Gary’s grub

The last salmon Monday for 2014

This year I’ve had salmon Monday every week. Mostly it’s been for dinner but sometimes for breakfast too. 

I’m not sure what I’ll do on Mondays in 2015. Meatless Monday has been suggested. I know that meatless Monday is a thing, especially amongst the healthy hipsters but that’s not me. Not that I don’t want an healthful life, but meatless Monday isn’t me. I’m tending to think it may be monster meat Monday or mammoth meat Monday or just meaty Monday.

I’m happy to take suggestions. What do you reckon my Monday meal meme should be?

To celebrate the last salmon Monday for 2014 I’ve shot a few photographs 

Salmon SONY ILCE-7S with E 35mm F1.8 OSS at 35mm and f/5.6, 1/60sec, ISO 1250
Salmon SONY ILCE-7S with E 35mm F1.8 OSS at 35mm and f/5.6, 1/60sec, ISO 1250
Salmon SONY ILCE-7S with E 35mm F1.8 OSS at 35mm and f/5.6, 1/60sec, ISO 640
Salmon SONY ILCE-7S with E 35mm F1.8 OSS at 35mm and f/5.6, 1/60sec, ISO 640
Salmon SONY ILCE-7S with E 35mm F1.8 OSS at 35mm and f/5.6, 1/60sec, ISO 800
Salmon SONY ILCE-7S with E 35mm F1.8 OSS at 35mm and f/5.6, 1/60sec, ISO 800
Coles Kale Coleslaw SONY ILCE-7S with E 35mm F1.8 OSS at 35mm and f/5.6, 1/60sec, ISO 800
Coles Kale Coleslaw SONY ILCE-7S with E 35mm F1.8 OSS at 35mm and f/5.6, 1/60sec, ISO 800
Coles Kale Coleslaw SONY ILCE-7S with E 35mm F1.8 OSS at 35mm and f/5.6, 1/60sec, ISO 1250
Coles Kale Coleslaw SONY ILCE-7S with E 35mm F1.8 OSS at 35mm and f/5.6, 1/60sec, ISO 1250
Salmon SONY ILCE-7S with E 35mm F1.8 OSS at 35mm and f/5.6, 1/60sec, ISO 2500
Salmon SONY ILCE-7S with E 35mm F1.8 OSS at 35mm and f/5.6, 1/60sec, ISO 2500
Smashed potatoes and Kale Coleslaw SONY ILCE-7S with E 35mm F1.8 OSS at 35mm and f/5.6, 1/60sec, ISO 1250
Smashed potatoes and Kale Coleslaw SONY ILCE-7S with E 35mm F1.8 OSS at 35mm and f/5.6, 1/60sec, ISO 1250
Salmon, smashed potatoes and Kale Coleslaw NIKON D7100 with 40.0 mm f/2.8 at 40mm and f/8, 1/160sec, ISO 400
Salmon, smashed potatoes and Kale Coleslaw NIKON D7100 with 40.0 mm f/2.8 at 40mm and f/8, 1/160sec, ISO 400

It was delicious and a fitting end to 2014’s Mondays.

So what should I eat on Mondays in 2015?

Curried salmon

It’s Monday so that means salmon. I’ve eaten salmon every Monday in 2014. Tonight I cooked curried salmon for Mum, Dad, Miss13 and Miss17. Miss19 is working tonight. 

Cooking a kilogram of salmon with the skin on isn’t quite like cooking one portion for myself 

Miss17 helped with the salad again which was good. I prepared the vermicelli by soaking it in room temperature water for 15 minutes and then draining the water.

I cooked the salmon in the same way I usually do. I rubbed in some curry powder and oil and then laid the portions out on a hot frying pan and put the lid on top for 5 minutes. I then poured in a tin of coconut cream and then added the vermicelli and then another tin of coconut cream. I broke up the salmon in the frying pan while cooking through the vermicelli and coconut cream.

The salad had mango, avocado, cucumber, cos lettuce, nectarines and tomatoes in it. 

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Earlier for breakfast I also had some granola

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Christmas dinner

So I’m up in Brisbane a little earlier than usual. I’m here to help Mum and Dad for a few days while Mum continues her recovery from spinal surgery. She’s doing well and maintaining her exercises. I’m pleased to see her getting around and moving better than I imagined. I’m still trying to convince her though that things like ironing and perfect hospital corners on her bed are not essential to living and enjoying life. 

