Sunday, June 27, 2010

Salmon Asparagus Loaf


I cooked this loaf a few days ago and have been wrestling with a bit of a dilemma... it doesn't taste very good :(   As I make my way through Mum's recipe book I am expecting to be making lots of memorable meals. This one is weird, I think there is something wrong, you can view the original recipe on the Danish Beef Steak post, I've decided not to reproduce it here. Is there a measurement or ingredient wrong? I'm not sure but it has got me thinking...

Do you remember that there was a time when recipes were cherished and secret? Women protected the formulas; they may be ribbon winners in the local country or Royal shows. Attempting to keep their reputations and status; their recipes became secret and sacred. Sharing recipes with a generous spirit wasn't common like it is today.  This Salmon Asparagus Loaf has caused me to contemplate that time and I started to recall stories of my Grandmother in Bowral, NSW; she died when I was about 10 years old. The story was that when Nanna M. was asked to write out one of her recipes she would often skip an ingredient or vary the quantities... people would say "no one can cook like Peg!" And of course, she was a great cook but also competitive and proud.

Was this loaf enjoyed at a champagne luncheon somewhere and Mum asked for the recipe and this is what she wrote down?  Many of us have tucked a recipe aside to cook one day, I think Mum never cooked this as it unusually sweet. Eggs, Cooked Rice, Salmon, Asparagus and a tin of Condensed Milk.  When I read it through before I cooked it I was didn't really think I would like it, but I thought about that old recipe for mayonnaise made with condensed milk and dry mustard, maybe it inspired this recipe.  And it may have, but perhaps a spoon or two of condensed milk, not the whole can.  Interesting experience.  Banjo is one of my most astute food critics, he recommended the bin, I love his expression in this photo, apologies for the poor quality snap, I couldn't resist including it.

1 comment:

  1. LOL, Banjo says how it is with no frills!

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