We took the opportunity this morning, to visit my husband's Great Aunt, who lives near Mold in North Wales. We haven't seen her since her sister's funeral 20 years ago! I didn't even think to take a photo.
When we returned to my Dads, he was cooking us Sunday lunch. He is 86 and quite the competent cook. Today he made us chicken legs with baked potatoes, gravy, broccoli and onions. He cooks whole onions in the microwave. I have never known anyone do this before and was bold enough to enquire today as to what inspired him to present whole onions as a vegetable. He told us that his Mother (who died when he was a young teenager) used to make rabbit stew with whole onions in. And now I know why he persists in doing this despite family protestations, and I shall enjoy this culinary peculiarity a little more for it.
Here you see him mixing the sponge ready to cook a pudding in the microwave. This is to be presented to us with treacle to pour over the top, and home made custard. Again, just like his mother made all those years ago - except in those days it would have been a steamed sponge.
These are the stories that families are made of! It's inspiring that at his age he still wants to entertain and can do so. So many people give up by this age. I love the light in this shot- it's as special as the man and the moment it captured.
Interesting story - and a lovely photo too. I haven't cooked a whole onion in the microwave but bake them whole regularly when I make a roast. Beef Bourguignon (not sure of spelling) also uses whole onions - but small ones.
I love this image along with the story! How fabulous that your dad is doing all this. My mum is 90 and still lives on her own too. She doesn't cook as much as she used to.
Love your story, I guess we all do some things because we've always done them that way, or because a loved one did. I occasionally make a caraway seed sponge cake from a recipe that's about 40 years old, it reminds me of my grandma. Your shot here suits the story, and well done to your dad.
This is simply lovely - what a caring man your father is... and Mrs S and I love whole onions as a vegetable although I haven't thought of doing them in the microwave - I usually roast them with their skins on.
Thank you all so much for your comments. Im rather touched. The image shows such a familiar domestic scene to me, that I wasn't really expecting it to resonate. Glad to know that there are some other 'whole onion' lovers out there. Maybe it isn't such a strange habit after all. I love that Dad still wants to make a special meal for us when we visit and is perfectly capable of doing so.
Hope I'm still doing that if I make it to 86. I love the posture you've captured. It conveys concentration and attention to detail. You have also brought back memories of mother's steamed sponge!
February 7th, 2019
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I put whole onions in when roasting vegetables.
Thank you all so much for your comments. Im rather touched. The image shows such a familiar domestic scene to me, that I wasn't really expecting it to resonate. Glad to know that there are some other 'whole onion' lovers out there. Maybe it isn't such a strange habit after all. I love that Dad still wants to make a special meal for us when we visit and is perfectly capable of doing so.