I can be quite quick tempered.
It’s not a great attribute, I am not proud of it. Neither is Dave.
I lose my temper (and my mind) fast and then, just as quickly,I regain it and feel terrible and embarrassed. But not as embarrassed as those who have had to witness what has just happened.
I have two examples that spring to mind.
The time I was in Asda (Walmart) at 3pm, a full hour before closing and I wanted a fresh pizza made up. Sounds reasonable? Nope. The pizza lady told me she couldn’t make one as she was closing. The conversation went a little like this:
Me: Can I get a pizza please?
Pizza Lady: No, were shutting.
M: But it’s only 3’o’clock…
PL: I know, but we’re shut.
M: But you don’t close till 4pm
PL: Well the pizzas are shut now.
M: (starting to become petulant and loud) But I can see all the pizza ingredients still out.
PL: shrug of the shoulders
M: (irrational) ARE YOU JOKING?? I COULD COME AROUND AND MAKE MY OWN PIZZA! I CAN SEE ALL OF THE INGREDIANTS I WANT!
PL: We’re shut!
M: Speechless and seconds away from kicking the pizza counter
Dave: Look Jessie, they have spring rolls and poppadum’s over there.
M: distracted. Oooo I like those, shall we have them for tea?
Temper gone, mood lifted, pizza girl shell-shocked and Dave cross I’d caused a scene.
The second was when Topshop hadn’t delivered some clothes I’d ordered two weeks ago, despite me paying for next-day delivery. I’m still not sure what actually happened since the man on the phone couldn’t have cared less and gave me 7(!!) different excuses, refused to refund my money, or give me my clothes. The conversation ended with me shouting how he was ruining everyone’s Christmas. He didn’t ruin anyone’s Christmas… It was like 1st December and it was just a t-shirt I was waiting for….
The silence that hung over the office when I hung up the phone was uncomfortable to say the least.
Yup that’s right… I was in work. At my desk.Half-shouting/half-choking up at a man on the phone.Over a t-shirt.
Few things in life happen as fast as these temper tantrums.
This meal, however, comes together almost as quick and just as easy, and it is far more enjoyable.
Fiery Thai* Beef
I served mine with boiled rice and stir-fried veg. It was so good that I now make this without asking first for a take away!
Adapted from Orangette
Serves 4 – not really, this again served me and Dave……but we really need to look at our portions.
6 large garlic cloves, crushed
7 chillies chopped. I used a mix of red and green. Mine wasn’toverly hot, if you want it burn-your-mouth-hot, just add more.
1 shallot – sliced
1 tsp salt
2 tbsp oil
500g/1lb ground beef
1 tbsp fish sauce
1 tbsp brown sugar
60 ml/ ½ cup chicken stock
2 large handfuls of basil leaves
2 large eggs (we only used 1, since I can think of nothing worse than adding a fried egg to anything)
1 lime
Optional- rice and veg to serve.
Heat a wok or large frying pan over high heat, add 1 tablespoon oil, and add the garlic, chillies, and shallot. Stir-fry for a few seconds until fragrant, and then add the beef. Continue to cook, stirring, until the beef is cooked through and just starting to brown. Add 1 tablespoon fish sauce, the sugar and salt. Add the stock, it should boil instantly because of the heat in the pan, add basil, stir until the basil is justwilted.
Add the juice of half the lime, and taste for seasoning. It should be spicy, garlicy, meaty and fragrant and just salty enough that it tickles all your taste buds, if it’s not add more fish sauce.
Remove from the heat.
Meanwhile, warm the remaining 1 tablespoon oil in a separate frying pan, and fry the egg.
Divide the beef and its juices into a bowl atop whatever you’re serving it with, rice ideally. Put your egg on top and crack the yolk so it all runs into the meat! I didn’t…. I had mine with chilli sauce.
Serve with a wedge of lime.
*I’m not actually sure how Thai this actually is…….











