h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

I've decided to post my evening meal menus for the following week or perhaps more. I fully expect to be roundly criticized along with hearty expressions of approval.

Today:

A pint bottle of Phillips Amnesiac Double IPA, part of which is the marinade of-

A small organic Angus beef steak grilled with pepper, olive oil and beer marinade.

A roasted yam and

Grilled, sliced sprouts a la azahar:

http://azaharskitchen.wordpress.com/2010/01/01/sprouts-bacon-pinenuts/

Dessert will likely be half a frozen Eatmore bar.

Granville Island's English Bay Pale Ale with:

Deli sliced smoked turkey breast on whole wheat bread with homemade cranberry sauce and Kozlik's Horseradish Mustard. With sliced tomato and nice crunchy Romaine lettuce. Cold slice of yam on the side which will probably quell my sweet tooth (if not then the other half of the Eat-more bar!)

I'm debating having one of my nephew's garlic pickles but I doubt if the people I work with tomorrow would appreciate it.

Since I started eating meat again I'm enjoying the food more but I think I'm eating less.

for what it's worth, I had a quick stirfry of rice and veggies with a big mug of jasmine tea.

The other day I came across what I wouldn't have thought a likely cookbook for me, but it's actually quite interesting and ideal for people who usually cook for a small crowd of two or so. I don't know if you've heard of it (you probably know the author): the $10 Gourmet by that most manly of iron chefs, Ken Kostick.

Have you heard of it?

No, but I wish I had heard about it before yesterday. I was on Saltspring Island interviewing Robert Bateman all day but I had two hours off before I had to fly back and I spent all of it at my absolute favourite book store:

http://www.sabinesbooks.com/

I do have a second favourite in West Vancouver, I'll look there. And check the closer store, Indigo. Thanks. I'm not aware of his work, did he do food porn?

btw, I bought a second edition of *The Water Babies* by Charles Kingsley (I passed on my copy to my children), *Yea, Yea, Yea* by Angus McGill, and *Every Goodbye Ain't Gone' by Evelyn C. White and Joanne Bealy. The last one because I grew up just across the bay from Saltspring Island and I knew some of the descendants of the end of the Underground Railway.

Kostick is a Canadian TV cooking show guy. He's usually paired up with Mary Jo Eustace and they're quite funny together. In The $10 Dollar Gourmet he set out to, as he puts it, produce restaurant quality meals for two people for under ten dollars, but what I find more interesting about it is that it is *quick*, restaurant quality meals *for two people*. I've recommended it to my parents who are getting on a bit and slowing down, but they want to stay at home for a while.

As for my 'manly' comment about iron chef Ken Kostick: http://www.barkpetcare.biz/images/kenkostickhomephoto.jpg

Oh dear....he seems quite...*happy*.

Thanks for that, I too have a Mother in law and her husband who are in their late 70s / early 80s. I'll pass that along but will keep a copy for myself. Being *husky* as my dad used to say, I may want to cook for two just for myself some days.

Sailor Hagar's Narwhal Pale Ale with:

Spontaneous Combustion Gyozas

And Miso soup.

I'm starting to sweat.

Gyozas?



Ah, Japanese.

Recipes that came up didn't really mention hot ingredients - but I see that it's being compared to korean mandu, and THAT has almost done me in.

...although it isn't quite as brutal as a horseradish with chili sauce kind of kimchee that those same koreans seemed to be inordinately proud of.

I supplied the spontaneous combustion-

http://www.hotsauceworld.com/sponcomhotsa.html

Tonight, a small scotch and veggie lasagna.

Night, night.

Although.... I have a marble cutting/pastry slab I cut myself from an old bank storefront made available from a used construction recycle site. It has a faint circle from a sealed kimchee container that managed to eat through glass. That stuff is BAAAAAD!

Pickled herring, steamed beets and salad.

Iced tea to drink.

Ken Kostick's 'Wasabi Burgers with Parmesan & Green Pepper' (with ground chicken instead of beef and red instead of green pepper).

Amber's Pale Ale to drink with Monte Alban Mezcal con Gusano as a chaser.



fest.

You out Gourmanded and Gourmeted me!

That's the first of the recipes from that $10 Gourmet that I've had a chance to make and I must say, the initial impression of quick and easy was accurate and it was absolutely delicious.

Sounds good.


Tonight it's some Quail's Gate Chardonnay with

Wild Salmon in an organic pea / cauliflower / onion, multicoloured macaroni casserole and all I had to buy was the onion since everything else was in the freezer (yes, even the macaroni).

I haven't topped it yet, it's simmering. Parmesan or old white cheddar? Or just breadcrumbs?

I vote for Parmesan and (Panko) breadcrumbs, but it's been twenty-five minutes so you've likely already finished.

Simple fare here tonight:

Habitant Pea Soup (from a can)

English Breakfast Tea.

Orange pineapple juice with

a Buffalo burger with white cheddar, the last of the lettuce and several big fat stinky homemade garlic pickles. (No clients tomorrow, just poodles.)

Oh, and I topped the little casserole with crumbled cheddar and flour, came out nice and crispy.

a can of Campbell's chicken with white and wild rice soup.





I have a cold.