The feasty friendship

You know it’s a comfortable friendship when you don’t panic even though your friend of 30 years (give or take a few months) is coming over to brunch and there's not much in the pantry and fridge. Herein lies the dilemma: Do you rush out to the supermarket and buy a bunch of stuff, or do you use what you have and try and make something from not much at all?

Of course, I chose the latter. I decide that it will be more fun to wing it with what I have to hand - and I know my long-time friend Lina would approve. I'm able to cobble together:

• Some pizza dough leftover from our neighbourhood pizza party last week - it's waiting in a freezer for such a moment
• Four eggs
• A few tomatoes, zucchinis and an avocado
• Plenty of herbs from the garden thanks to husband and prolific gardener George
• Lots of olive oil thanks to my beautiful aunty Kanella and cousin Stathis in Greece
• A wedge of our neighbour Joe’s fine homemade salami and a few bits of feta drowned in brine 
• A handful of frozen mango pieces

It might be enough for a meal, though the paucity of the ingredients has even me doubting. But the colours of the vegetables and the aroma of herbs work their magic as I chop. I start to relax and have faith as I put the vegetables and herbs into an oven dish. I can’t help but sample the salami as I chop. I have to resist a strong urge to eat it all up - no one is watching. But I know it will infuse the vegetables with flavour, and so I resist. I mix the vegetable, herb and salami mixture with my hands, add a drizzle of oil, a dash of salt and a twist of pepper. Into the oven it goes.

 

I roll out the pizza dough and I bless it with the beautiful green oil and a sprinkling of herbs. It too goes into the oven. And the eggs – well, fried in (yet more) olive oil and sprinkled with feta should do it. Along with a side of avocado, it’s a feast fit for a king - or at least two food-obsessed friends who aren't counting calories.

It’s hot and on a whim, I decide to make a drink that I saw on one of Jamie Oliver’s cooking shows a few weeks back – simply water, ice, a handful of frozen mango pieces, and a few sprigs of mint, blended together.

 

 

By the time Lina arrives, hot and weary, the icy drink is at the ready in martini glasses, the vegetables are tender and aromatic and the eggs are ready to go on. I serve it all up – but before we can sit down, Lina tells me we have to wipe the oven dish down with the crusty pizza bread so as not to waste any of the precious flavours.

All I can say is thank goodness for long-time friends.

 

Comments

[Bruce Esplin]

Love it Spiri

[Spiri]

Thanks Bruce - hope you're well and cooking lots!