Holiday season is a busy time for most and it is easy to let regular meal planning slide when you’re occupied by a million other things on the to-do list. Personally, I am taking a laid back attitude about holiday planning and let myself off the hook this year for tree trimming, gift shopping, and even holiday baking. But that doesn’t mean I am devoting time to regular meal planning either. Sitting with my foot elevated continues to be a big part of my post-surgery recovery plan. The stitches were gone since Friday and my doctor was very pleased with the healing progress. Although I can now walk for short period of time at a normal pace without signs of limping, standing for hours in the kitchen is still not a good idea yet. I too need quick and easy meal ideas.
One of my favourite dinner requiring minimal preparation is a Ploughman’s Lunch. With a pantry full of preserves I made in warmer months, this is a great option to incorporate chutneys and pickles into my meal too. Last weekend, I visited Wychwood Farmer’s Market and brought home enough goodies to create this beautiful platter.

What a feast, right? Most of the platter are sourced from vendors at the market or right from my pantry. When it was time for dinner, all I needed to do was to arrange everything in an attractive manner….or not. There is nothing wrong with a dinner table overflowing with jars and reusable plastic containers. That happens from time to time at my home. In no particular order, these are the contents of my Ploughman’s Platter:
- Akiwenzie’s smoked white fish
- country pate
- Monforte Dairy’s aged water buffalo cheese
- raw kohlrabi wedges
- Bizjak Farm’s russet apples
- Alchemy Pickle Company’s sauerkraut
- Kozlik’s triple crunch mustard
- my own garlic dill pickles (recipe from Food In Jars)
- my own honey Niagara peaches chutney (recipe also from Food In Jars)
- St Urbain everything crackers
- Dr Kracker’s garlic parmesan crisps
- Spirit Tree’s pub cider
I know that most of North America is now under the grips of a severe cold spell. A cold dinner may not be everyone’s idea of comfort food when a steaming bowl of soup seems to hit the spot. However, a Ploughman’s lunch still beats greasy take outs, price or nutrition! Let’s gather those ingredients and have a relaxing dinner by the fireplace. That will warm you up real good. After dinner boozy coffee is entirely optional.