Given that I’m in Brisbane earlier than usual I was so happy that Miss13, Miss17 and Miss19 came for a visit yesterday for Christmas dinner 

I started the day knowing I had a lot of cooking and food ahead of me. 

Vegemite on toast bathed in butter SONY ILCE-7S with E 35mm F1.8 OSS at 35mm and f/5.6, 1/10sec, ISO 800
Vegemite on toast bathed in butter SONY ILCE-7S with E 35mm F1.8 OSS at 35mm and f/5.6, 1/10sec, ISO 800

Vegemite on toast, also known as the breakfast of champions.


For lunch I made a simple smoked salmon and sour cream on toasted wholemeal bread plate for Mum and Dad. They both enjoy smoked salmon and sour cream. I should have bought bagels. 

Smoked salmon and sour cream SONY ILCE-7S with E 35mm F1.8 OSS at 35mm and f/5.6, 1/13sec, ISO 400
Smoked salmon and sour cream SONY ILCE-7S with E 35mm F1.8 OSS at 35mm and f/5.6, 1/13sec, ISO 400
Smoked salmon and sour cream on toasted wholemeal bread SONY ILCE-7S with E 35mm F1.8 OSS at 35mm and f/5.6, 1/20sec, ISO 400
Smoked salmon and sour cream on toasted wholemeal bread SONY ILCE-7S with E 35mm F1.8 OSS at 35mm and f/5.6, 1/20sec, ISO 400

In the afternoon as I was thinking about preparing for dinner I got some cheese out for Dad. Dad loves cheese and this was a treat for him. What I also love about my daughters is they will try anything, even smelly cheeses. Miss13 said it wasn’t something she’d actively go looking for again but understood when I explained our palates change over years and as she gets older she may appreciate cheeses like this more. I love the spirit of Miss17, from an early age she’d try things, like oysters. I remember the first time she wasn’t that impressed but she made a conscious decision at a young age to try one every time we went out and now she loves oysters.

For afternoon tea we had Roquefort, Castella white and a Tlba cheddar SONY ILCE-7S with E 35mm F1.8 OSS at 35mm and f/5.6, 1/60sec, ISO 1250
For afternoon tea we had Roquefort, Castella white and a Tlba cheddar SONY ILCE-7S with E 35mm F1.8 OSS at 35mm and f/5.6, 1/60sec, ISO 1250

Christmas dinner is usually quite large in the Lum household. I tried to explain to Mum we could do something simple and still enjoy it. So I suggested we limit ourselves to two meats and just a salad plus some spuds (potatoes for refined readers). 

So here we have a series of photographs that I shot as dinner was being prepared. I’m grateful to Miss17 for help with the salad and of course Mum who supervised and made the apple sauce even though I was meant to be looking after her. 

So I apologise in advance for the number of photographs in this post but what you won’t see is the number of photographs I shot and are still in my Adobe Lightroom library. 

Rolled pork shoulder prior to being rubbed SONY ILCE-7S with E 35mm F1.8 OSS at 35mm and f/5.6, 1/60sec, ISO 1250
Rolled pork shoulder prior to being rubbed SONY ILCE-7S with E 35mm F1.8 OSS at 35mm and f/5.6, 1/60sec, ISO 1250
Rolled pork shoulder after a rub of Chinese five spice and pepper with some star anise plugged in and bathing in sherry and whisky SONY ILCE-7S with E 35mm F1.8 OSS at 35mm and f/5.6, 1/60sec, ISO 2000
Rolled pork shoulder after a rub of Chinese five spice and pepper with some star anise plugged in and bathing in sherry and whisky SONY ILCE-7S with E 35mm F1.8 OSS at 35mm and f/5.6, 1/60sec, ISO 2000
Our chicken before roasting. I love this angle. SONY ILCE-7S with E 35mm F1.8 OSS at 35mm and f/5.6, 1/60sec, ISO 2500
Our chicken before roasting. I love this angle. SONY ILCE-7S with E 35mm F1.8 OSS at 35mm and f/5.6, 1/60sec, ISO 2500

