Last night a culinary disaster befell our family. First, let me set the stage for you. The DH loves to turn himself loose in Sam’s Club and BJ’s and come home with all sorts of things I would never buy. His latest — beer-battered tilapia and battered clam strips. I like tilapia. I buy it often enough in the FRESH FISH section. Occasionally I pan fry it for fish tacos. I don’t buy a box of frozen beer-battered sticks.
Anywho, on with my less-than-riveting tale….
The DH had a rough day at work. I had planned to make big salads for dinner but given his yuck day I decided to treat him to an at-home feast reminiscent of Captain D’s (one of his fave fast food stops — the man is quite the fast food king). I shoved the beer-battered tilapia, clam strips, and some frozen french fries that had been in the freezer for God knows how long into the oven. Myself? I prefer crunchy. Crunchy clams, crunchy fries, crunchy beer-battered fingers. Okay…so maybe I added a few minutes…possibly more than a few…to the bake time.
Honestly, it all looked good, but the first indication I’d been overzealous with the timer came when Girl couldn’t get a fork into the beer-battered finger. It was too hard.
“Uh, I think you might have over-cooked the fish, Mom.”
Bless her little heart, it was an understatement. We could have held off an attacking force with those tilapia fingers.:doh:
But I have trained my people well. They doused it all with ketchup, ate it and even murmured the required (my requirement) “Thank you for making dinner.” However, I came downstairs from my shower later and caught the DH in the kitchen sneaking a can of soup because he was still hungry. Poor guy. Captain D’s has nothing to worry about at Chez LaBrecque.
Dinner tonight? We’re having salad. I’m pretty sure I can’t screw that up.
I’m with the dh–I’ll only eat fish from Captn D’s, too. :mrgreen:
But you are a fabulous cook. If those things had been fresh I am certain it would have all turned out fine.
Comment by Rhonda — July 20, 2007 @ 7:40 am
There’s a reason my DH cooks at our house… :devil:
Comment by Kira — July 20, 2007 @ 7:43 am
Yes, everyone must thank the cook for dinner–even if it’s terrible.
Of course, I’ve been working this knee thing for all it’s worth and haven’t cooked all week (”but it huuuurts if I stand on it too long.”
:happy2:
I think it’s something about the beer batter that makes them rocks…
Comment by Kimberly — July 20, 2007 @ 7:43 am
We should have “Cooking Disaster Day” where we all share our worst kitchen stories. Mine involved cayenne pepper.
Comment by Marilyn — July 20, 2007 @ 7:45 am
Thanks for the vote of confidence Rhonda. I don’t usually flub so badly. :mrgreen:
We tried that, Kira, but one can only eat so much of canned beans with weinies chopped up in it or spaghetti. :wallbash:
Kimberly, do you have a little bell beside the couch that you ring? :twisted:
Do tell, Marilyn!! Cayenne could have some interesting disasters around it…. :devil:
Comment by Jennifer — July 20, 2007 @ 8:08 am
Oooh, a bell. I didn’t think of that. Think it’s too late to get one? :devil:
Comment by Kimberly — July 20, 2007 @ 8:19 am
Mais, non. Have the fam pick one up while they’re out for your princess slippers. :twisted:
Comment by Jennifer — July 20, 2007 @ 8:37 am
I like the idea of a “Cooking Disaster Day.” I’ve never claimed to be a good cook, but I do have a few, really good, recipes. However, I do not have a recipe for gravy and that is how “Surprise Gravy” came into being. :oops:
Comment by Kimberly's Mom — July 20, 2007 @ 11:07 am
Kimberly’s Mom, I hear you on the recipes. I make a great chicken pot pie, but it’s not me…it’s the recipe. :mrgreen:
Comment by Jennifer — July 20, 2007 @ 4:30 pm
Yeah, my mom and I made a batch of fudge one year that was so bad the dog wouldn’t even eat it :happy2:
It’s a good fudge recipe, though.
Comment by Kimberly — July 20, 2007 @ 6:02 pm
If mine wants fish he has to cook it himself or won’t be able to eat it, :mrgreen:
Comment by barbara — July 20, 2007 @ 7:54 pm
:bowdown: I need a lesson or two from you on how to train ones family! Mine would NOT have been so gracious!
Cole
Comment by Nicole Reising — July 22, 2007 @ 1:29 pm
Kimberly, the dogs wouldn’t eat my beer battered fish fingers either. Unbeknowst to me at the time, Girl tried. :happy2:
Ha, Barbara! Closest my husband gets to cooking fish is going through Captain D’s drive-thru.
Ah, Cole, I remember it well. At the dinnertable the dh informed me, “The chicken’s a little dry.” I pointed out that his comment bordered on rude, boorish behaviour and obviously my mother had raised me better than his had raised him. I pointed out that I was raised to understand that when someone took the time to prepare a meal, the ONLY acceptable response was to eat it and thank them for preparing it. He has been a changed man from that night forward. :thankyou:
Comment by Jennifer — July 23, 2007 @ 7:17 am