Instead of writing an article on unusual citrus fruits, I rearranged my living room, building a culinary Frankenstein-esque tower of cook books to elevate my (heavy, solid wood) coffee table. I did this for two reasons. The first being that I usually make my guests either sit on the floor or on the sofa, where they eat with plates on their lap, nervous to spill anything (I wouldn’t care but what can I say, my friends are polite!). Whilst I love this tradition – a hangover from the shed days where there was simply no room for a proper table – I thought with four friends coming over, I should change things up and make use of the space. The second reason was that it was a grey-ish Monday, and I wholeheartedly believe that one’s week should start with food-related procrastination. Just to add to that sense of urgency that a midweek deadline brings.
I had tossed and turned the night before thinking about the menu. A green coconut baked rice dish had danced around my mind. But I had consumed a vast amount of rice in the days leading up to the dinner. A simple spaghetti and sugo-style sauce (similar to the one that was spooned over my meatballs from last week) was also a front-runner. I went down an Alison Roman hole on the New York Times cooking app and almost bought a side of salmon to slow roast, until I looked at my bank account. Then I remembered the fries in my freezer (M&S thin cut!) and that I needed to use up the leftover chicken from my roast the night before. Of course: caesar and fries. Easy for a Monday night. Perfect for my North American pals. With a slightly Asian twist (my MO). Let’s go.
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