A RECIPE FROM THE KITCHEN GARDEN....

July and August brings an abundance of fruit and vegetables from the Kitchen Garden, and with the amazing never ending summer temperatures we have been having, things have been particularly prolific!  

Eating organically and local, whenever possible, has always been so important to me.....and that's really my driving force behind having my own kitchen garden.  My mother always ran a productive kitchen garden at home while I was growing up and it is something I just automatically started as a young wife and mother thirty years ago.  Starting with a modest patch at our first cottage all those years ago, and now a larger 'Potager' with raised beds, that we created ten years ago when we built our home and started developing a blank canvas of a garden.

I admit there are days when the early season preparation of back breaking digging, mulching (ok 'Mr. W' is a star when it comes to help with this!) and never ending weeding do take its toll, but are far outweighed by the wonderful satisfaction of effectively having your very own 'Farm Shop' just meters from ones back door.

Knowing that we and family and friends are eating something so pure and nutritionally bursting with goodness, is what inspires me constantly year after year to keep loving my little plot. 

This summer's high temperatures have brought the joy of eating outside almost every day in recent weeks under the cool of our vine pergola.  Salads,  light dishes of grilled fish or chicken and especially cold soups have been what we have been craving in the heatwave.

With a huge glut of daily cucumber pickings from the greenhouse, I was in search of ideas other than just using them in salads!  Amongst juicing them with celery and apple in the mornings, making this delicious chilled cucumber soup has been the perfect light and cooling lunch.

After posting this on my Instagram @sophiahomeandlifestyle recently, I received so many requests for the recipe, so here it is....super easy and no cooking required!

COLD CUCUMBER SOUP WITH YOGHURT AND DILL

2 large Cucumbers, peeled 

2 cups of greek yoghurt

Juice from 1/2 a lemon

1 small shallot

1 garlic clove

1/2 cup dill

1/2 cup flat leaf parsley leaves

2 tablespoons tarragon leaves

1/4 cup olive oil plus more for drizzling

salt

white pepper

1/2 red onion chopped

peeled prawns for garnish (optional)

***

In a blender, combine cucumber, yoghurt, lemon juice, shallot, garlic, dill, parsley, tarragon and olive oil.  Blend until smooth and season with salt and pepper.  Cover and refrigerate for at least 8 hours or overnight.

Serve in bowls, garnished with red onion, extra diced cucumber and a drizzle of olive oil.  A few cooked peeled prawns are optional but for me make this extra special!

***

Super delicious and yes, it really is that easy?!

Bon Appétit 

Sophia xx

A DELICIOUS SPRING TREAT...

Good morning!

I'm not sure where the last week vanished to, but I do hope you all had a lovely long Easter weekend?

Ours was a particularly relaxing one, with no large scale entertaining this year, so a chance to get some projects done, take things easy and of course, prepare some delicious food!

When I shared on Instagram that I was making a 'Baked cheesecake with rhubarb', I received so many messages requesting the recipe, that I promised to post it here on the blog, so here it is finally!

Taken from the March edition of 'Waitrose' magazine, I would highly recommend this delicious desert...less rich than a classic cheesecake and with the addition of tangy Spring rhubarb it is fresh and absolutely delicous.  Perfect for this time of year when the first forced rhubarb is appearing.

BAKED CHEESECAKE WITH RHUBARB

SERVES 8-10

PREP: 15 MINUTES PLUS COOLING

COOK: 1 HOUR 15 MINS.

ROASTED RHUBARB

400g rhubarb, cut into 5cm lengths

75g caster sugar

3 cardamom pods, crushed

1tsp finely julienned fresh root ginger

BISCUIT BASE

125g amaretti biscuits

125g digestive biscuits

125g unsalted butter, melted and cooled 

plus extra for greasing

FILLING

4 eggs

115g caster sugar

600g ricotta

15g mascarpone

50g plain flour

1tsp vanilla extract

1 lemon, zest of all, plus a squeeze of juice

Preheat the oven to 160 C, gas mark 3.  For the roasted rhubarb, put all the ingredients in a roasting tin.  Stir in 3 tbsp water and toss together.  Bake, uncovered, for 15-20 mins until the rhubarb is just tender. Take out of the oven and set aside to cool in the tin.

