SUCH A NIGHT!

Such a night! Oh yes, it really was....such a night! Elvis: 1957
Fall Flavors Class ROCKED!!! My thanks to all of you who participated, as you made the class. I'm so glad you liked all of the foods, and I want to hear from you when you try out the recipes. Someone asked me last night about the fact that I was using heavy cream in the soup vs. the half-and-half it called for on the recipe. Hey....you can do anything you wish there! It's all good. I used heavy cream because of its extra creamy consistancy, AND the fact that I was buying it for the ragout and just kept, uh, BUYING it. OMG, I couldn't stop myself. So there ya go!
Isn't it amazing what you can do with root vegetables?? The mix of carrots, parsnips, turnip root and sweet potatoes was really amazing. My good friend April said that she actually ate turnip root and LIKED IT! What a flippin' concept. Sometimes the simplest of ingredients can be the true flavor sensation you were really looking for. I love telling cooking stories about my family, and I will tell a lot more as time goes on. My mom and dad made us try everything ONCE: if you like it, great. If not, that's okay....you tried it. It's fun to try new foods for the first time and see that there are many more options that perhaps you weren't aware of. Granted, using these root veggies like this can't be compared to Andrew Zimmerman eating snake eyeballs or lizard lips. Ain't doing that, pal. Not today; not ever! but think about things as a child that Totally Grossed you out: brussel sprouts, spinach, liver. Now me? I loved all those things 'cuz my little mommy made me try them AND she knew how to cook them so I would LOVE them. The root veggies such as the parsnips and the turnip root could affect a red blooded American in such a way. Parsnips are excellent if you puree them and add some butter and sour cream, just like mashed potatoes. Or roast them all as we did last night. Don't be afraid! You may like it.
Okay, I'm getting ready for another Clemson Tiger game and believe or not, I'm gonna be cooking A LOT! (have you noticed I like upper case letters and !! ??) My son's girlfriend is coming and we loooooove her, so I will make anything she wants, 'nuff said. Well, that's about all I have for today. My little brain is tired from our class, but I'll be back on it after some rest and 16 glasses of wine. heeheehee Until next time, America: Cheers! Chef Mark "Chunkman" Pollard: Father to some groovy kids, Friend to many nuts like me, and Husband of a Princess!!