MEALS WITHOUT FUSS
Prepare a romantic dinner for two

EF

FORGIVE ME if I’m somewhat unenthusiastic about food
this week. Since I’ve been cooking dinner every night for
between six and nine people the sight of an unpeeled

vegetable gives me the horrors.

Too, the cupboards are bare.
The only thing I’ve plenty of is
coffee and cat food — fortunately,
because I defy anyone to concen-
trate to the tune of five starving
pussycats.

Normally, I shop nearly every
day, fate in the afternoon. This
way everything is fresh and I buy
just enough to feed the numbers of
confirmed diners. Besides,
unloading 16 bags of groceries
unaided isn’t fun.

However, last week, expecting
the troops, | bought a mountain of
food. The only evidence that it was
ever here left yesterday when the
garbagemen carted away the
traces.

Today for a change, I’m going
to concentrate on a simple little
dinner for two — with the hope I
may get a chance to feed that civi-
lized number sometime soon.

eee

When Brian and I were young
enough that we could get the kids
to bed by seven o’clock we often
ate at eight, in front of -the
fireplace. 1 used to set our big
round coffee table with china and
silver and use “‘real’’ napkins. We
would sit on big floor cushions and
I'd often experiment with some-
thing unusual. Remember _ when
fondues' were all the rage? We
nearly burned: the hotse down.
when someone bumped the table
and the pot lurched.

We developed a taste for creamy ;

soups with French names, ‘exotic
shellfish appetizers and wine
sauces.

I also learned that to.enjoy din-‘

ner for two, one of you better not

be stuck in the kitchen for half the

meal.

Cream of Avocado Soup -
This serves three: but I’m sure

the leftover portion will come toa -
crinkly .

good . use. - The. black,.
avocadoes are plentiful now.:
To test for ripeness, gently push
on the blossom end.. Few ‘are ripe’
when you buy them but they. ripen
ina day or two — put them in a
brown paper bag on. your counter.

aren

1 ripe avocado, peeled and pit-
ted
1% cups chicken broth, cooled
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1 cup light cream
Yo cup fresh cooked shrimp
¥: cup sliced green onion
salt and cracked pepper

Blend avocado, broth and lemon
juice until pureed. Stir in cream.
Chill well. Serve garnished with
shrimps and onion. I don’t add the
salt and pepper but pass it.

2

Steaks are quick to cook — I
pan-fry mine usually in a bit of oil
~ since 1 find that broiling dries them
out. What makes ordinary steak
unusual is the sauce you add at the
end. I like this one:

2 8-12 oz. steaks (sirloin or
tendertoin if you’re rich)
freshly cracked pepper

Y% cup butter

4-6 mushrooms, sliced
Y% cup dry red wine
Y2 cup sour cream

Y; cup green onions

Pan-fry steaks to not quite the
desired doneness — they will cook
a bit more in the oven while you
make the sauce.

Remove and keep warm. Quick-
ly, on high heat, cook the

mushrooms in butter until barely
tender. Add wine and heat. Reduce
heat to Jow and stir in sour cream.
Pour sauce over steak and sprinkle
with onion.

see

We are very fond of spinach
salad or Caesar salad with this
menu. Have you tried the brown
and serve scissor rolls, quite new
from Venice Bakery? They’re
wonderful! I keep them frozen,
browning as I need them.

We would probably skip

os

55 - Wednesday, October 28, 1987 - North Shore News

budget
beaters

by Barbara McCreadie

potatoes with this menu but you
might like to try pan-fried Swiss-
style potatoes with this.

BEST BUYS:

Save-on-Foods: Fresh picnics, 87¢

Ib.; top sirloin roast, $2.77 Ib.;
Burns bacon, $2.99; Parkay mar-
garine, 3-lb., $1.84; Viva towels,
88¢; Purex 8-roll, $2.58; Osogood
English muffins, 6/98¢.

Buy Low: Purex 8-roll, $2.63;
whole fryers, 88¢ lb.; Cheer-2, 12

ENTIRE»

L, $7.28; carrots/onions/cab -
bage/turnips, 4 Ib./88¢.

Super Valu: Chuck roast, $1.29
Ib.; MJB coffee, $2.99; red or
golden delicious apples, 33¢ Ib.
Stongs: Pork loin chops, $2.29 Ib.;
sausages, all varieties, $1.79 Ib.;
smali side ribs, pork, $1.99 lb.;
ABC laundry detergent, 12 L,
$6.49; bananas/Macs/Spartans,
29¢ tb.

Woodward’s: Red delicious, 39¢
Ib.; mushrooms, $1.88 Ib.; pork
loin chops, $2.39 lb.; Nabob cof-
fee, $2.89; Best Foods mayon-
naise, $2.49, 1 L.

Safeway: Drumsticks, 99¢ lb.; beef
or dinner sausage, $1.79 lb.; cod
fillets, $2.99 Ib.; lettuce 49¢; me-
dium eggs $1.19 doz.

PATTERN

STOCK

Va PRICE

Oct. 29 & 30

OUR ENTIRE

~. CLEARANCE

7) Renna
~FUR PIECES:
518
Reg. 8.99

FAKE FUR

PILE
Reg. 12.99m

ASSORTED

GLITTERS

25 2

WALL

LONG HAIR
FAKE FUR 13°99
Reg. 16.99m

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