Tablecloths & Talking with Sal McManus

This month’s Tablecloths and Talking is an absolute joy to share with you. Sally McManus from The Homestead Pantry Box has delivered up some of my favourite answers so far! Sal and I have never met (we will one day Sal, I’m sure of it!), but we are kindred spirits when it comes to food! Sal is definitely one of the most prolific and generous food lovers in my orbit. The Homestead Pantry Box is all about cooking inspiration – the pantry shop is full of delicious goodies that Sal personally loves and recommends, incorporates into delicious meals and then shares these recipes. I always look forward to seeing what Sal is cooking each week.

Sal, thank you for always being such a wonderful foodie force, so generous with your love of food and your passion for cooking for your loved ones. I am constantly in awe of your epic breakfasts - it is no surprise to me that you had a breakfast club!

Enjoy this chat with Sal and if you’re in a dinner rut, I suggest a good browse through the recipe section and then a good shop in Sal’s pantry!

Q: Introduce yourself and what you do.
A: I'm Sal, the owner of The Homestead Pantry Box. I share amazing Australian made pantry goodies and show you how to cook with them.

Q: What is your favourite Dill Tickle product and how do you use it?
A: Your Spicy Green Sauce. I love it on everything but my favourite is a good dollop on my breaky tacos!

Yes or No…
Coriander? YES.
Blue Cheese? YES.
Pickles on a Burger? 100% YES!!
Egg Sandwich? YES - with rocket and cucumber.

Q: What would your Last Supper be? And who would your dream guest be to join you for this finale?
Entrée… Cheese platter that includes pate and crusty bread. Fresh oysters on the side.
Main… One of my mum's roast dinners - Roast chicken, pigs in blankets (pork sausages), bread sauce, mash & roast potatoes, her crunchy stuffing balls, braised red cabbage, mushy peas and veggies with lashing of gravy.*
Dessert… Apple crumble with vanilla ice cream and salted caramel sauce.
Drink… Scotch Whiskey neat with one cube of ice.
And who would your dream guest be to join you for this finale?! It would be my family from Queensland, our neighbors and friends we left behind a few years ago when we moved south. We used to have a breakfast club a couple of times a month, and honestly, it was the best. Fried bacon, strong coffee, good chat that always flowed into sitting in the sun together all day—sometimes with beers, sometimes with margaritas, but always good times.

Q: What do you bring when you’re told not to bring a thing?!
A: Gosh, it depends on whose house I'm going to. I usually bake/cook something to put in the freezer.
My raspberry & white chocolate brownies or Enchiladas are my faves.

Q:What are your top 3 pantry must-haves/staples?
Salt
Olive Oil
Smooth natural peanut butter

Q: What is something that’s been sitting unused in your pantry for a while?
A: Vegemite because we are a Promite family…**

Q: What’s your comfort food or the one dish that always brings you joy?
A: Nachos and salsa.

Q: What’s the best meal you’ve ever eaten?
A: I can’t pick one meal that has been the best ever! For me it’s more about the memory it has created. So here's a few that are in the memory bank…
My two grandma's (that's what we called her) yorkshire pudding and gravy. Traditionally you eat the yorkshire puds with gravy before your Sunday roast and she always served them like that. The other thing we always did was soak up all the leftover gravy (because we loved lots of gravy!) on our plates with a slice of bread. Seriously good.
My other grannys sausage plait. Growing up we went there every Tuesday for tea. It's like a big sausage roll and I cook it for my children now.
And a curveball…
Unashamedly, a slice or two of chicken kiev pizza with a good dollop of mayo topped with chips from the local take away after a big night out with friends - circa 2002-3. It was the post night out choice to eat while debriefing a good night out.***

A quick 3…
Early Bird or Night Owl? Early bird. I love the sunrise and quiet before the day starts.
Your kitchen tunes? Honestly, I usually prefer the quiet when cooking but if I do listen to anything it is usually a podcast and of course it's usually about cooking! Table Manners or Desert Island Dishes.****
Fave Cookbook? It's a baking book which I know you also own. Hummingbird Bakery. It was probably the first food book I bought myself.

*YUM! There is nothing quite like a proper English roast!
** I too am a Promite girl!
*** This is THE BEST!
**** My two fave podcasts as well!