Sunday, September 12, 2010

Allison's French Onion Dip (It Wasn't)

Yah, so my friend makes this French onion dip that we all love. The first time I made it, I followed her recipe (leaving out this and that, if I didn't think it'd be missed), my kids said it wasn't quite right. They don't mince their words.

Something you need to know about me and cooking. We don't exactly blend together, y'know?

So I tried it a second time recently, cos we had this party we were going to, where I was told to bring a vegetable dish.

My vegetable dish. Blanched broccoli, raw carrot, celery, and cucumber strips, and cherry tomatoes. To be eaten with Allison's French Onion Dip! (well, technically it's not Allison's but I don't think the French would mind) Drool.



This time the kids (who are my worst cooking critics) said the dip was:

(kids not mentioned in any order)

Kid 1. it's nice! (and tucked into it)
Kid 2. it's not the same as Allison's..(and took apprehensive bites)
Kid 3. there's something not quite right about it. You put something in there that you're not supposed to...(gulp! I swallowed - it was detected)

sigh. I had put in so much effort this second time round. I had gone through all the trouble of buying everything right down to the cayenne pepper. Even though it only needed one eighth of a teaspoonful!

But when I was making it, I discovered that I.
forgot.
the.
worcestershire sauce.









This is how you pronounce it:

Worcestershire sauce (pronounced /ˈwʊstərʃərsɔːs/ WOOS -tər-sher-saws ), or Worcester sauce ( /ˈwʊstərsɔːs/ WOOS -tər-saws )

I know, right? That was so helpful. Cos I'm just cool like that.


No worcestershire sauce? No problem. Like every exasperating non-cook expert cook out there, I just improvised (love how that word sounds - kinda like improve + otherwise all rolled up into one word). Worcestershire sauce tastes sourish to me. So I used.
.
.
.
coming
.
.
.
wait
.
.
.
.
hold your heart
.
.
.
.

a dash of Japanese sushi vinegar (and all the Japanese say, HAI!)

I don't think the French would mind...I mean, look, I even put up their flag there:



But worcestershire sauce is dark in colour. hmmm, no problem. I added
.
.
.
.
coming.
.
.
.
wait
.
.
.
.
.
.
hold your heart (I really mean that...)
.
.
.

a dash of light soya sauce (and all the French say, NON!)

And there you have it. Improvised Worcestershire sauce for Val's French onion dip. The guests at the party didn't think there was anything wrong with it. (and my kids will say, "of course lah, how can they tell the truth?" sheesh.)

Anyway, I found out that, and I quote from wikipedia.org

"The ingredients of a traditional bottle of Worcestershire sauce sold in the UK as "The Original & Genuine Lea & Perrins Worcestershire sauce" are malt vinegar (from barley), spirit vinegar, molasses, sugar, salt, anchovies, tamarind extract, onions, garlic, spice, and flavouring.[8] The "spice, and flavouring" is believed to include cloves, soy sauce, lemons, pickles and peppers."

So I wasn't that far off whattttt.....

I was going to add the recipe here (the Allison one) but I didn't think you'd trust me.





p/s if you're reading my blog, do sign up as a follower if you haven't already. C'mon, don't be shy. And leave a comment here cos I love to read your comments. They will not appear immediately but they will come to me first, then I have to 'publish' them. And I do try to reply every comment, too. If you read "this comment has been removed", it is not because I didn't like it, but I sometimes mistakenly published the same one twice, so I removed the extra one.

20 comments:

  1. ROFL..... good one, wow creative ah you. So much for not liking to cook, when you do - you do the works ... mix some up next week ok, I'll get the vege :)

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  2. Huda, actually I keep looking over my shoulder to see if the French Cavalry are after me....you can guess which kid said what, right...?

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  3. They say, a good cook knows how to improvise - tell this to the kids! Anyhow, those vegs look delish, all cut so pretty. Can't say anything about the dip as I haven't tasted it yet! You'll be safe, the French are too busy dealing with strikes.

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  4. Allycat, hahahaha! you're hilarious.

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  5. now u can call it the french-japan onion dip, Fusion by Val.. :) seee... you're creating something new, aunty! :)
    but ya la, m wondering whether i can replace the cayenne pepper with normal pepper.. hihihi..

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  6. I think I should come take cooking lessons from you :)

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  7. theresa, and language lessons too, I'm tellin' ya!

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  8. Gaby, I'm sure you can...improviiiiise...as far as I'm concerned you've seen one pepper you've seen them all! I won't tell Allison, or the French cavalry :)

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  9. U reminded me of Julia Child! mayb u shud post a video of u cooking french food for ur next post :D

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  10. from facebook:

    Cheong May Foong September 15 at 9:57am


    ka ka ka...always enjoy taking a walk with you...keep them coming. Your veggie dip looks so yummilicious

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  11. May Foong, I KNOW - looks are SO deceiving, right?

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  12. Hersheys, I watched that movie one sleepy night so I never really got it. Doubt very much I am going her direction. This will probably be my ONLY food post, hahahaha!

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  13. from facebook, 15th Sept 2010

    Nthabiseng Rhoda Mokgoabone Been reading (AND STILL AM) Valerene Matthews's blog, "Walk with me" a few of these almost brought a tear to my eye *especially the one on motherhood and the kids at pre-school , the insightfulness, simplicity and humor are somehow therapy to someone who's had along day, now i have to learn how to follow and comment!

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  14. rhoda, many who read my blog still haven't learnt how to either, so I just cut and paste their comments here! thank you sweetie, am honoured that you are reading my blog regularly.
    flying muak!

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  15. somebody betta come over n have a taste of thaat...but i always enjoy the food you offer me when im at your place laa..

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  16. bizokmats,

    and that 'somebody' is hinting, is he?

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  17. from facebook:

    Wednesday 15th Sept 2010

    Allison Caylor Chamberlain Don't give up, Val! I believe in you!! :D


    reply: hahahaaha! you still do, after all my disasters...

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  18. from facebook:


    Justin Chamberlain Your blog made me laugh. Go buy some Worcester sauce - not only does it make great dip but goes well with chips or cheese on toast.
    Tuesday at 11:38pm

    reply: I know, I just forgot to get it and was too lazy to go out again.

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  19. Your french onion dip & vege DO look appetising - I'm sure Allison (or the French!) wouldn't mind the IMPRO. ('read' that as 'improvement' and NOT 'improvisation'...lol!) Love your writing - now I just can't wait for your next story,oops,recipe -Rojak buah or Pasembor? I wouldn't mind char koay teow ...

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  20. from facebook:

    Victor Yu Kern Sui September 21 at 12:49am
    you have a cool blog!

    ReplyDelete