The New York Times does Dollar Store

Courtsey of Tony Cenicola/The New York Times
What every human seeks is companionship, the feeling that among all the billions of people on this planet of ours there is at least one person that can see you for who you are and shares common beliefs.
I am not alone.
The New York Times journalist, Henry Alford, has ventured [...]

Dinner Party from (Pound Shop) Hell

Remains of Will’s Hansel and Gretel Cake
“At a dinner party one should eat wisely but not too well, and talk well but not too wisely.”
- W. Somerset Maugham
The great writer would have been sorely disappointed if he had arrived at my pound shop dinner party on that chilly November evening. My guests certainly did not [...]

Day 13 – Baked Bean Soup

 
Just don’t eat this before a date or there could be some embarrassing Blazing Saddles moments (video below).

2 cans of 400g baked beans
900ml chicken stock
2 medium onions
a little olive oil
some Worcestershire sauce

How to cook:
Cook the onions in a little oil till soft but not brown. Add the stock and baked beans. Bring to the boil then reduce the [...]

Day 11 – Soup Attempt #2 (with coffee creamer)

One 400g tin of butter beans 
one medium onion
2 garlic cloves
500 ml water mixed with about 20 or so tablespoons coffee creamer
500 ml of beef stock
some olive oil

How to cook:
Mix water with coffee creamer until the water is as creamy as possible. 
Heat a little olive oil in a pan. Thinly slice the garlic and onions and add [...]

Day 9 – A wholly pointless soup

My recipe for Butter bean soup (borrowing a little from Raymond Blanc) using – you guessed it  - only ingredients from Le Magasin de Livre Sterling. 

 One 400g tin of butter beans 
one medium onion
4 garlic cloves (yes you can buy garlic. not fresh but under oil)
1.5 litres water
4 large pinches of ground white pepper
some olive oil
1/2 [...]