Simple and in Season July PART TWO & Winner!
Hello there! Ready for more?! This is second half of July’s Simple and in Season round-up as there were simply too many to get through in one stint. Obviously, I didn’t do what everyone told me to do, which was add the entries to a draft post each time they were linked-up. There’s always a next time!
A huge congrtulations to Karen from Lavendar and Lovage who wins with her Vanilla and Cream Terrine with a Compote of Mixed Summer Berries – see this and more posts below.
At the half way mark, A Trifle Rushed joined us with her seasonal treat. Quite apart from the food, I love the name of this blog and this month I enjoyed seeing the process of Apricot and Lavender Jam being made from a 5kg box of apricots from Brittany. I love the fact that the first thing A Trifle Rushed thought about when reaching France was what to cook and this box of apricots made a huge amount of jam – perfect with a fresh baguette!
Next, an entry from Cooking in Westchester, a blog based in a county of New York called Westchester. A lovely post entitled “The Blue Banner of Summer” shared an even lovelier recipe for Blueberry Buckle – a cake made with fresh seasonal blueberries and a streusel/crumble topping. Looks delicious!
The lovely Helen from Fuss Free Flavours shared a really tasty recipe for Rice and Peas called Risi & Bisi. Helen was babysitting a gerbil and came across a book on the shelf called ‘A Feast for the Eyes’ in which she found the recipe for a risotto-like dish flavoured with Parma ham and fresh seasonal peas. Thanks Helen for entering – this looks like the perfect seasonal supper.
More seasonal blueberries….Dancing Veggies shared a recipe for a Rustic Blueberry Apple Pie. The apples were picked from an orchard and blueberries from the farmer’s market for this pie, though Dancing Veggies says that almost any seasonal fruit could be used, such as peaches.
Another two entries from The Taste Space followed (see part one for six more seasonal recipes from The Taste Space team). This time we have 15-Minute Zippy Garlic-Basil Marinara with Zucchini Noodles. Zucchini or Courgettes as they are know in England are definitely in season here too and this is a great twist on a classic spaghetti dish. I really like the fresh and healthy look of this dish.
This was followed by an Asparagus Ribbon Salad with Mosto Cotto and Almonds. Mosto Cotto is an aged condensed Balsamic vinegar which makes a simple dressing for any salad. Here The Taste Space used local asparagus.
Next, a great post from Kate’s Cakes and Bakes called “Cake Disaster Management: Strawberry Tiramisu Cake” which Kate says involved “13% inspiration, 32% perspiration, 10% cursing inanimate objects and 45% disaster management” after her two sponge cakes collapsed in the oven. I love recipes that happen because of a failed incident of some kind or other and this one is a perfect example of how to rescue an otherwise failed baking attempt! Great work Kate. I also love the fact that one of the comments on the post is from someone called ‘The Caked Crusader’ – what a great name. The finished product looks delicious to me; I love Mascarpone cheese and this is another great twist on an Italian classic. Disaster averted!
Now, Karen from Lavender and Lovage is a huge inspiration to me. Karen shared a recipe for a Vanilla and Cream Terrine with a Compote of Mixed Summer Berries, inspired by Delia Smith’s Summer Cookbook with the berry compote as her own addition. This entry, for me, is summer on a plate – making Karen this month’s winner!
I love the little sprigs of lavender creeping into the photo and the vibrant green mint contrasting the wonderful mix of berries. Underneath I can just imagine scooping up the creamy vanilla terrine….just perfect!
But wait…there are more seasonal treats in store from Karen at Lavender and Lovage in her garden in South West France. This time, a recipe for Berry Beautiful English Summer Fruit Pies, which was a recipe that Karen herself, as a Food Writer, had once submitted to Country Kitchen magazine. Thank you Karen for sharing!
More garden berries over at Lavender and Lovage inspired this lovely Mixed Currant and Lavender Jelly, a wonderful recipe to go with cheese, charcuterie or cold cuts on a summer afternoon. Amazing that all these recipes should come from one crop of fruit bushes in the garden!
