Jubilee fever hits Fox Corner

Despite my scoffing tone in earlier posts, I am happy to admit I fell hook, line and sinker for the whole brilliant Jubilee shenanigan.

The garden was bedecked in bunting.

While TLOML prepared his outstanding burgers for the grill, I brought the British food to the table: I made coronation chicken and slightly malformed strawberry cakes. Asparagus is officially the next most English fruit / veg after strawberries, so we grilled some of that up too.

And I made a quiche, with the Union Jack created out of roasted peppers on the top. Well, it was raining outside and I had some time on my hands...

A large quantity of Pimm's was made, poured, and consumed. Then we made some more.

 And a fine time was had by all.

Except Jack, who doesn't seem to be a big Jubilee fan at all:

'One pan' dinners

A recipe caught my eye in Bon Appetit magazine lately, for a sort of deconstructed caesar salad. Chicken, baked with a crust involving parmesan and garlic, and roasted romaine with anchovies on the side.

The recipe was in a feature on 'one sheet pan dinners'. That is, meals you can make with just one baking sheet in use.

I prepared my ingredients.  It was then that I started to have my doubts. Could this really fit into just one pan?

Clearly not. Where's the lettuce going to go?

The lettuce had to have its own pan.

The meal was delicious, quick and easy, and I've made it a few times since.

But I ask you, as I asked TLOML, 'What kind of person has a pan big enough to fit 4 chicken breasts and 4 half heads of romaine?'

The answer...? 'An American'.

He's right, of course. Our standard size oven and my standard size roasting tins just are not equipped for American 'one pan' dinners.

Still, as I type this, I'm watching the jubilee preparations, people setting up street parties under makeshift tents in pouring rain. I'm reflecting on British spirit, defiant in the face of slightly faulty equipment and unhelpful conditions. I will make the American recipes I like, against all odds.