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Jenny McClure

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Posts posted by Jenny McClure

  1. A simple and defintively Scottish desert would be Cranachan.  Look up a recipe - they do vary - but basically it's double cream, toasted oatmeal, malt whisky and, essential in my book at least, raspberries.

    Thanks for all the suggestions.

    Could I substitute mascarpone for double cream, or do you think I can get in the states?

    I could be wrong but, I think double cream is the equivilent of heavy cream in the States. Can anyone confirm??

  2. The stress is getting to them -- you can tell who's got character, and who doesn't. Mia -- gimme a break... The judges explicitly asked Cliff who he thought should go home, and he gave them a straight answer -- and a perfectly valid one too: pissing, moaning and having a shitty attitude can ruin any work environment.

    She already said she was tired and homesick, and then when she lost it in front of the judges, she probably realized she'd burned any chances of success, and tried to make a glorious exit by offering to leave, to save Elia... If that had been it, I would have been torn between admiring her, and feeling a tad cynical about it all. But with her "Woe is me, I am the only person in my family that achieved anything, we were homeless and I sold crack so poor pity me"-spiel at the end, I'm coming down on the cynical side...

    And what the hell kinda competition IS this? Aren't the judges the ones who are supposed to decide who stays or goes? Not the competitors, damnit. If I'd been in charge, I'd accept Mia's resignation, and then announced the loser -- and then send that one home too.

    If Bravo had produced Spike/UFC's Ultimate Fighter show, you'd have em wrestling in those inflatable sumo outfits, or poking each others with nerf bats or something -- and if someone lost and had to leave, another fighter would offer to leave in his stead. It really wouldn't be very good at all.

    If they do that ( and I agree they should have) then they would have 2 gone in one episode and that would mess up their scheduling.

  3. In my experience, and I have only stayed on the French side, I find it is better to have some sort of transport. Especially if you want to explore the Island. My husband & I, when solo, will just rent a moped which is perfect, but if you are a larger group a car is better. The island is quite big and taxi's are expensive and not all that reliable. If you want to go beach hopping I would say definatley have your own transport. Finding a taxi at the end of a day on beach can be a headache.

  4. A friend of ours is coming into town over the holidays with her new boyfriend, who is originally from Scotland.  I would like to try to make him something that would be traditional at the holiday time over there.

    For the main course for dinner we will be having Beef Wellington.

    Does anyone have any suggestions and possibly recipes as well?

    Are there any traditional beverages at Christmas time?

    thanks for your help

    Dave

    I'm pretty sure mulled wine is tradtional at Christmas in Scotland, it is in Ireland and I have some dimmed memories of drinking it at Christmas parties when visiting my friends who were at University in Edinburgh.

    Turnip and potatoes are pretty standard sides.

    Mince pies are very Christmasy.

  5. The Northern Irish can be very particular where their food is concerned. If it doesn't fall into one of the following groups: pig, sugar, butter, chocolate, potato, tea, cow and isn't prepared in one of the following ways: boiled, fried, oven baked beyond recognition, then it's considered inedible.

    Having grown up in NI, but now living in England, I couldn't agree more. When I go back now and then to see family and friends, it's a mission to find anywhere that serves 'real' food that doesn't come with a selection of fifteen different potato styles.

    Deanes upstairs is okay, but there's more atmosphere on the moon. Cayenne is indeed very good, as is Roscoff Brasserie. James St South's worth a mention, too.

    There's a veritable plethora of true crimes against all things culinary in every town and city you visit there. Has always been the same and I'd hazard a guess it always will be. Shame, but a fact nontheless.

    I understand what you are saying, but what I was trying to say, in my muddled way, is that just because the pickins are slim, restaurant wise, it is unfair to assume we all have the palates of dry wall. I grew up in a family who are are great cooks. I am not just talking about meat and potato dinners. We travelled as a family and eat out in many different kinds of restaurants. I then left Northern Ireland to go University, like many do. So many of us are exposed to foods from all over. So while pig, pototoes and chocolate may be found in our fridges at any given time, that is not to say that is all you will find.

