Category: Menus

How to Stage a Trenna Lunch – with recipes

A table outside, set for lunch — Lunch on our front porch with our niece and her then boyfriend. 20 June 2019 - a few weeks into winter in Perth!

by Greg

The holiday season is upon us, so I thought I’d do an entertaining friends post.

Lunch

Trenna absolutely loved mixing with people, and she loved good food. And lunch time was the ideal socialising time for her.

First thing in the morning she was often stiff and/or sore from the night, and her morning drugs had not had time to take effect. In the evening she was often exhausted from the activities of the day. Lunch time though, … Read the rest ... “How to Stage a Trenna Lunch – with recipes”

Tags lunch, melanzane, onion marmalade, sun dried tomato paste, Tassel Park Wines

1980s 1990s 2000s 2010s 2020 Gardening Household Tips Menus Recipes Recipes and Household Tips Snippets and Vignettes

Tales From Trenna’s Kitchen

Post date June 29, 2023
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A messy kitchen with signs of a party — Our Kitchen at about 4 pm during our annual ANZAC Day barbecue. This one in 2014. It still had a few more hours to go.

By Greg

This post has a connection to the Menu Diaries series. If you aren’t familiar with the series, a good place to start would be HERE.
Some of the items and practices I discuss here are mentioned in the series of posts in which I explain some of the mechanisms Trenna used to cope with her Marfan’s Syndrome. That series starts here.

Introduction

As I have explained a few times, meals and their preparation were central to Trenna’s … Read the rest ... “Tales From Trenna’s Kitchen”

1990s Menus Recipes

The Menu Diaries No. 19

Post date June 20, 2023
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For an introduction to what these Menu Diary posts are about, please click HERE. And for the reasons why you really should read this series, please click HERE.

September 1993

Indian Banquet

Wednesday 1 September. We started the month with one of Trenna’s Indian (mini) banquets. Lamb Kheema, Brinjal Bartha, Mango Chutney, Basmati Rice, Papadums. An excellent meal that Trenna describes as “Really fab! [I] put extra spices in [the] Kheema.” We had it again on the … Read the rest ... “The Menu Diaries No. 19”

Tags 1993, ATEM, Atrium Resort, Gold Coast, Mamak Malaysia, Mandurah, Movie World, Nissan Pintara, Northern Territory, Park Centre Shopping Centre, Rumah Batik Restaurant, Saffron Chicken, sessions, Siciliana Sauce, Toyota Corolla, Tren's Original Curry

1990s Menus Recipes

The Menu Diaries No. 18

Post date February 20, 2023
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For an introduction to what these Menu Diary posts are about, please click HERE. And for the reasons why you really should read this series, please click HERE.

August 1993

Yummy Stuff

Wednesday 4 August. We had our friend Ken (Eggs) over for dinner and had satays, which we would have made from scratch along with the Sambal Badjak – a chilli sambal.

Wednesday 11 and Thursday 12 August. “Bellissimo!” was the Neapolitana Sauce Trenna made to … Read the rest ... “The Menu Diaries No. 18”

Tags ATEM, Atrium Resort, Mamak Malaysia, Mandurah, Saffron Chicken, sessions, Siciliana Sauce, Tren's Original Curry

1990s Menus Recipes Snippets and Vignettes

The Menu Diaries No. 17

Post date October 5, 2022
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For an introduction to what these Menu Diary posts are about, please click HERE. And for the reasons why you really should read this series, please click HERE.

July 1993

Ox Tail Stew Takes 2 Days to Make, Peruvian Stew, and Delicious Panthe Kowshwe, Plus 3 Recipes

Wednesday 30 June. The previous two days we had old standards but on this Wednesday Trenna has prepared Ox Tail Stew! I feel a little guilty that I don’t remember … Read the rest ... “The Menu Diaries No. 17”

Tags 1993, Acapulco Annie's Mexican Restaurant, Aloo Bondas, Hungry Jacks, Iain Hewitson, Kofta curry, Matriciana, Ox tail stew, panthe kowshwe, Peruvian stew, Roast Chicken, Tren's Original Curry

1990s Menus Recipes Recipes and Household Tips

The Menu Diaries No. 16 – Special Edition!

1 July 1992 – 30 June 1993

Summary of All the Previous Year’s Meals – with Statistics and Links to Some of the Recipes!

For an introduction to what these Menu Diary posts are about, please click HERE. And for the reasons why you really should read this series, please click HERE.

Introduction

In the last entry of The Menu Diaries No.15, here, Trenna speculates about what meal we were having the most often. Well as it … Read the rest ... “The Menu Diaries No. 16 – Special Edition!”

