Allotments 4 All

i am having an a few friends over server ex pats from uk.  I thought serve some toads for a starter for them. since the variety toad i got are bit large how big should the slices be or should
serve each person a whole toad. how many snappers should put in each cup of mash to get correct bang. Also do I need to make sure none have loose teeth or fillings.  
also should vegetables be boiled for 3 or 6 hours I want them to be at home.

If they are sprouts 6 but other veg ok with 3. Remember the salt and bicarb in the water. the bicarb helps keep the colour when they are cooked for the necessary length of time.

Dont forget the vege should be broiled an ;D ;Dd not boiled

Also you need a nice drop of Bisto gravy to go on your toads

Sprouts = Christmas,  and potatoes with every meal is a Must, so I'd like to see you present them on the plate in a way which reflects your deep understanding of our traditions. You have the cooking times Spot On and many congratulations, btw, but now then, to the finer points. The sprouts must have an 'X' cut into the base. Some will tell you perhaps that this will encourage the sprouts to be cooked evenly throughout, but NO! The sprout is actually a symbol of the Christmas Tree and the 'X' in the base is essential to facilitate the insertion of a stick (tooth or c*cktail), your preference. These then can be balanced on the potatoes by inserting some of the other end of the stick into them. The potato, obviously, symbolises a snowball. Here we all dream of a White Christmas.

I know that your guests will be Deeply Appreciative of all your efforts and the careful Research you have made to make their meal a Truly Memorable Occasion 8)   

The size of the toads doesn't matter as long as you make sure the holes are the same size.  And you don't need to bother with all that tiresome peeling and bashing of spuds - we do a processed version that's far superior - just add boiling water and stir.  It's called Smash, sold in supermarkets, imported from Mars I believe.  You've had good advice on the veg already, they need at least 3 hours but give them another couple just to be on the safe side.

You didn't mention pudding - can I suggest Spotted Dick?

Quote from: ceres on November 19, 2011, 13:18:14

You didn't mention pudding - can I suggest Spotted Dick?

.............. or perhaps tapioca. Looks (and tastes) like frogspawn. Make the toads feel really at home.  ;D

Quote from: Grandma on November 19, 2011, 15:33:44


.............. or perhaps tapioca. Looks (and tastes) like frogspawn. Make the toads feel really at home.  ;D

Oh YESS! Tapioca is a truly inspirational suggestion 8) You know, this menu is shaping up nicely...

'Shaping up' tho. Again another v.v. good suggestion from Ceres to use Smash, the 'instant' superior mashed potato. And the glory of this, of course, is that with the using of an ice-cream scoop to shape the snowballs (I'd suggest 2 per person), each perfectly-formed snowball will take an artistic arrangement of 3 Sprout Christmas trees each.

Still puzzled tho - where do the fish fit into all this, please - snapper?

Quote from: Lishka on November 19, 2011, 17:19:57
Still puzzled ho - where do the fish fit into all this, please - snapper

Perhaps the fish was for starters?

I think you are making yourself a lot of work here, Plainleaf.  A couple of packets of Vesta should do nicely and achieve that truly traditional UK flavour.  You can't go wrong with them  ;D

Or Pot Noodles - yummy!

Aperitif - Sunny Delight

After dinner Camp Coffee?

So, the Alternative Menu might be =  

Aperitif: Sunny Delight

Mains: Vesta beef or prawn curry with Pot Noodles the vegetarian option 8)

Pud: my strong contender for the Ultimate Classic would be Instant Whip with squirty sweetened cream over and finished off with a restrained (but classy) sprinkle of hundreds and thousands. NB a certain amount of cooking skill required to make the Instant Whip - check that your wrist action is up to it.

All followed by the perfect coffee - Camp, of course.

So, plainleaf, your choice. Which menu will you choose (and, please, please WHERE do the snapper come into this?)

**** Great Minds, Ceres...

Not bad, but Sunny Delight is American.  Surely the classic British orange juice starter is Britvic.

And the pot noodle must be the all time great Bombay Bad Boy.

for those who do not know what snappers are they are 3-4 crystals rapped a bit paper that looks like a white frogspawn. when dropped or crushed  on hard surface they make loud pop sound..
but i think i might put "pop rocks" in mashed instead.

spotted dick sounds good do you use bull or boar dick  in recipe. what do  use to put the spots on dick with.

as for the drink to go with meal i will serving  cheap cider and warm ale

You are all mad!!! everyone knows that for starters it must be snapper cocktail, use prawns if you must. Main course is Toad in the basket but chicken will do if you can't find enough toads. finished off with a good old Black forest Gateau. Don't forget the wine. Blue Nun or Black tower. Your guests from the UK will never forget you. To top of the evening a game of postmans knock would really amuse them providing these are not friends from you old boys school.

instant potatoes will not work because the potatoes need to be lumpy and half cooked

For heavens sake why go through all that work?  Best serve up the CLASSIC MUCH BELOVED British meal - doner kebab - best after a good few bevvies and before the fight.

you can't get doner kobab in usa do to fact that  quality meat that is usaully used for doner kabab can only be used in prisons or public schools.