Return of the Oktoberfest menu

We had some friends around for dinner on Friday, something we haven't done for ages. It's just as well I had the day off work. I didn't spend all day cooking but I did need the time to shop, chop and cook.

For the first course, I used Alex's recipe for ginger soup, or at least an approximation based on my memory of it. If the recipe involves anything besides stock, ginger, a bit of pepper and spring onion to garnish, then I didn't get it right.

For dessert, I essayed Phil's recipe for chocolate and banana cheesecake. This one I had written down, which was just as well because it's a bit more complicated.

Both were complimented, which suggests that I didn't muck them up. Of course, I knew from experience that they are both excellent.