We decided to make dad a special birthday dinner even though his dinner was on July 27 (we were away at camp then.) So we made couscous, lamb chops, baba ganoush (eggplant spread), arugula salad, raita (yogurt sauce), fresh peas from our garden and a double layer vanilla cake with chocolate frosting. We also had naan bread on the side (but we didn’t make the bread). It was good to have the sauces and spreads (the baba ganoush and the raita) on the side so that people could try as little or as much as they wanted.

The full meal.

Cutting tomatoes for raita

Scooping out baked eggplant for baba ganoush

Finished Baba ganouj-with a sprinkle of paprika.

Making & tasting the cake batter

Frosting the cake (adding chopped chocolate chips to middle frosting layer)

Harry’s cake-finished.

Lamb chops…ready to cook!