A burst of colour and beauty

At this bizarre weekend, when great part of the world is in grief over the people who lost their lives in Paris, I post this burst of colour and beauty. I hope it will brighten up the darkness and lift the spirit. If only a little.

My thoughts are with the people who lost family and friends, with the people who sat on a terrace under the light of the lanterns, enjoying each others company. My thoughts are with the people who were dancing to the music of one of their favourite bands. My thoughts are with the people who lost their innocence and whose lives will never be the same because of what they witnessed. My thoughts are with the beautiful city of Paris, so many of us enjoy and whose scar will take some time to heal.

My burst of colour and beauty was taken on a fine summer morning at Thornbridge Hall, a beautiful house and garden in The Peak District. Where flowers tumbled over each other, ivy crept up the windows and dragonfly's hovered over the pond, while my daughter and I sat on the grass eating a sandwich. Why can't life always be this simple?

Wishing you Love and Peace,

Madelief x

A lazy summer afternoon

We had some warm sunny days recently and more is to come. I love days like this. It's such a delight to wear flip flops once more, get rid of trousers and thick cardigans and spend as much time as possible in the garden. To me the best way to do this is with family and friends. 

Yesterday sweet friends from one of my cooking clubs joined me for a lazy summer afternoon. 

We all made one or two dishes. It's always a surprise what will be on our table. We had a quinoa salad with mackerel, apple and beetroot, a salad with pearl barley, chicken, harricot vers and peppers (see photo below), a bulgur salad with strawberries and pistachio nuts (see photo above) and a Swiss apricot pie for desert (see photo below). They were all absolutely delicious!

Unfortunately I don't have the time to write down all the recipes, but I am confident you can find them on the internet. I added the recipe for the bulgur salad with strawberries and pistachio nuts below.

I wanted to thank you too for your replies on my questions in last weeks blog post. I find it interesting to know what your opinion is on the subject of anonymous blogging and the influence of your readers on your style of writing. If you haven't read the comments yet. Please have a look. 

Wishing you a Happy week!

Love,

Madelief x  

Bulgur salad with strawberries, mint and pistachio nuts

200 gr bulgur

one or two chopped spring onions

40 gr chopped pistachio nuts

3 tbsp chopped parsley

1 tbsp chopped mint

3 tbsp lemon juice

3 tbsp olive oil

a pinch of coarse sea salt

freshly ground pepper

about 200 grams of strawberries (in halves or quarters)

Prepare the bulgur as stated on the packaging. Leave to cool.

Mix the bulgur with the herbs, the pistachio nuts, olive oil en lemon juice. Add salt and pepper to your taste. 

Add the strawberries to the salad just before you put it on the table. 

Bon appetit!

A warm summer evening in the garden

It was my intention to give this post the title 'A night under the stars', but while writing it down I realised it sounded a bit suggestive for a dinner party in the garden. Although the party ended with a pitch dark sky and stars illuminating our dining table.
Therefore a title which is perhaps a bit boring, but nevertheless more appropriate for the occasion.

When having a dinner party in an allotment garden, it is essential to keep ones head clear. Which is difficult on a warm summer day. Especially when you have been in the kitchen for some time grilling the vegetables, while the cherry tomatoes are roasting in the oven.

When filling up my baskets at home, I always check twice before I leave. Just to be sure. Yesterday being the exception. While I was half way to the garden, I realised I had forgotten the merquez sausages and lamb cutlets. I had to turn round and head back home again. That's not all. While I started on my dessert in the outdoor kitchen, the strawberries seemed to be missing. A summer Pavlova without strawberries is like missing the icing on the cake. Thanks to one of my daughters, who cycled to the garden to bring the strawberries, our dessert turned out fine. I did not even have to bribe her!

When you are interested in the recipe for the char grilled vegetables or the quinoa, avacado & broad bean salad, check out the cookery books by Yottam Ottolenghi.

You can find the recipe for the Pavlova in the little cookbook 101 tempting desserts.

Wish you all a wonderful weekend! We are off to the beach tomorrow for a cooling dip.

LOVE,

Madelief x