New Beginnings

In less than a month I shall turn 50. My dear friend Gayle shall be back in New Zealand. We decided to have a lunch, a proper lunch that is, down on the farm before she returned. And so it was haphazardly thrown together with her lovely daughter, grandson and sons attending as well.

Hubby has gone to the trouble of creating an outdoor area just above the river flat. When I say creating, I mean, well, building and putting it together. He is one of those rare creatures these days who has to make everything himself. No storebought, ready-made for him. No way. That would be tooo easy. Heaven forbid.

And so out we went to christen the building and the new chairs. Unfortunately we didn't have time to drench and dry the 'kwila' hardwood chairs and so the tanins leached out and stained our clothes. Oops. Oh dear. Sorry about your very good footie tee Simon. We were guinea pigs. And sometimes we find things out the hard way because of it.

However when it comes to food, Gayle always says she loves being my guinea pig. I was very happy with the lunch and so it would appear was everyone else. Not sure if it was the outdoors but it was a lovely, relaxing day despite the searing heat. And her little grandson was very intrigued with the cows and calves. He left with a new word in his vocabulary. Moo.

I guess in a way I am like Hubby too. When it comes to food that is. I am very hard on myself and usually have to make "everything". And make everything I did. However I really enjoyed myself. I was well organised, paced myself well, and worked steadily. The most important thing is I didn't stress. I am thinking that I'm old enough now to figure out "it just aint worth it". If I "stuff up", well then I am just human. It has taken me a loooong time to get here. But I have finally made it. And I am finally relaxed. Having said that, it shall be interesting to see how I go when I cater for my 50th. That will be the 'real' test.

And so we had our first official lunch at the farm. The beginning of many, many lunches I hope to have on our beautiful place in the country. The beginning of my new self, a more relaxed self, that will in fact be able to put on these spreads and 'enjoy' doing so. The beginning of the second half of my life. Am I being a little optimistic here? Why not. The beginning of a new life with time spent more around nature and the outdoors rather than in the shopping centre. Life's good.

The Menu.

Roasted Mini Trim Lamb - A Mediterranean Morsel
Buffe of Turkey Breast with Pistachio and Bacon Stuffing
Couscous Tabbouleh
Confetti Coleslaw
Mixed Lettuce Salad with Mariana's vinagrette
Salad of avocado, cucumber, tomato and spanish onion
Oven roasted capsicum, marinated in garlic, olive oil, white vinegar
Char-grilled eggplant marinated in garlic, olive oil, parsley, balsamic vinegar
Silverbeet, Feta and Ricotta Tart
Tomato Relish
Cranberry Sauce

Homemade Vanilla Slice with Passionfruit Icing
Freshly made fruit salad with mango, passionfruit, strawberries, grapes, blueberries, orange and peaches. Sorry, no photo, but it was absolutely delish!!!!!













Stuffing for the Turkey
5 or 6 slices of multigrain bread, trimmed of the crust, finely processed
2 tablespoons chopped parsley
60 or 70gm butter
2 rashers chopped bacon
1 small onion
1/2 cup whole pistachio's

Heat butter in pan, add peeled and chopped onion and bacon. Saute gently until onion is tender. Combine with remaining ingredients; salt and pepper if desired. Mix well.