The first thing you need are recipes. Bossy’s son made his selection from two Ina Garten cookbooks. Bossy and her son love Ina Garten because she combines very simple, honest ingredients in a way anyone can follow. Unless that anyone is Ina’s husband Jeffrey, who was Bill Clinton’s Undersecretary of Commerce for International Trade, but somehow can’t go to a local farm stand without confusing melons with cow turds.
The next thing you’ll need is butter and garlic and herbs and capers to make the Provençal Butter that will rest atop your eventual beef filets. The room temperature butter and other ingredients are combined in a food processor and then rolled in parchment paper to make a butter log. Chill.
Next you’ll need to cut red and white onions into chunky segments for your Herb Roasted Onions:
And then whisk together olive oil and lemon and herbs to pour over your onion segments:
Then spread out your saturated onions on a baking tray:
Next combine Greek yogurt and sour cream, and then scissor a few tablespoons of chives into the mixture. This will act as the topping for your baked potato! Did Bossy fail to mention that the enormous russet potatoes should be in the oven all this time cooking? Oh, because she also failed to mention this to her son, which accounts for the fact that dinner wasn’t ready until Blood-Sugar-Coma-O’Clock.
Next toss cherry tomatoes, hot peppers, yellow peppers, black beans, garlic, red onion, lime, and olive oil with diced avocado:
Next it is time to prepare the cow:
Drizzle olive oil on your beef filets, and then generously pat both sides with dried herbs such as basil, sage, and thyme. Grill.
Cathy D. says
January 14, 2009 at 12:12 pmLooks great. And it’s better your counters look anemic than your son!
Lesley says
January 14, 2009 at 12:12 pmIt’s almost like he has a *degree* in cooking…and yet he is only a freshman!
MMMMMMMmmm!
Tuli says
January 14, 2009 at 12:13 pmThat looks yummy! Bossy’s Son can come cook for me anytime.
Corinne says
January 14, 2009 at 12:15 pmCan Bossy’s college freshman come to my house and cook me dinner too…oh and make sure he doesn’t forget the martini-drenched olives too…along with the martini!!!
David says
January 14, 2009 at 12:20 pmI know this is a family blog, but if Bossy’s son didn’t already have a girlfriend, he would be getting SO laid at college.
chocolatechic says
January 14, 2009 at 12:20 pmWeren’t the onions great?
When I made them, I added chopped potatoes to them.
Fabulous!!!
Lizzy says
January 14, 2009 at 12:21 pmI march to hell and back for that baked potato.
Lizzy says
January 14, 2009 at 12:23 pmThat would be… I WOULD march to hell and back for that baked potato. The way I wrote it sounds like I am currently marching to hell and back, which maybe I am in a weird, existential sort of way.
Carroll says
January 14, 2009 at 12:36 pmDear god, I love that kid! He even used tongs for the onions. No messy “strewing them around on the baking sheet with his hands”, nossir. I can see his future, Bossy, and it’s a shiny bright one!
Stacy says
January 14, 2009 at 12:41 pmWhat kind of hot peppers go in the “salsa”? Jalepeno?
mrs. g. says
January 14, 2009 at 12:41 pmBossy’s son’s girlfriend is one lucky duck! That meal looks goooood.
Stacye Ball says
January 14, 2009 at 12:42 pmJeez, he’s cute, he’s smart and he can cook??! He’s going to make a nice young lady very happy :o) I wish I had a young niece….but I think he already has himself a nice young lady.
cartoongoddess says
January 14, 2009 at 12:42 pmYour son and your dog make your appliances look like miniatures.
Manic Mommy says
January 14, 2009 at 12:43 pmNote to self: Don’t look at pictures of Bossy’s delicious son cooking delicious food while on Nutrisystem.
*Leaves to eat own arm*
Debby says
January 14, 2009 at 12:44 pmGood God, I am starving and that looks delish!
Mandy says
January 14, 2009 at 12:47 pmI am loving the salsa. But hello, does Bossy have a garden in January or what? The cost of all those at the grocery could buy enough spaghettios for a month!
kidsmom says
January 14, 2009 at 12:54 pmDoes thinking your son is really cute qualify me as a Cougar?
I got to eat all the drunken olives as a kid, too.
We’ll be over for dinner tonight.
