We have a dish in the UK, found in all Chinese Takeaways, called Special Fried Rice (or variations on the name). Americans may call it something different (though on checking, I found that you don’t), and anyone of Chinese ancestry may not even recognise it as Chinese cuisine. However, like Chicken Tikka Masala, it is now part of British life.
I made a version of it last tonight. It features the three inch end piece of a wrinkly courgette, a half red pepper with a couple of black spots on it, last week’s mushrooms, some green beans I found while looking for the courgette and, finally, some prawns with freezer burn. Yes, It’s a bit like my soup recipe – loads of imperfect ingredients in a random order – but you add rice instead of blending it all. It has garlic, mango chutney and chilli in it. It was going to have chilli jam, lemon juice and soy sauce, but I seem to have used the chilli jam, the soy sauce bottle turned out to be empty and the lemon, which was actually just a half lemon, proved to be too far gone even for me. I’m hoping to fool Julia into thinking I actually used a recipe.
I just had a look at recipes and find that Americans do have it, and that they use SPAM in it. As Number Two Son’s partner is from the Philippines I know about SPAM (a food I haven’t eaten for 50 years), so I wasn’t too surprised. However, I was surprised to find that they add MSG. I didn’t even know it was possible to buy it, let alone that you would want to add it.
Naturally, my mind then drifted onto the possibilities for a literary twist to end the post. Something along the lines of my life being like Special Fried Rice – a random mix of imperfect ingredients that isn’t really Special, just leftovers with a sheen of marketing. But I decided that was too cynical, even for me.
Mouse on Wheatsheaf Loaf
The photos? I have one, unattractive, photo tagged “rice” but these were in the same month so I used these.
Thank you for sharing such valuable insights in your blog post! Your perspective is truly enlightening, and I appreciate the effort you’ve put into crafting this content. Looking forward to reading more from you. Keep up the great work!……
A baked Mouseman – now that is something
I’ll cook anything if it sits still long enough. 🙂
I would never put SPAM in any dish. Perish the thought!
🙂
Ah spam fritters, now you’re talking.
I did buy some TESCO bacon grill as emergency supplies for Brexit. It was good, though I’m not sure I’d want it too often. Things that colour are seldom healthy.
SPAM! Ugh! I can’t bear to think of the awful greasy spam fritters we used to have at school in the 60’s.
Fried rice is a really good way to use up odds and ends though it does taste better when I use fresh veg. 🙂
🙂 Most things do. I used to make it with nice ingredients but it eventually evolved into the dish to use up odds and ends.
In Maine and New York, the two places I have had fried rice, it is not common to use Spam in fried rice. In fact, I have never heard of anyone doing so. Of course, Spam in fried rice might be common in other states.
Love that final line Laurie – like you, I can believe some of that lot would do anything. 🙂
I loved that last line too! Perhaps said with an eye-roll and a slight sneer! No! Laurie’s too kind 🙂
🙂 Of course she is . . .