Recipe #6: So Ready Pho This

with special guest Quinn Gleisner (Shenanigans Supper Club) 

Directions:

1. Fill your largest pot with water. For reference, my pot is about 3 gallons. Place the pot on the stove and begin heating the water. You will want it to boil in about 15-20 minutes, or about as long as that sweet "Treycadia."

2. Meanwhile, place your top oven rack 1/3 of the way down and turn the broiler on high. Place your peeled, whole onion in a baking tray with your ginger root. Put the onion and ginger root under the broiler. Check every 5 minutes and flip your onion ginger root after 10 minutes. The ginger root is hearty and very tough to burn (unlike coach who can be found burning regularly,) you will want to focus on the onion. We are intentionally trying to char it to give our broth extra flavor. 

3. After about 15-20 minutes in the oven (or the Dillon “Madhuvan”), place your onion and ginger root into boiling water. If your water isn't boiling yet, turn up the heat and reminisce about that “California Magic.” Continue to add your salt, beef bones, and spice packet to the water. I like to tie my spice packet to one of the pot's handles, so it doesn't get lost in the cooking process and accidentally open.

4. Once your water comes to a boil, set a timer for 4 hours. Boil the ingredients with the lid cracked, so that water can evaporate. This will increase the concentration of flavors and salt in your broth. 

5. After about 3 and a half hours, pull a small ladle (that your grandmother bought you) full of broth. Allow it cool and then feel the rush, taste the flavor. If the broth needs more salt, add it. On the contrary, if your broth is too salty because Goose isn't playing Goosemas or NYE anywhere in New England, add some water back in. Remember, to leave a little bit of salt for the soy sauce in your bowl.

6. Once your broth timer goes off, prepare your noodles according to the package instructions. Don't worry if your noodles are a little al-dente or your beef is a little under-cooked. The hot broth will help cook the ingredients in the bowl. Place the noodles in the bottom of your pho bowls. Then, layer with bean sprouts and the remaining ingredients. Next, you will want to add your sauces! Finally, ladle broth into your bowl until it reaches the top of your ingredients, and enjoy!

7. When you are done eating, remove all of the bones and ingredients from your broth. Now, you can pour your broth into a container and store it in the fridge or freezer.

Bonus Interview Questions:

What inspired you to start the Shenanigans Supper Club (SSC)?

The inspiration came from a realization that I am not the only Goose fan who loves cooking. A lot of time, we are out on the road touring, but the reality is we don’t get to make every show. So, when I am on couch tour, catching the streams from home, I find myself cooking up great meals. One of my favorite things about food is that it is best when shared with others. Life is so much more than keeping the best ideas for ourselves. 

Sharing my ideas with a larger community has been mutually beneficial. Not only do I get to teach, but I get to learn. Some members are into gardening, while others are bee keepers. Others are great cooks who see food completely different than me. Not much brings more joy to my heart than cooking for a few hours only to have my face light up to the discovery of a new flavor combination.

Tell me about your thoughts on the parallels between cooking and music?

Wow, this a great question! There are so similarities between self-discovery, development of self-confidence, and the biggest is community. It seems like nothing unites humanity like a delicious meal and good music. While food has the physical ability to feed our body, music works to nourish our souls, both are extremely important for happiness. 

Humility is also a big lesson. Whether you are butchering a new song or baking a new cake recipe, take time to learn and be patient with yourself. I may mess up a recipe 3 or 4 times before I get it “perfect”, but being patient, not getting angry with myself, and constantly learning allows trials 2,3,4, etc. to occur, which end in self-mastery. Finally, like music, recipes ripple through our lives, it can empower important decisions, brings family and friends together, convince us to become a better version of ourselves, or even encourage us to look at the big picture and start gardening.

Post on social and tag EGT, SSC and #HotTeainRicksKitchen!