happy father's day

My post today is in honor of my Dad, John Trent... a man who amongst other things taught me his love of food (and particularly fish). Here he is in Florida, having just caught a snook (which is protected by law, so of course he threw it back!)

Thanks Dad - I love you lots. And while I won't be having fish today - we'll be having red beans and rice with sausages - another Southern classic that I learned from you. Whilst chopping up the 'holy trinity' of vegetables - green peppers, celery and onion - I thought of you.

Love
Jen

seaside fish and chips

The promise of a sunny day lured us away from the park in London Fields early on Saturday afternoon. We hopped in the car and headed for Frinton-on-sea, a small seaside town on the coast of north Essex. Though it's a resort town, it's not too commercial, so a day in the sand was possible without throngs of people jostling for the last ice cream cone.

A 4km walk up the beach brought us to Walton-on-Naze, with a long pier straddled by an amusements shop. We popped into a nearby pub for fish and chips (really the only choice on a seaside jaunt). Crisp batter and vinegary chips hit the spot. Of course, I try not to have fried fish too often, but the flesh inside was lovely. Only eating half of the battered skin, I didn't feel too guilty. Besides, the 4km walk back to Frinton surely meant I deserved it!

It really is true that fish and chips taste best by the sea.

sunday lunch with family

A Sunday lunch that's cooked for you can be divine. There's nothing quite as decadent as sauntering to the table with bowl after bowl set down in front of me.

That being said, if I'm not cooking it, I don't know what goes into it, and that often makes me nervous. Luckily, Nigel and Judy (my mother- and father-in-law) love good fresh English food.

For the ladies, fish stuffed with shrimp and garlic. For the men, beef. I don't have a problem with beef, but on a sunny spring afternoon, beef sounds wrong. (On a bone-chilling winter evening, there's nothing so good though).

Vegetables galore:
sauteed cabbage and red onion
roasted aubergine, sweet potato and butternut squash
steamed carrots
new potato
asparagus (a necessity in may)

I personally could have a meal of just vegetables, with options like that. But it's Sunday, and after religiously watching my consumption throughout the week, I devour the fish with garlic butter and multiple helpings of vegetables.