No, this is not a post on how to make the perfect slice of toast. This month’s feature for Food ‘n Flix was Nigel Slater’s quirky and unhappy childhood as depicted in the movie Toast. The film is based on Slater’s memoir Toast: The Story of a Boy’s Hunger. I enjoyed the film but now I want to get my hands on the book.
Thanks to This Mama Cooks for recommending the film and hosting this month.
Even though Nigel seemed to subsist on toast (his mother was horribly inept in the kitchen), Nigel had a love and desire for the finer things in his culinary life. (Although, I don’t know that canned Bolognese sauce fits that bill.)
Poor Nigel. His loving mother “was always opposed to fresh produce” stating, “You don’t know where its been.” (I didn’t understand this view when they had a lovely garden in the back with a hunky gardener.) His mother supplemented his toast diet with canned food which she boiled in the tins to prepare dinner.
But, Nigel ate his meager meals without complaint. “How can you not love someone who makes you toast?” he remembers.
There are many comedic scenes in the film even though it deals with some dark themes. I found myself laughing out loud as Nigel’s father thinks his son may be doing some inappropriate business behind his bedroom door. Nope, Nigel is just looking at cookbooks and wistfully sighing and gasping.
I found my inspiration for this Food ‘n Flix post in the Technicolor photos of Nigel’s food porn.
I have a number of vintage cookbooks from the 60s (the era Nigel grew up in) and I also love those glossy, weirdly colored photos of food.
One of my favorites that I loved to peruse during my childhood was Betty Crocker’s Party Book. I remember looking through those pages and planning party after party.
Hawaiian Sunset Supper
A bridal shower idea. I love that crazy looking center piece.
I wanted to make my two male cousins the baseball and sailboat cakes, make the pumpkin cake for Halloween, and the Snoopy cake for my sister. (I think my mom may have actually had a Snoopy themed party for her.)
Most of the recipes from Party Book use a lot of premade and packaged items, primarily those from Betty Crocker (cake mixes, etc.) But I found one interesting sounding recipe in the May Day party planning section: Chickenburgers-in-a-Basket.
Chickenburgers-in-a-Basket
Adapted from Betty Crocker’s Party Book (1960)2/3 c. shredded sharp Cheddar cheese
1 T. sweet pickles, chopped fine
1 c. poached chicken breast, diced
1 T. grated onion
1 T. diced bell pepper (I used a red one for color.)
1 1/2 T. mayonnaise
2 oz. Third-less fat cream cheese
Dash of sriracha sauce (optional)
salt and pepper, to tasteHamburger (or hotdog buns)
Mix all ingredients. Season with salt and pepper.
Split and butter buns. Fill with chicken mixture and replace tops.Ready to be wrapped up!
Wrap in aluminum foil.
This recipe serves four but can be easily doubled. Ready for the oven.
Heat in 350 degree oven for 15 minutes.
Ooey-gooey goodness.
The original recipe states: “Serve in a doily-lined basket, with a bunch of flowers tied to the handle. ” It is for a May Day party!
One more scene that was memorable from the film was the last vacation to the beach that Nigel makes with his father and mother. Instead of jellied canned ham slices, maybe it would have been better to take these sandwiches along.
Ready for our picnic lunch. Served with the baked beans from yesterday’s post. The Hubs deemed this quite worthy for a weekend lunch.
I used hot dog buns because I had some on hand. Mrs. Potter probably would have done the same. 🙂
The October feature is A Good Year and is hosted by Tina at Squirrel Head Manor. I can’t wait to see what gets cooked up from this film.
The sandwich bun looks so good after baking!
That looks like a fun book…I think I even have it in my kindle.
I can’t wait to read the book. Just bought the e-book.
I remember this! For some reason I remember my girl scout leaders having us make it one night during a sleep over at their house. And we used Hot Dog buns as I remember – we just called it something else………….It was really tasty!
Cool. I guess I wasn’t that inventive with my hot dog buns. 🙂 The Hubs had a leftover one for lunch today and he said he was diggin’ them. He calls them Hot Chicken Salad.
Hey, when I got notification of your reply it was all in Asian Characters and I almost deleted it thinking it was junk mail. Did you purposely do it or is that something you didn’t know about? Here’s a copy of it:
你在《Toast》的评论有新回复
用户名 : Eliot
评论内容:
Cool. I guess I wasn’t that inventive with my hot dog buns. 🙂 The Hubs had a leftover one for lunch today and he said he was diggin’ them. He calls them Hot Chicken Salad.
您可在这里查看这篇文章的所有评论:
Yeah, I always get these Asian characters too when I get an email notifying me of your replies. Doesn’t bother me, just funky.
Just trying to keep you guys on your toes. (I have no idea.)
How weird is that????
Too weird! Who knows why but it looks like someone else gets them too! 🙂
Oh man, I love the idea of a hot and cheesy chicken sandwich from the oven! What did you think of it?
See the previous comment to Kelli. They were good. I would add more sriracha next time.
OH MY! I have that same cookbook on my shelf right now. That one and the “New Good and Easy” one!
That is hilarious. I have another post from it for December/Christmas time. I loved this book when I was growing up. That and the Betty Crocker kid cookbook from about the same era.
[…] Debra from Eliots Eats made Chickenburgers-in-a-Basket. […]
ha ha ha…that “food porn” seen in the bed was hilarious! And gaaaahhh – I want to make these for dinner. So retro, yet so fun and delicious!
Thanks, Heather. I love these vintage recipes.
That is so great the movie inspired you to read the book. I dod laugh at that scene too where he makes odd noises at night looking at his cookbook. Your choice of recipe, and where it casme from, could not have been more perfect.
Thanks.
Very creative and oh my, I could use this sandwich right now! I didn’t bring enough lunch and my tummy is grumbling.
I ate in the cafeteria and I as well could have used this sandwich today! 🙂
I added the movie to my Netflix list. We use hotdog buns for sandwichy things all the time…the buns/dog ratio is never right. They make great garlic bread in a pinch. I have some leftover chicken, and this sandwich is just our style…but I’d actually have to go buy hot dog buns…
The wiener-bun ratio is never right. We make garlic toasts out of them too. I just downloaded the book and I think I will like it better than the film.
Sounds like a fun movie (and book!). And chickenburgers-in-a-basket? I remember the 50s (barely) and the 60s (pretty well), and those sorts of dishes were pretty common. Always fun, though. As is this post – thanks.
Book is better, at least so far.
Oh my – I do remember these! My mother use to make them for our lunch once in a while. I know she had some Betty Crocker cookbooks, so that’s probably where she got the recipe. Thanks for the memories. Just added Toast to my Netflix queue. Sounds like a fun movie!
I am keeping this recipe in my files!