Tuesday, August 18, 2009

It's all meme me!

I love Sunday dinner. It can be roast beef or lamb, chicken or turkey. It's occasionally a ham but that doesn't matter. What makes a Sunday dinner is all the little extras that accompany the meal, the amount of time it takes to make...all afternoon...and the amount of time it takes to be eaten...3 seconds flat. The sitting around afterwards, chatting, picking at the remains and laughing with family, children and friends is the best part. Well, not really, you know me better than that; the food is the best part but it's a close second. Meh.

I love cooking for big numbers because you can make lots of different dishes at such cost effectiveness, I positively glow from the thought of it. These days, when I cook a joint, I usually always go for a large piece as meat once cooked slowly can be reheated and used in any dish your heart desires; curries, stews, sandwiches, soups, to name but a few. Even with chicken, I tend to cook two at a time and the second one gets used over the next few days. Hey, even electricity costs money so little savings help towards the big trips to...um...Canada or suchlike.

This Sunday, I cooked one paltry wee chicken but it was free range, stuffed with tarragon, lemon and sea salt, drizzled with olive oil and dotted with butter.

I served it with baby roasted potatoes, roasted carrots and turnip with some chopped up gammon and thyme all in a little olive oil and sea salt. We had green beans, petit pois (wee peas) and roast potatoes. Don't you just love roast potatoes? We like our potatoes of every description so we also had potato boulangere:...which is potatoes sliced thinly and layered between a sprinkling of chopped, sauteed onion then covered with an equal mix...around 5fl.oz. of each.... of stock and milk, dotted with butter and baked in an oven for 45 minutes. Drooled over! 350/180 or gas mark 4.

There has been no shopping this week; you may not have heard.....!, but I'm going on holiday tomorrow. There is still plenty of food in the cupboards, fridge and freezer. Brian has suggested taking the kids to school in their pyjamas so that someone will feel pity for him and cook everyone dinner. He is a chancer but is only kidding. He is perfectly capable although we have had offers of help already from the lovely women of Glasgow.
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Little Miss Blogger tagged me for this meme, my first ever. Thank you, my bloggy friend, I shall do my best.

The rules are, erase the answers already listed and fill in my own then pass it on to four bloggers of my choice. So here it is:

1. Who is the hottest Movie Star?
The hottest movie star of all time has to be Clint Eastwood. Ever since I saw him in a cowboy hat, walking across a dusty, wild western town, me at the tender age of 8, I was smitten. Over the years, I've watched every film with glee but when he walked onto my screen as John Kincaid, I wanted to seek him out and propose. And he's a great director!

2. Apart from your house and car, what is the most expensive item you have ever bought?
My sofas. They cost thousands of pounds years ago when sofas still cost the same as a car. I still have them. I hate them. I really, really hate them.

3. What is your most treasured memory?
Apart from the children being born? I have so many. I remember dreaming that I was pregnant with twins; I did a test the next day and lo and behold, I was indeed pregnant. At the scan, I shared my thoughts and the doctor confirmed that there were two little 'uns in there. I was so happy until she said "let me see if there are any more...."; that wiped the smile from my face.

I also remember Kelly telling me she was going to teach me to hope at the tender age of three. I was so touched, tears pierced my eyes; that was when she got on one leg and started to hop round the room.............we laughed for a loooong time.

4. What was the best gift you ever received as a child?
Tiny Tears doll.

5. What is the biggest mistake you have ever made?
My mistakes have led me to here.

6. 4 words to describe yourself?
I really love coffee.

7. What was your highlight or low light of 2008?
I started yoga which I love and my wonderful mother in law died.

8. Favorite Film?
This is one I cannot answer; there are too many. The last film I saw (for the umpteenth time) which I loved was Now, Voyager starring Betty Davis...."who needs the moon when we have the stars". I have it on video tape. Yes, video tape.

9. Tell me one thing I don’t know about you.
I once had nowhere to live.

10. If you were a comic book/strip or cartoon character, who would you be?
Elastigirl, the mum from The Incredibles. Except, unlike her, I can also fly.

The four bloggers I am tagging with this Meme are:
Anna
Beagle
Barbiephobia
Tommy
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My blogger friend Amy from Mama Drama gave me this smile:

"The Spreading the Smile originated from Vicki at Frugal Mom Knows Best. According to Frugal Mom "there are no rules or expectations, just the hope that you will pass this on, to however many people you want. The hope that we all have at least one nice thing to say to a least one person. One genuine, nice thing that might make them smile. Or even maybe something to thank them for. Let's spread the smile to as many faces as possible."
I'd like to pass it on to all of you. Please pass it on in turn.

6 comments:

Little Ms Blogger said...

The potato boulangere looks yummy and sounds like something I'd enjoy....

#9 really? I'm hoping it was a short period of your life.

I love the 4 words you use to describe yourself.

I'm glad you did the meme and I hope you enjoy your vacation.

beagle said...

Oh your photos have me drooling! So glad I found your blog, I am really enjoying it. :) I really enjoy what y'all call things vs what we call them here in the Southern States...totally love the learning experience. :D

petit pois = green peas here
potato boulangere = Scalloped Potatoes here (they are very similar recipes - ours have cheese in them too :P )

Will do the meme today, looks like fun!

Helen McGinn said...

#9 a loooong time ago and for a very short while. :o) Thanks hon.

You know, I thought parmesan would work very well with these, beagle so now you have inspired me to try it! And ditto! :O)

The Vintage Kitten said...

Im not supposed to be blogging but just wanted to pop by to say hope you have a fab time in Canada X
P.S You aint seen me roight! (Sorry very bad impression from the Fast Show) X

Anna said...

helen i have always ALWAYS wanted to have twins!! i hope i have similar luck! ; )
xo-

Helen McGinn said...

V.K. I got it right away...;O) Thank you, I'll miss you.
Anna....it was lucky...boy and girl lucky...three...meh...not so....*L*