The inevitable food post

I'm really proud of what I made for dinner tonight, which inspired me to write a bit about food in London. I'm managing to live on one 20-pound shopping trip a week, which is kind of fun, as it allows for all sorts of creative permutations using a limited number of ingredients. I've definitely created some keep-able recipes (like chicken and broccoli in garlic cheese sauce and my currently digesting mixture of awesomeness, which I will tell, I promise, just saving it for the end ;).
Part of the reason for my strict budget is that it's really possible to spend way too much money on food: for instance, in bars (which are inevitable destinations), entrees are anywhere from 6 to 10 pounds on average, which is approximately 10-18 dollars. It's funny, though: bar food here is pretty classy. There are of course the expected bangers and mash (sausages and mashed potatoes), meat pie, and other British delicacies, but there's also stuff like balsamic glazed free range chicken with organic braised parsnips and arugala salad with walnuts and goat cheese. And this is at every pub I've been to so far! Craziness.
I've also had some culinary fun living with people from different backgrounds: I guess this is also the time to talk about my lovely housemates, who seem to have remained undescribed so far (probably through sheer laziness on my part, sorry folks!). Jill is from the Boston area, but she grew up on the north shore, so she's had more exciting typical New England experiences than me (like skinning animals and making cider). She's been the one in charge of popcorn-making, when we've done that. Frank is from California, obsessed with Halloween and the washer/dryer (which is one machine: you put your clothes in dirty and take them out clean and dry... amazing!), and makes amazing things like root vegetable bakes and really delicious raisin soda bread (the recipe is really simple, but I don't remember it now: I can post it later if people are interested). Ana is from Puerto Rico, has the most infectious laugh I've ever heard, and is always making amazing concoctions involving rice, chicken, carrots, plantains, and things like that. And Gaidig, from Bretagne (France), my commuting buddy in the morning and the only smoker in the house (go figure), makes amazing things with sausages and cabbage and other vegetables, which she claims aren't really French but simply "Gaidig-style." We don't share food in my house (except for the odd trade of chocolate for tea bags, and mooching off other people's butter, etc.), so I don't get to taste any of this, but man does it look and smell good!
And now for the long-awaited amazing dinner of tonight:
Ingredients: cooked brown rice, pinto beans, chicken, and sweet potato; onions, garlic, cheese, salt and pepper. Preparation: Saute onions and garlic in oil. Add everything else. Devour (if you like, from the pot, in true grad school fashion). :)