Chicken

Rolled pork shoulder out of the oven SONY ILCE-7S with E 35mm F1.8 OSS at 35mm and f/4, 1/60sec, ISO 3200
Rolled pork shoulder out of the oven SONY ILCE-7S with E 35mm F1.8 OSS at 35mm and f/4, 1/60sec, ISO 3200
Roast chicken out of the oven SONY ILCE-7S with E 35mm F1.8 OSS at 35mm and f/4, 1/60sec, ISO 2500
Roast chicken out of the oven SONY ILCE-7S with E 35mm F1.8 OSS at 35mm and f/4, 1/60sec, ISO 2500
Roast chicken out of the oven SONY ILCE-7S with E 35mm F1.8 OSS at 35mm and f/4, 1/60sec, ISO 5000
Roast chicken out of the oven SONY ILCE-7S with E 35mm F1.8 OSS at 35mm and f/4, 1/60sec, ISO 5000
Roast pork and roast chicken after carving SONY ILCE-7S with E 35mm F1.8 OSS at 35mm and f/4, 1/60sec, ISO 1250
Roast pork and roast chicken after carving SONY ILCE-7S with E 35mm F1.8 OSS at 35mm and f/4, 1/60sec, ISO 1250
Roast pork and roast chicken after carving. More of the chicken in this view. SONY ILCE-7S with E 35mm F1.8 OSS at 35mm and f/4, 1/60sec, ISO 2000
Roast pork and roast chicken after carving. More of the chicken in this view. SONY ILCE-7S with E 35mm F1.8 OSS at 35mm and f/4, 1/60sec, ISO 2000
This salad had carrot, cos lettuce, Lebanese cucumber, tomatoes, mangos, avocados, and nectarines SONY ILCE-7S with E 35mm F1.8 OSS at 35mm and f/4, 1/250sec, ISO 6400
This salad had carrot, cos lettuce, Lebanese cucumber, tomatoes, mangos, avocados, and nectarines SONY ILCE-7S with E 35mm F1.8 OSS at 35mm and f/4, 1/250sec, ISO 6400
Smashed potatoes with mayonnaise SONY ILCE-7S with E 35mm F1.8 OSS at 35mm and f/5.6, 1/60sec, ISO 2500
Smashed potatoes with mayonnaise SONY ILCE-7S with E 35mm F1.8 OSS at 35mm and f/5.6, 1/60sec, ISO 2500
Our simple dinner setting SONY ILCE-7S with E 35mm F1.8 OSS at 35mm and f/5.6, 1/60sec, ISO 5000
Our simple dinner setting SONY ILCE-7S with E 35mm F1.8 OSS at 35mm and f/5.6, 1/60sec, ISO 5000
Our simple dinner setting SONY ILCE-7S with E 35mm F1.8 OSS at 35mm and f/5.6, 1/60sec, ISO 4000
Our simple dinner setting SONY ILCE-7S with E 35mm F1.8 OSS at 35mm and f/5.6, 1/60sec, ISO 4000
Our simple dinner setting SONY ILCE-7S with E 35mm F1.8 OSS at 35mm and f/5.6, 1/60sec, ISO 4000
Our simple dinner setting SONY ILCE-7S with E 35mm F1.8 OSS at 35mm and f/5.6, 1/60sec, ISO 4000

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My plate SONY ILCE-7S with E 35mm F1.8 OSS at 35mm and f/5.6, 1/60sec, ISO 6400
My plate SONY ILCE-7S with E 35mm F1.8 OSS at 35mm and f/5.6, 1/60sec, ISO 6400

And then we had dessert 

Dessert was red and green jelly with peach slice embedded and three types of ice cream SONY ILCE-7S with E 35mm F1.8 OSS at 35mm and f/5.6, 1/60sec, ISO 3200
Dessert was red and green jelly with peach slice embedded and three types of ice cream SONY ILCE-7S with E 35mm F1.8 OSS at 35mm and f/5.6, 1/60sec, ISO 3200

It was a good day with my parents and daughters. The weather in Brisbane was warm and it was moist. My skin was happy and I was happy. 

I bought Mum flowers for her birthday next week. The Lotus pod reminded me of Canberra's Skywhale because it looks like a carbuncle. SONY ILCE-7S with E 35mm F1.8 OSS at 35mm and f/5.6, 1/60sec, ISO 3200
I bought Mum flowers for her birthday next week. The Lotus pod reminded me of Canberra’s Skywhale because it looks like a carbuncle. SONY ILCE-7S with E 35mm F1.8 OSS at 35mm and f/5.6, 1/60sec, ISO 3200
I bought Mum flowers for her birthday next week. The Lotus pod reminded me of Canberra's Skywhale because it looks like a carbuncle. SONY ILCE-7S with E 35mm F1.8 OSS at 35mm and f/8, 1/60sec, ISO 12800
I bought Mum flowers for her birthday next week. The Lotus pod reminded me of Canberra’s Skywhale because it looks like a carbuncle. SONY ILCE-7S with E 35mm F1.8 OSS at 35mm and f/8, 1/60sec, ISO 12800

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So if you’ve made it this far thanks for reading. 

