Friday, February 05, 2010

Cooking on the Boyle

I guess it's weird that ole AC would go on a cooking spree on a Friday afternoon, but that's just what I did — for part of the afternoon anyway. First, I made the French Canadian Tourtiere that I had meaning to try for months but hadn't gotten around to. I dunno why, except that I have a French Canadian SIL and have tasted his mother's tourtiere a few times, so I wanted to give it a shot.

As I prepared the recipe, I played our recently purchased Susan Boyle album (blast the changes in terminology as they'll always be records to me) CD, I Dreamed A Dream and listened in my usual distracted way. The woman has a great voice, which supports my notion that the best singers are probably doing their thing well out of the limelight. Otherwise, we make do with the supposedly marketable types where the first rule is that you have to look good.

Boyle, of course, is unique because of her story. She came onstage at Britain's Got Talent in all her bizarre frumpiness and promptly "rocked this joint" (her words, I believe). She does have a great voice, but we all fell in love with her story because that's the way it works. It fits with what Cuppa has been telling me about her latest read,
A Whole New Mind: Why Right-Brainers Will Rule the Future by Daniel H Pink who believes that having a story and telling it will be key to success. Well, Susan Boyle is a story, and she is being quite successful these days. She made it onto Queen Oprah's show for goodness sakes.

After getting the tourtiere in the oven (are you following my thought shifts alright?), I prepared my own meat loaf. It's the only recipe that I can only lay claim to creating rather than simply following, and even then I only tweaked an old recipe from the Red Roses cookbook. My mother had this book and gave Cuppa and updated version when we wed, and I think Cuppa passed an even more updated version onto the kids, but I may be mistaken, and since she's out at the hair salon becoming even more stunningly beautiful, I can hardly confirm it.

Shifting back to the CD .... although it's not my usual thing, I enjoyed Susan's fine voice and gentle delivery. It's a good, relaxing background mix in my opinion, but the songs are older classics, so if you're into contemporary top 40, it ain't for you. Oddly, there are two religious songs in there, which I don't mind but some might, as well as (and I find this really odd, but again, I don't mind) Silent Night. While I probably wouldn't play the album a lot (which is not an indictment as such because I don't play any album a lot), I will probably put at least two songs in some playlist or other: her BGT original, I Dreamed A Dream and Up To The Mountain and perhaps even a few others. Other thoughts: although I wouldn't recognize perfect pitch even if it was thrown by Sandy Koufax, Cuppa says that Boyle has it, and we both think that, at least in spots, she sounds Barbara Streisand-ish, which can't be all bad. Or can it?

Another shift ... my meat loaf is really is quite good (considering that it's meat loaf, if you take my meaning), so just in case ...

For the Mix
  • 1 egg beaten
  • 1 medium onion chopped
  • about a half packet of onion soup mix
  • about 2 tbsp of relish (be generous)
  • several tbsp of plum sauce (or more)
  • a little salt and pepper
  • some beef seasoning

Meat Mix
  • 2 lbs ground beef
  • 1/2 cup or slightly more of oats


Topping
  • 1/4 cup or more of plum sauce
  • 1 or 2 tbsp of brown sugar
  • 1/4 to 1/2 tsp of dry mustard

Directions
  1. Preheat oven to 350F (180C)
  2. Combine mix ingredients in a bowl
  3. Mix beef and oats together
  4. Combine the two mixes
  5. Pack into loaf pan (about 9" x 15" or 13cm x 23cm)
  6. Spread the topping
  7. Bake 1 1/2 hours or until meat is cooked

13 comments:

Mara said...

'From the heel to the branch' as we say in the Netherlands.

Your recipe sounds good, but what on earth is relish?

Doris said...

I am SO glad that you are writing about Susan Boyle and her album. I agree with everything you wrote. I got it for Christmas and I've been playing it over and over (which is extremely unusual for me!). I love her voice, her interpretation of the songs, the songs themselves (even the religious ones), and the music. The way she sings the word "wild" in "Wild Horses" send shivers through me.

Anonymous said...

I have Susan Boyle's new album too. I was surprised at the songs picked for it, but it sure gives her voice a variety of avenues to travel. Her Old Man River was beautiful. Most of the time you hear a man sing that, but that was so good for her to do. Wild Horses I liked too, a lot.
QMM

JunieRose2005 said...

I, too, am enjoying the Susan Boyle cd....and her success has given me hope and new confidence of the fairness in the world!


June

Anonymous said...

Mmmm... Thanks for the music review, and the recipe :)

Bernie said...

I too received Susan Boyle's CD for Christmas and absolutely love it....its in my car and I listen to it every time I drive.
Now this meat loaf sounds good A/C, my reciepe is similar but I have never tried plum sauce...yet.
Have a great weekend....:-) Hugs

Barry said...

I loved Susan Boyle's voice (and story) but haven't picked up her CD yet (although I think my wife has downloaded a few of her songs to itunes.

Anonymous said...

AC,
Thanks for sharing your meatloaf receipe. I plan to make it soon. Please share your tourtiere receipe. It looks delicious!! LadyCat and I went to see Avatar last night. Really enjoyed it. That James Cameron is one rich guy.
Hope you are having a great weekend! Smiles to ya :) The Bach

Unknown said...

I too LOVE Susan, her story and her magnificent voice. All the songs for the album are supposed to actually lead the listener through her "story"... Madonna's "You'll See' is a prime example. I also love the song written for her by Judy Garland's great, great, grandniece Audra May entitled:"Who I was born to be". She has truly waited a lifetime for her chance and the world is now the recipient of her talents and perseverance.... Go Susan!!! Can't wait to see what songs she chooses for her second album...(from ~ Leslie, near Niagara Falls, ON, Canada - Everyone knows where that is!)

Lorna said...

I have yet to meet a meatloaf recipe that didn't defeat me. I will try this though, as I love meatloaf---I just can't make it.

Tossing Pebbles in the Stream said...

You seem to be preaching to the choir. Everyone seems to like Susan Boyle and most seem to have the CD. I feel out of the loop. I don't have any CD's. I enjoy my cassettes.

Good for you for making a Tourtière. I like to see a little cross cultural appreciation.

Your recipe looks good and sound. I am glad to see you use the dry onion soup mix trick. It gives many a recipe character. I like the plum sauce flourish. May try that myself.

I recently made Boston Baked Beans using a recipe they use at Durgin Park Resturant ( one of Boston's most famous.) Like meatloaf there are 1001 ways to make BBB.

When are you going to start the Men's recipe swap club? :)

Donna said...

What's in your relish?
I'll try the meatloaf! Sounds wonderful!
And I also love the Susan Boyle CD...Happy day to y'all!
hughugs

Diana said...

Thanks for the 3D info on Avitar AC, and yes which type of relish do you use. Jake loves meatloaf!
Love Di