  6. Cayenne is pretty good. I've been going to Belfast for years (not out of choice, my in-laws live there) and restaurants have never failed to underwhelm me there. Still, things are impoving, albeit slowly.  The Northern Irish can be very particular where their food is concerned. If it doesn't fall into one of the following groups: pig, sugar, butter, chocolate, potato, tea, cow and isn't prepared in one of the following ways: boiled, fried, oven baked beyond recognition, then it's considered inedible. I have literally a book's worth of material on eating experiences I've had in N.I. over a ten year period. My most recent one was lunch at a Wetherspoon's like pub that's just opened up near Antrim. It was supposed to have, as my brother-in-law's girlfriend called it, 'a continental menu'. But when I ordered the spaghetti with tomatoes and olives (the safest thing on the menu) my sister-in-law, a grown woman of 31 made horrible faces at the thought of eating pasta. That was before I was asked by the waiter if I wanted 'a bit of Italian cheese sprinkled on top'. It took a lot of polite smiling to get through that one.

    Your Sister in law must have issues then because I grew up there and pasta is not only a very common item in many restaurants, but a staple in many homes for dinner. I also feel that your comments on the N. Irish palate extremely generalized. I know some that definately are as you described, but I know many more who are not. Weatherspoons, is like a TGIF, which many Americans love and consider as their weekly meal out and this is about as adventurous as they will get. Does it mean the rest of the country is so...I think not.

    I would give Cayenne a try. Deane's has a nice vibe for lunch. Avoid The Appartment at all costs. That is for food at least.

  7. I also agree with Sue Flay, pregnancy may not be a sickness, but it can be very frustrating to sit time after time in a restaurant watching those around you supping away on wine, eating a juicy steak, eating sushi etc, whilst you sit there enviously searching the menu for something that A.) you are allowed to eat & B.) something that you can actually stomach. It is very kind of Daniel to prepare a meal that everyone can eat and enjoy and you do not feel left out or that you are missing out.l

  8. We are making Sunday dinner for a group of people.. One being pregnant, what type of foods should we stay away from serving.. No raw meats or fish?  No Shellfish (really) like shrimp or lobster. How about Sea Urchin?.. Unpastuerized cheeses? Anything else that we should include? How about runny eggs or poached eggs? Is organ meats ok?

    I was thinking like a chicken liver pasta she might like? Any ladies out there care to help me?  I was also thinking of doing a bunch of desserts.. Perhaps three different milkshake shots.. Like homemade strawberry shake, a butter pecan flavor, and still brain storming for something like pickles an ice cream.. Maybe do deep fried pickle chips and ice cream.. Or pickled flavored ice cream.. Can anyone think of a cute way to get the pickles and ice cream theme in?

    The pickles & ice-cream cravings remind me of an ad we used to have on TV for the Yellow Pages. It showed a heavily pregnant women & hubby preparing the babies room. When it comes to dinner time he asks his wife what she would like, to which she replies, pizza... a large pizza with tuna fish & bananas. Hence, pan to husband sighing and grabbing the yellow pages, in attempt to find a pizza place that will do this. This ad was so popular, that many pizzerias jumped on the bandwagon and included a "Pizza Yellow Pages " with these ingredients on their menu. It was actually was a very popular pizza at the time. Not sure if it is still around. I will have to investigate when I go back home for Christmas. Damn, now I want one.

    Sorry for the tangent, been suffering a case of preggo brain for the last couple of weeks.

  9. I'm pregnant. I didn't know about the shellfish thing...oops!! Basically, at least for me, you can't eat any of the good stuff. It seems every week they come up with a new thing that you are not supposed to eat. It can be very frustrating. Some women are stricter than others on all these no no's, so maybe it would be good to talk to your friend and see how strongly she feels about what she shouldn't be eating. Also keep in mind that many pregnant women have unexplained aversions to certain foods. So her favourites may not be so any more.

  10. From what I remember, I read this article a few days ago, it seemed that for women there was no real change in sexual libido but, there is a slight decrease for some men. They did however paint this as a good thing by saying that men who had had problems keeping it in their pants were no longer as tempted to stray and were more focused on only their partner and therefore better and more comitted lovers. That is to say that on this diet men are able to have some sexual control!!