Please feel free to leave a comment and tell me what you have planned for your Christmas dinner.

 

 

 

 

 

Steak and vegetables

Mum and Dad rarely eat steak now. It’s too expensive and they’re careful of their teeth. They both have a lot of dental work and they prefer not to chew anything tough. I promised a juicy and tender steak  

I explained to Mum the theory behind Heston Blumenthal’s technique for perfect steak and the importance of resting the meat to get a perfect rare to medium rare steak. I also took the advantage of buying some Scotch rib eye fillet which makes a tender steak pretty well guaranteed unless you neglect it. Mum and Dad love their vegetables so we also had some boiled spuds (potatoes for you refined readers), sweet potato, snow peas, asparagus and sweet corn on the cob.

Scotch rib fillet steak after sitting out to dry and getting to room temperature. SONY ILCE-7S with E 35mm F1.8 OSS at 35mm and f/2.2, 1/40sec, ISO 250
Scotch rib fillet steak after sitting out to dry and getting to room temperature. SONY ILCE-7S with E 35mm F1.8 OSS at 35mm and f/2.2, 1/40sec, ISO 250
Spuds ready to boil in the saucepan. SONY ILCE-7S with E 35mm F1.8 OSS at 35mm and f/5.6, 1/10sec, ISO 320
Spuds ready to boil in the saucepan. SONY ILCE-7S with E 35mm F1.8 OSS at 35mm and f/5.6, 1/10sec, ISO 320
Scotch rib fillet steak resting and letting the wonderful juices keep the meaty goodness all tender. SONY ILCE-7S with E 35mm F1.8 OSS at 35mm and f/5.6, 1/10sec, ISO 1250
Scotch rib fillet steak resting and letting the wonderful juices keep the meaty goodness all tender. SONY ILCE-7S with E 35mm F1.8 OSS at 35mm and f/5.6, 1/10sec, ISO 1250
Saturday dinner. Scotch rib fillet with spuds, sweet potato, snow peas, asparagus and corn. SONY ILCE-7S with E 35mm F1.8 OSS at 35mm and f/5.6, 1/10sec, ISO 2000
Saturday dinner. Scotch rib fillet with spuds, sweet potato, snow peas, asparagus and corn. SONY ILCE-7S with E 35mm F1.8 OSS at 35mm and f/5.6, 1/10sec, ISO 2000

Mum and Dad were pretty happy and enjoyed the meal. 

Salmon and avocado sandwich

A local Canberra blogging friend http://talesofaconfectionist.wordpress.com/ posts multiple times a day with photographs of food she is eating. Sometimes she will write a longer and more descriptive post. I really like receiving multiple e-mails a day knowing that when I click the link I’ll see something delicious. If you like a broad mix of delicious food, I can recommend following http://talesofaconfectionist.wordpress.com/ Once there you’ll read stories of food and how her fiance keeps her happy with macarons 

Today I made Mum and Dad a simple sandwich made from tinned red salmon and avocado on Helga’s traditional wholemeal bread (with some butter and pepper). 

Saturday lunch. Salmon and avocado on Helga's traditional wholemeal bread. Apple iPhone 6 Plus with iPhone 6 Plus back camera 4.15mm f/2.2 at 4mm and f/2.2, 1/15sec, ISO 50
Saturday lunch. Salmon and avocado on Helga’s traditional wholemeal bread. Apple iPhone 6 Plus with iPhone 6 Plus back camera 4.15mm f/2.2 at 4mm and f/2.2, 1/15sec, ISO 50
Saturday lunch. Salmon and avocado on Helga's traditional wholemeal bread. Apple iPhone 6 Plus with iPhone 6 Plus back camera 4.15mm f/2.2 at 4mm and f/2.2, 1/15sec, ISO 50
Saturday lunch. Salmon and avocado on Helga’s traditional wholemeal bread. Apple iPhone 6 Plus with iPhone 6 Plus back camera 4.15mm f/2.2 at 4mm and f/2.2, 1/15sec, ISO 50

Mum and Dad enjoyed their salmon and avocado sandwich. I hope you do too