Lesson 1 -Another Saturday night

Here it is, another Saturday night supper with friends. It’s always a challenge finding the just so recipe for the meal. Obviously, it needs to be flanked by appetizers, a salad, a starch and of course, a fabulous dessert. Once he gets started on prep in the kitchen, it’s his time to shine. Pots are filled, sauces prepared, vegetables chopped. All is going well when his phone rings.
“I must answer that, it could be about tonight.”
“Hello?”
“Is this Mr. Dxxx…. ?”
“Yes, it is.”
“I’m here to tell you about an exclusive offer just for you.”
Click. He hangs up the phone. Sigh. Another scammer call. How he hates them.
“Now, where was I? Ah yes, vegetable prep.”
Carrots, beans, shallots, potatoes, onions and leeks. Chopped and tossed in a bowl. Ladle some good olive oil over it. Season with salt, garlic and pepper. “Mmm, this will be a delicious roast vegetable side with our meal.”
Vegetables are dumped in a large roasting pan. And into the oven they go. Soon, the delightful aroma of roasting vegetables will fill the kitchen.
“Now, onto the appetizer. Something simple. Jumbo shrimp served over ice with a side of cocktail sauce. Perfectly elegant. Perfectly simple.”
Ring. Ring. The phone springs to life again.
“I must answer that.”
“Hello? Yes, it is he. My account is overdrawn and I need to what?…”
Click.
“Don’t those scammers have anything better to do?” he mutters crossly.
“Now, where was I? Ah, the main course.”
He decided on an eye of the round roast, studded with garlic, seasoned with salt and pepper.
“Oh! I need to put this on top of the veg!”
Instantly, he grabs the oven mitts, opens the oven and removes the roasting pan, placing it on top of the stove. Mitts off, he places the roast on top of the vegetables. Mitts back on, oven door opened, back into the oven it goes.
“There! That’s better.”