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Wookiee Hut Cuisine presents:
Provisional Supper by SuSu, MaceVindaloo Menu: Hawkbat Skewers in Hawkbat Marinade | Crunchy Peanut Dipping Sauce | Pulled Pork Crostini | Cabbage & Parsley Slaw | Apple Chocolate Bundt Cake
The members of the Provisional Council occupied apartments throughout the former Imperial Palace complex; though it was recorded where each person lived, it was not always possible to find your way there. Invitations to quarters often required a personal 'droid to navigate the confusing numerous corridors."Leia, the good thing about living in this rabbit warren of a building is that the Council can't drop in suddenly," argued Han. "So, why are we inviting them to drop in??" His wife scowled toward him. She'd just told him that the Council had to come and inspect their home. "They want to see the place. The whole palace has to undergo renovation, the committee has been visiting every apartment and office since we've occupied the planet. It's our turn to show our place to the Council." Han was unhappy about this. "Why the whole council? Why not the building committee, or just a few heads? Or a 'droid, for that matter?" Leia sighed. "It's a political thing ... look, they don't have to see the Falcon or the landing platform ... but they are voting on the funding for the repairs and renovations, and we're the last place to inspect. I've been to everyone else's place, even Mon Mothma's!" "Oh, you all skip around to each other's places, I see! Well, I think you're all just showing off how fancy you all are—" "That's IT, Han!" Leia was through arguing. "You go visit Chewie on Kashyyyk while this is happening; I don't care. But they're coming for supper after the meeting, like it or not!" "Supper?" Han perked up. "You didn't say anything about supper ... sure, I'll help you make supper — I'll even make my special hawkbat skewers ..." Menu: Hawkbat Skewers in Hawkbat Marinade | Crunchy Peanut Dipping Sauce | Pulled Pork Crostini | Cabbage & Parsley Slaw | Apple Chocolate Bundt Cake
Hawkbat Skewers Han hated the trappings for formality, but not more than he loved these hawkbat skewers. During the Emperor's tenure, the birds were kept in an aviary or that fresh meat could be procured easily. The descendents of these birds continued to live throughout Coruscant, and it was said that the birds were particularly succulent here. He couldn't have these treats as often as he'd like; long ago, Leia had told him he could only have them if they had company. It was her way of getting eager participation from her favorite scoundrel — behave, and you can make the hawkbat skewers!
Toast the sesame seeds by placing them in a hot pan. Stir or toss constantly over high heat until the seeds smell fragrant and are golden brown. Be careful, they burn easily! When you're ready to cook, soak as many bamboo skewers as you have pieces of chicken. Keep the skewers immersed underwater for about an hour. Thread each piece of chicken onto a skewer. If you're grilling, place the chicken directly over a hot grill and cook for a minute per side will charred slightly and cooked through, turning once. Arrange on a platter and sprinkle with toasted sesame seeds. Serve with Crunchy Peanut Dipping Sauce. Serves 8 to 16 as an appetizer, to 4 as a meal. Crunchy Peanut Dipping Sauce More than the Hawkbat Skewers, Han loved this salty, spicy, sourish, sweet, crunchy sauce. It appealed especially to men, who could be found eating it by the spoonful, just as is! "Oh, was this supposed to go on something?" they'd wonder in surprise, when offered a hawkbat skewer to put into their sauce ... He especially liked that he could use the dregs of a peanut butter jar and just shake all the ingredients in the tightly capped jar. Minimal dishes to wash, and no one can yell at him for leaving spoonmarks in the peanut butter jar.
Pulled Pork Crostini This started out like one of those ridiculous mathematics word problems: You have some stale rolls, a handful of pulled pork, and 20 people to feed. The solution? Little toasts with a pinch-full of meat and some garnishing sauce, baked in an oven till heated through. It looks elegant, and you have fed a lot of people for very little. And because the morsels are little, the meat seems more concentrated. Han considers it a way to make people think he is serving them elegant fare, even though it all amounts to a few bits and bobs. He especially likes to do this for people he is forced to publicly respect, but doesn't like. Mon Mothma is an example of such a person; after all, she just about forced Leia to marry Prince Isolder in order to get the resources of the Hapes Consortium into the New Republic fold. Even though he and Leia were obviously a couple! But as long as the fare is cheap and tasty, he can stand to eat with Mon Mothma and her ilk.
The pork should be chopped so it will be easier to eat. If you are using leftover slices of meat, cube it or chop it. Mix with enough barbecue sauce or ketchup to make a paste-textured mixture. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Onto the uncooked side, divide the meat mixture onto the toasts. Place back under the broiler till warmed and browned. Serves as many as you can! Cabbage & Parsley Slaw Han especially likes cabbages because they keep so well, as long as they are uncut. People who are offended by the thought of eating cabbage are referring to its smell and taste when overcooked. The best way to avoid that, according to Han, is simply not to cook the vegetables in the first place. And adding a bit of parsley — said to ward off "wind" — sure doesn't hurt, either.
Cut away the stems of the parsley leaves and wash and dry thoroughly. Slice in a chiffonade (into ribbons), then sprinkle over the cabbage. Drizzle "enough" dressing over the vegetables and toss. It's better to under-pour the dressing — this salad is best when it's not swimming in dressing! Season to taste with pepper and salt. Serves up to a dozen people. Apple Chocolate Bundt Cake In fact, Han enjoyed suppers more than dinners, because he could make a variety of things he really enjoyed. Though a married man, he enjoyed retaining aspects of his long bachelorhood, including the snack-like, rather provisional meals he used to make on his starship, the "Millennium Falcon." Though there was no proper kitchen, he could cook things by bleeding heat off the manifold, and could improvise an oven by channeling the heat into an enclosed or covered box, and cakes would cook more successfully if they were cooked in a pan that was ring-shaped — no soggy middles. This recipe came about when they'd managed to procure a case of apples, and they started to go bad, since his first mate Chewbacca (a carnivore) did not eat fruit. He would, however, eat chocolate. And so Han coaxed Chewie to help him eat apples by putting them into a chocolate cake. And the Wookiee liked the cake so much that he'd ask for it to be made any time they had apples — that says a lot, coming from a carnivore!
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