“Tomorrow is just another day. I’m afraid you’re going to screw up the rest of your lives…”
Sauteed Brains were inspired by the 1988 film Stand and Deliver. And are a reminder that every day is our best day. That tomorrow is no different. That we already have everything we want. Use your mind, harness some discipline, and shape your life as you dream it be.
Stand and Deliver
I was too young to watch Stand and Deliver when it was released, but was always intrigued. I’m just catching up 30 years later. It’s loosely based on the true story of math teacher Jaime Escalante. He leaves his professional job to become a teacher at a working class school in Los Angeles. He realizes his students have untapped potential and works to bring them up to their grade level and then beyond, taking AP Calculus by senior year.
After his class performs exceptionally well on the exam, the Educational Testing Service (ETS) accuses the students of cheating (which Escalante believes is due to economic and social discrimination). After encouraging his students to retake the test, ETS sets a testing venue for the following day, leaving them no time to study. In the movie, the class reviews together that afternoon into the evening, while Escalante prepares them dinner.
Lou Diamond Phillips, as Angel: “Kemo, what you making over there?”
(On the counter in a styrofoam container, along with sliced onion, tomato, and a spice that could be mistaken for oregano…)
“You like brains?” Escalante asks to wide eyes – everyone looking at him like he’s crazy. “Good. I’m afraid you guys wouldn’t appreciate it. This food lasts for 24 hours.”
“Kemo, you’re afraid we’re going to screw up tomorrow?”
“Tomorrow is just another day. I’m afraid you’re going to screw up the rest of your lives.”
Alas, the students pass the test again, alleviating concerns of cheating. For the next several years, Escalante continued to teach AP Calculus with an increasing number of students passing each year.
Tomorrow is just another day
Isn’t that the truth. Tomorrow is just another day.
In fact, when I served this meal, ‘tomorrow’ would be my 14th anniversary! I remembered as we were cleaning up dinner and called out to my hubby, “Hey, I didn’t get you a card or anything for tomorrow, you still ok with that?”
“You got me exactly what I wanted.” He continued, “And I got you the same thing as every year.”
And so I filled it in: “I know. Everything I’ve wanted every day of this past year… Family of my dreams. The coziest home. Long walks outside all year round. Taking time for teaching and building cool stuff with our kids. Discipline that constantly inspires me. Support for purchasing highest quality food and loving and appreciating every meal I serve. Unwavering support in life. Best friend and lover. Everything I could have dreamed of…”
“Exactly!” he laughed.
Yep, so today and tomorrow and the next day. Choose your values, and harness some brain-y discipline to go after them. Perhaps it’s discipline to study and show up every day. To pass that test. Perhaps it’s discipline for a moment each day to get to know yourself, whatever that looks like to you. Or for intentional appreciations and gratitude. To recognize that you already have everything you want! Perhaps it’s discipline to finally add brains to your repertoire.
Sauteed Brains
Of the four fatty sacred organs – liver, tongue, brains and marrow – brains still seem to be the least well-known these days. Yet, they are loaded with vitamins and minerals and have all the right kinds of fats: omega-3s and cholesterol. Like tongue, they also have a near-perfect protein to fat to carb ratio of 33 percent protein, 64 percent fat, and 4 percent carbs. A meal in it’s own right.
Sliced brains before dusting with arrowroot flour and sauteeing
Yet, my Stand and Deliver-inspired meal placed Sauteed Brains over rice and tomato sauce, garnished with avocado and fresh oregano. I lightly breaded the fresh brains in arrowroot and sauteed them in lard. My tomato sauce was a simple saute of onions, combined together with tomatoes and oregano for a quick simmer while the rest of the meal was prepared.
Remember, it’s not about one day, one test, or one celebration. It’s about being steady, day in and day out. Creating and living the life that fulfills you, and only you, every day. “Tomorrow is just another day.”
Quick Sauteed Brains
Notes
Two hours of prep time are for an unattended soak in some lemon and salt water in the fridge.
Ingredients
- salt
- juice of half lemon (optional)
- 1/2 lb beef brains (or whatever you can get)
- 1/4 cup arrowroot
- 1 T lard
Instructions
- Fill a bowl with enough water to cover brains, add some salt and the juice from half a lemon (optional). Gently place brains into salt, lemon water mix and let soak in the fridge for an hour to two to remove blood and other impurities.
- Gently drain water and remove brains. Place on a towel and dry gingerly on both sides. Cut into slices. Meanwhile, place arrowroot and a half teaspoon salt in a bowl and mix together. Heat a pan on medium-high heat with lard. When lard is near shimmering and a strip of brains will sizzle just a bit, dip each slice of brains into arrowroot and add to pan. Let cook on one side until browned, about 4 minutes, the flip with a spatula and cook on the next side for another 2-3 minutes. Remove to plates or bowls with selected accompaniments and serve warm.
I love this post and where you are going these days interweaving culturally impactful literature and film, nutrient dense food and being authentic and strong as a woman, wife and mother. Way to go Janine.
Looks amazing!
Life is a circle of karma. I saw somewhere that you went to MIT,—40 years ago, Dr Bose (we hacked his speakers when I was an undergrad) spoke at an MIT reunion in Honolulu, HI about Jaime Escalante. Dr Bose had funded studies of Escalante’s very effective teaching methodology. I don’t know what came out of the studies—IMO it’s all about energy dense, DHA rich ‘Tacos de Seso’ (Brain Tacos). Thanks for sharing the recipe.*
*or, Cervelle de Veau, or Gulai Otak or Maghaz Masala … brains for brains.
@Mani Malagon. Haha – love this. Thanks for sharing!