The Derailed Dinner

     Today I ws supposed to make Brazilian Style Black Bean Stew and I was going to try my hand at Molasses Sponge Candy this evening, and my plans got derailed by convenience and a whim.
     Last night after completing my entry I decided to read through the stew recipe again, I planned to make it with a short cut of using canned beans instead of dry beans.  Afterall, I worked today and I had no plans to eat at 11PM tonight. Upon re-reading, I realized that boiling the beans with the meat was an intergral part of the recipe, making it be about a 4 hour recipe, with too many steps needed to use the crockpot and leave unattended for the day.  I had my stew meat defrosted already, so I had to come up with a quick change using what was in the house.  Upon further review of the Gourmet cookbook, there were no stew meat recipes suitable for a quick meal or a crockpot.  So I give you my stand by Crockpot stew, my own invention after many crockpot recipes that I didn't like on their own merits:
Potatoes
Carrots
Onions
Celery
Cut them all up to desired size ( not too small on the potatoes) - Any root vegetable will work well in this.
Stew Meat  cut into 1"-2" pieces (generously salt and peppered)
1 bottle of beer ( preferably dark - I had some leftover Brooklyn Lager left behind by a house guest  :) (RedWine works too for a different flavor about 2 cups of wine)
Enough Beef Broth to cover the rest
Throw it all in the crock pot and turn on low and let it cook 8 hours - but mine always goes 10.
It's fool proof -and instant dinner when you get home, unless you choose to raise the heat and thicken the gravy with corn starch or flour which only adds another 10 minues or so.
     My Molasses Sponge got derailed by about one of the best things that exist in NYC - the corner fruit cart! I walk by at least 3 between Port Authority and my office every day.  For anyone not familar with NYC, the fruit cart is a wonderful thing - all kinds of beautiful fresh seasonal fruit - cheap!   Summer is not only my favorite weather season - its my favorite fruit season - FRESH FIGS! They are beautiful and only $3.99 a pint. ( I have paid over a dollar per fig here at times)   I felt dessert calling when I saw them first thing this morning.  Unfortunately I waited until too late in the day and I missed out on the Black Mission Figs, but I got a lovely container of Golden Figs right in front of the New York Times Building.  I brought them home and turned them into Baked Figs with Grand Marnier and Whipped Cream, page 804. Absolutely amazing! The perfect summer dessert!
     So I only accomplished one recipe today, but convenience will just have to win sometimes.  Now I need to go take my pork out of the freezer for tomorrow.
    Oh, I almost forgot - as a follow up to yesterday, The Rosemary Focaccia looked wonderful, the flavor was perfect, but I think I baked just a little too long - the texture was just off.  Maybe I should have steamed the oven, ala Nancy Silverton....