Tags 1992, 1993, bachelors dinner, Chilli Con Carne, Frankfurts & Noodles, Hungry Jacks, Pan Fried Fish Fillet, Puttanesca, Red Rooster, Restaurants, Roast Lamb, Rumah Batik Restaurant, Saffron Chicken, Steak & Kidney Pie, The Dutchess Room

1990s Menus Recipes

The Menu Diaries No.15

Post date September 13, 2022
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June 1993

For an introduction to what these Menu Diary posts are about, please click HERE. And for the reasons why you really should read this series, please click HERE.

Drama with the Cannellonis, Green Olive Puttanesca Recipe, and the Appearance of the “$” Sign

Wednesday 2 and Thursday 3 June. “Drama!” I remember this. Trenna was making the cannelloni tubes as well as the filling. The “Drama” was getting the tubes to stay together. Her poor … Read the rest ... “The Menu Diaries No.15”

Tags 1993, Cannellonis, Chilli and Extra Virgin Olive Oil Pasta, Chilli Con Carne, Cine Arcade, Cine cellars, cookbooks, Gruyère, HBF, Lambs Fry, Lentil Soup, Puttanesca, The Australian Women's Weekly Italian Cooking Class Cookbook, The Dove, Tradewinds Coffee Lounge

1990s 2000s 2010s 2020 Menus Snippets and Vignettes Writing

Why You Should Read The Menu Diaries

Post date September 7, 2022
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a man standing out the front of a colourful street stall in Asia — "Penang, On Day Trip - Spice Stall". The man in the foreground is the day trip tour guide. 2 November 2007.

By Greg

This post relates to the Menu Diaries series. If you aren’t familiar with the series, a good place to start would be here.

Some Feedback

The other day I was talking to a friend who likes the TrennaMahney.com website. I asked for some feedback, and this is what she said.

“I love all the stories about what Tren got up to – there’s lots of stuff I didn’t know. I don’t read those Menu things though… I’m not … Read the rest ... “Why You Should Read The Menu Diaries”

Tags reader feedback

1990s Gardening Menus Recipes

The Menu Diaries No.14

Post date August 23, 2022
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May 1993

More Pool Prep, Pork Meatballs again, Another Big Banquet, and Something Fishy (a recipe)

For an introduction to what these Menu Diary posts are about, please click HERE. And for the reasons why you really should read this series, please click HERE.

Monday 3 and Tuesday 4 May. I would have made this one. Pork in Black Bean Sauce was one of the recipes from the Chinese Cooking class I had taken some years before.… Read the rest ... “The Menu Diaries No.14”

Tags 1993, banquet, Di Giacomo's Meatballs, jaffles, Marinated Dory with Jumbo Chips, Roast Dinner, swimming pool, Tren's Pork Meatballs

1990s Menus Recipes

The Menu Diaries No. 13

Post date August 4, 2022
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April 1993

Siciliana Sauce Recipe, and Why We Had Fish So Often

For an introduction to what these Menu Diary posts are about, please click HERE. And for the reasons why you really should read this series, please click HERE.

Tuesday, 30 and Wednesday 31 March. We had Veal Parmesan which was a great success. Trenna only ever put this on the menu if she was sure she could get genuine veal, not just any beef. Then one … Read the rest ... “The Menu Diaries No. 13”

Tags 1993, bread making, Park Centre Shopping Centre, Roast Dinner, Siciliana Sauce, Spaghetti Bolognese, Tacos

1990s 2010s Menus Visually Impaired

The Menu Diaries No. 12

Post date July 24, 2022
2 Comments on The Menu Diaries No. 12

March 1993

Somerville Movies, PM Keating Re-elected, and the Swimming Pool is on the Way

For an introduction to what these Menu Diary posts are about, please click HERE. And for the reasons why you really should read this series, please click HERE.

Monday, 1 March. Spaghetti Jaffles (closed toasted sandwiches) with lettuce. Hmmm! – that doesn’t sound very typical. I’ve looked in my 1993 work diary and seen that I had the day off from work. I … Read the rest ... “The Menu Diaries No. 12”

Tags 1993, 1993 Federal election, 2018, diary, jaffles, Let the Sunshine In, Mamak Malaysia, Neptune Pools, Riff-Raff, She's Been Away, Somerville Auditorium, swimming pool

1990s Menus Recipes

The Menu Diaries No. 11

Post date July 18, 2022
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February 1993

Australia Day, a Couple of Recipes, and Too Many Sisters

For an introduction to what these Menu Diary posts are about, please click HERE. And for the reasons why you really should read this series, please click HERE.

Monday, 1 February. This was obviously the Australia Day long weekend, Monday holiday. As I mentioned before, these days the Australia Day (as it’s officially called) holiday is always on 26 January, but in those days it was … Read the rest ... “The Menu Diaries No. 11”

Tags 1993, Ag & Lorraine, Australia Day, Burswood, camping, Chilli and Extra Virgin Olive Oil Pasta, Di Giacomo's Meatballs, Northbridge Festival, Perth Shyworks, Swan River, Tren's Pork Meatballs

1990s Menus

The Menu Diaries No. 10

Post date July 3, 2022
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January 1993

Lots of Dining Out

For an introduction to what these Menu Diary posts are about, please click HERE. And for the reasons why you really should read this series, please click HERE.

