Ohmygawdyouguys. Huz made the best freaking dinner last night which was perfect, perfect I say!, for an icy wintery night. I neglected to take any pictures, as I was too busy slurping down the hot, slightly sweet, oniony, porky goodness of the stew, so here's the stock photo from epicurious for you to drool over.
As I ate this I pinned for a bacon old-fashioned, but we don't have any bacon-infused bourbon. Just my luck, when I arrived at some friend's for gamenight I was offered a bacon old-fashioned when I walked in their door! Talk about a perfect piggy-infused evening. Anthony Bourdain would have been proud (and jealous).
Speaking of piggy, I'm reading Julie Powell's (of "Julie and Julia" book and movie fame) new book "Cleaving" and it has to be one of the most difficult, yet can't-stop-reading books I've met. She's an apprentice butcher and talks at length about the not-so-niceties of animal guts, bones, fat, sinew, etc. as well as the not-so-niceties of a failing marriage and extramarital affairs (including anonymous sex - what happened to the girl I identified with so well with* in the last book?!).
*Not that I loved the last book, because I didn't, but I identified with Julie's love of food, disdain for her 9-5, and her marriage because, like Huz and I, she got married young and survived it - or at least I thought she did.
Anyway, back to the goodness of my pork dinner. Note to Tennesseans: apparently there are more perverse liquor laws here than I knew. Not only can you not buy wine in the grocery store (and then you have to buy wine and beer at separate liquor stores due to alcohol content), but you also can't buy beer (or hard cider, as the recipe calls for) before noon on a Sunday. Because God wouldn't have that. Oh, no. So, Huz subbed beer we had at home for the cider and some bourbon for the brandy.
Go forth and enjoy you some piggy!
Pork Stew with Hard Cider, Pearl Onions, and Potatoes
(From Bon Appetit, February 2010)- 30 1-inch-diameter pearl onions (from two 10-ounce bags)
- 5 slices thick-cut bacon (preferably applewood-smoked), cut crosswise into 1/4-inch-thick strips
- 3 1/2 pounds boneless pork shoulder (Boston butt) or boneless country ribs, external fat trimmed, cut into 2-inch cubes
- Coarse kosher salt
- 1 cup chopped shallots (about 4 large)
- 1 cup finely chopped parsnips
- 6 teaspoons chopped fresh sage, divided
- 1/2 cup plus 1 tablespoon Calvados (apple brandy; optional)
- 2 cups low-salt chicken broth
- 1 12-ounce bottle hard apple cider*
- 1 1/2 pounds unpeeled baby red potatoes (about 2 inches in diameter), scrubbed, halved
- 2 large Granny Smith apples, peeled, cored, cut into 1-inch cubes (about 3 cups)
- 2 tablespoons (1/4 stick) butter, room temperature
- 2 tablespoons all purpose flour
- 1 tablespoon whole grain Dijon mustard
Cook bacon in heavy large pot over medium heat until lightly browned. Using slotted spoon, transfer bacon to paper towels to drain. Sprinkle pork shoulder with coarse salt and pepper. Increase heat to medium-high. Working in 2 batches, add pork to same pot and cook until browned, about 7 minutes per batch. Using slotted spoon, transfer pork to large bowl. Reduce heat to medium; add shallots and parsnips. Cover pot and cook until beginning to soften, stirring occasionally, about 5 minutes. Stir in 3 teaspoons sage; stir 1 minute. Add 1/2 cup Calvados, if using; cook until almost evaporated, about 3 minutes. Add broth, cider, reserved bacon, and pork with any accumulated juices. Bring to boil, scraping up any browned bits with wooden spoon. Reduce heat to medium-low; cover and simmer until pork is tender, about 1 hour 15 minutes.
Add potatoes and pearl onions to stew; cover and cook until vegetables are almost tender, about 30 minutes. Add apples; cover and cook until potatoes are tender, 15 to 20 minutes. Spoon fat from surface of juices, if necessary. Stir butter and flour in small bowl to form paste; add to pot and whisk to blend. Stir in mustard, 2 teaspoons sage, and 1 tablespoon Calvados, if using. Bring to boil; reduce heat to medium and simmer until thickened, stirring often, 2 to 3 minutes. Season to taste with salt and pepper. DO AHEAD: Stew can be made 1 day ahead. Cool slightly. Refrigerate uncovered until cold, then cover and keep chilled. Simmer stew over medium heat to rewarm before serving.
Divide stew among bowls, sprinkle with remaining 1 teaspoon sage, and serve.
* Alcoholic apple cider; available in the liquor department of most supermarkets and at liquor stores.
