Thursday, August 26, 2010

Dinner with Sam the critic -- Part II or do not make this dessert

Well, as I said in the previous post we had friends for dinner. The Rick Bayless dish was wonderful. I also made my favorite Zarela Martinez "Rice with Pablano" casserole. I could eat this for dinner by itself.

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Crappy picture but I was really not into taking pictures that night. I was nervous enough with being critiqued by Sam. I think that Sam might have even nibbled at this dish. I am not sure though because we really were having an intense conversation about him not wanting to look at me and poopie heads and things like that (if you don't know what I am talking about read previous post...it might help).

Then came time for dessert. Uh oh. My real weakness and Dr Food dislikes sweets about as much as I do so he is never any help (I love you honey). This dessert was one that my sis told me about. So after like 5 phone calls to her I made it.

Um....I don't think this is how it was suppose to look.

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Ok ok stay with me. In Sam's eyes I am still "the famous blogger" that his father told him that I was. This was an angel food cake layered with blueberries that I picked with my own two hands. What a horrible waste of my hard work in picking those blueberries. It was a mess and although our polite guests said that it tasted good I didn't agree. Sorry Sis, I must have lost something in the translation. The good news was that Sam the critic had opted for the vanilla ice cream. Whew, dodged THAT bullet.

I just saw that this recipe that I have been making for years was on Food Networks "The Best Thing I Ever Ate" It is pretty damn good.

Creamy Rice Casserole; Arroz con Crema
Zarela Martinez
Recipe:
4 cups water
2 cups Uncle Ben’s or other converted rice
1 Tablespoon butter
2 teaspoons salt

For the sour cream mixture (crema agria preparada):
2 cups sour cream
1/2 cup chopped onion
1/4 cup chopped cilantro

1 minced garlic clove
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
2 poblano chiles, roasted, peeled and deveined
1/2 cup chopped onion
1 garlic clove
2 cups corn (or 16 oz can drained)
1/2 pound grated white cheddar cheese

1.- Bring water to a boil and add buttter and salt. When the butter is melted,
add the rice and bring back to a boil. Lower the heat to very low, cover the
rice with a tight-fitting lid and cook for 25 to 30 minutes, Take rice out of
the saucepan and spread on a baking sheet to cool or allow to cool in the pan
uncovered.

2.- Meanwhile, combine the sour cream with the chopped onion and cilantro
and add salt to taste.

3.- Heat the oil in a frying pan and add the chopped onion and garlic clove.
Dice the poblanos and add to pan when the onion is wilted. Saute for one
minute. Let cool and combine with the rice.

4.- Drain the can of corn well (or use the fresh corn) and add to the cool rice and poblano mixture.
Add the sour cream mixture and mix in the grated cheese.

5.- Bake for 30 minutes or until heated through in a 350 degree oven. If
using a pyrex dish, the oven temperature should be 325 degrees.

9 comments :

  1. I always want to help when it comes to dessert. I like cheesecake and creme brulee. If you ask me what to serve for dessert I will suggest either one. :) So do not try to tell your loyal readers that I cannot help with dessert ideas! I have two of them! As far as I am concerned the dessert menu can end there. :)

    Dr. Food

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  2. cheddar and corn wow this is unreal sounding cant wait to try this been looking for a good side, this is it!

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  3. I had to laugh, I feel your dessert pain, I like to cook savory food and savory food likes to be cooked by me, but sweets won't have any part of it. They glare at me from the oven as they won't rise, or giggle as they harden into rocks or magically make lumps appear in what was smooth pudding...

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  4. oooohh, this looks deadly good!Thanks for the warning about the dessert in case I'm ever tempted by anything resembling this.

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  5. Dr Food: Your ideas got old 3 years ago but don't worry because I still love you.

    Pegasus: This is one of my very favorites

    Food: Beat those desserts into submission. They are really whimps.

    Kathy: NEVER make anything resembling this. When I mentioned it to my mother she said "I made it too and it was awful". My sis was setting us up. I think she really was always sorry that I came along and stole her thunder. (Just joking Joycie).

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  6. Looks so good, sorry about your dessert :( The sour cream mixture sounds delicious... Fun post as well as the last :)

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  7. I still can't figure out what that blueberry thing is supposed to be (sorry). I love it when people post the disasters as well as the successes. Shows how human we really are! The casserole; wonderful! I love rice casseroles. Thanks for passing that one along (I don't need the dessert.....really). :)

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  8. Mom Chef: The blueberry thing was angel food cake layered with fresh blueberries that I had picked. Not good.

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  9. Mom Chef: The blueberry thing was angel food cake layered with fresh blueberries that I had picked. Not good.

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