Liver and Onions (yep) with Mashed Potatoes
Okay. Let’s just get this out of the way: 99.9% of you just read that and either thought or actually said out loud “EWWW!”. I know you did, because when that liver was thawing out on a plate this afternoon, I thought I might have finally gotten myself into something I was going to regret. A little backstory on this one. This week was Jacques’ turn, and Jarrod picked out the liver and onions recipe. (To his credit, he did give me a second option.) When Jarrod was two, his babysitter made liver and onions and he LOVED it. I know, what TWO YEAR OLD eats liver and onions and loves it?? My husband, that’s who. He seemed so excited at the prospect, I felt bad saying “EWWW!” so, liver and onions it is. My mom hates it, so I am pretty sure I never ate it growing up. And you know what? I didn’t hate it. The first bite was a little bit odd, the texture is not like biting into a steak or piece of chicken. But those caramelized onions? Oh baby. I might make those again just to put on some toasted pieces of baguette and snack on. Seriously. And they really set off the flavor. The recipe doesn’t call for it, but I did soak the pieces of liver in milk for about an hour or so before cooking, and then drained, rinsed, and patted them dry. According to the Interwebs, the milk soak helps draw out some of the gamey flavor liver can have, and I have to say it didn’t taste that way at all so I think it worked.
I’m not a liver hater, I do really enjoy a good pate’ or chicken liver mousse, and even though you’re supposed to be morally outraged by it, fois gras is freaking delicious. I’m not going to lie though, these are MUCH bigger pieces to handle and prior to frying it’s a little much. I just had to not think about it. I used calves’ liver, which they surprisingly have at Meijer, already cleaned, trimmed, and sliced (frozen). We had some sliced bread, and of course, Bob Evans contributed the potatoes to the event. (I figured worst-case scenario, I’d have mashed potatoes and bread for dinner, and is that really a bad thing?) The best part of this though, my sweetheart made yum yum “mmmm” noises the entire time he ate and talked about how good it was.
So, would I sit and think to myself “Hmm, I really want liver and onions for dinner”? No. But it’s not too bad, and the happy hubby factor made it even better!
Cheers! ~ Jen
