36 - Wednesday, July 16, 1986 - North Shore News MEXICALI CASSEROLE FILLS GAP io reservations about SOMETIMES I really enjoy cooking. Give me plenty of time, an appreciative audience and a clean kitchen, [ll happily putter around — especially when [ am trying some- thing new. Give me a hot summer day, an unknown number fer dinner and a dishwasher full of dirty dishes and i'll show you a lady who knows how to make dinner reservations. Unfortunately, that often Jeads to a plaintive, ‘But, MOM. J came home for dinner and ----"’, Sooner or later, I’m going to have to stop feeling guilty. I’ve been practising a few good lines: “Excuse me, | think you have me confused with someone who gives a damn, " or: “Wonderful. [il deduct the meal from your board bill — when you start paying board.”’ Or, as a last stand, ‘‘I’m really sorry. But if you ever decide to make dinner I°l] be sure to be by Barbara McCreadie Meanwhile, when Brian turns down the idea of dinner reserva- tions, occasionally [| have been lucky enough to have a casserole tucked away in the freezer that will fill the gap. The secret is to choose a week when medium or lean ground beef comes on sale. If you Have to buy a minimum of 10 pounds. of it there’s a built-in incentive to get cooking. Another ‘‘best buy’? is the boneless turkey thighs that appear at Stong’s quite often. Here are a couple of ideas that are a little different from the usual lasagne or spaghetti. Mexicali Meat Pie Line a nine-inch round fayer- cake tin with plain pastry. Or, use an extra-deep large pie plate. If you think you may need the ‘dish before you need the pie, line with foil or plastic wrap before adding the pastry and filling. Freeze and, when frozen, edge out the pie and wrap for storage. Filling: 1 Jb. ground beef (medium or lean) Y% cup chopped green pepper Ys cup chopped onion IT teaspoon mixed Italian season- ing ¥2 teaspoon chill powder salt and pepper 1 tin tomato sauce 1 tin Niblets corn, drained Gently saute the meat and raw vegetables with the seasonings. Drain fat and cool. Stir in corn and tomato sauce and turn mixture into pastry. To bake: Bake at 325° about one hour or until pastry is browned. Topping: 1 egg Y% cup milk V2 teaspoon dry mustard Ya teaspoon Worcestershire sauce 1-2 cups grated cheddar cheese sliced green olives (Don’t omit these. They really ‘make’? the ting in wedges. This used to be one of my favorites for packing in my brown bag -— back in the days when schools didn’t have cafeterias — and I was tean and hungry. beats cold pizza all to hell. wae double batch, Slice off us much as you can in good-sized, thin pieces. Pound and treat as you would veal. Steam the rest in a bit of water until tender. Dice the meat and eat pies prepare your favorite chicken pie or ‘‘a-la-King’’ recipe, using the broth for part of the liquid. Freeze for a day when you feel like cating out but you've just got your Hydro bill. dish.) Several people have asked me what to do to serve the boneless turkey thighs. [ use them as a veal substitute in any recipe that calis for veal cutlets, BUT they aren't the easiest pieces to slice thinly. Beat together the egg, milk, seasonings and cheese. Pour over pie. Garnish with green olives. Bake five more minutes or until cheese melts. Let stand 10 minutes before cut- spectacular schooner cove resort and marina a THE CLUB SO GREAT... THEY NAMED THE STREET AFTER IT _ ICHARDS Escape to Beautiful Vancouver Island Join Dal Richards & his Orchestra Fri, Aug. 1 & Sat. Aug. 2 We invite you to spend a fabulous weekend of dining and dancing at our wonderful resort. on $ 7° person double occ. THE 1986 WINDSURE ... WAVE LADY CONTEST WEDNESDAYS 7 til 9 pm July 16 - Aug. 7 Contest Rules & Entry forms at Richards GRAND PRIZE: A trip for 2 to Europe from Wardair & Contiki Hoidays. ig Pi 5: Many other prizes for runners-up & participants. WWardair Holidays Our package includes a full gourmet dinner and dancing in our gazebo dining room overlooking the marina. 1 night's accommodation with continental breakfast in one of our deluxe rooms. Limited accom. we suggest early res. Call toll free 687-5810 Just 20 min. from Departure Bay. Complimentary limo service from Nanaimo on seiected ferries. All the thrill of Formula Atlantic racing! Gilles Villeneuve Memorial weekend, . July 18-19-20, Westwood Park, Pt. Coquitlam. Tickets on sale at the gate.