Value Equals?

After spending some time this morning at the mall finishing up the last bits of shopping, we decided to stop for lunch on the way home.  We stopped at a fairly well known greasy spoon in town–known for decent food and good “value”.

It has not escaped my attention that our culture (generally speaking–wide brush here…) has somehow equated “value” at a restaurant with QUANTITY not QUALITY.

While Bil and Madeleine enjoyed their greasy spoon favourites, (fish and chips, and a hamburger and fries) it came as a bit of a disappointment to me that the meal  I had ordered (Eggs Benedict) was not only dripping in grease, but excessively HUGE!  Definitely a case of quantity not quality.  It also did not escape my attention as I looked around the restaurant at how big most of the meals/portions were, and how much of them were going back into the kitchen partially eaten.  Such waste…such a shame.

When will restaurants and their customers begin to associate “good value”, with a high quality meal that tastes excellent, is satisfying and filling, instead of huge portions that are “okay”?  Any thoughts?

In keeping with the “Turkey Day is Coming”, I have another super side dish for you.  This one has been adapted from Taste of Home–one of my favourite recipe websites. http://www.tasteofhome.com/

Cheesy Cauliflower Casserole

• 1 large head cauliflower (about 2 pounds), cut into florets
• 1/4 cup diced red pepper
• 1/2 pound mushrooms sliced
• 1/4 cup butter, cubed
• 1/3 cup all-purpose flour
• 3/4 teaspoon salt
• 2 cups milk
• 1 cup (4 ounces) shredded Swiss cheese, divided

• Cook cauliflower florets until just a bit crisp. Place in a greased  9×13 baking dish.
• In a large saucepan, saute red  pepper and mushrooms in butter until tender. Add flour and salt; stir until blended. Gradually add milk; bring to a boil. Cook and stir for 2 minutes or until thickened. Remove from the heat. Stir in 3/4 cup cheese until melted; pour over cauliflower.
• Cover and bake at 350° for 20 minutes. Sprinkle with remaining cheese; bake, uncovered, for 10-15 minutes longer or until cheese is melted.

Enjoy!