A while ago, Zelda had Walter Matthau around for some special sandwiches, so she thought that she should also do something for Jack Lemmon, his co-star in so many great films. Lemmon always gave a superb performance, but one of my personal favourites is Avanti! where he learns to relax and love Italy, especially its pasta. (There is even a great scene where Juliet Mills lists types of pasta. In 1972 many people in the UK only knew of spaghetti.)
So here is a vegetarian pasta meal for Jack.
SPAGHETTI CARBONARA Serves 2-3
Ingredients
100g cheese, grated very finely
3 eggs (2 whole eggs + 1 extra yolk)
2 garlic cloves, crushed
300g spaghetti
4 rashers fake bacon
75ml cream
1-2tbsp oil
When ready to eat, cook spaghetti in a pan. Then drain.
Meanwhile, in a wok, cook the ‘bacon’.
(This can has be done in advance).
In same wok, cook the garlic and add the bacon again.
In a bowl beat 2 eggs + 1 yolk.
Then mix with cream and cheese and season.
Add the spaghetti to the wok with bacon.
Pour egg mixture over the top and stir all together.
From their appearance in 1990's A Grand Day Out, Wallace and Gromit captivated the public with their easy charm. Gromit is especially good, exhibiting a range of recognisable human emotions (particularly in The Wrong Trousers).
We know they love cheese, so this would be on the table when they arrived at Zelda's...
CHEESE AND ONION FRITTERS Makes about 10-12 fritters 200g plain flour 2tsp baking powder 2tsp salt 1tsp black pepper 2 free range eggs 280ml milk 1 onion, chopped 2 handfuls grated cheese oil for frying Sift together the flour, baking powder, salt and pepper. Beat the eggs with the milk and stir this into the dry ingredients. (It should now look a bit frothy.)
Add the grated cheese and stir. Fry the onion until golden and soft. Add to the mixture. Make sure everything is mixed together well.
Heat a little oil in a pan and drop in spoonfuls of the mixture.
Fry until just browned on both sides.
Keep warm while you fry the rest. (For more precise presentation, you can cut to a neat shape but I like the rustic appearance.)
Mmm, cheese and Marmite?
Try it – it works really well!
(If you are not in the UK,
find another yeast-based spread.)
You need to make sure that
the baguette is warm when you assemble it, so it is best to make your own bread
or buy one of those part-baked ones which are readily available in supermarkets.
1 baguette
2-3 tablespoons Marmite
50g grated cheese (I used
cheddar)
Cook the baguette
according to instructions.
Cut in half and slice down
the middle of each half.
The ‘Little
House‘ books by Laura Ingalls Wilder accompanied my childhood.
Although
written for children, the books actually explain the hardships of the pioneer
life. The politically correct do not look on them so favourably these days.
After all, they chronicle the attempts of a white family to colonise the lands
where the Native Americans once roamed free. But we can’t change history and, as
a slice of history, they provide a story of human struggle for survival against
the elements and describe how a father and daughter with a wandering spirit made
their way westward, with a thorough degree of respect for the land.
There was also a lovely television series starring Michael Landon with a wonderful portrayal of Laura by Melissa Gilbert. I remember watching an episode each week after a bath and hair-wash.
In 1874 they
lived at Plum Creek in Minnesota. On the
Banks of Plum Creek, the third of the novels which relate Laura’s travels, tells
how the Ingalls had to take up temporary residence in a dugout in the bank of the
creek itself, until Pa could earn enough to build them a new house nearer to
Walnut Grove (the place most associated with the family because of the TV
series).
I was given
some plums this week by someone I know who has a tree in her garden. I decided to cook a classic/ modern pudding
but invite a guest from history who would be familiar with the taste of fresh
plums.
So, pull up
a chair, Laura, and tell me what you think.
PLUM CLAFOUTIS
Ingredients
125ml milk
125ml double cream
2-3 tsp vanilla essence
(or a vanilla pod)
4 free range eggs
170g caster sugar
1tbsp plain flour
25g butter
500g fresh plums
2tbsp brown sugar
30g flaked almonds
Method
Boil the milk, cream and
vanilla in a pan for about 5 minutes. Then turn off and allow to cool.
In a bowl, beat the eggs
with the caster sugar. When it is fluffy, fold in the flour.
When the milk/ vanilla
mixture is cool, add it to the eggs. Whisk well and then set aside.
Heat oven to Gas 6/ 400°F/ 200°C.
Put the butter in an
oven-proof dish and heat until it bubbles.
Add the plums to the dish
and sprinkle the brown sugar over the top.
Bake for 5 minutes.
Add the batter and scatter
the almonds over the top.
Cook for 30- 40 minutes
until the batter has risen and the top is golden.
A while ago, Zelda had Walter Matthau around for some special sandwiches, so she thought that she should also do something for Jack Lemmon, his co-star in so many great films.
Lemmon always gave a superb performance, but one of my personal favourites is Avanti! where he learns to relax and love Italy, especially its pasta. (There is even a great scene where Juliet Mills lists types of pasta. In 1972 many people in the UK only knew of spaghetti.)
Ingredients
Meanwhile, in a wok, cook the ‘bacon’.
In same wok, cook the garlic and add the bacon again.
Add the spaghetti to the wok with bacon.
