Wednesday, April 10, 2013

I = Ignorance and Iscas

a-to-z-letters-iChurchill said it first “two nations divided by a common language”, he was actually talking about the States, but it applies to Britain and Canada as well. Ignorance is a word which is used in Canada to refer to someone who is rude, whereas in the UK it is used to refer to someone lacking in information or education. The first time I came across someone in Canada who was rude and then described as being ignorant, I didn’t know what was meant. I suppose you could say that in this case the word ignorant meant the rude person was ignorant of the proper way to behave, but it was such a different usage, that I really didn’t recognise it as such when I heard it. In this day and age there is no excuse for ignorance of any kind, in the western world at least, but unfortunately ignorance still abounds whichever meaning you ascribe to the word.

This is one of my favourite recipes. I am not all that keen on liver, as is the case with many people, but when I discovered this Portuguese recipe, I became converted.

Iscas: Marinated Liver with Red Wine Sauce
Foods of the World: Time Life
  Iscas
Note: all measurements are English so a pint is 20 fluid ounces
Serves 4

1/4 pt. dry red wine
1 1/2 tbs red wine vinegar
1 tsp of finely chopped garlic (or more if preferred)
1/2 bay leaf, crumbled
1/2 tsp salt
Freshly ground black pepper
1 lb calf's liver, cut into 1/8 inch thick slices
2 1/2 tbs olive oil
3 rashers of bacon, coarsely chopped
2 tbs finely chopped parsley

Put the wine, vinegar, garlic, bay leaf, salt and a few grindings of pepper into a glass, enamelled or stainless-steel bowl or baking dish. Add the liver, turning the slices about with a spoon until they are evenly coated. Marinate at room temperature for about 2 hours.

Heat the olive oil over a moderate heat in a large, heavy fry pan until a light haze forms above it. Add the bacon and cook, stirring frequently, until golden brown and crisp. Drain on a double thickness of paper towel.
Remove the liver slices from the marinade and pat them dry with paper towel. Reserve the marinade. Heat the bacon fat remaining in the fry pan until it splutters. Add the liver and cook the slices about 2 minutes on each side, regulating the heat so they brown quickly and evenly without burning. Remove the liver to a heated dish.

Quickly pour the reserved marinade into the pan and boil it uncovered over a high heat until it has reduced to about half, meanwhile scraping in any browned bits clinging to the bottom and sides of the pan. Taste for seasoning. Scatter the bacon pieces over the liver, pour the sauce over it and sprinkle with parsley. Serve at once.

If you don't like liver, I recommend it. If you do like liver, I recommend it even more.

Have a great day
Jo

16 comments:

  1. I haven't had liver in ages but just bought some lambs liver yesterday. Although it won't be so strongly flavoured as calves liver I'll try cooking it this way.

    Not today though as hubby has been struck with a horrible sickness bug so is on a very bland diet today :-(

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    1. Lamb's will be fine Sue, one just doesn't see it over here.

      Sorry to hear about the sickness bug, poor David, wish him well for me.

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  2. done right, liver is actually pretty good. :)
    Nutschell
    www.thewritingnut.com

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    1. Not a food I have ever been particularly keen on. I do like it like this though.

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  3. I didn't know that's what ignorant meant in Canada and I had pretty close Canadian friends. When I say I'm an ignorant I never mean rude. I mean I am not that well informed in a certain matter.
    Wow, I have not eaten liver in centuries!

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    1. Yes, that's what it means to me Al.

      Now I would have thought that would definitely have been on your diet.

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  4. I had liver, mixed in with Haggis once...and..it wasn't bad. I liked the smooth texture.

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    1. Never yet had the opportunity to try haggis. Not sure about mixed with liver.

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  5. Oh, that looks so good. And how interesting that 'ignorance' means two different things in two English-speaking countries.
    Silvia @ Silvia Writes

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    1. The liver is good I can assure you.

      It is odd in fact that in the Carolinas, many words they use are more similar to the UK than is the case in Ontario.

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  6. I just thought it meant someone who didn't know.

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    1. So did I once. Going to try the liver Alex?

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  7. I've recently developed a taste for liver (a development which surprises even myself!) So this dish sounds delicious to me! Especially as it's cooked in wine. Yum yum :)

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    1. I have never developed a taste for liver, so when I discovered I liked this dish, I was delighted.

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  8. I've sworn off liver forever and ever, I'd hate to make myself become a liar. And I didn't know about the alternate meaning of ignorant.

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    1. Come on Rusty, liver is good for you, full of iron and this really is a super recipe.

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