[Sundae]

I'm not a big fan of cumin.
Soz and all that.

My first ever successful chilli (UK spelling) came from Good Housekeeping recipe. Which I bought when I moved into my first non-rental with my future ex-husband. And had my friends fall about laughing. But it gave me some basic recipes I still call on when called upon to rustle up a meal.

And it needed ingredients I had never encountered in my parents' house. And James was baffled at my list when we went shopping. "For one meal?" But chilli in various forms became my staple dish. Not award winning of course, but in 1996 it still wasn't a dish that parents made from scratch in the UK, at least where I lived (YMMV)

I became a whiz at the kind of one-pot meals that would serve as many people who appeared as was necessary. A class above the spag bol they made themselves in student kitchens. Not arrogance, just a little more time and a better budget.

I still have cumin in the cupboard now, but for curries. It adds an extra note.

Funnily enough I made my (pat pending) tuna bake for the 'rents last week. It was far better than the one I made for the Limeys. And yet they loved it on Arran, were very complimentary and scoffed it down. Mum didn't like the this and that of it, picked off the topping, didn't want carrots in there (diced, to add bulk) and I basically had to freeze four portions. Had one tonight. I thought it was yummy anyway.

I don't really like cilantro.