Bon Voyage, Husband, with Pancakes and Sideways

As I sit writing this, Husband is somewhere over the Atlantic, on his way to a wine-drenched tour of Italy, and I am now more of a Wine Widow.

I decided to take this time to do a few things I don't normally do when Husband is around.  Today, it was eat pancakes and watch Sideways.  Now, Husband works in wine and was up to his ears in irritating wine references from Sideways about a week after it was out.  After the Oscar nomination, it got worse to the point of unbearable.  Because of this, he refused to see it.  Well, it's been on pay-per-view lately and the other day, I suggested we watch it.  I could see the vacillation.  He wanted to let me choose what to watch, but he really didn't want to compromise his anti-Sideways resolve; I could see that his love for me might cause him to do something that he really, really didn't want to do.  I decided to have mercy, and not ask him to sway.

Well, I can say this about Sideways: all of those non-wine people who enjoyed it have clearly NEVER been around my wine-loving friends.  They have never had to roll their eyes as they searched a wine tasting, desperate to find some other non-complete-cork-dork with whom to converse.  They have never willfully chosen the most boring and irritating conversation just to avoid the umpteenth discussion over the disappointment of secondary fermentation, the plus and minuses of American versus French oak, and how the 2003 heat wave in Burgundy produced the some of the greatest wines of the past 100 years. 

Don't get me wrong; I really like wine.  I drink a lot of it.  It's really part of my job, both professionally and domestically.  It's just that some of my friends and acquaintances go a little overboard (don't get me wrong, I l love you all).  Sometimes, there really is something to talk about other than wine.

Aside from that aspect, the movie was okay.  The camera work and the soundtrack were a little hokey and distracting, but I'm no film critic.  It was a cute story, and that was that.  Sandra Oh was really good.  Against all odds, you do kind of find yourself rooting for the despicable antagonists.

Okay, on with the pancakes.  Husband doesn't like pancakes, and so I rarely eat them.  There's something about consuming a sweet breakfast pastry loaded with calorie-laden syrup and butter alone that makes one feel a little self-conscious.  Especially when your loved one is only having a Red Bull.  I was a little sad after dropping Husband at the airport (remember the good old days, when you could accompany them to the gate, and then watch the plane take off?), and I got to thinking, what would make me feel better.  I had a feeling Mom would have said, you have all of those lovely sour cherries in the fridge: you should have some pancakes.  Good idea!  Mom would have never, EVER, cheated by buying Trader Joe's Buttermilk Pancake and Waffle starter, though.  But I had cherries to pit!  I can't be bothered with making them from scratch!  I did, however, augment them by adding a few scoops of cottage cheese.  mmmmm.

Sour Cherry and Vanilla Sauce, for Pancakes or anything else that strikes your fancy

1 cup fresh (or frozen, but then don't add water) sour cherries, pitted

1/4 - to 1 cup sugar, depending on how sour your cherries are

splash water

2 tsp vanilla

Place the cherries in a saucepan over medium heat.  Sprinkle with 1/4 cup sugar and a little water and cook, stirring frequently, until the cherries begin to break and the syrup thickens (they will release a lot of water), about 10 minutes or so.  Taste a cherry (don't burn yourself!) and add more sugar as needed; add the vanilla.  Cook a few more minutes and remove from heat.  Serve over pancakes, ice cream, pork roast, whatever.  The syrup can also be drained and used in soda (super-good Shirley Temple!) or even in mixed drinks. 

Especially good with a happy but slightly lonely heart.  Even better when Mom calls later, as if moved by psychic mom-ness, to check up on you.  Thanks, mom!