Bring a Plate

Normally, I am queen of Bring a Plate.  I spend a week - or more - carefully considering the eaters.  Will some be pregnant?  Vegan?  Will there be children?  Of course, bringing a sweet plate is even easier - whip up a cake, a slice, a batch of biscuits, some fresh muffins, a trifle.

The only time I hate Bring a Plate is when OOPS I forgot!  I have a full day Australian Breastfeeding Association training day tomorrow, and I just noticed we are supposed to bring something to share for lunch.  It's too late at night for me to feel motivated to duck out the the shops. I thought I could grab some sushi on the way, in the morning, to put on a platter - but the workshop starts too early for the shops to be open.

So I have a spare apricot cake from my mad baking yesterday, and I have some chocolate hedgehog in the fridge.  But I know I ought to bring something savoury.

In case you ever get stuck with Bring a Plate at the last minute, here are the ideas I managed to come up with, based on my pantry and fridge, without needing a shopping trip.  I hope one day this helps!

• Eggs are your friend.  Hard boil a whole heap of eggs - either make deviled eggs (cut them in half, scoop out the boiled yolks, mash them all up with some mayonnaise and any/all of the following:  curry powder, dijon or seeded mustard, fresh herbs, cayenne powder);

• Alternitively, mash up the eggs with lots of mayonnaise, salt, pepper and either some curry powder or fresh herbs, and make lots of egg sandwiches.  Cut off the crusts, cut them into triangles, and arrange on a plate.  If you happen to have two types of bread (e.g. wholegrain and white), you can make quite a fancy looking plate of egg sandwiches;

• I happen to keep mini tartlet cases in the cupboard (they are cheaper to buy in bulk, and they keep well in tupperware).  You can caramalise some red onions, and put a little onion, topped with some feta (Persian or otherwise), and a couple of bright green slivered pistachios (again, I always have these in the cupboard) if you have them to hand.  Pop them in an oven for ten minutes to serve;

• I tend to have mini toasts / Melba toasts in a container.  A smear of cream cheese, and a tiny sliver of smoked salmon on each is very delicious.  One small packed of smoked salmon will stretch to a couple of dozen of these;

• Hummus.  If you have a can of chickpeas, pop it in the food processor with 2 cloves of garlic, 3 tablespoons of lemon juice, 1/2 teaspoon cumin, 1.5 tablespoons tahini, 2 tablespoons of oil and half a teaspoon of salt.  Blast until smooth. Scoop into a bowl, sprinkle with a pinch of cayenne (optional), and pop on a plate with some crackers and cut up carrots;

• Salmon dip - mix well, together, a drained tin of salmon, a package of cream cheese, half a cup of sour cream, a few tablespons of softened butter, a tablespoon of finely chopped onion, some chopped fresh herbs (if you have them), some cayenne to taste, and salt and pepper;

• Savoury scones are an easy one - add a good handful of grated cheese, and some chopped fresh herbs (chives are nice), to a plain scone mixture.

• Of course, depending on what else you have in the house (leftover roast chicken, a chicken breast to poach and shred with mayonnaise and herbs, a couple of zucchinis to make zucchini slice etc.), there are dozens of other easy, lazy things to make without leaving the house.  And if you DO have enough time before the event, it's easy to stop at a Sushi Sushi and buy a dozen handrolls to cut into small pieces on a platter.

Tonight, I am completely exhausted (super busy day).  So I am opting for the very easiest choice - egg sandwiches!  I will also take along the apricot cake and the hedgehog.