Thread: Dinner

Originally Posted by Buckaroo Banzai

Bacon makes everything better ,

Indeed!

Just started adding it to soups, very nice and a solid 10/10 from me!

Originally Posted by docmartin

For those residents in the Land of Sweat who don’t see a lamb roast very often.

Very nice doc, but this is what we had last night in Isaan...

A distinctly unsloppy roast lamb with some of the trimmings.

The interesting thing about this leg of lamb (to me at least) was that it came from a Thai animal and was my first experience of local lamb. The wife has found a goat/sheep farm in Korat that occasionally slaughters a few animals and sells off the produce. This leg of lamb cost 400 Baht, about a third of the cost of the imported Aussie and NZ lamb we usually get at Makro. It was shorter and slimmer than the Antipodean legs to be fair, but was most enjoyable none the less.

Originally Posted by Mendip

A distinctly unsloppy roast lamb with some of the trimmings.

That looks tasty, Mendy. How do you prepare and cook the lamb? I used to eat leg of lamb a Christmastime as a kid, my grandmother made it every year, but I have not had it in a longtime.

One method - cook slow and low (160 or less) wrapped in foil and remove the foil for the last hour.

Originally Posted by bsnub

How do you prepare and cook the lamb?

I said to the wife, 'how about cooking up that lamb?'. It was easy as that.

I believe she makes small cuts in the leg and sticks in garlic cloves, rubs it over with olive oil, salt and pepper, then slow roasts it on a rack over a shallow pan of water to keep it moist.

Edit: yes doc, at low heat although I don't think she used any foil.

Another edit: now that I've found a source of local lamb/mutton I'm hoping to pick up some cheaper cuts of meat to make up some decent curries.

Mendy that's a solid 9.5!

If you had added mint sauce and rosemary then a solid10 it would have been

Originally Posted by Mendip

some cheaper cuts of meat to make up some decent curries.

I didn't think you liked curries, I can't recall you posting any.

Then again the gut rot alzheimer's is probably kicking in here

In the winter I occasionally use a wood-fired oven for roasting. Because there’s no airflow through the oven chamber (unlike a gas or electric oven) it seems to not dry out food but instead appears to steam as well as roast.

Originally Posted by Joe 90

Mendy that's a solid 9.5!

If you had added mint sauce and rosemary then a solid10 it would have been

Check at 1 O'clock, under the knife blade. That's a dollop of mint jelly.

Surely I get a solid 9.75 now?

Originally Posted by Mendip

Surely I get a solid 9.75 now?

I stand corrected!

That is indeed a solid 9.75 from me

The missus cooked it but didn't eat any?

Seems like she is a better cook than you!

^ What a thing to say!

To be honest the wife can roast a joint of lamb but we rarely eat together as she likes to eat the meat with rice and a scorching hot chilli sauce. Maybe also with some other evil looking sauces in little plastic bowls as well.

I take the remainder of the meat, roast some potatoes, carrots etc and work my Western magic to produce the solid looking meal above.

9.75 out of 10 speaks for itself.

Looking good there, Mendy.

So good in fact that I have no pun, dig or jibe of any kind to add at all!

Originally Posted by hallelujah

So good in fact that I have no pun, dig or jibe of any kind to add at all!

Same Hal. Nice dinner Mendy.

I don't want pity guys... genuine compliments only please!

Originally Posted by Mendip

I don't want pity guys... genuine compliments only please!

It's a nice dinner. I know we all bust your chops about the majority of your meals, but when they are good it's good. Albeit I guess we could say it's funny your wife cooked it.

Originally Posted by Mendip

9.75 out of 10 speaks for itself.

what percentage of that score is the lamb?

Originally Posted by Mendip

To be honest the wife can roast a joint of lamb but we rarely eat together as she likes to eat the meat with rice and a scorching hot chilli sauce. Maybe also with some other evil looking sauces in little plastic bowls as well.

I take the remainder of the meat, roast some potatoes, carrots etc and work my Western magic to produce the solid looking meal above.

Are you not able to cook vegetables at the same time so you can all eat together? Not saying you have to, just an option to consider...

Originally Posted by DrWilly

what percentage of that score is the lamb?

Are you not able to cook vegetables at the same time so you can all eat together?

A strange concept but I guess I can look into it...

Originally Posted by Mendip

I don't want pity guys... genuine compliments only please!

Let's just say, the fact that you didn't drown it in gravy did raise my rating significantly. Being able to actually see the meat made a difference in the presentation.

I would not hesitate to fix myself a plate of that.

This is what has become known as 'Anna's fish'. There ain't many germs that can survive that!



Another reason why we tend to eat separately in this household. Just one smidgen of that chilli sauce and it would be all over for me. Behind are the fillets from two other pla nin I caught from the pond that Anna didn't try to steal. These will be turned into fish and chips tonight!

Tonight was pan seared Ahi Tuna. I came across a fresh steak and thought it would be a nice change


First was a good marinate with soy sauce, a dash of olive oil, salt and pepper



Got veggies prepped and cooking in advance as the Tuna Sear is about 5 to 7 minutes



Made up a Sesame seed/Teriyaki sauce and had it sit



Got pan crackling hot.



First pass for 3 minutes



2nd flip for another 3. I was cooking for my wife as well and she does like raw fish so I had to cook this a bit longer which is Ok for me



Dinner as served.

Most excellent tuna and veg there. Much better than the appalling freshwater fish that’s popular.
Sauce poured over while cooking ?

That’s what civilisation looks like.
Below is something else.
Been on the road for way too many years, so when I’m home it just feels like I’m about to leave - so cooking suffers.
This is a typical beef, onion, garlic, mushroom, broccoli, tomato, oilsaltpeppercurrypowder, one-pan batchelor number served on toast.
Must do better.

Originally Posted by docmartin

Most excellent tuna and veg there. Much better than the appalling freshwater fish that’s popular.

Yes, that tuna looks excellent Stumpy!

I would argue though that in this part of the world, it isn't so much that freshwater fish is popular, but it's all that's affordable for the majority of Isaan's inhabitants. I would prefer a sea fish to a freshwater fish every time (with the exception of trout) and from what I sea () most people in these parts think the same.

But I do enjoy a bit of fishing up here in the backwater, a five hour drive from the sea. And as many have noted, I can eat and enjoy pretty much anything!

Very nice tuna steak JP.
A very respectable 9.5/10 from me.
I would have had a salad instead of mushrooms and carrots, hence my bias and not awarding you a solid 10

Originally Posted by Mendip

Yes, that tuna looks excellent Stumpy!

Originally Posted by Joe 90

Very nice tuna steak JP.

Thanks Gents. Was very good. I should have opted for some rice and left out a veggie but being honest, the mushrooms were in need of eating and that was my last carrot. I would have preferred some asparagus.