One of the weekly traditions in my life, the family get-together of four generations, rolled around again today and it was our turn to provide the food, meaning the kitchen was a flurry of activity for three or four hours as the dishes were prepared. The menu was set as follows:
- Main Dish 1: A Chicken Canzanese, which consists of chicken thighs smothered in a reduction of olive oil, prosciutto, garlic cloves, black pepper, flour, white wine, chicken broth, rosemary, sage, bay leaves, red pepper flakes, freshly squeeze lemon juice, salt, and unsalted butter.
- Main Dish 2: A bow tie pasta in red sauce with sausage, seasoned with a hint of red pepper and garlic.
- Side Dish: Aligot Potatoes, which are French style mashed potatoes with Gruyere cheese, mozzarella cheese, whole milk, garlic cloves, unsalted butter, table salt, Yukon Gold potatoes, and ground black pepper blended together.
- Dessert: Pumpkin cupcakes with a cream cheese icing
It all turned out fantastically. The Chicken Canzanese is certainly getting elevated to one of the regular 25 or 30 dishes we keep on reserve to draw upon whenever we want to eat in or cook for friends.
One of the two main dishes we made was Chicken Canzanese. It involves chicken thighs smothered in a reduction of olive oil, prosciutto, garlic cloves, black pepper, flour, white wine, chicken broth, rosemary, sage, bay leaves, red pepper flakes, freshly squeeze lemon juice, salt, and unsalted butter.
The main side dish was Aligot Potatoes (so-called French style mashed potatoes with melted cheeses and garlic blended into it).
The Aligot potatoes called for Gruyere cheese, mozzarella cheese, whole milk, garlic cloves, unsalted butter, table salt, Yukon Gold potatoes, and ground black pepper.
The sausage for the second main dish, a red sauce bow tie pasta mainstay that is one of the family's favorites.
The red sauce for the second dish, a bow tie sausage pasta, simmering on the stove ...
The reduction for the Chicken Canzanese simmering down before being poured on the chicken ...
The little man and I hung out on the floor after dinner. With the nieces and nephews around, it's time for me to have my own kids. I wonder if I could get him to crawl had I thrown a $100 on the floor in front of him. Then we'd definitely know he was related. Later that night, after several hours with the adults, this was followed by an hour of snacking on marshmallows with my 3-year-old niece watching Disney Channel programming.
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Author: Joshua Kennon
https://www.joshuakennon.com Joshua Kennon is a Managing Director of Kennon-Green & Co., a private asset management firm specializing in global value investing for affluent and high net worth individuals, families, and institutions. Nothing in this article or on this site, which is Mr. Kennon's personal blog, is intended to be, nor should it be construed as, investment advice, a recommendation, or an offer to buy or sell a security or securities. Investing can result in losses, sometimes significant losses. Prior to taking any action involving your finances or portfolio, you should consult with your own qualified professional advisor(s), such as an investment advisor, tax specialist, and/or attorney, who can help you consider your unique needs, circumstances, risk tolerance, and other relevant factors.