Is it hot or cold, do we have sunshine or rain? Is anyone else confused?! Up until yesterday, we were eating warming soups and stews, today, the sunnier and more in keeping with spring weather, inspired this lovely bright British asparagus, mozzarella, tomato and egg salad. This is a sort of cross between asparagus with poached egg (a heavenly combination) and an Italian tomato and mozzarella salad, though on this plate, all the ingredients are British. It goes perfectly with a glass of fizz and you’ll find out why I’ve been drinking that a little later on!
The asparagus season here in the UK has just about begun and you can certainly find some British asparagus in the shops, but not to the extent that many had hoped for. The annual British Asparagus Festival, due to be held in Worcestershire, was cancelled because of bad weather, flooding and a very sleepy asparagus crop. On the positive side, if the rain and cool weather finally go away and we get sunshine, we could see the British asparagus season hold out a little longer, meaning a good amount could be available around the Diamond Jubilee Weekend and even beyond.
So, really, I made this salad in the anticipation that more British asparagus will grow and become available for us. The buffalo mozzarella used in this salad is British too, made at Laverstoke Park Farm and is widely available in UK shops. The tomatoes were English, the eggs free range, and I also used a locally produced golden rapeseed oil, made into a lemon dressing.
[gmc_recipe 4269]
I’m sending this salad across to a few blog events.
Firstly, to Jacqueline and Lisa’s No Croutons Required event, a monthly vegetarian soup and salad challenge hosted this month by Lisa’s Kitchen with the theme being eggs.
Since I made a fresh lemon dressing, I am sending this across to Laura’s One Ingredient Challenge, co-hosted by herself and Nazima at Working London Mummy – the ingredient being lemon.
And last, but by no means least, to Urvashi at The Botanical Baker, who is very kindly looking after my own Simple and in Season this month.
Brilliance in Blogging Awards – Thank YOU!!!
I have one more very special thing to to say just before I pop off for the evening. I have been in a slightly giddy, celebratory mode this week, owning to the wonderful news that Fabulicious Food! is a FINALIST in the Brit Mums Brilliance in Blogging Awards, unbelievably, in the ‘Outstanding‘ category. This is down to you all for voting and amazingly, Fabulicious Food! is the only food blog to make it into this particular category. This means I am up against some very stiff competition, but reaching this stage alone is enough to keep a very big smile on my face for a very long time to come! Hence, the fizz!
After only eighteen months of blogging, making it as a finalist is a huge boost to me on a personal level. Thank you, big time.
The final stage is for the blogs in each category to be scrutinized by an independent judge or judging panel. The overall winners will then be announced at the BritMums Live Awards Ceremony on Friday 22nd June 2011, part of a two-day blogging conference for UK bloggers. There are still tickets available if you are interested in coming along. Speakers include Sarah Brown, Ruby Wax and a whole host of top UK bloggers and writers, as well as the big awards ceremony/party itself presented by the broadcaster and television presenter Katy Hill on the Friday evening.
Let me know if you’ll be going, too and congratulations also to ALL the bloggers who were nominated or who have reached the finalist stage.
The biggest thank you!
best aeroplane simulator says
naturally like your website but you need to check the spelling on several of your posts. A number of them are rife with spelling problems and I in finding it very troublesome to tell the reality however I’ll surely come again again.
Choclette says
Well many congratulations Ren and I’m not in the least bit surprised – you have a fabulicious blog. It’s gone all cold and wet here again, but I am, even so craving your salad, it looks so fresh and tasty. Love asparagus, but I haven’t had any yet this year – must go and get some as we grow it in Cornwall. Talking of which, you might be interested in the Best of British blogger challenge, this month being hosted by me for Cornish inspired recipes or produce.
Ren says
Hi Choclette, I certainly am interested. Will be emailing you to double check the rules as I have a post in mind to showcase produce but not a recipe. Hope the Cornish weather brightens up this weekend! Thank you for stopping by and for the congratulatory note! x
working london mummy says
Well done and well deserved , you have crafted a beautiful space in this blog.
The recipe is lovely, and something I will be making as I love these ingredients. thanks for entering the OneIngredient challenge too xx
Ren says
Thank you, Nazima. I don’t know how any of us fit in blogging along with having small children, you too with a baby, so it is lovely to think that those who do read this blog enjoy it! Looking forward to the OneIngredient round up x
Fishfingers for tea says
Firstly, huge congratulations on your finalist place Ren. Very well deserved!
The salad is definitely something the toddler and I would enjoy (not so much the husband, he can picky but I am training him!). I picked up some asparagus this weekend with no firm plan in place. I think I’ve just found it.
Ren says
Thank you Sian, very kind of you to say :-)) Now the weather has changed again and I think we might be wanting warmed recipes again!
kellie@foodtoglow says
Congratulations on the stupendous nomination – so well-deserved! And of course, great recipe using choice, seasonal ingredients. I am writing this pre-brekkie so am having to listen to my tummy growl as I type. Off to a farmers’ market so hopefully I will find some asparagus that’s not ridiculously expensive. Clouds are looming so I better get going. Well done, Ren. And love how you always recommend a specific source for British ingredients
Ren says
Thank you so much Kellie. I saw your Versatile Blogger award, too 🙂 Hope you enjoyed your trip to the farmers’ market. I do like using British ingredients but I often wonder whether it is worth mentioning local producers as many of my readers are no so local, but the idea to think British is there! Have a good week x
Green Dragonette says
Many congratulations Ren and the best of luck!
Your salad looks super and I too love Laverstoke Park Mozzarella which- joy of joys I can get from Waitrose.
Ren says
Thank you :-)) Yes, Waitrose is a stockist and Ocado online, have probably seen it elsewhere, too. Hope you are having a lovely weekend. x
Magnolia Verandah says
Since I have an obsession for asparagus and eggs this is perfect in my book. Congrats on being a finalist! Fingers crossed eh!
Ren says
Aah lovely. I always make softly boiled eggs as I find poached eggs messy and faffy! I have never quite got the hang of poaching eggs, and have tried many gadgets and gizmos to help. Hope you do try it – I think it works but it could take a leap of faith to add egg to the mozzarella!
bakingaddict says
Congratulations on being a finalist – very well deserved and the best of luck for the final stage! This salad looks delicious and healthy! Yum 🙂
Ren says
Thank you Ros 🙂 Feel very lucky 🙂
Laura@howtocookgoodfood says
You really have come such a long way in such a short space of time, quite incredible! Also great that you are the only food blog to be left in the outstanding category so I would be drinking the whole bottle of champagne if I were you!
Thanks so much for entering this perfectly delicious salad into #oneingredient this month. I love how you sourced your ingredients for it and will be hunting out that mozzarella for sure 🙂 xx
Ren says
Thank you Laura 🙂 It is quite strange being in a category that is so mixed and I know many of the bloggers in the category so would be happy for anyone to win!
The OneIngredient challenge is fun – looking forward to the lemony round-up!
x