It is the season for Yuppie Chef’s Simple Summer Cookathon… a grand family affair that we look forward to every single year!!!
What can I say, some folk might call it a meal but we definitely classified this as a feast, so many new recipes to try and explore… so many new flavours and fabulous food combinations. Just three recipes. But each recipe required at least three interesting steps and each little bit was tastier than the last and we very nearly ate everything along the way… before all the yumminess even got onto a plate…
We began with a planning session… and some colour coding… because easy as the steps were, there were a lot of them… colour coding and fresh cherries got us through this important part of the project!!!
And after an afternoon of all hands on deck, we did eventually get to the table… and enjoyed a terrific feast.
#1. Avo, Melon, Nut Brittle and Rocket Salad
There were a lot of new flavours to try… my kids have never had melon and avocado on the same plate before!!! So I made a plate for all the curious tasters to try… Evidently I needn’t have worried – these kids apparently love new flavours!!!
We began with the spicy seed brittle… We have never made spicy seed brittle before – well any brittle for that matter.
Oh my goodness, there was brittle everywhere…
We very nearly didn’t make it any further… because every one loved this so much that it kept getting eaten…
After actually hiding a batch of brittle… we moved onto the dressing…
Well that was easy enough, except for the small person that loved it so much that they quietly “tasted” an entire jug of it and we had to begin again!!!
I love how my kids took this project on with enthusiasm… there was much chopping and chatting and chewing!!!
We finally had all the bits and pieces ready to put together, at the same time…
And I left that part to Hood #3, who will do any kitchen task that involves feta!!!
Finally we had a salad ready for the table…
And that was just the salad!!!
#2. Classic Wild Mushroom Risotto
I have to say, I had my doubts here… I didn’t think that my kids would eat dried porcini mushrooms and the father person hates soggy rice (risotto)…
Again I made a smaller dish for them to try… I even added chicken sticks to lessen the blow of their first encounter with wild mushrooms… hold the chicken sticks, they wanted risotto!!!
Mushrooms were soaked and chopped… tried and tasted…
And cooked!!!
And then my secret to getting anyone to eat something that they think they might not like – get them involved…
And might I add… that the father person makes a fine risotto, not to mention he loved it!!!
Seriously he is our risotto master and will definitely be making it again!!!
#3. Chocolate Pudding and Strawberry Swirl IceCream…
Well summer brings so many things… not least of all strawberries…
And I have always always always wanted to know how to make a strawberry ripple ice-cream…
I quickly did this part while the kids were swimming… and hid it well away in the back of the freezer. I know we would never have gotten past it otherwise…
Yes… this is now on the list of family favourites…
What can I say, we love strawberries, but I am glad there was chocolate – a feast requires chocolate. I got everyone to help with the chocolate pudding – who wouldn’t want to help to make gooey chocolate dessert!!!
Mugs at the ready…
Chocolate on the melt… Mixed, stirred, folded, tasted…
Poured…
Cooked… Yum… they were so impressed…
But so much more impressed when I brought out the ice-cream to go with it!!!
Seriously, who could argue with this on a summer evening…
Well anytime really!!!
Finally The Feast…
And yes it is finally summer… and the dinner table has moved out doors and we can eat in the evening sunshine…
And could we have a standing ovation for everyone sitting so nicely…
Onto plates…
Into tummies…
Gone…
I know their recipes say serve four… but we needed a rest and recovery here… full tummies collapsed in a heap, had a swim and roared around… and created a banner… as one does!!!
Before we could settle down to the serious business of dessert!!!
Thank you Yuppie Chef, for always pushing us further and making us try new things, exploring new flavours… we had such a blast creating, not to mention eating this feast… thank you again… it was fab!!!
Click on the banner to find the recipes… they are there and they are lovely!!!
Previous Cookathon’s with their fabulous recipes…
You guys are amazing! That all looked delicious – jealous as I head off for boiled egg supper!
Hi Debbie, You would not believe the fun we had – just the break we needed… and I can assure the rest of the weekend was an entirely “eggs on toast” kind of weekend!!! Hope you have a great day!!!
I’ll give you that standing ovation for “everyone sitting so nicely”
*clap clap clap clap*
Thank you Irene, pretty impressive isn’t it!!! Thank you and have a great day!!!
Wow, what stunning photos!! Such an eye fest – I’m sure it was a feast too. Well done 🙂
You are truly amazing! What a great feast you had! That salad is very interesting. We should try it, we will try it 😉
Thank you Karyn, So glad you enjoyed it, we had such fun creating this meal!!! Have a fantastic week!!!