Food for Sharing

Since before the first wedding (and it will probably continue up until after the third one at the end of this month) we've had an almost constant stream of house guests as our various children have stayed for the occasional one off night to a few days here and there. James, Lizzie and Joe have all come back from extended travelling and have been between jobs and more permanent accommodation so have needed a base. Jacob pops back on a regular basis and will also be between flats for a little while next week. And then when Kirsty gets married we have Scottish family staying with us as well as at least four grown up children. So as you might imagine instead of quick meals for the two of us there has been extended catering and many leisurely meals eaten in the garden. It has been lovely to cook for lots of people again... it was one of the things I missed when they all left home. There have been lots of quiches and salads, pasta and fish... easy to make and easy to share food. James and Lizzie also cooked several meals for us which was a real treat.

There have been occasions when we have taken food out to share too and last weekend we went to campfire party. As the emphasis was very much on barbecued meat I felt that a veggie option would probably be welcome so made a batch of these courgette fritters. It was a bit of a risk never having made them before but they proved popular and they all got eaten. Either that or someone was slipping them to the dog!

There was a tin of cookies and cream Brownies too... essential campfire eating I think!

It was a brilliant evening with shared singing as well shared food that went on until the early hours. Fortunately the neighbours had all been invited too!

And then this week we had our book club supper club gathering for which I pretty much always make the dessert. It was a key lime pie but without the key limes. I'm not entirely sure what a key lime is but ordinary limes sufficed and it was all eaten up with relish! We may have discussed books at one point during the evening but I can't really remember!

And then yesterday the weather turned and it was cold and wet so I fancied something warming. We had a butternut squash tagine and I discovered the hotplate on which I make pancakes is perfect for making flat breads, also great sharing food. I'm not sure why that had never occurred to me before but I'll make them again before we sell the house and I no longer have a hot plate!

But although it has been lovely to have friends and family with whom to share food - one of life's greatest pleasures I always think - tomorrow I am off to Birmingham to the Festival of Quilts to teach a couple of workshops (Saturday is full but there are still a couple of spaces on Sunday) and I have a whole weekend with no cooking at all, which is equally nice. Variety being the spice of life and all that!

I hope your weekend is good whatever you might be doing.