Smashed Potatoes

Saw Jamie on Oprah last week and agreed with his philosophy of creating healthy, home-cooked meals. I had become a lazy cook, resorting to fast food and quick solutions, and in the process had become obese myself. I didn't want this to be the legacy I passed on to my family. So I bought his cookbook on Sunday and downloaded other new recipes from the Food Network for ideas for Tuesday's Passover dinner. I decided it was time to change, and I would write a blog about my experiences to force me to be disciplined and accountable.

On Monday, I made 7 quarts of homemade chicken broth for the matzoh ball soup, with four kinds of fresh herbs, onions, carrots, celery and parsnips. I  purchased my first brisket from the butcher, and had that roasting in the oven with a garlic/oregano rub, fresh veggies and a tomato sauce. I made charoses from Emeril's recipe, a yummy mix of apples, cinnamon, walnuts, sugar and wine. The kitchen smelled delicious! As I took the brisket out of the oven, our yellow lab, Sammy, came up behind me. When I stepped back and bumped into him, I tilted the heavy roasting pan and poured the boiling sauce down my leg.  I managed to save the brisket and place it on top of the stove. I remember screaming and Harold, my husband, yelled at me to take my jeans off. He put my foot in a bowl of cold water and wrapped my thigh in a wet towel.  I found myself in the emergency room with second degree burns, and spent the first night of Passover dozing  at home on pain medication.   So my first cooking photos are not what I expected....

By the way, we had 12 people for dinner on Tuesday night, and the brisket and soup were simply delicious. I addded some chopped parsley to the matzoh balls and they were the fluffiest yet. I  made Jamie's smashed potatoes with just the olive oil, salt and pepper, steamed asparagus, and a fruit cobbler along with a salad. I think I should be an honorary Jew now, having survived a brisket injury on Passover!