Menostroni [men-oh-stroh-knee]; the condition of altered taste.

One of the things that has caused me stress in recent years is the loss of short-term memory power.  I'll have been quite happily watching a kitchen show and thinking that a particular recipe would be just the right thing for tea tonight.

Never, though, would it occur that perhaps writing the ingredients down would be advisable.

This lends itself to a number of memorable occasions where 'tea' has been of a highly adventurous nature.  I learned more about food and combining this way than from any number of texts read.  You'll be surprised what will go with what.  This is surely what happened to those wonderful folks who discovered the choco-chili combo!  I too have devised some amazing mixtures.

Few are patentable though.

Something that had not been accounted for in the aging stakes, is that one's taste buds would actually change their opinion on established food choices.  Or, indeed, adopt some left-of-centre preferences.  Peanut butter, celery and sultana sandwiches anyone?  Preferably on pumpernickel. (Don't knock it till you've tried it!)  Is this menosoup carry-on anything like the baby-bearing malarkey?  I ask this question sincerely, never having been there myself - but I had a pregnant friend once, who was desirous of strawberries dipped in vinegar and breadcrumbs ...

Now, I have a number of mates out there who consider me a competent cook.  Definitely I love to spend time in the kitchen and it is a rare occasion that anything is actually inedible.

However, even when one's recipe has gone together really well, the short-term memory can still put the boot in.  Thus, when three hours later with everyone round the table and the soup (minestrone minus the ham of course J )has been gobbled to the last three drops, the whole Nigella Lawson look is destroyed by the still cold oven surrounding the lentil lasagne.  "But I set the timer!" I wailed.  "Yes," said Roo," but you need to actually set the temp as well."

Genius.

Have I mentioned how valuable it is in life to have a bevy of beautiful friends?  Zee set off to the local pizza place, Roo to the market for some salads and Ell stayed to give the consoling hugs and wipe away the tears of menostronal outburst.

The lasagne got baked and frozen for next time. All agreed it tasted better for the aging.