Oct 05 2008
TV Dinner
Anticipating feeling a little fragile (in fact I felt relieved and energised) on Friday night, I asked Dougal for a no-commitment Friday night in front of the TV with easy to handle food.
- Roast Poussin and Sweet Potatoes
- Wasabi Lime Dressing
As Nigella boasts in the pre-amble to this dish, the great thing about this is that you can construct it with very little effort, fling it in the oven whilst you watch some high quality TV (spoilers!) , and then eat it in front of the telly too. We worked in a salad dressing too, because Nigella said the meat and taters were good with watercress and lime, and because this salad dressing was touted as going well with a salad of watercress and avocado and plain simple foods. The only let down in the end was that the avocado failed (it out and out refused!) to ripen in time so could not be included.
I made the decision to halve the number of poussins from one each to one between two. They seemed like quite a large meal for one! Whilst Dougal would say this was the right decision, I personally could have done with more meat. The sweet potato, basted in wok oil, cumin and cinnamon was right up my street- I’d do them again.
Although I’d have preffered a stronger lime kick, the salad dressing did indeed go well with the meat and potatoes, packing quite a punch. Not so great a punch, though, as the English mustard which Nigella stipulates is essential with this. I think she’s missing a trick not just having a highly wasabied up salad on the side.
You are right: this sounds a fine combination, though rurality will probably necessitate a chicken rather than poussin (they’re a bit poncey, anyway). Must try and get this organised, now that I have time on my hands again… ho hum
further to the earlier post, I very nearly DID do it with poussin as Mr Tesco does sell them in his Haddington shop. However, I felt that some leftover cold chicken would be good, and the poussin didn’t look as happy as the chicken, so I went with the original plan and it was very fine.
Would like to get some more cooking done, now that we are back from Ullapool, but currently suffering from severe persistent nausea, secondary to pharmaceutical withdrawal, so the thought is not greatly appealing…. Maybe I shall lose a bit of weight as a consequence (ill-wind etc)
lot to be said for the happy hens. I held out for Saturday- couldn’t bring myself to get M&S ‘farm assured’ six drumsticks for a pound but managed to get to waitrose at the very last min and got organic free range drumsticks. Excellent roasted on the day and the most *wonderful* stock tonight (also had some old pork spare ribs in the mix) which went into lentil soup for two poorly people. shame I’ve no taste buds, but hey ho.