A Meal in Memory.......................

LilacLillie

It would have been my MIL b/day today 1st Oct: I can't believe she's been dead now for 20yrs and still very much missed.

She was born to a Chinese mother and a Portugaise/Scottish father serving in the army in Burma at the time.
She came to UK in 1947 from India and met my FIL. His mother was English and his father from Africa.

What a mix up! As was her food.

She was the best cook I ever met and unlike her own children I collected her recipe's and wrote them all down in a book.
I've since made 2 more copies of the book for my son's that have grown up on her food so they can cook it for their children.

I always joke that she cooked for our son's before they were born and that's why they love her recipes.

She used to cook me liver (which they don't advise now), like I've never before or since tasted, and 'pregnant curry' while I was expecting.
A special combination blend of 'good for you & the baby' ingredients. I have dreamt of those meals over the years and sadly mine never taste as hers did............ maybe you just have to be pregnant for the benefit of those 2

Its a lovely way to remember her, eating food that she made reminds us of her very much.
So tonight I am making a dish that I've not cooked for a while (mainly because it takes so long), adapting it for the slow cooker, as a surprise for dh tonight.

I thought I'd share it and wondered if other's have a memory meal?

Here it is: Red Braised Beef:

1lb stewing beef cut into cubes
2 onions
6 cloves garlic
1+1/2 tsp of each: cinnamon, ginger, mixed spices
1/2 tsp of each: pimemto, black pepper, salt
1 small jar tomato puree
4 tbsp tomato ketchup
4 fl oz vinegar
1/2 to 3/4 pint water

All chucked into a caserole dish on gas 6 for 1 hr then down to 4 for another hr.

I'm trying it today in the slow cooker for the first time on low since 9.30am.
Its a very strong unusual flavour...................we love it!

What's your's?

LL

jessilu1

awwww that's a lovely story...:A sadly I can't try the braising beef because stew makes me ill, but if you have any other recipes, I'd be more than willing to try them in your MIL's memory.

misscousinitt

What a lovely story, thanks for sharing and I hope you enjoy your meal very much tonight!

Just a good old Roast Lamb dinner reminds me of my Nan who had a knack of making it taste soooo good! Don't know what she used to do?

Lost Nan nearly 11 years ago (New Years Day 2000 - she didn't want us to forget her) - very sorely missed and extremely fondly remembered everytime we have a lamb dinner (which is often).

DH's Grandad loved his cheese sandwiches - but always insisted on making them with really thick pieces of cheese ie doorsteps! Everythime I make a cheese sandwich it reminds me of him - another one sorely missed and very fondly remembered.

Hope everything turns out ok with the Red Braised Beef - going to add that to my OS Recipe collection for trying out in the slow cooker.

xxx