WEEK 71 SERIOUSLY AWESOME XMAS CELEBRATING!
Hello gorgeous!
Before I start, it's the last full week before Xmas and we will be taking some family time off, I do encourage you to stock up, so to get as far as possible over this period with your favourite plastic-free foods at our great prices.
Dates will be advised in our next newsletter.
Now back to this week...
So, there are a few things I'm really bad at, taking photos is one of them. I do confess, the kids take all our Fill Good photos! Brilliant, I know!
Another is making share platters. I have never been able to have great presentation, even with the most beautiful food, it always looks clunky!
I stumbled upon an insta story that went through step by step how to make a platter and ping! The light bulb went off and the puzzle came together. Here are the steps I found that not only improved my platters but actually sent them into the stratosphere! They are now stellar!
Xmas gratitude and celebration can run deep as we showcase our local producers on our tables in this easy and beautiful way.
So easy in fact as we packed on Friday, we took a break and whipped up this beauty below, and yes our talented youngens took the photos again as well!
A STELLAR SHARE PLATTER
STEP 1 - PLATTER SURFACE
Choose a platter, chopping board or the centre of a table. Whatever surface works for you.
STEP 2 - LEVELS
Levels are great to separate the many elements of a platter! Use an upside-down bowl or plate to create dimension and an extra pizazz.
STEP 3 - START BUILDING
Place cheese, dips and chutneys where you want them, or elevate them to show them off. If you cut your cheese into pieces, pile them into a loose pile. We covered the plate with lettuce, pita bread works also.
STEP 4 - WHAT YOU SPREAD AND DIP WITH
Next, place crackers and veggie sticks next to your dips and cheeses. Use sliced up baguettes, a french stick or rolls for a plastic-free version of crackers. Toast in the oven or serve fresh, or find your own cracker recipe on the internet! How great does Stone and Crows Night Walker look with Cultured Harvest's KimChi surrounding it. They taste amazing together!
STEP 5 - CHARCUTERIE (OPTIONAL)
Roll, fold, pinch and tuck in charcuterie around the platter.
STEP 6 - BRING ON THE NUTS AND FRUIT
You may have a favourite artisan nut and dried fruit purveyor in mind for this step! Use nuts to fill the gaps between it all, with both the fresh and dried fruit. Tiny little morsels of crunch and sweetness filling in the last remaining gaps bring it all together to look full and abundant.
STEP 7 - WE'RE NOT FINISHED YET, FLOWERS AND CHOCOLATES
The grand finale, strategically place fresh flowers, herbs, and a sprinkling of chocolates and sweets. A little shout out here for our gourmet malt balls, white chocolate raspberry bullets, perhaps some Turkish delight, or a fine chocolate TV mix all in store and ready for plating up!
You now have a stunning local showcase for a produce platter that can also be a plastic free one by bringing your own containers to delis and ordering online at Fill Good. Supporting local gets you miles ahead with plastic free options.
SOME LOCAL PLASTIC FREE IDEAS
- LOCAL CHEESES FROM STONE AND CROW OR MILLGROVE DAIRY
- POSSIBLE HOMEMADE DIPS, HEAPS OF RECIPES ONLINE
- CHARCUTERIE FROM YOUR LOCAL BUTCHER OR DELI, BRING YOUR OWN CONTAINERS
- FRUIT, VEG AND FLOWERS FROM YOUR FARMERS MARKETS ECOSS ON FRIDAYS AND HEALESVILLE ON SATURDAYS AND ORCHARDS. CHERRIES ARE AT THEIR PEAK (we ARE in the Valley, no need for the supermarket)
- DRIED FRUIT, NUTS, AND CHOCOLATE SWEETS FROM YOUR PLASTIC FREE FRIENDS AT FILL GOOD
Being spoilt for choice and making room in the fridge is as complicated as it gets.
Local Farmer Ryan, with Ceres and Timbarra experience has grown, dried and braided the most abundant and magnificent Garlic Braids with no less than 12 to 13 locally organically grown garlic bulbs for $30 each! They are HUGE and abundant. A whopping earthy gift everyone would love to receive. And you're supporting directly a local farmer once again!
LOCAL LEGEND CLARE JAMES' FLORAL ARRANGING
Pop over to Clare's instagram and you will be inspired and giddy with glee as Clare shares her garden, work and creations with her community. It was hard to choose between Clare's Xmas floral arrangement below or how to make a stunning roadside weed bouquet.
Like the above platter, it's such an easy and fun way to decorate your home, or whip up as a gift from what you have growing in your neighbourhood, using what we all have at home for a base, such as a wire cut brick!
I really love Clare's videos, as she highlights using what we have at our fingertips to create unique nature inspired creations. Xmas decorations, table arrangements and gifts can take on an extra personal and local touch.
Christmas floral arrangement part 1 + part 2
So there we are, some creative and very accessible ideas to keep us playing and celebrating our place and time together honey bunches.
Next week will be our last newsletter for the year, I think? And we will have our holiday dates organised then for you too!
Once again, stock up, to get you as far as possible without plastic!
Sending love
Chris and the Fill Good Fam
We acknowledge that this newsletter was written on and our business is located on Wurrundjeri Country. We pay respects to Wurrundjeri elders, past, present and emerging. We love and appreciate this land and those who have cared for it before us. May we leave behind the fruits of our care for those that follow.
