26 - Wednesday, December 23, 1987 - North Shore News

Ex AEE ICE EEA

Last-minute Xmas rush |
keeps adrenalin going

FEW PEOPLE depress me as much as those who smugly
boast of finishing their Christmas shopping in November.

I don’t have much patience with
those who have completed their
entire cocktail menu (all snugly
tucked into the freezer) by the first
week of December. What’s the
matter with these people?

Don’t they need the rush of ad-
tenalin that comes with four un-
purchased gifts on the 23rd? I
wouldn’t feel normal unless 1 was
shaping the Jast meatball just as
the first guest arrived. Life in the
fast lane.

Besides, as one friend explained,
at 5 p.m. on Christmas Eve, mer-
chants go ape and start giving
away stuff rather than facing it on ©
the 27th. Since I’ve never had any
reason to doubt him, more or less,
perhaps it’s true. Have I missed
the give-away of the year?

And the turkey. Mine's frozen. I
learned a lesson a couple of years
ago — if you want a really ‘‘fresh”’
turkey, buy frozen. Why? Simple.
if you understand the marketing of
fresh birds. A frozen turkey is
flash frozen almost immediately
upon demise. Fresh birds can hang
around, unclaimed, for up to a
week. That’s fresh?

My frozen turkey will be basted

' — both manually, as it cooks, and
by a solution of broth injected into
the white meat.
. “Butter basted’’ is, to me, a
symptom of grease overload.
Hardly necessary when modern
turkeys are loaded with all the
cholesterol needed for a multi-
phase coronary without an ounce’
of added fat. - coe

“Meanwhile,: life goes on. The
family needs to be fed on a regular
basis — promises of.a fine dinner
on The Day don’t cover for Wed-
nesday’s bare table — even if your
excuse is “‘shopping.””

Here’s a fine fast meal that got
everyone’s attention at our house
last week. 1 adapted it from a
cookbook I bought in Palm. Spr-
ings — actually, bought a pair of
them and will include the ordering

address at the end of the column.‘ ~

Wonderful books.

Learn German at the
Goethe Institute-it's easier
than you think with our
conversational approach.
Beginner and advanced
classes start January
1th. For more
information or fo
register please call

732-3966.

My Adaptation of
Blue Eyes’ Chicken
(Serves Fight)
8 large fryer legs (or an
equivalent amount of thighs)
8 large red skinned potatoes,
split but unpeeled
2 medium white onions
1 tablespoon mixed Italian herbs
olive oit — about % cup, but
more if necessary
seasoned salt and seasoned
pepper
parsley

PAA TE

budget
beaters

by Barbara
McCreadie

Use a “yery large, flat roasting
pan. I use my broiling tray and

‘spray it with Pam for easy clean-

ing.’ . :

. Place chicken, potatoes, onions,
oil and herbs in the pan. Begin
rolling .the ingredients in the oil
and herbs so that every surface is
covered — which is why you may
need a dit more oil. Sprinkle with
salt and pepper.

: Bake uncovered for one hour at
350°F. Test the potatoes. If they
aren’t quite done, cook until they
test soft.

Stir around and then :give. the
whole dish about three minutes

“ » s ease of handling
“ «speed
. "efficiency
* sophistication
= latest technologies

EO SOETHE.
Wy INSTITUT

944-West 8th Avenue
Vancouver

under the broiler to crisp. Garnish
with parsley — fots of it, finely
snipped.

1 served this with a huge bowl
of Greek salad and a loaf of garlic
bread. I had some potatoes left
over and they were wonderful the
following day, diced and included
in an omelette.

eae

Pizza is one of those foods that
1 eat, but only if necessary, mean-
ing that emergency prevails.

Please don’t ask me to eat that
dreadful ‘‘deep dish” stuff with
about an inch of soggy crust. But
this pizza is wonderful! The com-
bination of ingr cients makes such
a difference. Unusual, perhaps,
but try it.

Pizea Without A N Wishes You a Very Merry Christmas
izza Without ame
(As The Translation is Obscene) and a Happy New Year :
1 8-inch frozen pizza crust,
thin and crisp style
(or make your own)
Y cup capers
Y2 cup finely diced Greek olives
1 large tomato, finely diced
¥Y2 cup sundried tumatoes, diced
(if you can’t find these, increase
the fresh tomatoes to 2)
See Purchase
Page 27 —

Join us for a New Year's Eve os
Only the Greeks Celebrate!

— Reserve Now —

PTZ We

‘A DIVISION OF CANADA SAFEWAY 1

: 5 Semeflace Ipecial \

will be closed 6:00 p.m.
December 24th. We will
remain closed Christmas
Day and Boxing Day to _
allow our employees and —
their families time to enjoy —
the Christmas season.
We will be open _
Sunday Dec. 27th, ~_
10 a.m. to 6 p.m., 1987.

We would also like to take this :
time to wish you and your family
a safe and happy holiday. —

! 926-4228 __ 1560 Marine Drive, West Vancouver :

|
J
i
|
4
{
|
|