Dinner at the Last Minute

If it weren't for the last minute, nothing would get done.
    - Anonymous

I had planned to briefly abandon G tonight.   Only briefly, of course, since I wouldn't do very well (eatsleepbreathemovethinktalk) without him for any substantive length of time.  The plan was to survive a dinner apart, which we do upon occasion.  I was off to dine downtown with girlfriends, and leave poor G to fend for himself with leftovers.  It wouldn't really have been as bleak as it sounds, since there are actually some very good leftovers in the house.  They're based on the remains of our big Farmers' Diner ham:  a macaroni gratin with ham, and a split pea-barley-vegetable soup based on the ham bone.

But the plans went awry.  Girlfriends cancelled, and here I was at home.  We debated eating leftovers, going out, or ordering some take-out.  At the penultimate moment, I decided to make dinner.  As soon as I said "burgers" while listing possibilities, G's eyes lit up, so I knew that was the right call.  I took out some lovely organic beef to defrost, and thought about what could go alongside.  Oven fries, that was the ticket.  Long russets got sliced into large fingers, soaked in ice-water and dried thoroughly.  I melted some sweet butter and olive oil together on a baking sheet, and sprinkled on Provençal herb salt, cayenne, and smoked sweet paprika.  After swirling this together in the oil/butter mix, I tossed the potato wedges in the pan, making sure everything was well-coated.  Baked in a hot (450F) oven for 1/2 hour, turned once or twice during that time, they came out crisp, brown, not at all greasy, tasting of spices but also very much of themselves, their good stolid potato selves. 

For myself I made a fairly plain burger:  just a spice coating, a slice of tomato and some pan juices.  I forewent bread, since I wanted potatoes and I get too full if I overdo the carbs.  G got the works with lots of spices, 2 cheeses, and slices of spicy salami laid atop the burger on a toasted brioche roll. 

But we needed something green with this "treat" meal.  Here's where inspiration truly played its role.  I made a salad that was completely spur of the moment -- but I know I'll make it again.  It was composed of mixed greens (nice stuff -- baby lettuces, raddichio, etc. ), cucumbers, purple onion, slices of red pear and slivers of cave-aged Gruyere cheese, dressed in a light blood-orange vinaigrette.  This was a salad that would be wonderful with many other sorts of meals than a burger dinner.  It was like having a light fruit-and-cheese course and a salad course all in one. 

Occasionally we just have to make the best of what we've got -- and upon occasion, that ends up being the time that we actually make something very good indeed -- even at the last minute.