Maria says
January 14, 2009 at 1:02 pmBossy, your son is lovely and cute and a good cook and all but I STILL want your cabinets. We at eclecticallyyours, seriously, want you to tell us where you got them or how to DIY, already!!
BodaciousGirl says
January 14, 2009 at 1:03 pmUm Bossy, hon… you know I love you, but when you have 6oz. filets like that, one pad of Provençal Butter is more then enough. (That recipe calls for hanger steak, not quite a flank steak, but kinda… which would benefit from sayyyyy TWO.)
I want all of you right now to go and get your cholesterol checked.
GO CARDINALS!
MariaV says
January 14, 2009 at 1:11 pmDoes that ever look good!
I would love to know where you found the martini-drenched olives.
P.S. Bossy’s son is right. That is, no matter how good, avocado salad.
caleal says
January 14, 2009 at 1:11 pmBossy and Bossy’s husband need to make more kids, now, for the good of humanity.
POD says
January 14, 2009 at 1:13 pmYum.
And the counters wouldn’t look as anemic if you’d put some live chickens behind the chicken wire (or possibly a rubber chicken that I can send to you because I have it hanging in my kitchen and my rubber chicken’s lips are sealed together with old grease.
Let me know if you want the chicken.)
Kelly at The Glass Dragonfly says
January 14, 2009 at 1:17 pmWhat fun! I love a man who loves to cook….don’t actually have one, but the dream sounds nice! My 19 year old college student daughter?? Well, she makes a wonderful grilled cheese sandwich!
Thanks for the idea, there are still a few days before winter break is over…making dinner TOGETHER sounds lovely!
The Domestic Goddess says
January 14, 2009 at 1:23 pmOh my goodness. I wanna eat at Bossy’s house.
meleah rebeccah says
January 14, 2009 at 1:31 pmPlease let your son cook for me? Im starving!
ML says
January 14, 2009 at 1:35 pmHilarious….flipin hi-larious!!
kristin says
January 14, 2009 at 1:36 pmMy MiL managed to raise a son who is intelligent, morally upright, and successful, but the man cannot and will not cook. Bossy is obviously doing better in schooling her children in the culinary arts. And that is WAY more important than any Psychology 101 class the kid may be taking at college.
Grandma J says
January 14, 2009 at 1:38 pmBossy’s son with be the hit of the dorms. College cooking used to be all about happy hour at El Torito, or Black Angus. Or, maybe hamburger helper and Mac and Cheese.
I don’t think Bossy’s counters look anemic, but maybe you could get daughter to paint something bright and fun on the glass container with the wooden spoons in it.
Camille says
January 14, 2009 at 1:38 pmOi, Bossy—I thought you said that recipe was simple?
Liz says
January 14, 2009 at 1:39 pmY’know, before I read this blog today I was totally OK with just my tangerine until lunch… but now I need steak and I need it now!
vuboq says
January 14, 2009 at 1:50 pmAvocado salad? Salsa? Whatevs … looks SuperYummy.
andrea says
January 14, 2009 at 2:05 pmBossy’s Dane isn’t a cow! Run Bossy’s Dane, Run!
Reeb says
January 14, 2009 at 2:11 pmThis is all so Fancy! Parchment paper, plated up beautifully, I’m impressed.
Way back when, I proposed marriage to every guy I met who could cook (and was straight.) Husband is a fabulous cook. Score. I am a lucky woman. He doesn’t plate the food like this, though.
magpie says
January 14, 2009 at 2:18 pmYou done be raising a good cook there!
I did laugh at the photo of Bossy’s cow though.
Christina In The Middle says
January 14, 2009 at 2:28 pm“Provencalmost.” Hee, hee, hee!
dexter says
January 14, 2009 at 2:28 pmWho cares if he’ll make some woman very lucky one day!! I want him to move in my house now!!!!
I feel so bad, all I offered him were pizza and wings on Sunday.
Go Eagles!!!!!!!!!!!
Domestic Goddess (in training) says
January 14, 2009 at 2:38 pmCooking college style must have changed a lot since I went, because my recipe collection consisted of Kraft Mac and Cheese and Top Ramen.
~annie says
January 14, 2009 at 3:03 pmNever mind the cholesterol. “Next it is time to prepare the cow” followed by the picture of Stella just about gave me a heart attack. That effect must be counteracted by TWO glasses of red wine this evening. Thanks, Bossy!
Franca Bollo says
January 14, 2009 at 3:26 pmWhat does Bossy’s son have against anchovies?
