Wedding Banquet!

OK hold your horses no ones getting married...
So last night whilst putting Jake to sleep clearly I had too much time to think so thought I would be productive and design a menu for a wedding!
I have no idea why but here goes, its my idea of a perfect feast!

To begin...
Bluff oysters Au natural of course served on ice whilst sipping champers and cold beer.

Entree
SEAFOOD - Japanese sashimi platters with the freshest salmon and snapper served with the usual as well as Japanese seaweed. For the non raw-fish brigade BBQ ed garlic prawns and scallops (of course with the roe!!!) Finger bowls provided!

Main
On the BBQ - the best eye fillet (MR) served with Bearnaise sauce, Caesar salad with anchovies, spinach/beetroot/red onion salad with a sweet berry dressing, a bean salad reminiscent of KFC and either dauphinoise potatoes or hand cut crunchy fries. Good job Ingrid is now a meat eater HUH!

Dessert
Lemon tart - very zesty with berries and creme fraiche. maybe something chocolaty - haven't got that far...

The cake
A profiterole tower. chocolate dipped and filled with the most luscious creme patisserie stacked up in a tower and enforced with spun sugar.

Cheese board with dessert wine and port
A really delicious Blue, Feta, gooey Bri and a strong tasty hard cheese.

Coffee - REAL coffee made by a barista served with a square of russian fudge.

Midnight snack
Bacon butties with tomato relish.

Delicious - anyone keen for a wedding???

and with one can of tomatoes, a cookbook can be made

Vanessa and I are always talking about what sort of cookbook we would like to do when we get our 'lucky' break. Our ideas are very different, probably because my big sis holds the better gourmet genes whilst I'm discovering a whole new set of tastes after pregnancy turned me back to a hearty meat-eater after 20 years as a vegetarian.

I always liked the idea of recipes based around one can of tomatoes, a staple in most kiwi kitchens and a great base for a multitude of dishes. I know Vanessa, will be thinking 'BORING! SIS' and the next time we hook up she will add her little bit of fancy dust and wa la she will turn my can of tomatoes into something super saucy, but before she does, I'll share with you my dinner for two that I made tonight - (the bloke rated it a 8.5 out of ten - not bad!)

Indian spiced chicken in tomatoes

1 onion - diced

2 tsp garlic - crushed

1 chicken breast - diced

Spices

1 tsp cumin seeds

1 tsp ground coriander

1 tsp ginger

1 tsp chilli

1 tsp tumeric

2 Tbsp tomato paste

half can of chopped tomatoes

handful of frozen peas

squeeze of lime or lemon juice

In a pan, add oil, and fry onions and garlic. Add spices, fry for a minute. Add chicken and brown. Add tomato paste. Mix. Add half a can of chopped tomatoes, simmer for a few mins and then add frozen peas, squeeze of lime or lemon and simmer for two mins. Serve on rice, or with Naan bread

Delicious. Ingrid

Best comment WINS a box of meringues!

Promotion - hmmmm why have a blog if no one visits...
So, sitting in the Neighbourhood bar in Kingsland, free wifi, delicious chardonnays and hand cut fries we brainstorm ways to promote our foodie photo blog.
Obvious choice - Facebook - between us we have quite a few contacts so we sent out the group message in the hope you will all support and "like" our first range of recipe gift cards that we have managed to sell already!!! Whoop whoop. They will be in gift and food shops around NZ from September! Check out range to the right via flickr.

We would love to hear your comments - and yes you will seriously receive a box of Vanessa's famous on the North Shore meringues - although if your not in Auckland we might have a challenge on our hands.

We are on a mission to get a cookbook deal so our next step is Range #2 and its all about Kids and Food so we want your kids! We will be in touch with details of the casting call soon. But it promises to be a fun (and very messy) day.

Vanessa and Ingrid