Rambling Russells : Cooking with EGG

We don't normally write about our group meetings here but this is going to be an exception.
The Eastriggs Gardening Group (EGG) meeting was supposed to be a seasonal cooking demonstration with items harvested from the garden but with such a late start to the growing season there was very little available.
John Crouch the 'celebrity' chef had designed a meal so that we could all try the recipes as the items come into season.

John had brought all the ingredients as well as ovens, pans and bowls but still had to prepare all the food. His 'menu' of dishes was:-

Leek and Potato Soup with Courgette and Thyme Muffins

Spanish Spiced Potatoes

Indian Carrot Salad

Rhubarb & Ginger Fool

Apple and Plum Hot Trifle

We weren't told how to cook. We were shown. And all the time that John was slicing, mixing, chopping and grating he was giving us information and history about how and when the ingredients were introduced to our country and how he had become so passionate about his cooking. The mouthwatering smells soon filled the room and one or two tummies began rumbling. John kept checking pans and ovens as he prepared each course and each time we could tell from his reaction that things were progressing really well.

When everything was ready, John allowed us to help ourselves to a sample of each course.

The photos below show how the evening progressed but unfortunately smell-o-vision is not yet available !!

Many thanks go to the very talented John Crouch and to Marilyn for thinking of asking John to entertain a Gardening Group !