Dinner and a Movie: Two Thousand Women

 Carrot and Raisin Salad

4 carrots, peeled, bottoms trimmed (leave the tops untrimmed so you have something to hold on to while you grate)
3 tablespoons raisins
2 tablespoons blanched, slivered almonds
juice from ½ lemon
approximately 1 tablespoon olive oil
sea salt
freshly-ground black pepper

Grate the carrots into a mixing bowl, then stir in the raisins and almonds. Add lemon juice, then stir in enough olive oil to coat the carrots and make them shiny. Season to taste with salt and pepper then cover and refrigerate several hours until thoroughly chilled.

Serves 2

Adapted from “Carrot Salad with Raisins” in Jane Grigson’s Vegetable Book (New York: Atheneum, 1979), 164.

Download printable version

Neeps

1 (1 lb.) rutabaga, peeled
sea salt
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
pinch of ground mace

Cut the rutabaga into chunks that are around a couple of inches apiece. Throw into a medium-sized saucepan, cover with water and add a handful of salt. Boil until very tender. Drain, return rutabaga to saucepan and mash with butter and mace. Add more salt, if needed, and serve.

Serves 2

Adapted from “Bashed Neeps,” The Great British Kitchen.

Download printable version

These two side dishes went with a couple of Lammas Lample Pies that I'd been keeping in the freezer. I've never had Carrot and Raisin Salad before, but I was curious, so I made it! All I have to say is "yum!" It's bright from the lemon juice and sweet and crunchy. Rutabaga (or "Swede") is the main component in a dish of Neeps (Scots for "turnip"). While similar to a turnip, a rutabaga is milder and less peppery. I think it tastes way better! It does, however, benefit from the addition of butter and a good amount of salt! Mace really compliments the milder flavor of the rutabaga. If you don't have mace, just substitute nutmeg.

Some music for cooking:

Jean Kent and Patricia Roc

I found Two Thousand Women browsing through Netflix and thought I'd give it a try. I'd never heard of it, so I didn't have very high expectations. I just wanted to be entertained! Two Thousand Women delivers--it's the story of a group of ex-patriot British women who are sent to an internment camp after the German invasion of France. It has its funny moments but also a fair bit of suspense after three RAF pilots show up looking for a hiding spot. I can't imagine that women in internment camps had the extensive wardrobes these gals have, but that's no reason we can't enjoy it, right?

Top row: Patricia Roc, Flora Robson 

Bottom row: Patricia Roc, Renne Houston, Phyllis Calvert, Jean Kent, Flora Robson

Bottom left: Anne Crawford

*****