This quick and simple meal idea is deceptively delicious.
You can find this as a brunch item in most New Zealand cafes, and it was a favoured meal of mine when I lived there (as was the equally delicious Mince on toast). This ‘mushies on toast’ recipe is courtesy of Kiwi food blogger Delaney Mes.
Make sure you don’t over reduce this, as the bread mops up the moreish mushroom sauce a treat.
Serves 2
Ingredients
500g Mushrooms of choice
Sprig of Thyme, chopped
Sprig of Rosemary, chopped
1 tbsp cream
Splash of Balsamic Vineagar
Butter
Handful parsley, torn/chopped
2-4 slices of Granary bread
Salt & pepper
Method
1. Melt some butter on a medium heat. Fry mushrooms with garlic, thyme, and rosemary.
2. Season with salt & pepper.
3. After a few minutes, add a tbsp cream, reduce a little, then a splash of balsamic.
4. When the sauce has thickened up, serve on slices of toasted & buttered granary bread, topped with chopped parsley.
After earlier stating they had “no plans for Leia products at Disney Store“, Disney have caved to #WeWantLeia pressure. Time.com writer Eliana Dockterman managed to pin down a spokeperson from the elusive House of Mouse, to get a clear commitment to including our favourite Alderaanian Princess in the Disney Store’s currently male only Star Wars line up. Disney spokeswoman Margita Thompson told Time:
“We’re excited to be rolling out new products in the coming months, including several items that will feature Princess Leia, one of the most iconic characters in the Star Wars galaxy.”
The article added:
‘Thompson also pointed out that there are Princess Leia-themed costumes and toys available on Amazon.com’
What, like these? Hopefully not an indication of the proposed Disney Store line…
Anyway, well done Natalie Wreyford! It all started with your tweet.
@nataliewreyford Currently, there are no plans for Leia products at Disney Store, Natalie. Have a wonderful day! — Disney Store (@DisneyStore) May 20, 2014
So it seems to be an about face – or at least an understanding – from the House of Mouse. The #WeWantLeia hashtag was proposed right here, with a comment from SuddenlyFeminist Dad. Perhaps the power of the force is insignificant next to the power of social media…
A mini update to my earlier post about the lack of Leia in the Disney Store.
To recap: Disney have owned Star Wars since 2012. But despite carrying a range of other Star Wars merchandise in the Disney Store, it doesnt sell any (hardly any) Princess Leia gear.
I wanted to know why, especially since my young daughter is into Star Wars and her favourite character is Princess Leia. Initial contact with Disney elicited a rather non-committal response, essentially ‘we have no information/plans regarding Princess Leia merchandise’.
Last week, the Disney Store UK informed me they had “escalated (my) query to the relevant departments”. Today, I received the latest response.
Thank you for taking the time to contact us, and for your patience while this was escalated to me.
No problem.
It is wonderful to hear your youngling is already such a huge Leia fan.
It IS wonderful my… hold on, my what? My ‘youngling’?
Interesting. It seems that the Disney Corporate Communications manual has been updated with Star Wars buzzwords – a youngling is a child undergoing Jedi training.
What’s also interesting is that ‘youngling’ is a gender neutral term. Star Wars is anything but gender neutral in the Disney Store – with it listed prominently in the ‘Boys’ tab, but nowhere to be seen in the ‘Girls’ one. The lack of Princess Leia product appears to be symptomatic of the Disney Store’s embedded gender segregation – Princesses are for girls, sci-fi & superheroes for boys.
At least the Jedi don’t divide their ‘younglings’ along gender lines. Anyway, moving on:
The current assortment of Star Wars product launched at Disney Store earlier this year is just the beginning of what is to come.
Well, that’s promising. So you’re going to sell Leia stuff right?
Disney Store designs products with all members of the family in mind, and we are looking forward to supporting the Star Wars Franchise for many years to come.
Great! Oh, hang on.
We know Disney “designs products with all members of the family in mind”. That doesn’t indicate whether they will design Star Wars products “with all members of the family in mind”.
Also, “we are looking forward to supporting the Star Wars Franchise for many years to come” doesn’t address whether they will add Leia to their Star Wars items on sale. No indication of when – or even if – they’ll get to Leia.
Once again, we thank you for taking the time to contact us, and if you have any further queries please do let us know.
Thank you too, I will.
May the force be with you,
Well, certainly makes a nice change from “Have a wonderful day!” 😉
As unlikely as it might sound, Macaroni Pie is a staple dish of Trinidad (where my parents are from). This is my version of the caribbean classic.
While it can be served as an indulgent main for 4-6, in Trinidad it’s more commonly cooled then chopped into squares as a party/BBQ/beach snack.
While certainly no health food, it’s calcium rich so good for growing kids and breast feeding mums (in both cases, chillies optional).
For a slightly fancier version, use a homemade Béchamel sauce. I suspect evaporated milk was considered more convenient to store at home, in a country with a hot climate and frequent power cuts…
Always a big hit, this is the ONLY way to eat macaroni – in our house at least. ;).
INGREDIENTS:
Pie
500g Macaroni
2 eggs
250g cheddar cheese (or similar), grated.
400ml tin evaporated milk (can be doubled for extra rich version)
1 onion
150g Bacon (about 6 slices)
2-4 Chillies (2 gives little kick, but more the merrier)
Olive oil
Boil macaroni VERY al dente in salted water. Drain & cool.
Fry bacon in olive oil until all fat rendered. Remove bacon, retaining fat/oil in pan. Mix in the crust ingredients with the oil in pan. Finely chop bacon.
In a small blender, mince onion and chillies with a little evaporated milk to loosen up mixture. Mix in lightly beaten eggs, then salt & pepper.
Combine this mixture with macaroni. Stir in bacon, the rest of the evaporated milk and most of the cheese, retaining some to sprinkle on top.
Pour everything into a greased oven dish. Sprinkle remaining cheese on top, followed by crust mixture.
Bake for 30-40 minutes.
Leave to cool/set for at least 15-20 minutes, but best served next day cold.
Ideal accompaniments include tomato ketchup, or usually served in Trinidad with Tabasco sauce.
