Throughout my childhood in the 1960s-70s there were set days for set activities. Weekends were a time of family gatherings, in the summer we would all spend Saturday at the seaside or in the Kent countryside having a picnic. Sunday's were visiting days, most families visited grandparents for Sunday tea, this ritual was observed religiously because it was a time when elderly people were greatly respected.
Most people I have spoken with who grew up in that era recall Sunday tea as being salad, a big bowl of lettuce, radishes and beetroot would be placed on the table accompanied by either tinned ham covered in jelly, pork pie cut into slices, or as a real treat tinned salmon.
Glenn's parents who are now in their eighties still have salmon salad for Sunday tea, Gordon prepares the tinned salmon by mashing it with fresh tomatoes, vinegar and lots of salt and pepper, a clever technique to stretch the salmon further which would have been neccessary years ago, very simple but delicious. Alternatively they will eat tinned peaches with bread and butter, again harkening back to leaner times.
One of the most endearing stories Gordon tells on quite a regular basis is of their first family holiday on the island of Jersey. Car packed Glenn, his sister, mum and grandmother (who never went out in public without her hat) and Gordon, set off early on a Sunday morning to Swanage to board the boat. After an eight hour journey they arrived at Mrs Anderson's boarding house greatly anticipating their evening meal. Sat around the table promptly at 6pm, knives and forks poised, Mrs Anderson set a big bowl of salad on the table and said help yourselves, there was no ham or tinned salmon and horror of horrors no bread and butter, the great filler upper. Feeling really hungry Gordon politely asked if they could have some bread and butter, Mrs Anderson obliged and everyone tucked in.
Gordon encouraged everyone to fill themselves up with the bread and butter and not a slice was left, Mrs Anderson collected the empty plates with an air of surprise, and happily full Gordon sat back in his chair to let his dinner go down. Suddenly the dining room door swung open and Mrs Anderson entered pushing her hostess trolley which was filled to capacity with steaming roast dinners for everyone!
We are connected to the foods we grew up with, they offer reminders of comfort and place, for my generation the extended family was a real live entity and mealtimes were a social event albeit that the food was basic. Glenn's parents maintain a very simple diet they still eat tinned spam, corned beef, fray bentos pies (otherwise known as landmines because of the shape of the tin the pie is encased in) and have never eaten a McDonald's or piece of kentucky fried chicken in their lives.
Tinned wild salmon has many health benefits due to its high concentration of omega-3 fatty acids and because it is canned with the bones it provides a hefty dose of calcium along with many vitamins and nutrients. Although it is not cheap per se it is a great store cupboard ingredient and I always keep my eye out for offers and stock up. Salmon lends itself well to Asian flavours, is delicious mixed with tomatoes, diced spring onions, thinly sliced cucumber or just simply served with lots of vinegar and seasoned with salt and pepper.
Tinned salmon
Recipe
1 tin wild red or pink salmon
1 punnet cherry tomatoes
1 clove garlic, peeled and sliced
1 thumb size piece of ginger, peeled and grated
1 red chilli (optional)
Dash of soy sauce
Half a cucumber
Olive oil
Fresh coriander or cress
Pepper
In a moderate oven place halved tomatoes, drizzled with a little olive oil and a sprinkling of salt and black pepper leave to dry out for 1 hour
Combine tomatoes, garlic, ginger, chilli and soy in a food processor
Place salmon in a bowl and mix in marinade
Slice cucumber thinly and add
Combine well, snip cress or coriander over the top and serve with new potatoes (and in honour of Gordon.......with slices of bread and butter to mop up the juices)
'Have regular hours for work and play; make each day both useful and pleasant and prove that you understand the worth of time by employing it well. Then youth will be delightful, old age will bring few regrets, and life will become a beautiful success.'
-Louisa May Alcott
Love Donna xxxxxx
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