Tuna Pie

April 30, 2002

I bought my first computer in 1981 when the sons were toddlers. Like most computer buyers in those very early days, I didn't have a clue what I was going to use it for. I was free-lancing from home, so once I'd save up the necessary fortune to buy a dot-matrix printer, I had a word processor and I was able to put the trusty Remington typewriter into mothballs.

In those days we were told computers would be a great asset in the house. We'd be able to file recipes (yeah, after we'd typed them all in!), balance our cheque books (after we'd typed everything in), work out our mortgages and other exciting things. And remember, those were the days when computers didn't have hard drives. Stuff had to be filed on floppy disks. Which often had a tendency to refuse to yield their contents.

I soon tired of the cheque book thing. I decided to get into some serious programming and taught myself Basic. Keen to put my knowledge to use, I started writing an alphabet programme for my kids. Basic was definitely the key word. With a lot of fiddling with forward slashes, back slashes, ampersands, asterisks and percentage signs, I managed to construct trains and have them sliding in and out of stations, stick men zig-zagging down ski slopes, cats winking. My alphabet increased in sophistication the more I learned and the more ambitious I became.

News spread. There was a knock on the door one day and a neighbourhood kid stood hopefully on the doorstep. I explained Ben and James were having a sleep and couldn't play.

"Oh, that's OK," said little Pete. "I've really come to play with the computer."

I thought it was time to move on to something more useful and wrote a shopping list generator. Something with a genuine use.

I did a scientific survey of the supermarket, listing the goods I usually bought, aisle by aisle. Before I kicked off my shopping expedition I'd take five minutes at the computer while it ran through my list prompting me: Butter (Y/N?) Sugar (Y/N?)

All I had to do was hit Y or N at each prompt. When I got to the end, the printer would spit out an aisle by aisle list of everything I'd said yes to.

It was the most organised I had ever been with my shopping. In those days the only late night at the supermarket was Friday and it was closed at weekends. I'd have to shop with the lads in tow or my mother would take pity on me and mind them so I could shop in peace. A list was essential.

These days I shop when I need something. But how many times do we call in at the supermarket for one item and end up with half a trolley-load?

Now the days are getting chilly I am a bit reluctant top venture out if I don't have to. That's where the store cupboard can come in handy.

I like to keep a good supply of tuna in the pantry. A can of tuna, a can of pasta sauce and a bag of pasta and you can whip up a quick meal. A tuna quiche is another good standby. I was about to make one of those the other day when I discovered I'd run out of ordinary flour. Here was the alternative.

Tuna Pie

1 bunch spinach
1 onion, finely chopped
1 red pepper
1 cup cottage cheese
4 large eggs
1 can tuna in spring water (drained)
seasoning
2 tomatoes, sliced
1/2 cup dried stuffing mix (or 1/2 cup dried breadcrumbs and 1/2 teaspoon dried herbs)
1/2 cup grated cheddar

Wash the spinach, drain well and microwave for three minutes. Drain, squeezing out all the water. Chop.

Saute the onion and sliced red pepper in a little oil till translucent. Drain and mix with the chopped spinach and spread on a greased pie dish.

Lightly whisk the eggs and combined with the cottage cheese and tuna, salt and pepper, and spread this mixture on the spinach. Cover with the tomato slices. Mix together the stuffing mix and cheese then spread over the top of the pie.

Bake in a pre-heated 190C oven for 35 minutes. Allow to stand for five minutes before serving