In Praise of Braise

The slow cooked meal is like foreplay and follow through. You spend the day going about your business, thinking of it. It teases you with a slowly building aroma as it bubbles with anticipation in your oven or slow cooker. It is gentle, and reminds you of the eventuality that you will be eating well at the end. In this season of chill, where sunshine is sparse, the slow cooked meal warms you throughout the day and shores you up against the frigid night. Boneless beef short ribs are an ideal example. A perfectly braised short rib dish is a delicate balance between sweet, savory, infused with aromatics and the braising liquid can be reduced down to a silky, supple sauce. The beef is so tender, it practically melts on the plate, and surrenders to the gentle pressure of a fork. It is well partnered with an unctuous bed of whipped potatoes laden with butter and cream and a hunk of crusty bread to sop up the stray puddle of juices. At the end of a slow cooked meal, you should find yourself full, content, satisfied beyond belief, and quite possibly in love.