The Brussels Sprouts of Wrath
N likes sprouts. This was news to him late last year - I doubt he's had a whole lot of home cooking for years, and I suspect like many he's experienced the whole "even though it's January it's still not too late to start cooking them for next Christmas" thing. I've cooked them a few times for him now, and the last couple of times he's cooked for me he's done them. In fact, he even cooked them for his brother at Christmas, who also likes them. Three minutes in a microwave seems to be adequate. I fancied ringing the changes tonight, and looked for something slightly different.
Thus it was that I cooked four new things tonight, which was a little uncautious but seemed to come off. I'd planned some kind of meat sweet and sour or stir fry, but Tescos let me down as they did today. On the way to work this morning I dropped into the local branch for some sunflower oil, ginger, salt and yeast extract. I noticed Batchelor's Cuppasoups were on a two for one deal, and they are useful when I want to have something hot to eat at work. I picked up two packets, and they charged me for two. Had I picked the right flavour, I was asked. I'd checked the sign, and it had said five packet, four packet and granules boxes, not specifying flavours. But no, apparently as the special offer was on a yellow sticker with red stripes only those soups priced with a label which is yellow and red count for the offer. I pointed out that I'd never know that in fifteen years of shopping in their stores and that it was at best misleading, and if there isn't room for specifying flavours it should at least say selected flavours only. I was able to swap the Carrot and Coriander for a second box of Tomato and got my money back off the second box. Tescos can bogoff.
I also foolishly checked for pork pieces in the reduced to clear section, but they didn't have anything suitable. I had some beef mince indoors, and I tried for something vaguely Chinesey, but couldn't find my five spice so it was more Indian in the end. This was also bulked out with rice, which I get right most times these days. This was to go with the sea weed, which I finally decided I ought to try cooking. The oil took a while to get up to heat, so the first batch was a little soggy, but the rest hit the mark. I've enough left for two more servings, although I may try doing it with cabbage. When I bought the sea weed, I also bought some gelatinous rice balls, which are poached from frozen and were interesting. Neither N nor I know if we like them, but they are at least interesting. Finally I did sweet and sour brussels sprouts, which he really liked, although I have to say I thought the parmesan came through a little strongly. I'd meant to add some sherry to the marinade, but I forgot about this when I got home. Still, I have half a pound of them left, so I could do them with my remaining half of the toad in the hole from yesterday.
I have to say I am impressed with myself. A year or so it used to terrify me to cook for somebody else - with the exception of chocolate puddle pudding - but this was three new recipes and one concoction. Go me.
Thus it was that I cooked four new things tonight, which was a little uncautious but seemed to come off. I'd planned some kind of meat sweet and sour or stir fry, but Tescos let me down as they did today. On the way to work this morning I dropped into the local branch for some sunflower oil, ginger, salt and yeast extract. I noticed Batchelor's Cuppasoups were on a two for one deal, and they are useful when I want to have something hot to eat at work. I picked up two packets, and they charged me for two. Had I picked the right flavour, I was asked. I'd checked the sign, and it had said five packet, four packet and granules boxes, not specifying flavours. But no, apparently as the special offer was on a yellow sticker with red stripes only those soups priced with a label which is yellow and red count for the offer. I pointed out that I'd never know that in fifteen years of shopping in their stores and that it was at best misleading, and if there isn't room for specifying flavours it should at least say selected flavours only. I was able to swap the Carrot and Coriander for a second box of Tomato and got my money back off the second box. Tescos can bogoff.
I also foolishly checked for pork pieces in the reduced to clear section, but they didn't have anything suitable. I had some beef mince indoors, and I tried for something vaguely Chinesey, but couldn't find my five spice so it was more Indian in the end. This was also bulked out with rice, which I get right most times these days. This was to go with the sea weed, which I finally decided I ought to try cooking. The oil took a while to get up to heat, so the first batch was a little soggy, but the rest hit the mark. I've enough left for two more servings, although I may try doing it with cabbage. When I bought the sea weed, I also bought some gelatinous rice balls, which are poached from frozen and were interesting. Neither N nor I know if we like them, but they are at least interesting. Finally I did sweet and sour brussels sprouts, which he really liked, although I have to say I thought the parmesan came through a little strongly. I'd meant to add some sherry to the marinade, but I forgot about this when I got home. Still, I have half a pound of them left, so I could do them with my remaining half of the toad in the hole from yesterday.
I have to say I am impressed with myself. A year or so it used to terrify me to cook for somebody else - with the exception of chocolate puddle pudding - but this was three new recipes and one concoction. Go me.