Lunch is officially served

In my household we have a strict no wastage policy. It just seems so, well, wasteful to throw out food when A) you’ve paid money for it, B) there are people with no food at all who would do anything for those greens in your bin, and C) the resources used to make that food are already stretched. It’s just how we roll. So, the day after a dinner party is always amazing because lunch is akin to something out of the Four Seasons Smörgåsbord.

That day was today. That’s right Happies, the Four Seasons officially set up shop in my kitchen and as a result, lunch was probably even more glorious today than it was last night. There’s something about food the next day that makes it all the more tasty.

Anyway, last night’s feast saw a multitude of healthy goodness being served up to our dear friends. We had oregano chicken done on the BBQ, brown rice pilaf similar to the quinoa one I’ve talked about before, curried carrot salad, tomato and basil salad and a big, fluffy green salad with miso dressing. Add homemade hummus and homemade pita crisps to the mix and you have yourself this for lunch…

and…

Delicious yes? Yes. So delicious in fact, I have no other choice but to share some of these recipes with you.

1. Curried Carrot Salad

This simple, yet beautifully flavoured, salad is the creation of my BF who is THE KING of healthy, tasty food. In fact, his nickname is Sal, because he makes me delicious salads of all varieties everyday for lunch. Winner. This salad simply mixes three carrots, finely chopped parsley and pre-soaked raisins. The dressing is then drizzled over the three ingredients, giving it a subtle Indian-style flavour thanks to the curry powder inside it. Said dressing can be made by simply mixing 1 x heaped teaspoon of curry powder with a good glug or two of cold-pressed extra virgin olive oil and apple cider vinegar (two parts oil to one part vinegar). Mix. Eat. Enjoy.

2. Green Salad with Miso Dressing

The simplicity of this salad is offset by its designer accessory more commonly known as a F*off dressing. It’s green, fluffy, crunchy and a massive winner with your guests time and time again. Simply throw some lettuce, baby spinach, cress (AKA SUPERFOOD), alfalfa sprouts, crunchy combo sprouts and avocado into a bowl. Then, glaze each ingredient with the dressing, simply made of white miso paste, honey, apple cider vinegar and extra virgin olive oil. You can add a few drops of sesame oil in there too if you like. Heaven! Mix. Eat. Enjoy.

There’s something so wonderful about having friends around and serving simple, tasty food. It doesn’t need to be fancy. Tasty, yes. Fancy, not always. The spread was incredible, easy and all shared, which is my favourite way of eating. Until the Eton Mess is served and then it’s all mine baby, all mine.

Tell me Happies…

What are your common dinner party dishes?

Any of these take your fancy?