For a long time now members of my family have been having bragging sessions over who has grown the best tomatoes, who can be the most creative with a zucchini, who has their own lamb/duck/chicken in their freezer.
Even members of the family who live in the city like to show off with their chutney’s or jams produced from something they grew in a tub in their patio!
As a challenge, myself and another member of our family (the 2 with the best gardens!!!) decided to produce a 3 course meal totally out of our own produce for my sisters birthday last weekend.
There were a few rules and some leniency’s.
The rules included being able to bring something that was grown or produced by someone else locally that our own produce was traded for.
One of the leniency’s was to allow flour, milk and sugar (working on goats milk for next time!).
Our three course meal menu was:
Entree
- Brushetta – homemade flat bread with tomatoes, basil and red onions drizzled in olive oil
- Olives – marinaded in olive oil, lemon juice, lemon rind and parsley
- Red fin and trout – (caught in dam) cooked in lemon and herbs
- Pesto and homemade bread
Main
- Roast Orange Duck
- Rosemary and Garlic roast lamb
- Mixed roast vegetables
- Tomato, eggplant, zuchinni bake
Dessert
- Pavlova
- Apricot Mousse served with apricots and nectarines
The meal was washed down with some home brew beer and cider, and of course Miners Ridge Wines from over the years.
We enjoyed this meal sitting outside under a tree on a perfect night with a view of the Grampians in the background.
Due to the great success of the meal we plan to have one of these meals each season.
Happy birthday sis, I hope you forgive us for not allowing you to bring your cheese (brought at the supermarket) along!