Saturday, December 3, 2011

I feel sad before I could feel happy

Braised short ribs
Adapted from Foodnet.com




Ingredients:
6 bone-in short ribs (about 5 3/4 pounds)
Kosher salt
Extra-virgin olive oil
1 large onion, cut into 1/2-inch pieces
2 ribs celery, cut into 1/2-inch pieces
2 carrots, peeled, cut in 1/2 lengthwise, then cut into 1/2-inch pieces
1 head of cauliflower
1 head of brocolli
2 cloves garlic, smashed
1 1/2 cups tomato paste
2 cups red wine
2 C chicken stock
1 bunch fresh thyme, tied with kitchen string
2 bay leaves
1 tbs brown sugar

1 tbs salt
1 tsp chilli powder

1 tsp smoked paprika

1 tsp mustard powder

1 tsp ground cumin


Method:
Season each short rib generously with salt chilli powder, smoked paprika, mustard power and ground cumin. Coat a pot large enough to accommodate all the meat and vegetables with olive oil and bring to a high heat. Add the short ribs to the pot and brown very well, about 2 to 3 minutes per side.

Preheat the oven to 180c or 375 degrees F.

While the short ribs are browing, steam cauliflower and brocolli till soft and set aside for garnishing later. When the short ribs are very brown on all sides, remove them from the pot. Drain the fat, coat the bottom of same pot with fresh oil and add the vegetables. Season the vegetables generously a pinch of  salt and sauté till soft,  approximately 5 to 7 minutes. Add the red wine and then the tomato paste and bring to boil. Return the short ribs to the pot and add 2 cups chicken stock or until the stock has just about covered the meat. Add the thyme bundle and bay leaves. Cover the pot and place in the preheated oven for 3 hours. Check periodically during the cooking process and add more water, if needed. Turn the ribs over halfway through the cooking time. Remove the lid during the last 20 minutes of cooking to let things get nice and brown and to let the sauce reduce. When done the meat should be very tender but not falling apart. Serve with the braising liquid and garnish with steam cauliflower and brocolli.

Footnote: My Quay Lo says "two thumbs up"


Note: I am submitting this to the Christmas Giveaway in The Sweet Spot

32 comments:

  1. this post cements our friendship!

    very wise & dear are you-



    Aloha from Waikiki

    Comfort Spiral

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  2. Having to lose someone so dear to us is heartbreaking. That person still live in our memory for the longest time. I share your feeling because I lost my youngest sister to cancer 6 years ago. I believe you reserve a special place for Micheal in your heart although he passed on 20 years ago. Mine always is.

    Re the pork ribs, er... I still prefer Asian one. Need more time to learn and adjust to Western style :p

    p/s: Micheal was a handsome lad then.

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  3. Sorry to hear of your loss.

    As for the ribs, they look spicy and tasty. Nice to have some rice or bread to soak up the sauce.

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  4. Sad to read this post. It must be tough to lose your loved one. Like you, I also selfish, that I wish I gone first before my hubby so I do not need to suffer without him! :p

    I still prefer the Chinese way of cooking pork rib! hahaha! But once a while, I indulge in the Western cooking of pork ribs.

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  5. I too have this feeling of sadness during Chinese New Year. There is no joy as my son has been absent from the reunion dinner table since he went overseas to study. Now he is back but due to the nature of his work (and also distance) he is still absent. However i am feel comforted that he is a filial son who will come home at other time when he has leave.

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  6. My mom always fear phone calls at odd hours. I still remember the day we got a phone call from my dad's friend at 5am telling my mom he saw his car in a fatal accident, way before the police came to inform us.

    The ribs look beautiful in red :)
    I'd love to have them with some mash, please.

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  7. Beautiful musings, Quay Po. We have feelings for a reason: to feel. Hugs.

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  8. Quay Po I am so sorry that you have had such sorrow, but how wonderful that your Quay Lo understands and helps you through the difficult times.

    Those who love deeply also hurt deeply. You have a good, loving and giving heart; so much better than going through life without love.

    xx

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  9. I am truly sorry for your loss. I think you described the pain perfectly - knife piercing. My greatest fear is losing my loved ones too. It is something that you can never forget for the rest of your life. I'm glad you have Quay Lo by your side now to get through the tough times. He's such a blessing to you.
    Short ribs look good! :)

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  10. like chinese say "Sin fu hau thim"(Bitter 1st then sweet). Glad you have Quay Lo by your side now.

    Cant really imagine how to eat the pork rib like that.

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  11. Yes, memories are treasures to cherish always and hold close to our hearts.

    "It always pleases me to see those I love, happy. My own happiness is very dependent on theirs." I couldn't agree more...even if it entails some sacrifice on our parts sometimes - that's what true love is.