Theresa says
January 14, 2009 at 3:27 pmHow to cook like a college freshman sure has changed from when I was in college! Our rule of thumb was it had to be cookable in a microwave…you know, ramen noodles, mac and cheese, that sort of thing. Maybe I should go back to college and eat better than I am now??!!
Emily says
January 14, 2009 at 3:29 pmYUM!! I need that recipe!! And some white wine. Next time, don’t hog all the Riesling. or Chardonnay. or whatever you consumed!!
Ms. Cranky Pants says
January 14, 2009 at 4:11 pmStella makes a fabulous sous chef and cow guard!
tj says
January 14, 2009 at 4:23 pm…Girl you are so dang funny! Thanks for that… lol ;o) Btw, that son of yours is gonna make a fine, and I say fine, husband one day! You go Bossy’s Son!
…Do they make man aprons? If so, he needs one…
…Blessings… :o)
ilinap says
January 14, 2009 at 4:34 pmI would like to say that you need to give some of those beef scraps to your pooch. I can see his ribs. I think he’s hungry. But don’t give him the onions; dog breath is bad enough as it is.
Also, I look forward to the day my sons can make something other than a mess in the kitchen.
Mr Farty says
January 14, 2009 at 4:43 pmNote to self: do NOT drink ANYTHING while looking at pictures of BOSSY’s cow. Pony. Whatever.
And I agree with #39 – why no anchovies?
Auds at Barking Mad says
January 14, 2009 at 4:43 pmYum!
Oddly enough, I’m craving beef and potatoes now.
There’s nothing cuter than young men cooking…and apparently, doing it well!
Bush Babe says
January 14, 2009 at 6:04 pmThere is no greater gift a mother can give her son that to share a love of cooking – it’s also a wonderful thing for the woman who MARRIES that son. Speaking from experience. Heh.
Loved the pun about ‘preparing the cow’ with Stella in the foreground… that would be one lean cow!!
BB
Bush Babe says
January 14, 2009 at 6:07 pmPS Commenter #44 – Danes need to be lean. A heavy Dane soon owns hips that don’t work.
jandondi says
January 14, 2009 at 7:05 pmI know…is there anything sexier than a man cookin?
except for maybe 3 men and a baby.
Heide says
January 14, 2009 at 7:07 pmWow… Dinner at my house tonight didn’t look anything like that awesome. The Offspring is already halfway through his first year of kindergarten — is it time for cooking school?
Emily says
January 14, 2009 at 7:49 pmCan I rent him? While my dd cooks occasionally it would be nothing like that.
Had to laugh at your cow- although I always think of Danes as small horses…
Briget says
January 14, 2009 at 8:07 pmAwww…great pics of your son cooking several of Ina’s recipes that I have screwed up! I’m so glad someone else says “OMG, did you put the potatoes in???”
We love Ina – and Jeffrey! Cute, clueless, might-be-gay-whaddya-think Jeffrey!
kate says
January 14, 2009 at 8:08 pmi do not understand this post.
when i was a college freshman we ate buttered egg noodles and saltines. and nothing else. ever. and it wasn’t even provencal butter. it was sucky cheap safeway brand butter.
clickmom says
January 14, 2009 at 8:11 pmWhen I was a college freshman I ate in the cafeteria. The closest thing I came to cooking was a perfect margarita in my shiny new blender. Times sure are-a-changing.
clair says
January 14, 2009 at 8:22 pmI was raised on cherries from my grandma’s drinks, and I don’t think I suffered any ill effects. Martini-soaked olives are probably much healthier than booze-drenched maraschinos.
Little Miss Sunshine State says
January 14, 2009 at 9:00 pmI Can’t Believe It’s Not ProvencalButter!
Don’t you ever “bake” the potatoes in the microwave?
Go OSKAR!
Becky says
January 14, 2009 at 9:48 pmThat looks absolutely yummy…I might have to go find the recipies..
and my kids eat martini soaked olives too..I’m glad I’m not the only one.
Kimmers says
January 14, 2009 at 10:39 pmI’m the one who cooks dinner every night around here… and I have for 2 years now… and in ONE NIGHT your son just put me TO SHAME.
Good job Bossy’s son. Well played.
chantel says
January 14, 2009 at 10:48 pmone of the things I miss the most about having my kids home is cooking together. The difference is now I have a guy sitting there waiting for everything I cook but I refuse to let him in the kitchen.
