Tuesday, August 05, 2008

So Meaty*

I am a carnivore. I love meat. I adore meat. If it's barbecued, fried, smoked, grilled or broiled, I'll scarf it down before it hits my plate. If it's beef, chicken, fish or even pork, it's bound to be sliding down my gullet before you can identify it. Especially beef ribs. Or brisket. Or fried chicken. Or bacon cheeseburgers. Or halibut, which became my new favorite fish from Alaska.




Did I mention I got married at a barbecue restaurant? And ate ribs in my white lacy wedding dress? Don't worry. I stuffed a napkin in my boobs before tearing into it.

So this Sunday, after driving back from Austin, my husband did the most wonderful thing a husband could do.

He fixed me meat pocket pies.



Not only did he cook, but he insisted I sit on the couch and ponder over the mysteries of Kimora Lee Simmons while the Babies curled up in my lap.


I knew there was a reason I married him.


First, he took the ground beef and sprinkled a package of taco seasoning over it. He added rice, poured in some cholula sauce and poured in the amount of water for both the rice and seasoning. Then he let it simmer while he started on the dough.

Then, he followed Alton Brown's recipe for pocket pies to create the dough. By this point, the Babies were drooling on my leg. I was drooling on their heads waiting in anticipation.



He rolled out little circles of dough on parchment paper, then slathered each one in egg wash and stuffed the meat and rice mixture inside. Then he shoved them in the oven at 350 degrees for thirty minutes.

Now, I know what you're thinking. I can see the thoughts spinning around your brains. Why beef and rice? Why not beef and potatoes and veggies in broth or chicken pot pie or beef and pepperoni in tomato sauce or sausage?



You see, Ben had a dream.

As a child in Louisiana, Ben grew up eating deep fried meat pies stuffed with meat and rice and all sorts of Cajun things. And while these pies weren't deep fried, they were enough to bring a huge smile to a face and a tear to his eye.


He was so delighted with his success that he took me out for peanut butter ice cream. What a guy. No man can compete with meat pies and peanut butter ice cream, ladies. The man has stolen my heart.


However, let's not forget the most important thing. Ben recreated a nostalgic dream of childhood in our humble little kitchen.


And that, Invisible Friends, is a beautiful thing. Almost as beautiful as a meat pie.

*(Did you get the Talk Soup reference?)

8 comments:

Marie Rayner said...

There is nothing more delicious than the sight of a man cooking in the kitchen . . . well at least when it belongs to you. (I'm not talking Gordon Ramsay here, I can't stand him!) What a sweetie you have here in your Ben, and he cooks, and little meat pies too! They sound incredibly yummy! My Todd's idea of cooking is holding a tin in one hand and a tin opener in the other! Blah! However, he does make good scrambled eggs . . . oh, and toast. Both of which taste incredibly good after a long day at work!

grace said...

you've found yourself a keeper, that's for darn sure! i like pies. i like meat. why shouldn't i like a meat pie? tell him i said nice work. :)

Anonymous said...

Okay that is brave...BBQ in a wedding dress..I love it!

And what a great husband...those pies look great!

Jen @ tatertotsandjello.com said...

You are so lucky to have a man who loves to cook! Your meat pies look delicious. My hubby makes a mean omelet -- ha, ha. Thanks for sharing!

Anonymous said...

Ben is getting to be quite masterful in the kitchen....so proud of him! I think that perhaps it is his way to relieve stress. I think it's great. Frank, too, is quite creative in the kitchen tho' sometimes he gets carried away and mixes strange concoctions that only he will eat. I'm glad Ben cooks for you...it makes him even dearer and he was already pretty special!!

Anonymous said...

Great story, and I am a fan of meat pies. I use to have a shop across the streat from a bakery that made meat pies. Treated myself to some every Saturday morning.

Bunny said...

you are one lucky girl!! i'm gonna have to try this! my husband doesn't cook,he'll grill but not cook. Great job Ben!!!

hoLLy said...

we love us some meat over here too! you can't be a texan and not love some good bbq! and you can't be chamorro(my hubby is from guam) and not love some good island style ribs.

what a great hubby to make that for you! i love it when joey cooks for me because not only is it so delicious, its made with love:) all men should cook for their wives every once in a while i say!