Episode 36: Momma Slaw adds "Easy Elegance", Ultimate SLAW Organizer "SPA" and expanding Mr X.

By CRUZ | EDITOR in CHIEF

Published: May 24th, 2011
The SLAW to beat hands down.  Spa organized an excellent meal fit for a proper Office lunch.  Spa's mom was visiting town and generously volunteered to make an excellent meal for our team SLAW.  Not only that, she picked out a name for herself and added couple of more meanings to SLAW.

"Skip Lunch and Walk"

"Skip Lunch and Work"

As for her name, she picked SLAW but team SLAW officially named her 

Momma SLAW.

Click on picture to enlarge

Back to Spa's organization, coordination and imagination; She pulled an awesome office lunch together.  Main Entrée was cooked by Spa and Momma SLAW, side was outsourced to Cruz's mom (thanks mom), while desserts and salad were supplied by fine stores located on Madison Ave (graded A and B respectively by the City of New York)
Spa Brought:
1. Chicken Florentine
2. White Basmati RIce
3. Mix Salad with almonds and cranberries (From City Market Cafe)
4. 1/2 lbs of assorted Cookies from William Greenberg Desserts
We are known to eat quickly but today the main entrée was served and gone in record time.  

Spa scraped dried cheese/spinach and Mr X gladly took it like it was Foie Gras.  Speaking of Foie Gras, Mr X added one more member to his lovely family.  A Pekin Duck. He was also starving and had more than normal cookies which is why I referenced him in the title, the expanding Mr X. (Editor's Note: I should start a comic book called the Expanding Mr X, kinda sounds like Plastic Man from 1941 but different) Now back to the blog.

Cash talked about re-designing or changing his house layout (he is "expanding" his house and shrinking his cash simultaneously).
This lunch brought back memories of the 50's, a real home made hearty American meal, "elegant but easy".  Mr X seemed very touched by the whole affair.  Cookies were delicious, side of rice was good (complimented the Chicken Florentine) and salad made me feel that the whole thing was super healthy and diet friendly.

I would like to pass thanks to all mom's of team SLAW.  For this episode, special thanks goes to Spa's Momma SLAW and Cruz's mom. Hours of effort, usually scarfed down in minutes but we all really appreciate it. I guess the best thank you to any chef is this picture below...

In a behind the scenes SLAW fashion, I am sharing an e-mail written from Momma SLAW to Spa earlier today about the cookbook and recipe for the delicious and nostalgic Chicken Florentine.
"The cookbook is THE ELEGANT BUT EASY COOKBOOK by Marian Fox Burros and Lois Levine.  Published by Maximillan Company, NYC in 1960.  It was my entertaining bible, lots of make ahead recipes and guidance on planning a large dinner party (what day of the week to shop, set the table, cook etc.)  Their most optimistic advice for the hostess is to "keep a few practically cooked meals in your freezer so you can never be caught short" when hubby brings the boss home unexpectedly for dinner.  All you have to do is put your make-up on and take your apron off.  a long, long time ago in a kingdom far away.  love, mama"
You can pick up a copy of the original on Ebay.  One from 1967 is currently available, only for $8.98.
http://cgi.ebay.com/130520376888

Editor's Note: By the way, I had posted the blog and was in bed when I realized that I may have spelled momma wrong since Spa's mom wrote mama and not momma.  Since all artwork is done, I am hoping this is OK.  (See, I even Googled the word)