Food for Thought Thursdays

Dine In: Huh, what a concept!

We are faced with a choice every time we consume (ie. Purchase) and every time we consume (ie. Eat) food! Even if you are pressed for time I believe one should have healthy options at their disposal if they so choose. If you are anything like me, you want to have it all, and by that I mean a successful/rewarding career and a family and a tasty/healthy dinner with a fastfood price tag AND dessert. The dlemma is this- How often is healthy food fast or cheap? Well when it happens to be one of those nights where you are pressed for time and can't get to your garden, you can feel good about this meal deal without getting asked it you “want fries with that”.

Marks & Spencers offers a meal for two for a tenner (an affectionate UK term for the ten dollar bill)! With a choice of fresh, seasonal side, meal, dessert and a drink according to my calculations that makes for 8100 different choices for dinner! All packaging is listed as recyclable and the selections I checked contained no artificial colors, flavours or preservatives too!

Ten quid (UK slang for ten pounds)seems to satisfy the :

local eater-offering British grown potato wedges, local Leicster cheeses, British beef and Scottish Lochmur Salmon

vegetarian- serving up a plenitude of veggie friendly sides including a filling pot of mash (a popular choice of side dish for Scots), Mediterranean Roasting vegetables or for the finer tastes perhaps petis pois with edamame in a minted butter to start followed by the trio of mushroom & Stilton risotto. Wha? I know, mmm!

the big appetite- a whole Scottish slow-raised chicken or a pound, yep, a pound of spaghetti bolognese with a salad that would last me a week

lighter fare too- how about the comforting steamed peas and carrots with the pair of Scottish chilli& coriander (aka cilantro) salmon fillets, topped with a honey ginger glaze and a "fabulous fruity fiesta"(real name for assorted fresh fruits) to finish it off

the straight edge- an alternative to vino, for your bevvy you can choose from a duo pack of sparkling grape juice, including both white and red grape or a two pack of Valencia orange juice

*also noticed the mussels in garlic & creamery butter were sustainably sourced

So now that everyone is satisfied and dinner is on the table I want to assure you I am not sponsored by M&S but rather that I appreciate delicious dinner options that are quick and easy, cheap and cheerful and also easy on both the conscience and the waste-line!

Oh, and there are nine different desserts and seven bottles of wine to choose from, so though this might not be that meal for the indecisive, I must remind you we have all spent more on ONE bottle of wine than you have to for this entire meal for two!

In the words of Dan Akroyd playing Julia Child in SNL (pop culture references totally lost in the UK so I shall use them on you) Bon Apetit!

Design Your Dream Dinner on a Dime Here