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  12. We tend to revive our memories, good or bad, around the time the event happened, so it's not surprising that you are remembering someone you'd lost...for good or bad, it shall pass and hopefully time will heal the pain but still brings back warm memories...hope you have a wonderful weekend, I would love to have a taste of that beautiful pork ribs dish of yours:)

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  13. feel sad after read this.....
    but now you have a good quay lo, he always make u fun and joy :)

    Ps: yr first husband looks handsome, like hongkong movie star..

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  14. The ribs look fantastic.

    Greetings,
    Filip

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  15. I can relate . My only brother died last year and I still can't accept it but time heals all wounds so .... On a happier note :D will eat any ribs as long as it's delicious and yours classified as such ;D

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  16. A beautiful post! I cannot imagine how it must feel to lose your husband. It is already hard enough when family members die of old age...

    That dish is very scrumptious looking! A great way of preparing short ribs.

    Cheers,

    Rosa

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  17. I lost my only brother 50 years ago, but he still is a very strong memory in my heart. So often I wish he was still here. Both my parents have now gone, and as they were only children I have no aunts, uncles or cousins. Thank goodness for Nigel.

    I have some ribs in the freezer and this sounds perfect for them. Take care Diane

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  18. Read ur post makes me precious my family more...

    i do love pork ribs, the one i tasted in TGI Friday,US and the babyback ribs...tkz for sharing the recipe and bring back my sweet memory of ribs in US;p

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  19. I'm really glad you found Quay Lo to be there by your side for many years to come :) And yes, I'm also struck by the same kind of melancholy, though not at this time, but at others when I get reminded of certain things that happened to my family members who have passed on.

    That said, I think I like both styles of pork ribs equally :D

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  20. I'm sos sorry for your loss, I can see how this time of year would be hard for you but what wonderful memories and you have a new love in your life to help you carry on, beautiful post today and those ribs look fall aprt tender , yummy!
    Be happy, your first husband would want you to enjoy life, I too am hoping IO pass first, selfish I am.

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  21. I am so sorry for your loss and I can empathize with your grief. I lost my mom about 8 years ago and my siblings and I are still struggling everyday. Perhaps because there were a lot of things we wanted to do for her which have not been fulfilled. Her sudden passing away was so shocking, she was but there then next gone. And her birthday is coming soon,31 December and I know what you mean that we miss them more especially during festive season.
    Happy that you managed to find a new love again and to a wonderful person too. Am sure that is what your late husband would have wished for you. Let's hold on to the memories.

    Love the pics of ribs, and really look yummy.
    cheers
    Angie

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  22. Sorry to hear that. I remember i sent my father to hospital at midnight and i was jobless at that time too..it was really tough. Wish you and Quay Lo "pak tau dooh looh".

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  23. You know, I have something common with you, I understand very well, how painful and the loss of losing someone we love.... my John passed away in 1997... he was 38..I was 37.. and we have 3 wonderful kids, but when he left us, they were only 3, 6 and 9 years of age..
    Though it has been more than 14 years since he left us, the memories will always stay embedded in our minds.. our hearts...

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  24. It's ok to feel sad, dear Lucy. It's things like these that make us a more understanding individual and more tolerant of the world and of course, a stronger person ... all that you are. Hug! I'd like to hug those ribs too! Yum!

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  25. My mom goes through the same sort of depression around the holidays since my dad died. She just wrote about it in her grief blog.

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  26. Life is about fulfilling our destiny and doing what we have always wanted to do,no? I am glad that your late husband managed to fulfill his dream of visiting the States and for you to share that memory with him is priceless.

    Braised Short Ribs......I am making barbeque ribs for dinner tomorrow. They are sitting in the fridge now. Will be really good tomorrow. Coincidence? I love ribs that comes in a rack! The bigger the better....Yum!

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  27. you are now blesses with your quay lo, from what i always read, he's really a lovinghusband despite all the rules he made in your earlier post! yes, your pork ribs..that's mouth watering!!

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  28. Thank GOd for your quay lo to fill the emptiness in your life and a wonderful son who is on his way to becoming a well known artiste :)

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  29. What a sad story, I am so sorry for your loss. I lost my mother in 2006 so I understand the pain of losing someone you love. I can't even imagine losing my husband, he is my best friend. I am glad you found someone to comfort you and make you happy. xoxo

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  30. @All
    Thanks for all the kind words. Your care and concern means a lot to me:D

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  31. I can relate very much to this post. I too feel sad before I could feel happy. Especially with Christmas drawing near. Missing my daddy sooooo much. I don't really have a plan on how to even celebrate it this year. :'(

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