What’s cooking?

I really enjoy cooking, baking, eating... generally just experimenting and consuming food of any type, even better if there’s a great glass of wine to go with that meal. For me food is not just a necessity for survival but a really, enjoyable social activity.

My mouth waters as I look through cookbooks, my desk is littered with tear sheets from magazines with delectable food articles and printed recipes from various cooking sites. There are so many great meals out there, and too little time.

So tonight for dinner I was thinking about breading some chicken breasts that I bought the other day. I’m planning on trying something a little different though, perhaps a blend of 12 or 13 spices and some combination of crushed nuts to coat the chicken... not too sure about frying it in oil – I don’t like the idea of hot oil splatter on my skin– so I may just end up grilling them.

Admittedly, I cannot take credit for the idea.

Last night on the Food Network I caught an episode of Iron Chef America – you know, that spin off of the Asian cooking show that pitches two chefs against each other in a cooking duel to see who can make the best four course dinner with a theme ingredient – in this particular episode chicken was the special ingredient.

If you haven’t seen the show before, you’re missing out on a great food duel and – if it’s the Asian one you happen to catch – some really strange ingredients (sea cucumber in ice cream?).

Some dessert might be nice too...hmm what’s in the freezer...strawberries, mango...mm no, I think I’ll have lemon gelato and some decadently rich store bought chocolate chip cookies. Sounds pretty good doesn’t it!

What are you having for dinner tonight? Steak? Salmon smoked on a cedar plank? Grilled mushroom caps stuffed with goat’s cheese? Speaking of which, yes, I’ll have that slice of cheesecake if you’ll indulge with me.

I wonder what The Honorable Leona Aglukkaq, Minister of Health is having for dinner? Caribou with caramelized chipolini, candied beets, a gooseberry compote and juniper berry jus? Foie gras torchon with duck confit that features woodland mushrooms, rhubarb puree and sauce gastrique? Maybe her dessert is a trio of crème brulee or an assiette du fromage (cheese plate anyone?).

What about your residents? Salisbury steak? Liver and onions on a plastic plate? Grilled bread stuffed with processed cheese? Dessert might be...a trio of red jello or fruit cup.

A few years back a Toronto Sun cover story showed a typical meal at a long-term care facility and at a prison. According to their research, Toronto’s Metro West Detention Centre has a budget of $11.02 per inmate per day while the University Health Network budgets $6.50 and Long-term care facilities $5.57.

I’m gobsmacked! $5.57! Your dieticians must work side jobs that include a top hat and white rabbit to pull three balanced meals and snacks out of a budget like that. I don’t know what I would cook for $5.57 a meal, let alone a day!

It’s enough to make me rethink what I’ll be eating tonight.

That being said, I’d like to see The Honourable Health Minister and yes, even the provincial health ministers, sit down to not just one day’s worth, but a week’s worth of these meals that would give even Scrooge a proverbial run for his money.

Perhaps forgoing a weeks worth of $18 foie gras appetizers, $35 Caribou entrees and $15 cheese plates would help to put a more realistic spin on mealtimes in long term care facilities.