey Wrangler is far cooler.
I think I have everything I need to make the goat go, just need to rest a bit first. Been going full steam since 8am.
Biggles
I’m cool with the name change, in fact, I updated my blogger profile to reflect it. However, I managed to spell it correctly (although, maybe you meant “ranger” starting with a W. in the beginning of your post?)
Duh!
Guess I should start signing it that way here too…..
Did I hear Goat curry? Did I? Last time I had some goat curry was in London in England from a small market stall at Camden Lock – it was a west indian goat curry and it was just what it should have been. I think I need some.
You a coffee drinker Biggles by the way? I have started roasting my own and have finally figured it out – so I can drop some on you sometime.
O
Hey Owen,
Funny you axe. I added 2 coffee beans to the toasted cumin and corriander seed action!
Howabout this coming weekend? Mama got herself a fancy 2 bedroom apartment in your neck of the woods.
xo, Biggles
Dang – missed it – am headed out of town for a week so maybe I’ll try to catch up once we are back…