“Supper” is one of those words which has a slightly different interpretation depending on where you live. Hours spent trawling through Nigel Slater’s books has led me to believe that in England “supper” means a light dinner/evening meal. In the the north-east of Scotland, however, “supper” covers evening meals regardless of how light or heavy they are. And in the central belt of Scotland (where my parents were brought up) “supper” means a little snack (usually something bready) immediately before going to bed.
My parents are still big fans of this latter habit and, more often than not, have a slice of toast and a cup of tea before snuggling down for the night. As a child I would not have been able to conceive going to bed without a wee nibble first but I’m no longer in the routine of doing so. Just as well. I can never eat only one slice of toast and, being hyper-sensitive to caffine, would undoubtably be awake for most of the ensuing night after a cup of tea.
The following is a supper in the Slater/English sense: a quick, light dinner. Though I would never naturally use the word “supper” in this way, I did so tonight because it meant my post title would be alliterative. 😉
P.S. I had intended on including the tomato sauce recipe in this post but am no longer going to do so. In the last half hour, D (the bugger) has whipped up a beautiful tomato pizza base sauce which, frankly, kicks my version’s bum. Will post it later in the week. If he let’s me in on his secret, that is.
A Simple Sausage Supper
2 sausages per person
Big handful of spinach per person
Tomato sauce (as in pasta sauce not ketchup)
1-2 slices of crusty bread per person (we used Irish soda bread this time – yum)
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Heat/make the tomato sauce (recipe to come).
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Grill the sausages.
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Wilt the spinach in a large pan over a high heat with a tablespoon of water. Season well.
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Toast the bread.
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Serve together.
A Wee Bit of Cooking 
I hope he gives away his secret, too.
God, I really, really miss sausages.
I am always cheered up but a bit of alliteration! I find supper, tea and dinner awkward words because they mean different things to different people – all those enid blyton type english books is where I got confused I think!
I am with Lucy in missing sausages – we ate them so much as kids – but I now miss the wonderful vegetarian sausages (such as Linda McCartney’s) that you get in the UK. I still need my vegie sausages here every now and again and even cook with them in this style of meal – looks lovely
I saw this photo in my feed reader and had to come right over to tell you how delicious it looks 🙂
Lurvely. Yum.
I can tell you’re happy back in your home kitchen with curries and sausages and coconut milk and whatever you else you want at your disposal.
Do share the tomato sauce recipe. I have my own go-tos, but I’d love to compare notes with D’s version. I’m planning on a tomato glut this summer, so I’ll need to be armed with lots of sauce recipes.
Having lived in Scotland, Yorkshire and Oxfordshire I’m still no clearer as to what supper means! My findings do agree roughly with yours though Wendy – growing up in Scotland it was a little snack and drink just before bed, but in England it seems to be more of a light evening meal.
Nice quick meal idea – I bet it would be good with veggie sausages too. We had vegetarian sausage sandwiches at the weekend and I’d forgotten how good they can be (though it sounds like we are blessed with good ones in the UK)
It is the term ‘tea’ that most confuses me. I remember being asked if I’d had my tea yet and thinking: “What’s it their business if I’ve had a cuppa or not? These English and their tea obsession.” I quickly learned by saying ‘no’ and then not getting offered any food for dinner. 😦
That word has always baffled my Indian self. It looks soooooo good. And so easy!!
MMMM tasty!
Supper to me means the bedtime snack eg cinnamon toast and hot choc.
Supper meaning dinner seems very posh to me – I knew an exremely posh boy at uni who had ‘Suppah’.
My In-laws from the north of England have beakfast, dinner and tea and supper has no meaning at all!
Lucy – I’m working on him…
Johanna – Used to love veggie sausages when I was a vegetarian too. Now that I’m not, though, there’s no beating a real one!
Maryann – Thank you!
Christina – There are so many variations, aren’t there. Think D’s has been my favourite so far.
Sophie – Hmmm, Johanna said the same thing about the veggie sausages. Maybe I will try them again.
Annemarie – Hee hee. I’ve been in that situation too!
Malika – GLad I’m not the only confused one. 🙂
Jane – Yeah, supper sounds posh to me too. But cinnamon toast? Now you’ve got me thinking…
Supper/tea/dinner etc is very confusing!
In New Zealand supper is something like a cup of tea and a piece of cake before bed (well on girl guide camps anyway).
Tea is the meal at the end of the day – normally what you have with your family or with children.
Dinner is more grown up or posh!
Here in the US supper and dinner sorta mean the same thing. But one difference with my family is that supper is usually served between 5 and 7 pm. If we are going to have dinner, it is usually served between 7 and 8 pm. Confusing, is it not? Your photo of the sausages make my mouth water. They look so juicy! Another version that we enjoy is instead of the tomato sauce, top with roasted red, yellow and green peppers plus a roasted onion drizzled with a little olive oil! Oh yum!
Thanks for the lesson on the varying definitions of “supper”! I never knew that! Your sausage looks so plump and juicy!!!!
Wendy,
we live in North Yorkshire and here supper is the same as your mum and dad. I bready snack or cereral just before bed.
your sausages look great!
Kai – Dinner is more posh, you say. So many differences!
Deb – Love the pepper idea. Will have to try that next time. 🙂
White on Rice – Thank you!
Megan – Ah, you’re in Yorkshire. Lovely lovely part of the country.
Hi Wendy, supper means the same to me as your mum & dad too! Oh and those sausages look mighty scrummy 😀
Rosie x
Rosie – Thank you! 🙂
I’m from central Scotland, and used to eat supper last thing before bed… Though I had decided it was just my family that did that – good to know it’s actually a regional thing!
breakfast->dinner->tea->supper 😀
Kittie – No, you are not alone. 🙂