What's for Dinner?

[Sundae]

Dinner in the hospital (which in my head is sung to Roses in the Hospital by the Manic Street Preachers.)

First evening, salmon in a dill & mustard sauce, mashipots, green beans and cauliflower.
Do I like the cauli? No I do not. But I'd already asked about fresh fruit for dessert and told they didn't offer that. So I thought I'd best get my fibre where I could. Also the sauce covered the taste.

Apple and apricot pie with custard.
And no, that wasn't what I left, I was attacking it with such gusto that I almost forgot to take a photo for you!

[glatt]

That looks pretty good, and I love the dishes. I'd be tempted to swipe one for a souvenir.

[Sundae]

Last night (Wednesday)
Chicken and leek pie with mixed veg (peas, beans and carrot), mashipots and cabbage.

Rice pudding.

[Sundae]

(I was tempted too, but the same lady who served also cleared away!)

[chrisinhouston]

That looks way better then anything served in most hospitals here in the states. Here it would be all processed food with canned vegetables, usually overcooked and bland. Dessert is usually a small cup of ice cream.

[orthodoc]

I agree, the hospital food I've had (quite a lot, unfortunately) has been terrible. Watery overcooked veg; mystery meat; powdered eggs and powdered potatoes (retch); and margarine! In a hospital! Why don't they just invite us to light up cigarettes?

Sorry about the rant. That food looks yummy, Sundae.

[Chocolatl]

When I worked in a hospital, we served Lean Cuisines so that all the calories/fat/salts were easily accounted for. As if there were no dietitians on staff?

Tonight for dinner we had jambalaya. Sooo delicious.

[Sundae]

I love Jambalaya.
I honed my recipe over the years.

My husband wasn't really a spicy food person, so it became more bland.
I went back to how I thought it should be cooked after we separated, but added more veg, because the Evil Ex ate no fruit or vegetables until he met me.
I readjusted it after moving home, because Mum gets bad gut-ache from peppers and Dad has such a small appetite.

But in all its incarnations it never became to Special Go-To dinner I wanted it to be.
Which was a shame, because even having tweaked it for other people's tastes, I still maintain my home-cooked version is better than any shop-bought one.

See, this is where I dropped the ball when I went to the Limeys'. I left home in too much of a hurry and in too scrambled a state. They'd have really appreciated something like this. Instead I reheated food prepared by other people. Which I admit was yummy, but lacked the personal touch.

[limey]

Next time you visit we'll insist on Jambalaya.

Sent by thought transference

[Sundae]

You paid my fare. I can't believe I tried to repay you with shop-bought food.
I'll be more proactive next time.
I'll bring as many of the ingredients as I can for that chocolate cake. Or Coffee & Walnut cake. Or any cake you fancy.

Made a batch of cheese scones today. But made tiny, tiny ones.
Because Erika wants some, so does Samuel, and I know Mum loves them too.
Dads says he wants them and he may get a chance with these miniature versions. I worry that they are too small and will therefore be dry, but you do what you can. All scones exist to be buttered!

Currently have chicken marinating for the Bank Holiday tomorrow.
And garlic infusing the butter I will use on the New Potatoes.
And red onion in lime juice to add to the salad (it takes the bite out.)
I'm a lousy cook, but occasionally I introduce the 'rents to something they might not have experienced.

Jambalaya and squidgy chocolate cake.
I can do.

[Sundae]

Actually chick, if I get onto ESA I think I will come visit, depending on your plans.
I won't have to sign on every week and the environment on Arran and in your house is very good for me.

Of course I already have my interview for Waitrose, and I will go all out to get that job. But if I don't, and between hospital appointments, it would be magical to see your island in Summer, as I've always said I would.

And you and Mr Limey and Jasper make it especially special.

This time I will bring ingredients as opposed to ready meals. Although you can send me a wish list of course.

I might even be able to make the cook-all-day American recipes that terrify my Mum

[zippyt]

I might even be able to make the cook-all-day American recipes that terrify my Mum

Why would letting something simmer all day terrify her ???
Nothing like Playing in the snow all day with a pot of beef stew or Soup cooking low and slow , you come in and smell the goodness !!
or chillie , or gumbo , or Jambalaya, or ,,,,,,
Has you no Crock pots in Blyty ????

[limey]

Zip, I use a crockpot quite a lot. Sundae, you're welcome anytime, any time at all! x

[Pete Zicato]

Zing2's birthday is this week and we had the birthday party tonight. I made arni souvlaki (Greek shish kebab), Greek salad, and rice (with help from Zing2 herself).

[Sundae]

Originally Posted by zippyt

I might even be able to make the cook-all-day American recipes that terrify my Mum

Why would letting something simmer all day terrify her ???
Nothing like Playing in the snow all day with a pot of beef stew or Soup cooking low and slow , you come in and smell the goodness !!
or chillie , or gumbo , or Jambalaya, or ,,,,,,
Has you no Crock pots in Blyty ????

We don't have a crockpot in this house, no.

I don't know why she is so set against something that takes more than an hour to cook (except large roasts, which she has no reason to cook any more anyway.)
Just set in her ways I guess.