Golf and Food; Jimmy McNulty is my newest boyfriend.

So on Friday night Mr.Foodbabe and I joined some friends for a little golf outing.  By the convoluted calculations of the golf staff, we were not the winners.  As a tribute to Senator C., we declared our opponents “selected,” and suspended play.  We received no recognition or prizes but had a heck of a party.

what is it about golf and food?  Both are easy to do badly.  both can never be perfected.  World-class golfers and chefs have off days, but they keep coming back for more.  People who golf or cook well, even with enthusiasm and some skill, think they can go pro.  But like anything, it all changes when you have to make money at it.  I’m reminded of this as someone I know well, who I’m rooting for all the time, missed the cut for the Open by one stroke.  ONE.   One day it’ll happen for him and until then, he keeps playing, and teaching, and practicing.

The rest of the weekend was all about food and cooking.  El Secondo called me from his date and said that he and his friend were in need of my pork ribs, so I made some.  Mr. Foodbabe and I had a jones for fish tacos — and hit on an amazing sauce for them (recipe follows).  Jean-Luc and Nigel were sick because of something nasty that they ate, but no one else seemed ill affected by my cooking, thank god.

So:  Friday was YoYo* night for the boys.  Saturday, I made omelettes with cheese, K-Paul’s blackening spice, and Caribbean Condiment.  Then I made made barbecued pork ribs with my version of Saratoga Chips (mmmMontgomery Inn), a batch of soft rolls for sandwiches, grilled fish tacos with a really good sauce, and a pound cake.  On Sunday, I made honey wheat bread, cheeseburgers, and potato salad that Mr. Foodbabe did not like at all, and biscuits for strawberry shortcake.  And then the strawberry shortcake. 

I considered, but did not make, creme brulee, strawberry ice cream, skirt steak fajitas, shrimp with romesco sauce, popovers, bagels, and pork dumplings.

Smoky Chile Citrus Sauce

Makes  about 1 1/4 cups

1 cup Mayonnaise (your own or Hellman’s)

1 Tablespoon orange juice or lime juice, or some of each

1 Tablespoon of that sludy stuff in the bottom of the Chiles in Adobo, or 1 tablespoon of the pureed chiles themselves.

A little salt, a little white pepper, and blend well.  It’ll taste even better if you let it stand in the refrigerator for a half-hour or so.

Tacos were consumed in front of another episode of the late, great HBO series — The Wire. What a great show — Mr.Foodbabe and I started watching this on DVD during the writer’s strike and we’re addicted.  We’re almost done with Season three.  anyway,  I know Jimmy McNulty is not his real name, and someone said he’s not really a detective but plays one on TV.   It’s usually not my style to dump one TV boyfriend for another so quickly, but I had no choice.  Hugh hasn’t shaved since last summer, and Jimmy McN shows his heinie on screen.  Yeah, I’m easy.

(*) YoYo:  You’re On Your Own.