Declaring a Specialty Recipe and Grocery List January 28 to February 3

Who knew choosing between a team whose star was charged with obstruction of justice and a team who took out Vancouver’s closest chance to getting into the Super Bowl in this weekend’s Super Bowl matchup would be easier than selecting my meal “specialty.”

For this year’s Super Bowl festivities, I’ve been invited down to a friend’s house in the States for a pot luck. Point of tension number 1: Americans seem more scrutinizing on Super Bowl food – it’s all that infamous tailgate culture. (Note to self: Start tailgating outside the Vancouver Art Gallery and say I’m doing testing for a food truck idea.)

The host then informed us of this year’s pot luck theme: specialties. Point of tension number 2: What the hell is my specialty? After suffering a mild panic attack, I defaulted. “Aah, it’s OK, I’m good at ribs.” His response: “HA! You gonna try and make ribs? You crazy! I make some damn good ribs ’round here.” Oh crap.

I fret. This invitation is basically an invitation to your performance review at work. You think you are pretty darn amazing, and dream of people swooning over your work because you’re the best thing since the Snuggie. But then the reality check/review comes: “Yup, not bad, keep it up. Everyone has room for improvement” Sad faces.

But at work, I could get over it.

Hearing “Not bad,” over my savoury and salty Orange Soy Ribs? That would be a dagger in my heart. “Keep it up,” over my Cauliflower Mac and Cheese, weaved with chorizo grease and tangy cream cheese? A knife in my back.  ”Everyone has room for improvement.” over the sweet, sticky and spicy Vietnamese Lemongrass Chicken? There is no metaphor for that one. See Jack Nicholson at a Lakers Game for a preview of what may happen if anyone dare insult those scrumptious thighs.

So, let’s start the tests in the lab, to find the head for the Super Bowl Pot Luck table (read: the block).

Grocery List and Where to Shop

Monday - Vietnamese Lemongrass Chicken

Tuesday - Orange and Soy-Glazed Ribs on rice

Wednesday - Korean Barbecue Ribs on rice with

Thursday - Cauliflower Mac’n'Cheese

Friday - Vegetarian Feijoada, with chorizo

Saturday - Mexican Brisket with Refried Beans

Grocery List

Safeway

• 4 racks pork back ribs (2 packages)
• 1 bag Kraft cheese mix (your choice)
• macaroni noodles
• 7 chorizos
• Chinese soy sauce
• 1 carton orange juice
• 2 cans diced tomatoes
• 1 piece brisket
• 2 to 3 cans black beans
• 2 to 3 cans pinto beans
• 1 can chipotles in adobo
• 1 package cream cheese
• 1 package chicken thighs
• 1 package sage leaves

Kin’s Farm Market

• 1 bag onion
• 2 kiwis
• 1 head cauliflower
• 1 bunch cilantro
• 3 red peppers
• 1 green pepper
• 1 piece ginger
• 1 bunch green onions
• 2 packages shallots
• 1 package chiles
• 2 Asian pears
• 2 bunches lemongrass
• 4 tomatoes on the vine
• celery

Costco

• 1 bag brown basmati rice

Tips for the Week

Tips to come…I’ll have to wait for my blood to stop boiling at thought of a nose going up at any of these meals, before writing the rest of this post out.