    ETA: I really should read before I post

  11. And that was it!  The next morning we were up very early to catch out flight back to the States.  We had pains au chocolat and Oranginas at CDG, and then boarded our plane. 

    The first thing I consumed on American soil: Diet Coke.  :wink:

    A great report! As I said in my earlier post it brings back many fond memories of my early trips to France. Your energy & enthousiasm are captivating.

    Thank you for sharing with us.

    Dave

    PS: You can get coka light everywhere in France, but who wants to?

    It's funny, how diet coke has a slightly different taste from country to country. I prefer the coke light, in France & Spain. In Ireland & US I don't really like diet coke (which are different from each other) as much and since getting pregnant cannot stand the taste of it, no matter where it comes from. Which is a good thing really!!

    Brilliant report by the way Megan. I thoroughly enjoyed it! Much better than work any day.

  12. My favourite is Christmas. I love all the tins of chocolates everybody has. Mince pies & mulled wine. Turkey, stuffing & cranberry sauce baps on Christmas night. Stilton carved out with a spoon. Smoked salmon on grannie's wheaton bread on Christmas morning.

    What I don't like is Christmas cake (I hate marzipan).

    Living in Puerto Rico I love all the morcilla that is around at Christmas and of course, coquitos.

    I haven't really experienced a true American style Thanksgiving, more, Thanksgiving Cuban style, which is great. I have to say, and I don't know if this is the American influence or the Cuban but I really dislike the sweet potato thing with marshmallows on top.........shudder.... Also not a fan of pumpkin pie.

  13. We had our wedding in my home town in Ireland. We probably had about 65 guests who travelled from Miami (husband's family & friends) and Puerto Rico (our friends). Rehersal dinners are not an Irish tradition and the Grooms family had already hosted a big engagement party in Miami. We felt we had to and wanted to do something for all the guests and family that had travelled. What we did was speak to the owners of a small restaurant that we love. They set up a 3 course menu (2 choices for each course) and just charged per head. Of course, the owners are family friends and really gave us a great price, for great food. They also threw in a 1/2 bottle of wine per person for free. It just meant there was no complications when it came to paying. An itinerary was put in each guests hotel room before along with planned menu & price, so there were no surprises.

  14. I shouldn't complain too much about the lack of appetite. A close friend of mine, who is now in week 39, faces the opposite problem....she can't get enough, of EVERYTHING. After a 8lb gain in just 1 week and tipping the scales 55lbs heavier than prepregnancy, she is starting to regret that daily packet of cameo cookies habit!!

  15. Just thought I would revive this topic as I sit here contemplating what I want for dinner and what would be fair to expect my husband to have to eat it also.

    As I enter the 2nd trimestre, I am still waiting to get back my once healthy appetite for red meat. I have not been able to face; meat, chicken, dark chocolate (my absolute favourite).

    I could eat smoked salmon, cereal and pizza for every meal.

    Smells also bother me. Everything smells so strong, which is particularly unpleasant in public bathrooms, places that do a lot of fried stuff and my local gym.

  16. I would just like to thank you for such a detailed report. Montreal and Quebec is a trip I have been longing to make and this report has just intensified it. I'm going to have to print it out and show it to my husband. That should convince him. Again, many thanks for a truly lovely account of what seemed to be a magical and unforgetable holiday.

  17. I recommend Chayote as a great place to celebrate your husband's birthday. It has a nice atmosphere on Fridays especially but is not too raucous. It has been around for a few years so it si not a sceney place, but it is a firm favourite with locals. I think you could do it for about $200.00 with wine. The Chef uses a lot of local ingredients. It is high end modern Puerto Rican food. That is how I could best describe it. If you are not too bothered about a focus on local ingredients, other great choices for a birthday splurdge would be: Agustus...expensive

    Il Perigino....Italian, expensive

    Compostela, Spanish, great wine selection, expensive. If you want a bit more ambience, Dragon Fly is very popular, it is Latin/Asian fusion. It is always busy and you cannot make reservations so you can expect a wait. Baru is another happening place, especially at the weekend. The owners are Columbian and the food is kind of modern south American, they make great mojitos.

    That is all I can think of for now. I'll post again, when my pregnant brain, starts to function again. Also explains the spelling errors.

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