Ren Behan - Author Wild Honey and Rye

Food Writer

Simple and in Season July Round-Up PART ONE!

I’m just going to get straight into the round-up for July’s Simple and in Season as a) I’m late again and b) there were a staggering 38 entries and so there are just too many to get through!

I’m also going to post in in two parts as I’m exactly half-way through now so I might as well go for it. The second part of July’s seasonal treats will follow tomorrow, along with an announcement of the winner. I’m still deciding!

PART ONE!

We kick off with Purely Food who made a delicious Peach, Feta, Prosciutto and Rocket Salad – probably one of my all-time favourite flavour combinations. I’ve made this salad before with mozzarella, but feta makes a great alternative and peaches are currently perfectly ripe! Claire is from Cheshire, which is where I was last week. We could have had a foodie meet up! Next time perhaps. Thank you for entering. 
 
 
Our next entry was from the lovely Jacqueline at Tinned Tomatoes who made a Scottish Raspberry Jam. Ooh, I could just do with some of this on my toast! Jacqueline had been to visit a lovely berry farm and, inspired by jam making, sought out loads of other wonderful jam recipes to try. Go and have a look!
 
The next few entries are from one of our regular Simple and in Season contenders – Tadka Pasta who made Berry Blast – Ruby Raspberry Scones and a Red Berry Crumble. Don’t these look amazing?! Perfect for a glut of summer fruit. Then another entry followed called Strawberry Swirl Rice – what a lovely bright photo!

 
 
 
I’m also getting to know Taste Space from Toronto thorough this event. This month we had a really unique recipe for Warm Leek and Flageolet Bean Salad with a Mustard Dressing, where white beans met caramelized leeks making an amazing salad perfect for a summer barbecue.
 
 
We also had a second entry from Taste Space, a Roasted Carrot and Lentil Soup with Harissa and Mint. I love lentil soup. A third tasty and seasonal savoury entry, a Bulgar and Canteloupe Salad with Mint and Hazelnuts, mmmn.

Another amazing-looking dish came along – Sushi Bowl with Asparagus and Avocado – a kind of de-constructed sushi inspired by 101 Cookbooks and a trip to Vancouver. Taste Space also shared a perfectly names Luscious Lentil and Basil Soup, which was packed full of flavour as well as a wonderful Greek Baked Beans recipe.

All pretty healthy stuff, perfectly showcasing the best of Canadian seasonal produce. Wow, is all I can say!

 
Following all of this this, for dessert Taste Space shared a Raspberry Cashew Dream Cake – a really lovely vegan cheesecake using cashews and dates for the base and blended cashews for the topping! Taste Space was very busy this month! Thank you so much for sharing across the miles.
 
 
Next, Allotment 2 Kitchen linked an Aubergine, Tomato and Tamarind Stew, using seasonal aubergine and teaming it with store-cupboard chickpeas and tomatoes. Thank you, Shaheen, for entering this recipe. It is lovely.
 

A new entrant, I believe, from a lovely blog called GirliChef, sharing her recipe for Fruits & Grains Salad with a Strawberry Vinaigrette. Thank you so much for joining in! Just look at this stunning salad – I love the edible flowers and the fruits make it so appetizing.

This month, Sharky Oven Gloves (Mel) who won Simple and in Season last month warmed herself up on a cold day in Scotland and made a delicious Aubergine and Lamb Gratin. I love the fact that this was adapted form her ‘Mum’s folder of random recipes!’ We’ve all got one of those! It’s so easy to make – a perfect Simple and in Season entry!

 
My own contributions this month included my favourite summer salad – a Beetroot, Feta and Walnut Salad. Although obviously, I’m biased, this one is really easy to make and tastes yummy! I also made a ridiculously health  Sweetheart Cabbage & Basil Soup, using a seasonal Sweetheart cabbage – also known as a pointed cabbage.
 
 
 
Sanchita, The Nutty Cook put British seasonal cherries to good use on National Cherry Day by making a really interesting Cherry Chutney. I love the colour of this and the use of cherries.
 
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Another delicious cherry recipe, this time from MeLikeyUK who made a Comforting Clafoutis. I also made my very first clafoutis recipe this month which I hope to share later on, using British cherries.
 

So, that’s the first half of July’s recipes in a round-up. Check back tomorrow for Part Two!

About Ren

Ren Behan is a British-born food writer of Polish descent. She is a mum to three young children (13, 10 and 5) and spends lots of time with them in the kitchen. Ren writes about seasonal, family-friendly food on her blog www.renbehan.com. She also contributes recipes and articles to online and print food publications, such as Food52.com, GreatBritishChefs.com, Huff Post Food and JamieOliver.com. She holds a Diploma in Food Journalism with Distinction and has completed a Food Styling course at Leiths School of Food and Wine.

Ren’s cookbook, Wild Honey and Rye: Modern Polish Recipes, draws upon her Polish heritage and regular travels to Poland.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  2. >Salads, main dishes, desserts, everything's covered in this lovely round-up. We're all set to deal with the spilling bags of produce.

    Reply

  3. >Thanks Shaheen for participating for the first time we hope to see you again next month.

    Karen you've seen by now that you were our winner this month – well done and thank you for joining in!

    Reply

  4. >Thanks Helen – yes she has although I think that The Taste Space are a team of bloggers!

    Thanks Sally! Looking forward to seeing you both at the eweekend.

    Reply

  7. >Good heavens Ren, that is a LOT of entries to copy and highlight but you have done a wonderful job!

    The choice of recipes and photos are amazing, such a high standard…..and I am going to look through them now to discover some new blogs to follow!

    I am a newbie here and it was my first time participating, but I am addicted to seasonal cooking, so this event, AND your blog, was a GREAT discovery.

    A big thanks so much for this great monthly event, it must take a lot of your time up….

    Karen

    Reply

  8. >Wow that is a lot of entries to get through and so many of them inspiring. I'm especially taken by the cherry chutney by Sanchita.

    it was my first time participating here and I have thoroughly enjoyed being part of it. Thank you for hosting and allowing us to be part of your lovely blog.

    By the way, I'll be back tomorrow for the rest of the entries.

    Reply

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