Eggplant Rounds

1 small eggplant will make about 20 finger food items

Ingredients

• 4 Tbl finely chopped capsicum
• 4 cloves garlic finely chopped
• 4 Tbl feta crumbled
• 10 tsp canned chopped tomato
• oil

Method

Slice eggplant thinly into rounds about 5mm thick.

Place on a well oiled baking sheet, salt lightly and put into a 200°C oven.

After ten minutes turn them over and cook for a further 5 minutes.

Combine the capsicum, garlic and feta.

Remove eggplant slices from oven and divide the feta mix over the top of the slices. Add a teaspoon of chopped canned tomato to the top of each and return to the oven for a further 10 minutes.

Remove from the oven and let sit until cool enough to handle.

Pick each up and fold in half, enclosing the tomato/feta etc. within an eggplant slice fold-over.

Serve.

Stephen Morris’s wine suggestions

Bubbles:

NV Pelorus from Cloudy Bay. Normally $35, often a little bit less on special in December. If it came from France we'd have to pay double that at least. It's elegant and sophisticated. It's got heaps of welcoming fruit - think crisp apples - and a fine delicate and refreshing bead - that's the bubbles to most people. But still has the winemakers' touch of warm bready toasty notes on the nose. Creaming soda for adults!

For those who are looking to spread there dollar even further, I noticed that Yellowglen out of Australia have both their YELLOW and PINK versions out on special for the festive season. $20 for 3 bottles - frivilous, fun, and fine to add a splash of orange juice or peach schnapps to. Even better is some white peach pulp (if you can find it - often easier after Christmas) in the bottom of the glass, and then topped with fizz - the proper BELLINI cocktail.

And as everyone is standing out beside the bbq ...

Beer

My plan here is to drink less but drink better. NZ has an ever growing range of boutique brewers who are producing some wonderfully fresh and interesting beers.

Auckland based EPIC have got a fine lager and a very punchy pale ale - both about $20 for a six pack.

And well worth the search is the INVERCARGILL BREWING COMPANY. Their BIMAN lager is the perfect hot day beer. It's made in that Asian, eat with curry, style. $23-25/six pack. No kegs of flat, warm, brown suds here, thanks!