December 26, 2009

It is not the Holidays without Pyrotechnic Pyrex!

The YDMV crew is having a very merry Christmas.


That means a lot of cooking on my part. The 24th is Mrs YDMV’s birthday. It is the feast of the year at our house. We break out the good china and fancy glass. We do a huge dinner, sing happy birthday, party and build some momentum into Christmas when I also cook like crazy.

The birthday tradition has become dijon rosemary lamb chops. But since not everyone loves lamb I also make a rare tenderloin roast. On the side there are stir fired veggies, roasted dijon with oregano red potatoes (leftovers make KILLER home fires so make extra), fresh salad with a basal vinaigrette, cesar for Blair (he has chowed back so much salad this week I have run through 10 heads of romaine.) Dessert was a variation on bananas napoleon. Creme brulee, chocolate and carmel sauce with bananas, fresh whipped cream and phyllo shaped with holiday cookies cutters, dusted with confectioners sugar to look like snow. (SWAG the carbs on that, I have no idea and I don’t care. It’s mom’s birthday, diabetes can take a pass.)

I cooked two entrees that use radically different oven temperatures in my one oven. 260 and 450. That requires some juggling. Now I have been using a lot of 10/18 stainless this year. One of its many virtues is you can hit to with a quick quench.

Pyrex not so much. If you inadvertently hit a 450 degree Pyrex 9x13 with a shock of cold water, it explodes. Violently. In your sink. Bits go down into the garbage disposal. Some very sharp bits. It is however very spectacular and entertaining it its own right. Like fireworks in your very own kitchen. The key is to minimize the blood / food interaction. Oh and find the allen key that frees up stuck garbage disposals after dinner.

Happy Christmas, Merry Chanukah, have a great New Years and don’t forget the festive blowing up of cookware.

3 comments :

  1. BTDT last year, Bennett - pyrotechnic Pyrex with Sweet Potatoes, courtesy of turning on the burner underneath the Pyrex by mistake, and then attempting to lift the dish!!!

    Happy belated birthday, Kimball, and kudos on the added touch of the pyrotechnics!

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  2. Sorry about that...I didn't spell your name right! Hate it when that happens. My maiden name is Bennett with the two ts, so it's habit!!

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  3. Spectacular! It isn't a party until someone explodes some Pyrex! Hope your holiday was happy. Happy New Year too! Just think, what will you explode for that event?????

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