Having Visitors This Weekend?
WORDS : CHYKA KEEBAUGH
PHOTOS : COMMISSION STUDIO 2019
With the possibility of having visitors this weekend, what will you get up to?
Having a small gathering of family and friends visit this weekend is the most exciting plans I have had in what feels like years! And I CANNOT WAIT to cook and style and make a fuss over every single detail, Why? Because I can!
An outdoors luncheon is a MUST! So let’s get together and breathe in the fresh air, eat delicious food and get to know each other all over again. Let’s grab our ingredients and styling props from markets where we support the local makers and producers, let’s go to the back of our (very clean and organised) cupboards to bring out the ‘good' china and glasses, let’s open that bottle we’ve been saving and get out of that leisurewear. Sure, it’s small, slow steps to being in recovery mode but let’s take these small steps with a big smile on our face and a grateful heart.
Impress your friends with a delicious meal…
Keep it casual with a colourful picnic loaf. This easy pull together meal can depend entirely on what you have on hand to create. If you have leftover antipasto items then this is the perfect way to recreate them into something spectacular. What I love about this (as well as it’s simplicity) is that once it’s cut into you get this gorgeous stripe of food. It may be a bit of a mouthful to eat, but I can guarantee it’s deliciousness!
A humble, no fuss bacon, spinach and cheese tart is my idea of the perfect lunch. Made earlier to be enjoyed later, this tart is one of the go-to comfort foods that I just love. Pair this tart with a green salad and you're in for a delicious lunch or dinner.
Chilli Con Carne is one of my favourite quick meals to make. It requires little effort and always satisfies a hungry tummy. It has been a firm favourite in our family for years, and I know it’s going to become one of yours. There are so many different sides you could serve your Chilli with. If you were to ask me, I would choose to serve it with warm tortillas, boiled long grain rice, crunchy sourdough toast, a green salad of iceberg and avocado wedges, grated cheese, sour cream, yoghurt, guacamole, couscous or jacket potatoes.
The quintessential Aussie burger is something I can never pass up! Burgers are great to serve individually or set up as a buffet. To me, the key is to offer as many extras as possible, so people can make their own versions to suit their tastes. By cooking up your burgers before your guests arrive means all you need to do is finish them off in the oven. Always make sure you choose great rolls - brioche or crunchy. Have these sliced and ready to go.
A middle eastern-inspired chicken is a recipe that always gets the guests excited. I think we can all agree, a good roast chicken is hard to beat and by adding jazzing it up with some delicious flavours like saffron, pink peppercorns and tarragon, this is one roast chicken you won’t forget.
Now, let’s share this Maple Bourbon Cocktail together
Ingredients
1 untreated orange
60ml (1/4 cup) bourbon
30ml freshly squeezed orange juice
15ml pure maple syrup
1-2 dashes of bitters
ice cubes, for shaking and serving
mint sprig, to garnish
(serves 1)
Method Using a small knife, cut a thin, long strip of orange and peel and twist it. Add the ingredients, except the garnishes, to a cocktail shaker and fill with ice. Shake vigorously, then strain into a rocks glass over ice. Garnish with the orange twist and mint sprig.