weekend warriors

In my early 20's the term weekend warriors was reserved for late nights, dance hall reggae, too many drinks and hangovers. ..now...in my late 20's (the last year of my 20's oh my!)...the term is still used but in a far different context (even though i somehow have become a lover of late night whisky and yes...i still pump dance hall reggae obviously...).  Weekends are filled with gardening, animal tending, lots of sweat, child entertaining, sprinklers, building new animal structures, neighborly love and of course a whole lot of food prepping (and eating!).  This weekend we had "garden dinners" both Saturday & Sunday night...and folks.....it is good....real good.  This whole neighbor thing is really working out... having 3 gardens between 2 houses combined with lots of inspiration to get rid of the zucchini we make some damn fine food.  This weekend we ate:

Saturday night:

flatbread & ratatouille (Alice Water's - art of simple food)
(the ratatouille was better day 2, just as my girl Alice had said...especially with a couple of poached eggs on top!)

smoked chicken

oh yes...and there is usually beetle catching these days

a man shakin some amazing...

....zucchini frites and lemon basil mayo!

plum gallet...drool

smoked chicken slathered with some homemade mango bbq sauce

he was that excited about the smoked chicken...

smoked beets atop goat cheese & flat bread....
amazing...
this bite looks sort of sad (2 beet eyes and a cheesey frown)...but it made my belly so happy!

Sunday night:

we recruited the two cutest sous chefs

and put together a little mid summer turkey feast....
brined & smoked turkey
gravy made with pan juices...holy yumminess
cranberry-mango salsa
ginger-garlic-soy green beans
beet salad
zucchini gratin

zucchini gratin

dessert...
ben & jerry's ice cream topped with:
frozen s'mores (substitue gram crackers with golden grams...yes please)
homemade magic chocolate shell
and dino sprinkles...

NOTE: All this delicious food was not prepped by just myself.  You know those neighbors I keep bragging about...yeah she made at least half if not more...and her man willingly and patiently built a pig house (with job site scraps) with my man.  Yes, you should all be terribly jealous of my neighbors....we are in neighbor heaven.