It looks like we ate a few home grown vegies in January 1993. That was probably the peek of our vegetable growing as a short time later we built a swimming pool that took up most of the sunny space in the back yard.… Read the rest ... “The Menu Diaries No. 10”

Tags 1993, Andersons, bachelors dinner, Curtin University of Technology, Red Rooster, swimming pool

1990s Menus

Menu Diary No. 9

Post date June 11, 2022
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November 1992 and into December

A Slide Night, Holidays, and NYE

For an introduction to what these Menu Diary posts are about, please click HERE. And for the reasons why you really should read this series, please click HERE.

Monday 2 November. Cardboard sausages. These were left overs from Colin and Julie’s barbecue the day before.

Tuesday 3 November. Once again Tren’s Original Curry, as discussed in previous Menu Diaries.

Saturday 7 November. Muresk is an Agricultural … Read the rest ... “Menu Diary No. 9”

Tags 1970s party, Bentley TAFE, Hillcrest Restaurant, Muresk, slide night, Stirling Ranges, Two Peoples Bay

1990s Menus

Menu Diary No. 8

Post date June 4, 2022
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October 1992

A reconnection to the Andersons!

For an introduction to what these Menu Diary posts are about, please click HERE. And for the reasons why you really should read this series, please click HERE.

Monday 28 September. Roast Pork. I would have made this one. Mainly because Trenna would have real trouble lifting a hot pork roast safely, and secondly because in those days I always got the crackling perfectly crispy.

Wednesday 30 September – Sunday 4 … Read the rest ... “Menu Diary No. 8”

Tags 1992, Sunday session

1990s Menus Recipes

Menu Diary No. 7

Post date May 28, 2022
2 Comments on Menu Diary No. 7

September 1992

Trenna’s 35th Birthday, and Chilli with EVOO

For an introduction to what these Menu Diary posts are about, please click HERE. And for the reasons why you really should read this series, please click HERE.

Tuesday 25 August. Trenna made moussaka again, which I’m sure I enjoyed – it would have taken her ages.

Thursday 27 August, chilli spaghetti is a really easy and fast meal. As it was a Thursday we probably did … Read the rest ... “Menu Diary No. 7”

Tags 1992, Chilli and Extra Virgin Olive Oil Pasta

1990s Menus

Menu Diary No. 6

Post date May 24, 2022
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August 1992

Camping at Dwellingup, and Off to Hospital

For an introduction to what these Menu Diary posts are about, please click HERE. And for the reasons why you really should read this series, please click HERE.

Tuesday 28 July. “Basically” with the “Basic” underlined. I’m sure it would still have been good.

Wednesday 29 July. Trenna remarks that penne is a good choice of type of pasta. As long as I can remember, which is obviously not … Read the rest ... “Menu Diary No. 6”

Tags 1992, camping, curry, Dwellingup, ovary operation

1990s Menus

The Menu Diaries No. 5

Post date May 10, 2022
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July 1992

One of Many Indian Banquets

For an introduction to what these Menu Diary posts are about, please click HERE. And for the reasons why you really should read this series, please click HERE.

Tuesday 30 June 1992. Steak and Kidney Pie. “Really Yummy”. Trenna developed a recipe for this, and another, very similar, for Steak and Mushroom Pie. Both were favourites with us and I am sure they are going to appear all through the years … Read the rest ... “The Menu Diaries No. 5”

Tags 1992, banquet, Duchess Room, Sunday session

1980s 1990s Menus Recipes

The Menu Diaries No. 4

Post date May 4, 2022
2 Comments on The Menu Diaries No. 4

June 1992

Bachelors’ Dinners and Fetta in Oil

For an introduction to what these Menu Diary posts are about, please click HERE. And for the reasons why you really should read this series, please click HERE.

Friday 29 May 1992. A date which will live in infamy. Our good friend Helen invited us to her pace for dinner with her and her then husband, David. I fell asleep at the table. Big Whoops! Helen and David were good … Read the rest ... “The Menu Diaries No. 4”

Tags 1989, 1992, bachelors dinner, Feta in Oil

1990s Menus Recipes

The Menu Diaries No. 3

Post date April 21, 2022
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May 1992

Nibblies, and Scones for Dinner

For an introduction to what these Menu Diary posts are about, please click HERE. And for the reasons why you really should read this series, please click HERE.

Monday 4 May. Steak with green pepper sauce, herbed spud, beans, carrots. Tren describes it as gluggy but yummy. She is referring to the green pepper sauce. I haven’t had it for years. It was made with peppercorns that came in a small … Read the rest ... “The Menu Diaries No. 3”

Tags 1992, cookbooks, Hungry Jacks, nibblies, panthe kowshwe, Paprika Chicken