British Food Fortnight starts today!

@Albus_Scope I tried to give you an awesome vote but the system isn't working for me!

Food is very important. It is about independence. Foodies come together, no matter what our backgrounds are. I like to go shopping (independence) and I enjoy the dialogues I have with the people that serve me. I like creating daft little recipes, too. I think your post is good.

@Sandy_123 They tried to bring Vesta meals back a few years ago with some TV advertising. It wouldn't sell these days as people are too food educated, but you can get some on Amazon. Search Vesta. Not that I am recommending it!

I remember the chips from Chinese Takeaways. They were delicious. You could also buy deep fried fish, so you didn't need a chippy for your fish & chips. I think the reason it tasted so nice was that they didn't change the oil as regularly as they should! I cook English food as well, but not exclusively so. I too love Mexican food and make my own salsa as supermarket stuff is too mild. I think you have some happy memories of sitting on the wall with your friends eating chips.

To answer your question: No, I can't imagine feeding someone at a dinner party for 5p per head, even then. This may be because I didn't know what a dinner party was. I didn't mix in those socially high ranking circles. I remember one Xmas Eve being on our local market with my mum. It was freezing cold and the stalls were closing down. But she had little money and she wanted to wait until she got the last turkey on sale at a bargain price. It only had one leg…

Hi @Sandy_123 I agree: Food with too many phoney ingredients isn't good food. I am glad you are able to make your own spice mixes and sauce. I think you must be a good and adventurous cook. At one time I made everything from scratch. I have never used curry powder, ever, and I have often dry roasted and ground whole spices. So I think we would get on in the kitchen except now that I am getting on a bit and find it difficult and painful to stand and keep my balance, I have dropped standards and will buy readymade sauce etc. It is all about giving myself an easy life in the kitchen and with that in mind I have every gadget known to humankind. I plan food carefully and go for minimum effort prep-wise but maximum gain on the dinner plate. Also, I find it helpful to make a huge panful of food, divide it into portions and freeze.

As for my mum and Xmas dinner, you really don't want to have a stroll along that path! It is culinary dark! I was a very sporty lad and always starving, but I never asked mum "what's for dinner" just "when is dinner", 'cos the "what" was pretty awful. She was from Yorkshire but her Yorkshire puds were abysmal. After leaving home I rang her one day to ask how to cook cabbage. Her advice was well meaning but a masterclass in how not to cook cabbage. I told her I was going to pay a visit one Xmas and she said great, I'll cook a turkey! I lied and told her I had turned veggie 'cos I just couldn't face it!

I hope you have a nice Mexican meal on Thursday. It is my birthday on Thursday and I have got a nice meal planned. I feel like a traitor because this thread is about British food and I am ashamed to say my meal won't be very British except for some cheese afterwards.

@vikki66 I can remember all those deserts, but not the sweets. There used to be a desert that thankfully has disappeared from the face of the planet called Junket. If Junket is still around and anyone eats and enjoys it, then I apologise in advance for any offense caused.

@Albus_Scope Thanks for the greeting. @Sandy_123 Thanks for the greeting. Yes, I had a good day. I hope you enjoyed your Mexican meal. @chiarieds Thank you for the greeting. I swear Yorkshire Pudding rises and tastes better when made in a roasting tin, and that used to be a usual way of serving it - I made it that way myself as well as in cast iron skillets. Then I turned to those 4 hole tins, then finally to deep muffin tins. Then I gave-up on making it as I am at an age and state of health where I have to keep things easy in the kitchen so buy buy them ready made! I believe that in The North they were served as a starter to take the edge off the appetite for the main course. I have heard them referred to as something along the lines of "filler-upper-all" and I wonder if anyone continues the tradition of serving them as a starter?

Hello Everyone: I think we are a very lucky country to have some wonderful dairy produce. I have been fortunate enough to try butter from very small family run establishments, and it is so much better than from supermarkets (although I now rely on Supermarkets). And as for clotted cream, I think we maybe the only nation in the world to have it. And as for our Rhubarb and Rhubarb desserts, they are delicious. And for Rhubard, read Gooseberries. But one product that I look forward to each year is the arrival of Jersey Royals. They are good for my psyche. They tell me summer is coming and I will be able to get out and about. I can make easy but really nice light meals out of them with salmon fillets with asparagus or tiny little Welsh Lamb Cutlets. Another British product that is on sale globally is Scottish Smoked Salmon. Another product that I like is Black Pudding! I think the days of British food being ridiculed are gone. I think we are very International in our taste in restaurants and what we cook at home.