Last night ended up being really fun 
I think I have definitely grown up a lot in the last few years – I don’t get as anxious about things like having people over, and am much better at relaxing and enjoying myself. Both are good shifts I think! They certainly make life easier, even if I still have a less good day sometimes.
I snapped photos of the various dishes pre-people arriving, but this is what we ended up with…
Kebabs (still marinating, no post-grilling pictures I’m afraid):
Sweet chilli and soy chicken and vegetable kebabs
Tandoori chicken and vegetable kebabs
The kebabs had sweet pepper, zucchini, mushroom and onion, in different combinations and amounts. I put more vegetables with the sweet chilli and soy ones as I knew that would be the flavour I’d want to eat myself 
The vegetable and noodle stirfry had carrot, bok choi, baby corn, green beans, water chestnuts, rice noodles, and a mix of garlic, hoi sin sauce, soy sauce and sweet chilli sauce. I can’t say it photographs all that well, but nonetheless:
Vegetable and noodle stir fry
Mediterranean cous-cous also looks pretty boring in a photo…I should have snapped everything together instead of separately
Mediterranean cous-cous
Of course, the most exciting part of any cooking effort is the dessert…
Strawberry jam tarts
Strawberry and blueberry chocolate tarts
All together
I should perhaps note that I did cheat on the pastry cases…I bought empty ones to fill. I don’t think homemade ones by me would ever look so even!
Last but not least, the icecream with mix-ins…
Icecream
I had 2 of the sweet chilli and soy kebabs, some of the vegetable/noodle stir fry and a big serve of the green salad someone brought for my main meal. I had mostly fruit salad (also brought by someone else) for dessert, plus a chocolate truffle out of a selection someone brought as a gift. I am going to try one of the tarts at some point though – half of the 12 are left so I’m going to keep one of each flavour to try and take the rest over to my parents/siblings later today. I’m sure my brother and sister will be happy!
It’s a public holiday here today so I’m also going to enjoy an extra non-work day
