Movin On Up to the East Side Dishes

Sometimes side dishes are almost as important as the entree. In our house, we rely on three mainstays to compliment the main course: Carolina rice, garlic mashed potatoes and pepperonata. I'll start with the rice, as this is no ordinary grain. Carolina Plantation Aromatic Rice, to be exact, is a delectable brown rice that I got turned onto a few years ago on a trip to South Carolina. The Low Country is known for great food, and in1996 some folks decided to bring back a long tradition of rice production. The taste and the aroma are like no other, and you will certainly never go back to white or even basmati. You need to order it on line at carolinaplantationrice.com, and don't be dismayed by the cost - it is worth it. Goes well with any meat and is to die for when drizzled with aged balsamic vinegar. My second side might come as a surprise to many of you, as it is not just garlic mashed potatoes, but instant garlic mashed potatoes. I know, I know, but every foodie has their vice, and this is mine. Of course, they are Trader Joe's Garlic Mashed Potatoes, and selling at $1.99 a box, a real steal. Try them before you judge me. Oh, and I should note, they recently changed the preparation instructions and I disagree with the amount of milk called for. They say 1/2 cup, I say 2/3 cup. A word of warning, though, Joe apparently thinks mashed potatoes are a seasonal item, so you can only get them in fall and winter, causing me to stockpile and then ration for mashed potato-worthy entrees. Finally,  there is pepperonata. A very nice Italian woman named Giovanna Cappi (who also taught me to make pasta) taught me this recipe. Basically, it is orange and yellow peppers sauteed in oil and garlic and then pureed italian tomatoes are added. It is delicious over fresh egg pasta and goes well with any grilled meat, but especially with rosemary pan roasted chicken (you'll just have to wait, that's a totally different post, totally).

Bygone TV shows and their awesome theme songs. You memorized them as a kid and hum then as a forgetful adult. A lot of shows had catchy tunes, like Hawaii Five-O, Get Smart and the Munsters, but the ones with lyrics stand head and shoulders above the rest. Namely, The Jefferson's and Movin' on Up (sung by Roxy Roker, now known as Lenny Kravitz's mother), Gilligan's Island, The Brady Bunch, Laverne and Shirley, Mary Tyler Moore, Good Times and The Addams Family (which also required the extra talent of snapping your fingers). I remember them all like it was yesterday: Just sit right back and you'll hear a tale, of the story of a man named Brady. Da da da da Neat, da da da da Sweet, da da da da Petite. Schlemiel, schlemazel, hasenfeffer incorporated, it's you girl and you should know it, cus we finally got our piece of the pie. So join us here each week my friend, you're sure to get a smile. TV theme songs, ain't we lucky we got 'em? Good times.

The Recipe:

4 mixed peppers (orange and yellow)
4 tblsp olive oil
1 garlic clove
4 tomatoes, peeled, seeded and chopped OR Pomi Italian Chopped or Strained Tomatoes
salt (many pinches)

Halve the peppers, remove the seeds and membranes and cut into large pieces. Heat oil in stock pot or dutch oven with garlic. Add peppers and cook over low heat, stirring occasionally for 10 minutes. Add tomatoes, season with salt and cook for 20 minutes until thickened. Remove garlic, serve over pappardelle.
Serves 4-6 as an ooky spooky uptown deserted isle side dish.