My grandparents were a great influence on my cooking skills. They were very ‘old-school’ in their ways. For example ‘Oma’ (grandma in German) totally believed in cod liver oil. In her stinky cheese cupboard, she would also keep the bottle of cod liver oil, probably the vilest tasting substance ever. She would get a ‘big’ spoon, fill it and then grab me by the nose, pinching it closed, and make me swallow one spoon full every morning before school.
When it came to cooking, it was always basic but thoroughly nutritious food. Every evening she had dinner on the table and nothing would go to waste. What wasn’t eaten that night would be turned into Bubble & Squeak the following weekend. This was ‘Opa’s’ (grandpa in German) domain. He was the frying pan guy. He loved to fry everything from apples to cooked noodles and Bubble & Squeak was his best concoction.
The week’s worth of leftovers where chopped fried with salt and pepper and several eggs. Then he would serve it in a big bowl with tomato or BBQ sauce. If I ate a big bowl rather than a little bowl’s worth of this I would get chocolate afterwards.
I have ever since been in love with Bubble & Squeak and it is my ultimate comfort food. Generally, I don’t have many leftovers so I tend to make it from scratch.
Makes 4 small bowls or 2 large ones
4 slices pancetta or bacon chopped ¼ cup onions chopped 1 garlic clove minced 1 cup celery chopped 2 cups pumpkin diced small 2 cups carrots diced small 2 Tbs parsley chopped 1 tsp thyme 4 tomatoes deseeded and chopped ¾ cup peas 6 eggs
- Salt and Pepper to taste
- Place some oil in a deep frying pan and fry the pancetta, onions, garlic and celery for 2-3 minutes, then add all the other ingredients except for the peas.
- Place lid on the pan and cook for 5 minutes.
- Take the lid of, add the peas and tomatoes, cook for another 5 minutes, and then add the eggs.
- Stir until well combined and then place the lid on the pan again for 3 minutes.
- Take the lid off; stir again until the egg is well cooked and combined with the vegetables.
- Enjoy with homemade tomato or BBQ sauce. Check the Healing Foods cookbook for how to make these.