Monday 10 December 2012

Last minute guests...

First, I would like to say a very special thank you to Aina  at Modern Country who gave me a very kind shout out today on her beautiful blog.
Today, I have been testing new recipes for the Christmas festivities (post to follow!) and finishing off bits of decoration for the house - our tree goes up this coming weekend.  No food shopping today as I rested from a weekend trip to the Loire Valley with some friends, but the phone rang at nearly six o'clock to say some friends were just popping in for 'one' glass... I could kick myself for 'grazing' all day on my test food because I had nothing much to offer - so this is what I made... simple and just really quick!


 I have a stock of things in my much loved larder - such as organic nuts, bags of them, which I oven roast or today pan heated.  I had that little time - very hot pan, keep turning quickly so they colour, about half a minute then one teaspoon of olive oil stir for ten seconds and then add some spice for just another ten seconds.  I chose smoked salt and paprika (experiment it is a lot of fun from curry powders to ground spices...)


Smoked salmon was sliced and sprinkled with crushed coriander seeds and wrapped around a thin slice of long black radish . The courgette (zucchini) sandwich, was just two thin slices with a slice of aged Comté cheese, a slither of dried fig and some grainy mustard (the glue!)


With batons of carrots, parsnips (so good raw),  pepper and pickles.  A quick dip of 0% fromage blanc mixed my 'green booster' from November 29th post (add to taste) - any thick yoghurt or cream, for that matter would work well, just fold it in gently.


With bread sticks, apple oh... and bubbles make anything taste better!

It was fun and quick, the thing is to use what you have...

26 comments:

  1. Fabulous, Ivan! I love simple and quick bites! Please post more of these for people like me :) And I love Aina's blog....recently discovered it. Congrats!!
    Have a wonderful week ~
    Loi

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    1. Hello Loi,
      Thank you so much - I shall post some more quick and tasty things (promise!!) - entertaining in a hurry is what most of us need/want!
      You too have a wonderful week!
      Best wishes Ivan

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  2. Ivan this is my favorite way to eat (hello Loi above!). I would much rather eat appetizers/tapas than a meal. This weekend we are off to our neighbors....parents only ;) for our annual holiday gathering. We each bring an appetizer, and I am in charge of dessert. Thanks for your inspiration. And I agree, bubbles make everything taste better!!!

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    Replies
    1. Hello,
      Thank you, it's always been my favourite part of dinner. I sometimes do just do that 'appetizer/tapas' as I love cooking with my friends there and it's theatre and fun mixed in! It's also good as you cook to feed, depending what people want or how much they want! Hope you have a wonderful weekend, sounds like a lot of fun!
      Ivan

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  3. I bet they wouldn't have known you just pulled that all together, look great I bet it tasted fabulous.

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    1. Hello Jill,
      Thank you, alas reading this they will find out now I didn't spend long making it (LOL!) but they said they loved it! It's made with love even if it was all done in 17 minutes - I had to change too!!
      Have a good week - Ivan

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  4. Yum! I especially like the zucchini sandwich. Looks like a great place to pop in.

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    1. Hello Terry,
      Thanks, it's when I am in a rush I think better. I really wasn't too sure but the zucchini sandwich (a first!) was really nice, a bit quirky but I shall make them again! Hope you are feeling better now.
      Ivan

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  5. What a fabulous tray for unexpected guests! You would have thought that took so much planning. Once again simple yet elegant!

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    1. Hello Janet,
      Thank you, I had to think on my feet! I meant to say the platter is just a bit of marble for pastry I bought in Ikea 20 years ago but a big old carving plater or a tray or an oiled block of wood, can add to the look - as they say 'we eat with our eyes!'
      Ivan

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  6. Hi Ivan...I am visiting and following you after reading about you on Aina's blog post. Great to be here! Please stop by when you have a chance.
    Loved your post too.
    Karen

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    1. Hello Karen,
      Thank you for joining! I have just been over to your glamorous blog and join - very pretty thing you make. I look forwards to reading more.
      Best wishes Ivan

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  7. I bet you have lots of drop ins. With a gorgeous tray served like that I'd be popping in a lot.

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    1. Hello Chania,
      Thanks, yes and you'd always be more than welcome!
      Ivan

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  8. I'm impatient to see your Christmas tree ...I like your marble table. Greetings

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    1. Hello,
      So am I (lol!) - I have always put the up the week before Christmas. Thank you I will post as soon as It is ready!
      Ivan :)

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  9. Dear Ivan,

    How wonderfully creative and impressive! Now I'm fantasizing about your larder and the magic it holds. Maybe one day you'll share with us some of the things we could stock up on for when friends drop in unplanned. I would then tell them as they express their gratitude for such wonderful bites and bubbles that it's due to Ivan's guidance!

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    1. Hello Linda,
      What a good idea for a post, Thank you - I love my larder as I had it build (it's not huge) and it is 'deep radicchio red', it needs a tidy, so after Christmas I shall do just that! Your too kind!
      Best wishes Ivan

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  10. Brilliant! You do keep a well stocked larder. With ten minutes notice I could maybe rustle up some marmite on toast and a couple of breadsticks. I made some yummy nuts for book group last week - dry roast a combination of mixed nuts for ten minutes, then coat with a mixture of melted butter, cayenne, sugar, salt and finely chopped rosemary. So good, I ate my body weight in them. x

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    1. Hello Gillian,
      MARMITE, I'm in... You can take the boy out of England but he travels with the Marmite!!! The nuts roasted are so good , have to try your recipe, liking the sugar twist with salt yum - oven is best but I was really pushed for time. Thanks!
      Ivan x

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  11. You are my kind of host!! I really like it all and can see the possibilities. You have my mind racing as we are expecting my niece and her baby tomorrow around lunch time. Let me see....the nuts are a good idea and I have a ton of them too...check! The apples of course is doable...check! The carrots and parsnips are just waiting....check! No salmon in at the moment but I do have organic chicken thighs....I know on crispy toast with mayo and cranberry! DONE!

    Ivan, what can I say...thanks!

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    1. Hello Jim,
      No , thank you - it's exactly that, using what you have and enjoying it. Soya yoghurt with a spoon of pesto or as you said a 'Chicken-cran-mayo-cruch' (I might nick that - lol!). I buy big inexpensive trays/plates just to give it all some space, it's like a picture for me some times I have lots of amazing thing other times it's more simple but still fun!
      Hope you have a wonderful time with your niece and her baby - special times!
      All the best, hope you are OK - Ivan

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  12. good party dish! might try on chrismat dinner.

    i would so love to see the wreath(the one you finished
    decorating)!

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    1. Hello Coco,
      Thank you, you are very kind. I am just finishing the wreaths today and will post them this evening - finishing touches!
      Ivan

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  13. Oh, and thank you for mention me and my blog Ivan ! You are so kind !! BIG HUG :)) I am so glad you had a great day and this quick table of food for your guests looks pretty delish to me. I often cut up vegetables and fruits and combine it with ham and cheese on a platter. Always popular and well received...

    ~ Aina ~

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    1. Hello Aina,
      It was the least I could do and NO, you are so kind!!
      I do food platters like this a lot so people can 'graze' and choose what they want. I like doing different country themes (Italian, Spanish, Scandinavian...) It's more how people want to eat now.
      Best wishes Ivan x

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