What's for lunch?? what's for dinner??

Took this in Maldives under the mid-day sun

This is a question that I post myself everyday. I guess this is what every stay home mom or whoever is in charge of putting food on the table ask themselves.

I think living in Asia does make things a little more easy but over here in France, meal times has it's own ritual. A normal meal in our household over here in Angers, starts with a simple appetizer, main course , cheese and dessert plus coffee with a little piece of chocolate. But if it is an occasion either it's a birthday celebration, Christmas or just a simple Sunday meal to share with your extended family or friends.. it would last for hours..

When I say hours, I mean starting from say 12.30pm and finish at about 4pm at the dinning table. And if you have any young kids at home means by the time you finish clearing/washing your dishes, it would be time to start the preparation for dinner :) but that i will save it for another post :)





So tonight what's for dinner?? it's complicated over here.. Back at home in Malaysia, lunch and dinner are not much different. You can make a lot for lunch and finish it for dinner. Or one can just go to any of the "Kopitiam" or little restaurant to "Ta pau" or take away as other call it. So what's so complicated?? they eat heavy for lunch and very light for dinner. For example today we had half a grapefruit each as appetizer, then burger patty with pan fried zucchini and some pasta. Dessert is fruit and of course a little cup of coffee plus a piece of chocolate which is important also a great note to end a meal.

Since lunch is heavy, it is always difficult to have something easy and light to make for dinner. As dinner has its own ritual again.. it always starts with a bowl of soup then something light. So tonight I will make stuff mushroom. One mushroom each that's it. If anyone is still hungry, they will finish the meal with some cheese and/or a yogurt.



These mushrooms are big. I chose the medium size which is a little bigger then an apple.
The big ones are as big as a saucer.



Stuff Mushrooms

4 big mushrooms (about 40 to 50gm each)
200gm mince beef
3 gloves of garlic mince
1 Tbsp Soy sauce
1 tsp cornstarch
few drops of sesame oil
3 Tbsp shredded Gruyere/Emmental cheese or any hard cheese
4 Tbsp bread crumbs

1. Clean the mushroom with wet paper towel, remove the stems and chopped it into tiny pieces.
2. In a small pan, fried the minced garlic, chopped mushroom stems, then add in minced beef to cook for a few minute til cook. Season with soy sauce and sesame oil.
3. Once cool, add in the cornstarch, bread crumbs and cheese. Mix well and scope it into the cavity of the mushroom.
4. Place the mushrooms in a baking dish and into the over at 200C for 25 minute. Or until the top is golden and the mushroom is tender.
5. Serve with some green salad and french baguette.

I have made this many many times and it's always a success. I have grow to love cheese and have not forgotten my root of soy sauce.. I do make extra stuffing and freeze for later use. This stuffing is great for spring rolls, pot stickers (Kuo tie)/ Gyoza or just simply mix with steam rice for simple lazy meal.

Hope you like it. Bon appétit!