Homecoming Queen

My daughter has arrived home after ten weeks in the USA working for Camp America and travelling. I reckoned she'd be sick of bagels, pretzels, twinkies and s'mores so decided to give her a good old British family feast.

What could be more British than a roast dinner? Vegetarian nut loaf, roast potatoes, carrots, brocolli, peas and onions followed by sticky toffee pudding!

She's had a fabulous time and made friends with people from all around the world. As one Australian vegetarian friend used to say, "Veggo ... Yummo!" Couldn't agree more.

Boston Tea Party

 Welcome to Boston and a tea party of sorts. Here there were no dainty sandwiches, scones with jam and cream and copious cups of tea. No. Here we were to learn how the Americans relish their independence from we Brits and how it all came about.

Boston is also known as Beantown which refers to the regional dish of baked beans (cooked in molasses back in colonial days). I have to say we didn't find anywhere serving this dish. The Boston cream pie is a favourite sweet treat but the city seems most famous for its lobster rolls; obviously not a vegetarian option! Whilst the family tucked in to lobby rolls I enjoyed another American favourite - Mac 'n' cheese cooked right in front of me in Quincy Market. Rich and Delish. My worst meal in Boston was a veggie burger made from beans, rice and beetroot. It was the colour of pink flesh and looked like raw mincemeat. Ew! I asked the waiter if I could offer some feedback and said the colour was particularly off putting for vegetarians. He thanked me and took away my barely touched food and then proceeded to charge me for it! I guess there was nothing really wrong with it in their eyes.

Boston is home to the TV show Cheers and a popular drink here is a pint of Samuel Adams ( the namesake being one of the sons of Liberty). I enjoyed the light summer variety. 

Cheers indeed!

Trick or Tr(eat)!

When I was younger pumpkins were associated with two things; Halloween and Cinderella. Now Cinderella based stories have been told in folklore for many years in many cultures but the version we know was written in 1697 and brought in the glass slipper, fairy godmother and the magical pumpkin to carriage scenario.

Pumpkins originate in North America and were the foodstuff pilgrims lived off during the 1600s to see them through the winter months.

Halloween has its origins in Celtic Ireland with the festival of Samhain (meaning end of summer) when autumn signified death and it was thought that spirits wandered the earth in search of a soul to inhabit. The Celts would dress as goulish creatures so the spirits would think they were one of them and leave them alone. Turnips would be hollowed out and candles placed inside to ward off evil spirits and warm good spirits to bring good luck into the household.  During the 19th century Irish immigrants brought their stories with them to America and celebrated Halloween (meaning All Hallows' Eve which was the day before All Saints Day on November 1st.) Pumpkins were then carved and lit rather than turnips. The Americans turned it into a holiday for communities with the emphasis on fun and games rather than pranks and witchcraft. During the 20th century it became more popular with trick or treating and pumpkin carving and has become the 2nd largest commercial holiday in the USA.

Whilst pumpkins are good for carving and illuminating, their flesh can make a tasty meal. They can be steamed, boiled and roasted, baked into muffins, fried in fritters and tempura and bashed into mash.

They make delicious soup, curries, bruschetta, galettes and, of course, Pumpkin Pie (best made using the green kabochahas variety with its vibrant orange flesh). The seeds can be scooped out, rinsed, dried, seasoned, drizzled with oil and roasted for 10 mins before cooling and storing for use in soups, salads and as a healthy snack.

This week I have embraced all things pumpkin (and squash and gourd). At Jamie's Italian I feasted on roast squash bruschetta and pumpkin ravioli, in Starbucks I enjoyed a comforting mug of pumpkin spice latte and at home I roasted squash with red onions, pine nuts and sage before adding tiny cubes of salty gorgonzola. All delicious and a warm welcome to winter.