{"id":416,"date":"2012-08-17T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2012-08-17T00:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/kitchenetteblog.com\/?p=416"},"modified":"2024-10-22T13:26:43","modified_gmt":"2024-10-22T13:26:43","slug":"2012k108k1mussels-in-white-wine","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/kitchenetteblog.com\/2012\/08\/mussels-in-white-wine\/","title":{"rendered":"Mussels in White Wine"},"content":{"rendered":"
<\/p>\n
On Wednesday we celebrated what would\u2019ve been the 100th birthday of one of my biggest inspirations in both food and life: Julia Child!<\/p>\n
As a kid, I\u2019d watch her shows less for the cooking instruction \u2013 as I was still in the Easy Bake Oven stage \u2013 but just because I found her fascinating and hilarious.<\/p>\n
Once I was able to reach the\u00a0counter tops, her fearlessness and honesty taught me that there\u2019s nothing to fear in the kitchen. You\u2019re going to mess up, it\u2019s going to be OK \u2013 you\u2019ll learn from that mistake and be a better cook because of it.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Whether it\u2019s as simple as steaming mussels or as fancy as croquembouche, she believed in making food the right way \u2013 from scratch, using real ingredients.<\/p>\n
And as she stated in one of my favorite books,\u00a0My Life in France,\u00a0<\/em>\u201c\u2026nothing is too much trouble if it turns out the way it should.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n And making these mussels was really no trouble at all!<\/p>\n There is a bit of prep involved, but it happens to be the kind I find quite relaxing. I\u2019ll go over it in case you aren\u2019t familiar with preparing mussels.<\/p>\n First, you\u2019ll want to put the mussels over ice to make sure they stay cold while you\u2019re working. Now the inspection and cleaning phase begins!<\/p>\n A good mussel in one that\u2019s closed tightly and not cracked or chipped in any way. If you come across one that\u2019s open, give it a good tap against the counter. If it closes immediately, it\u2019s still alive and good to go \u2013 if not, it\u2019s already dead, throw it away!<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Scrub the mussels with a brush to remove any sand, and if what they call the \u201cbeard\u201d is present you\u2019ll want to yank that out (see photo above).<\/p>\n Once cleaned, drop those dudes in your prepared soaking water (I\u2019ll go over that in the recipe) and have a glass of wine with a friend!<\/p>\n <\/p>\n You don\u2019t necessarily have the dress up like Julia, but I feel it helps.<\/p>\n Also I think I need to have a kitchen towel affixed to my waist at all times. So useful!<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Once you\u2019ve done the prep, you\u2019re 90% of the way there! Throw those beauties in a pot with some shallots, butter and wine, and go to town!<\/p>\n <\/p>\nMussels in White Wine<\/span><\/h2>\n