Thursday: RUN and Fabulous Bean Gratin Recipe

While my job will never bring me worldly prestige or wealth, I have to say that every once in a while it is profoundly interesting and allows me to enjoys the sorts of discussions that were maybe present in coffee house before the Russian, French or American revolutions.  There was much talk of correct government, human nature and passion about our subject.

It was induced by yet another reading of Kafka's Metamorphosis.  I am not a huge fan of the story: it is kind of gross, it stresses me that Gregor is essentially a huge roach, and I despise the way that his family comes to treat him.  On the plus side, however, what I feel that I fully understood on this millionth reading, was just how much Kafka hated capitalism.  He hated it so much that he made it a roach.  He wrote it two years before the Russian Revolution while he was working as a civil service lawyer.  His tale of roachdom was a catalyst, and it is very interesting.  I enjoyed the reading and discussing and felt that today was the sort of day that results in lifelong fulfillment in my station.

Anyway, before my interesting work, I attended our church chili supper where I was able to test several different kinds of chili and I ingested an inordinate amount of fritos. Fritos make chili great.

In the afternoon, I got in a very fast five mile run and made it back to the house in time to gather up Young Sloan from nursery school and trot him off on a few errands.  At the Cosmetic Market, I picked up a few Grab the Gold Bars, and it so happened that we were there when they were dismantling the Valentine's Day display.  Long story short, Sloan the Younger walked out of the cosmetic market with a bouquet of 14 helium filled balloons.  It is epic and there is little talk of anything but balloons at Sloan Manor.

 At Whole Foods, we picked up mild turkey sausage with the casings removed, which I sauteed to go with this amazing White Bean Gratin.  It was amazing.  Recipe as follows:

• 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
• 3 onions food processed to almost a puree
• 1/2 teaspoon brown sugar
• sea salt
• 6 minced garlic cloves
• 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
• 1/2 cup white wine
• 4 cans white beans
• 1 cup low sodium chicken broth
• 1 tablespoon minced fresh rosemary
• four ounces parmesan cheese

1) sautee the onions in oil until they are carmelized (20-25 minutes)

2) Stir in garlic, pepper flakes, and wine.  Cook until wine is evaporated.  

2) In a separate pot, mix chicken broth, beans and rosemary.  Simmer briefly and season with salt and pepper.

3) Finally, stir two mixtures together and stir in parmesan cheese.  Warm @ 350 until hot and melty all the way through. Serve with Whole Foods Sausage.  

It is crazy delicious!!