You know you live in England when...

...bangers and mash sound like a viable option for dinner.

And then you actually cook it.

And serve it to guests in your home.

Confused? We are having sausage and mashed potatoes for dinner.

Technically we are eating early, about the time of children's tea. Did I confuse you again? No, the English don't give their children Earl Grey tea at 5. Although I thought my friend was doing just that for awhile and was quite confused. They feed their children their dinner at 5. Just the children. Then Mum and Dad will eat later, I suppose once Dad is back from work.

Another odd dish that I've had [English] friends order at a restaurant and eat: rice pudding. It's not a misnomer. They actually make a pudding (another word for dessert, by the way) that is similar, I thought, to creme brulee that has rice in it. When I questioned this, asking "But there isn't actually rice grains in it?" They said, "Oh yes, there is. And it is delicious." (Or something perhaps that sounded more English...brilliant, nice, or beautiful, perhaps? Certainly not the American awesome!) Taking on my brusque American tongue, I informed them that that was the most bizarre idea I had ever heard--putting rice in a dessert!! Upon which I was forced to try it. Fine. It was fine. I can eat it. But as I told them that I still declared that it was just not natural to put rice in a dessert. (In the English's defense, I had one friend say it was a "boarding school dish" and she didn't really care for it either.)

Well at least I'm not fixing bubble and squeak. Or black pudding. Or toad-in-the-hole.

Meals, again!

from food network

Just in case you are looking for a new recipe or meal idea to try, here is what we are having this week!

Monday: Lemon Fusilli with Arugula (or Spinach since I couldn't find the arugula)

This was so delicious and really creamy. However, the boys are not especially fond of strong lemon flavor, so I think I would do less zest next time, and maybe only juice of one lemon. I saw this one on a Barefoot Contessa show I watched. How much do I love her house? So much. It would be good to make if you had to serve maybe 6 adults. It makes a good bit, and I think a good baguette would be divine with it...along with white wine.

Tuesday: John's Red Beans and Rice from Magic (Junior League of Birmingham cookbook)

I've never made this, but my red beans are soaking as we type, so we'll see how that goes!

Wednesday and Thursday: Leftovers

Friday: Smothered Chicken, rice, peas from Cook and Love It (from the Lovett School in Atlanta, my favorite cookbook.) Who doesn't love an easy cream of mushroom soup, Lipton's dry french onion soup kind of dinner.

Saturday: Cheeseburgers!

Sunday: Taco Pie (so good! Thanks, Mom!)

(Side note to my first "meal planning" post, Aimee's Chicken looked so great and it was so easy. However, either the dijon mustard here is hotter than it is at home or I put too much on there. It was like eating chinese mustard. Every time I took a bite, my sinuses were cleared. So if you have a sinus infection, maybe this is good for you?)

What are you eating this week? Any ideas? I've recently taken up watching the Food Network (yes, we get it here. yes it is amazing.) so maybe I will have some new recipes to try. When they make it look so easy, how can you not try a new recipe out?

In the great green room

Who doesn't love Margaret Wise Brown's Goodnight Moon. Recently when we have read it at night, Wiley has been fascinated with "mush."

"And a comb and a brush and a bowl full of mush."

"Goodnight nobody. Goodnight mush."

So. We made mush this morning for breakfast. Mush, as in porridge oats, as Tesco calls it. Wiley was so fascinated, he wanted to see it, smell it, and then obviously taste it!

On a rainy morning with a bit of brown sugar, the mush was surprisingly comforting (particularly with hot tea and pumpkin bread). (Although it reminded me a bit of Camp Nakanawa's oatmeal.) And, Wiley actually liked it!

"mmm...mush!"