It gives me a real  buzz when friends want to join our family market shop  and resulting Random Lunch Challenge.
I like that they are enthusiastic to explore the markets, get some of their own produce and be both observer to and participant in the Random Lunch Challenge process.
I am really happy that they find some level of enjoyment and satisfaction just being with a family–in all our un-glory, angst and argy bargy of teenagerdom . I love that these friends seem to roll with the punches and just appreciate the time and often eccentric/interesting lunch that they are presented with.

We had two such Random Lunch Challenges recently–

A friend from our church community/bible study group was eager to join us in our weekly shop and RLC, so finally pinning down a mutually available Saturday 2  weeks ago we had a wonderful adventure…
Having an idea, in fact a researched list, of what is seasonal and how different foods can be paired and cooked, 2 weeks ago led to the utilization of cheap red capsicum as the bulk of a recipe. Tom thought of pan frying strips of capsicum  and onion in olive oil to make a lush mixture to top some light rye bread slices. A cheap protein was thought about and pan fried chicken livers fitted the bill “With a balsamic glaze…with some of that mulberry syrup” thought Tom.

So, 7 red capsicums for $2.00, 650g chicken livers for $3.00, 2 red onion $1.10 and a “yesterday’s loaf of Rye” for  $1.50, with a few pantry staples were the makings of a truly delicious ‘bruschetta’, even in the opinion of our friend who had never had chicken livers before. Say about $8 for 5 people. We thoroughly enjoyed her enjoyment of this family tradition (and her eagerness to have more than one coffee with us.)