It's all within the family

We have dinner guests tonight. They are none other than Da's parents (FIL and MIL) and Da's cousin (MT).

MT (who lives in Brisbane, Australia) will be going back to Australia soon. Are you sure that we are not able to persuade you to stay a bit longer, mate?

Dinner was originally scheduled for 8+ pm today. However, as MIL had to attend an Ash Wednesday church service, FIL and MIL informed Da that they would be a little late. When MT arrived shortly after 8 pm, we brought out a bowl of snacks for him to munch on while waiting.

Ding-dong! FIL and MIL arrived at about 9.30 pm. They brought a box of prawn crackers that were deep fried by PL (Da's grandfather's domestic maid). It was fried to perfection. Delicious!

Dinner started with some focaccia that I had baked today.

The bread complemented the pumpkin soup that I cooked. To add oomph to the taste of the soup, we added plain yoghurt as topping and mixed it with the soup.

Next up... chicken pie. This is my first attempt at making chicken pie (including the pastry) from scratch.

I also made a tuna and egg casserole which was topped with grated mozarella cheese and baked in the oven.

For dessert, I made doughnuts.

Conversation was light and easy-flowing. FIL, MIL and MT all have very good sense of humour. MIL, in particular, tells jokes about the after-life with a straight face. Did you hear the joke about the man who visited heaven and also hell when he first passed away and he chose hell because he was presented a scene that was like paradise but when he entered hell, he realised to his horror that hell was different from the sneak preview that he had been given? He asked the devil why this was so and he was told that the paradise was only an advertisement billboard that he saw.

MT commented that each time that he has a meal at our place, the menu is different. Now that I think about it, everything that I cooked for dinner tonight was a first attempt. I am very thankful that it all turned out fine.

Now... where are the Eno salts to relieve over-eating?

post-script

(1) My friend, SC, has just undergone a surgery. There was something pressing against her nerve at her spine which caused pain in her leg. Take care, girl... and get well soon!

(2) Hamtaro has informed me that Eddy fractured his leg in school and his leg is now in a cast. Rest well, my dear boy and all the best for your Primary School Leaving Examination this year!