Maggie Garcia says
January 14, 2009 at 10:57 pmMy freshman diet consisted of cheetos or whatever was on sale at the amoco across the street from school. We supplemented this with weed brownies. When the harvest was good, we snuck milk cartons into the cafeteria and filled em up.
Ahh, college. How I miss thee.
Oh, The Joys says
January 14, 2009 at 11:06 pmPlease mail the freshman cook to me.
Chelsea says
January 14, 2009 at 11:14 pmBossy, you’d climb out of debt post haste if you rented out your son. Just sayin’.
mn says
January 14, 2009 at 11:25 pmthat looks…well, just like a meal they serve on tv! v. complete. i was enjoying looking at it. did your son develop a passion for cooking on his own or did you help out with it. my son likes to cook too, he’s 7. i’m nurturing it.
i’m lucky all the guys in my life are amazing cooks…i sadly missed the day they taught cooking at cooking school. i cook, but not so wonderfully!
Cheri @ Blog This Mom! says
January 14, 2009 at 11:53 pmCute and cooks and edu-ma-cated. A winning combination.
Rochelle says
January 15, 2009 at 1:59 amHoly hell that looks delicious! Your son is going to make somebody very happy some day if he keeps that up. Well done!
the cheap chick says
January 15, 2009 at 2:00 amThanks ALOT. It’s midnight in MN, and now I want a steak. And exactly HOW am I supossed to achieve that????
Amysprite says
January 15, 2009 at 3:06 amI’m not sure what you think of awards, but I just gave you one. Because I think you’re cool. And a fabulous photographer.
Momo Fali says
January 15, 2009 at 9:49 amHe is going to make some woman very happy someday. My husband grew up in a family with 11 kids. Everything he makes is something you can cook in an enormous stock pot. Stuff like bean soup, which is pretty much beans and water.
Julie says
January 15, 2009 at 10:02 amMaybe a better caption would be:
“How to cook like a college freshman while parents foot the grocery bills!”
Looks delicious!
Anna says
January 15, 2009 at 11:01 amJust an FYI – if you ever forget the potatoes again, jab them vigorously with forks (sheds irritation at having not put them in the oven earlier) toss them in the microwave on high for 10ish minutes (depends on potato girth) and then throw into the oven to crisp up the skins a bit.
Jami says
January 15, 2009 at 11:24 amLooks like my kind of meal – POTATO and onions with a side order of beef.
joeinvegas says
January 15, 2009 at 1:01 pmWow. Can you either:
1. Teach my kids how to cook?
2. Invite me over for dinner?
Lee the MWOB Queen says
January 15, 2009 at 1:24 pmThis post makes me feel even crappier about my own horrific cooking un-skills.
I am sitting here jaw-dropped over the fact that this is a college freshmen DUDE preparing this meal and I’m thinking Bossy is one helluva mama to bring her boy up to be a cool dude like that.
WOW.
Kristin says
January 15, 2009 at 2:47 pmBlood-Sugar-Coma-O’Clock.
My favorite time of day!
tuesday says
January 15, 2009 at 3:49 pmgreat. Now I am starving and in need of a martini
Heather M. says
January 15, 2009 at 5:02 pmOh, hell…now I am starving. Please send your son and all the fixings to my house in Michigan. Don’t forget the wine…
Or you could just tell me how you got your son interested in cooking. Take your time with that one, I have about 17.5 years before mine goes off to college, but I’d love for him to grow up with not only a love for food, but an interest in how to prepare it.
Raz says
January 15, 2009 at 5:37 pmI am in awe of this cooking, but not sure that it’s particularly College Freshman-esque. Maybe university over here is different? Everyone just eats Pop-Tarts and Pot Noodles. I’m very impressed!
Tootsie Farklepants says
January 16, 2009 at 1:15 amI’m starving.
Meg says
January 16, 2009 at 3:57 pmMmmm, butter on filet. What’s not to love??
It’s so cute how you set the table with the knives at the top of the placemat! I’m still trying to train my family that the knife goes… well, wherever it goes.
My baking sheets and yours speak the same language, except that mine have taken the 400-level course and successfully written their thesis. By comparison, yours appear sophomoric at best.
Heh heh, Raz said “pot noodles.”
biddy says
January 16, 2009 at 8:44 pmyet another reason i heart the great getzby!!