I did some stress cooking over the weekend. As Helene absolutely obliterated huge swaths of the Southeast, there was little else we could do.* It was out of our hands, but our hands still needed to stay busy. I made two great dinners.
On Saturday morning I defrosted about 1/3lb flap steak. If you’ve never had one, it’s a bit like a skirt steak in price and appearance, only more tender. I coated it in a generous amount of kosher salt and let it sit uncovered in the fridge all day, then cooked it about four minutes per side in an insanely hot cast iron skillet. When it was mostly cooled, I sliced it paper thin and tossed the pieces with a whole head of chopped romaine, unruly amounts of dill, cilantro and mint from the yard, a whole red pepper julienned, and a simple apple cider vinegar dressing. It was punchy, bright, super satisfying.
On Sunday I wanted salad again, this time accompanied by more carbs. I keep forgetting and also forgetting to mention that E grew a bajillion russet potatoes? I baked six until soft and fluffy, then whipped their starchy interiors with Greek yogurt, shredded cheese, a couple eggs (the secret to creamy, creamless potatoes), lots of scallions from the yard, mushroom seasoning, and just a touch of diced, crispy lamb sausage. Back into their skins for a second bake. On the side, finely shredded green cabbage and julienned apples tossed with pickled red onions, pickled red onion vinegar dressing, parsley and homemade tofu bacon. Delightful!
Tonight we’re getting delivery. I can’t remember the last time we got delivery, not takeout?? Probably in March of 2020 when E’s office sent us a Postmates giftcard because we were without power for seven days. Does it count if we had to send it to a nearby park while our neighborhood was closed off to thru-traffic? Anyway, we’re doing it now because Two Ten Jack just started offering delivery in Nashville and Chattanooga and gave me a friendly lil discount to tell all my friends! They’re one of my original clients who turned into community over the years and I love them and their food so much. Spicy crab noodles are 100% what I need right now.
If like me, you are a survivor of a major weather disaster, may I suggest you also take it easy today? A year after the 2020 tornado here in Nashville I saw a survivor of 9/11 say something along the lines of, looking at (and being triggered by) the devastation is not required for healing or helping. I think about that all the time.
*Now there are things to do! This week I am sharing ways to help artists and small businesses via Porter Flea’s Instagram stories.
We were lucky - our power came back on after 3 days. Others are still without, likely for several more. We lost the contents of our fridge and couldn’t have cooked anyway. Other areas were up and running, so we took advantage of delivery, too!
And, yes, the devastation is very triggering after having survived Hurricane Hugo and the 1000 yr Flood of 2015. The destruction from Helene is unimaginable…