Thursday, September 21, 2017

Chapter 23 (Bettina's Sunday Dinner continued)

How It Tasted

Iced Cantaloupe
As expected everyone but me passed on this, and even I could only manage a spoonful or two. End result: three uneaten wedges of fruit on the table and ¾ of a melon still in the fridge…what on earth am I going to do with it?

Veal Birds
Milomir: [with an air of surprise]: These are good!

I too was pleasantly surprised that these veal birds came out so well—they certainly didn’t look promising in their serving dish. These meat bundles were as pale as veal can be, oddly shaped, and indented from the butchers’ twine tied about them.
But looks aside these veal roll-ups were fabulous—I truly was amazed. The thin slices of veal were perfectly cooked, and the rich stuffing added just the right touch. Even my son, who’s grown highly suspicious of ‘Bettina food’, seemed to enjoy them.

Boiled New Potatoes
It was also a great surprise to me that everyone ate theses potatoes, which hadn’t turned the slightest bit mushy during the extended (boiled and then reheated) prep period. In fact the potatoes helped to negate the cholesterol whammy of the fatty stuffing and probably saved us all from indigestion.

Gravy
(I’m the only one in the family who likes gravy and so have only my opinion to put forth here)
The gravy was—well, commercial, both in taste and appearance. It wasn’t bad, but the dark brown color of the bottled stuff didn’t exactly compliment the pale meat and potatoes. Tastewise the gravy was really strong, like that served alongside meatloaf or over Salisbury steak.

Waxed [Green] Beans
DH and Son have a strong affinity for green vegetables—peas, broccoli, even Brussel sprouts—so these beans went over well. I myself was less enthusiastic, but I have to admit that the dish added a much-needed touch of color to the table.
The only real problem was of course the strings—despite my best efforts the beans were loaded with them, and my son and his braces had particular trouble with them.

Bread and Butter
This loaf—not quality bread by any means—was partially eaten even though everyone seemed to have reached saturation point by this stage of the meal. Even I, a great lover of bread, thought its presence on the table was an overkill of starch. Is a loaf really necessary when the table is already loaded with stuffing, potatoes, crackers, and cake?

Head Lettuce With Thousand Island Dressing
Wow! This dressing was incredibly powerful. I was overwhelmed by its sweetness and my husband, who’s particularly sensitive to sour and bitter, was equally bowled over by its vinegar punch.
I did appreciate the rich color of the dressing—like the beans it added a much-needed touch of color—but the taste was simply too much for us, and too heavy for a meat-and-potatoes meal.

Salt Wafers
Filip: Maybe with some cream cheese on top…

I, the Wonder Bread devotee, got a real kick out of these crackers. I found their whole-wheat flavor immensely satisfying, but my husband and son seemed less than thrilled.
DH nibbled a wafer and then abandoned it on his plate, and my son’s disappeared under the table and then (presumably) down the dog’s gullet.

Cake With Chocolate Cream Frosting
This dessert was definitely a mixed bag: the cake itself was excellent but the icing on top so sweet we all ate around it. Sliced fruit and a spoonful of whipped cream would have made a far better topping—as far as I can tell this white goo would only appeal to hypoglycemics desperate to elevate their blood sugar.

Would I Make This Again?
Positively, absolutely—in fact this was the best Bettina meal to date.
Not that every dish was a hit with everyone, of course. My husband and son didn’t care for the crackers, I disliked gravy, and cake’s icing was too sweet for all of us.
Still, the veal birds were a excellent and the beans, potatoes, and bread more than satisfactory—and filling!

In fact we all slept like logs after the meal, and I can’t help but wonder if Bettina’s guests reacted the same way. All the starches in the meal acted like a sleeping potion, and I kind of doubt that Mr. and Mrs. Dixon could do more after the meal than stumble into the guest room and bed down for the night!

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