Need British Menu Suggestions

[hamster8 at hotmail.com]

John (in response to Mike) ... "But no! The delightful Fern Britton 
has departed the sunny climes of Ready Steady, Cook [after 
having...relations...with chef Phil Vickery] to replace
Richard & Judy as stars of Good Morning on ITV."

Ah, Fern Britton.  I thought he meant Anthony Worrall-Thompson.  
Anyway, Ready Steady Cook is Ainsley's patch, these days.

John again ... "Side dish for the Shepherds Pie: HAS to be Heinz 
Baked Beans."

Now, you see, this is where I think you're going to slip up, as the 
concept of side dishes isn't one that fits well with standard British 
practice.  All well and good to have baked beans *with* the 
shepherd's pie, but as a side dish - calls to mind seperate plates, 
which isn't really how it's done ... not cricket, you see, chaps.

Further snippings of John ... "Do try not to get the BBQ-flavored 
ones...just the ones in the nice tomato-y sauce. You could also roast 
some parsnips or make cauliflower cheese."

Plain baked beans will do fine.  My Mum actually used to put the 
baked beans *in* the actual mixture.  I have never heard of 
cauliflower cheese served with shepherd's pie.  Cauliflower cheese 
must be served with chips and ketchup.  I doubt John's sanity, now.

Al