Karen from Lavender and Lovage also held a Summer Tea Party and invited us all to share her Devon Cream Tea with Strawberry Jam. Karen’s a post includes two recipes – a family jam recipe and a scone recipe – both combining to make a quintessential British summer treat. I think if Karen hadn’t won with her Vanilla Cream Terrine recipe, she would have won with this one – it was a close call!
Onto more summer strawberries, Paula from Sweet Hearts Cakes and Bakes joined us for the first time with her recipe for Strawberry Cream Cupcakes adding fresh seasonal strawberries into the cupcake batter and topping them with a swirl of fresh cream and a slice of strawberry. Strawberries are my favourite summer fruit too, so I will definitely be giving these a try! Welcome Paula.
Another new entrant, this time Equal Opportunity Kitchen a mother and daughter team from Otawa made No Sugar Raspberry Jam. This recipe was inspired by a pick-your-own berry trip and the ‘no sugar’ element requires ‘No Sugar Needed Pectin’ and Agave Nectar or honey to sweeten. This is a really clever jam recipe with easy step-by-step instructions.
Next, another recipe from me! I made homemade Granola or Honey Nut Toasted Oats with a Ribena Berry Sauce made from ‘in season’ blackcurrants. It was delicious, even if I do say so myself!
Karen from Lavender and Lovage came back to us, this time with a savoury dish called Summer Herb and Wild Salmon with Fresh Garden Peas inspiring a picnic at the bottom of the garden. Look at the beautiful decoration on this pie!
The Taste Space team also came back with one more, this time a Millet Bowl with Spinach, Leek and Toasted Pumpkin Seeds. Definitely one I will be trying – looks so healthy!
And last, but by no means least, Laura from How to Cook Good Food shared her Cherry, Almond and Polenta Crumble Cake, which looks amazing. I too am always torn between cherries and plums and I really love cakes with crumble toppings so I’m off to make this now!
THANK YOU so much to everyone who entered Simple and in Season July! I’m looking forward to next month’s seasonal treats already!
>Great post, really fantastic. I do hope you enjoy Julia's book!
>I have now added a post about my book……
Karen
http://lavenderandlovage.blogspot.com/2011/08/slice-of-cherry-pie-and-fabulicious.html
>THANKS very much Ren for my book, which arrived last week: I have not had time to really look at it properly, but I am booking today off to relax and read, so watch out for a recipe on my blog soon…I will post a little blurb about it next week along with a test recipe!
Karen
>Thanks Laura! I will see how many entries we get next month and how they are split. Sometimes people look for savoury over sweet etc so it could be a good way forwards. If you don't get a chance then by all means submit an older post. Thanks for your comment.
>I agree with the winning recipe Ren, just lovely!
Karen, well done to you. think you are a worthy winner!
I like the sound of splitting up the categories into savoury and sweet although I am off on holiday so. May not get aroung to entering , unless it's ok to use an older blog post, what do you think?
>Ahh Karen, you are a very worthy winner! You really captured the essence of July with all of your amazing garden produce. I'm so pleased that you enjoyed entering and sharing your recipes – blogging events are a great way for everyone to discover new blogs too.
Thanks you also for your comment A Trifle Rushed! Your jam looks delicious and I'll definitelt be trying that too.
We were spoilt this month!
Next month, I wonder whether I should split the recipes in the round up to have one savoury round up and one sweet round up. Any thoughts?
>Well done Ren, what a wonderful selection of recipes. Karen's food looks so delicious a really great winner – congratulations Karen.
>Oh my goodness, I am overwhelmed, I have not won anything in simply ages, and having seen the high level of recipes and photos submitted to this brilliant seasonal event, I was sure someone else would have been in the top spot…..
I really only entered for fun, to introduce myself to the blogging world, make new friends, and join new blogs, as well as admire Ren's wonderful blog here…..the fact that she has only been blogging for about 10 months is amazing!
THANKS so much Ren……this has made my day, probably my week actually!
Thanks to everyone who came to see me at my new blog too…..you have made me feel very welcome, have inspired me and given me confidence to carry on with my new venture and I am pleased to have met you all.
Karen