Garden Warriors Preview #afreerangelife

 

Leading a... A Free Range Life

 

Since we were announced as Finalists in the Tui School Garden Challenge, our Head Garden Gnome has been very busy with our other Garden Gnomes, helping us to get everything ready in the Garden for judging Day!

 

This has meant that her "exclusive" copy of Annabel Langbein's latest recipe book "a free range life" ...that she was supposed to preview...has languished just out of reach of temptation... 

 It was time we acknowledged the considerable efforts of our 5 Garden Gnomes and helped out our Head Garden Gnome with her book review...by hosting a luncheon in their honour.

 

Besides who better than us Garden Warriors, with all our abundant produce...to promote "a free range life"...we have become quite the "Alfresco Foodies" in our Garden this year!

 We needed some recipes that fitted with our 30 minutes from  preparation to devouring philosophy!

 

"Two Minute Green Salad" on p70 was definitely going to be a winner

Team this with "Linguine with Tuna Puttanesca" from p86

and sweeten it all up with "Chilled Strawberry Mousse" from p110

 

We have ourselves a Menu Garden Warrior's

 

Pasta making has been a HUGE hit in our garden this spring...so a whole bunch of our spinach went into this Fettuccine...we are happy to substitute Linguine for what ever pasta is on hand or in this case...in season!

 Westport Mitre 10 had only just delivered our brand new BBQ, perfect timing.

Thank you Westport Mitre 10 for donating such a wonderful BBQ, the side burner is going to get a serious work out in our Garden!

 At the 2 minute Salad table our Garden Warriors were harvesting crisp green goodness from their "tasting Table" and fluffing it up ready to dress with "everyday dressing"...there was nothing "everyday" about our salad though!

 Meanwhile back at the other table the Kenwood was out...

 ...because there was strawberry mousse to make!

Looking at this photo I can absolutely smell those strawberries again!

 A little bit of garnishing and everything was almost ready...

 Rainbow beet plates were being washed ready for serving...the anticipation was building!

 Only...one side burner was not enough and our tuna was still cooking!

 

Strawberry mousse to the rescue ..served up in cones as we really like to avoid washing dishes in our Garden!

Delicious!

 At last our Tuna Puttanesca was ready to serve!

 

This dish really is a favourite in our head Garden Gnomes household, holding a well deserved place in the fortnightly menu roster!

 

It is quick and easy to make, definitely a "go to" staple when a family meal needs to be whipped up in 20 minutes.

What's more, its very affordable (2 tins of chopped tomatoes $2, 1 large tin of tuna $4, 1 packet of pasta $2.20...well under $2.50 per serving)...a quick and easy nutritious family meal for less time and money than it takes to bike down to the chippie shop!

 This looks absolutely stunning Garden Warriors...well done!

Great to see you are still enjoying "Garnishing" & presenting your food!

Looks like everything has passed the taste test...

 

 Westport North School Garden Warrior's...you are definitely living "a free range life"!

Another successful day in our Garden... Warrior's!

Looks like Annabel's recipe's are a hit!

Anny guesses what our glass platters used to be in a former life?
Clue: they no longer spin around getting nuked for 2 minutes on high power...

 

Well done Garden Gnomes, together with your Garden Warrior's, you're an inspriation!