Dinner with Friends

 Last night we had a delightful evening with friends here.  I have days when I am inspired to cook and feel happiest in the kitchen, and yesterday was one of them.  Even before I set off for the market, I knew I wanted to cook a feast to local produce.  

We had enjoyed the bounty from other gardens and had produce in ours too.  Walking along the lanes, we took up offers of tomatoes and apples from two different front garden tables over the last couple of days, just what our hands could hold, leaving plenty for other people.  

We had beetroot and courgettes from our gardens, and tomatillos and white Hungarian peppers dropped round from Tim and Lee's only a few days previously. I dropped them an email early and set off to the market for my weekly local produce, not even knowing whether they were available or canted to come.

I bought a kilo minced meat from Perridge Farm, which is only 4 miles away.  They have a stall in the market and last week we had a steak which was probably one of the best we had had. A couple of excellent cheeses from the Bartlett Brothers again with Wotton Organics being in eye sight of home.

Arriving home, I cooked the mince with my usual mixture of herbs, carrots, celery, onion, tomato passatta, pancetta etc, and all I can say I was spoiled, and for beef, this will be the source for us from now on.  I portion this up and freeze excess to form the basis for future meals.

Then an email accepting the invitation arrived, saying they were vegetarians.  That got my creative energy surging, and with a little inventiveness using store cupboard ingredients, plus pulses ready cooked but frozen, and  quick flip on ideas with quinoa plus a little inventiveness came up with a delicious array for our 'thanksgiving for local produce dinner.'

Menu

Quinoa with our garden courgettes with onion, and chopped salted and spiced cashews.

Roasted front garden stall tomatoes with our garden garlic, and olive oil.,

Roasted tomatilloes from their garden with garlic and olive oil

Baked White Hungarian heritage pepper from Lee and Tim, stuffed with a ragu of black beans, and lentils, onions, marsala infused raisins, spices etc topped with goat's cheese

Our garden beetroot freshly cooked, topped with walnut oil and chopped walnuts

Lee had also brought stuffed peppers with grains and pine nuts topped with pecorino

Desert

Jacket apples, from a front garden table, stuffed with my vintage mincemeat, with lashings of Mr Bird's Sauce first invented in 1837 ably made by Mr S and we had to scramble to find a jug big enough for lashing for 4 people, and the tin of Tate and Lye's Golden Syrup: 70 years Special Edition Tin was also handed round.  

Finally beautifully sun ripened grapes, with a couple of the Bartlette's best chesses, and my freshly made Einkorn Blend, walnut and garden dill seed baguettes. 

Wine brought by our guests, and jar of blackberry jam made just days ago, and this beautiful fasciated Aubergine. Weighing at over 400g, that is my next recipe challenge: Mr S doesn't care for aubergines...but he may yet be charmed!

Conversation was very convivial and free flowing, with titbits brought about such as some rainbow quinoa is being grown at a place not far away close to their village, which means there will be a cycle ride with an aim in view, why Mr Bird invented custard, how we can use tomatillos , etc etc....

A big thank you to Mr S who organised the clear up and washing up and cleaning of the kitchen, without which I would have just gone to bed and not woken up to a lovely clear kitchen, and breakfast already set out in the conservatory this morning.

A lovely day at home with a great end of appreciative dinner guests, one to remember.