Turn the oven up to 180 C (gas mark 4), lightly grease a 23cm springform cake tin and line the base with baking parchment.  For the biscuit base, put the amaretti and digestives in a large, sealable bag and crush with a rolling pin into fine crumbs.  Tip into a bowl, add the melted butter and mix until the crumbs are coated.  Transfer to the prepared tin, spread evenly over the base.  Bake for 10 mins then set aside to cool  Reduce the oven temp to 160C (gas mark 3).

For the filling, lightly beat the eggs and sugar umtil the sugar has dissolved.  Add the remaining ingredients and beat until well combined.  Pour over the base, then bake for 45 mins or until just set with a slight wobble in the middle.  Switch off the oven, open the door a little and leave the cheesecake to cool completely in the oven.  Serve with the rhubarb and some creme fraiche, if liked.

Bon appétit!

***

Sophia xx

IT'S THE MOST WONDERFUL TIME 

OF THE YEAR....

Hello everyone and happy Christmas!

As I write this very belated blog post this Friday late afternoon, there is that wonderful anticipation for the imminent festivities that start this weekend!

With two out of three of our brood coming home from London for the celebrations (sadly eldest son is not home from Singapore this year, but we shall see him soon!), like all us Mums, I can't wait to have my chicks under one roof.

We shall have our usual 'Swenglish celebrations'....Swedish smorgasbord and presents on Christmas Eve and English Christmas on Christmas Day.  With a Swedish mother and English father, this lovely mix is something we celebrated when I was a child, and have since carried on with our own children.

Decorating the house is always a highlight for me. I start early on December 1st. (which happens to be my birthday!) with two fresh trees....

...and plenty of bulbs and fresh flowers around the house.

This is Delilah's first Christmas, and I'm relieved to see that she hasn't decided to demolish the trees....could have something to do with not being able to reach? Ha ha!

Fairy lights are a must...

...and plenty of bubbles!  Any of you who follow my Instagram (@sophiahomeandlifestyle) will know that this is Mr. W's Christmas styling input! I think he was rather chuffed with all the kind comments he received!

So with candles and fire lit this evening, and a glass of bubbles poured, may I wish all of you and your families a very happy Christmas!

Lots of love, 

Sophia xx

CANAPÉ INSPIRATION...

Cucumber, horseradish, crab and pickled daikon

With Christmas and the festive run up to it just a few weeks away, many of us may be looking for  food and entertaining inspiration.

Whether for the big day itself, or if you plan to have a few friends and neighbours in for drinks in December, it is always lovely to make guests feel welcome with a little something delicious with drinks, other than the standard bowl of crisps or nuts!  I personally always feel particularly welcome when a host has made that little bit of effort with something yummy and appealing to the eye on first arrival.  It keeps hunger at bay over drinks, and certainly sets the tone for what is to come.

Watermelon and miso prawns with edible viola flowers. 

With a daughter who works as a private chef, I am constantly inspired by the food she produces.  Every time I get in a 'cooking rut' (does anyone else feel like that at times?!) I call her up to inspire me and get me out of my predictable cooking zone and try something new or that little bit more imaginative. 

Canapés are Georgie's favourite things to prepare for client parties and certainly my favourite thing to eat.  In fact I could possibly live on them!

Delicious little morsels of one bite heaven that look visually lovely too.  Here are a few ideas, created by Georgie, to whet your appetite....

Crab and chipotle tacos. 

 I shall certainly be incorporating one or two of these gorgeous ideas on the big day itself instead of a starter.  (or maybe just cheekily cheat and get 'darling daughter' to whip them up?)  Perfect of course with a glass of something cold and bubbly!

Sweetcorn frittas with guacamole and seared sashimi tuna, with red amaranth.

Crab, horseradish and cucumber gazpacho toasts.

Truffle crostini with celariac remoulade and lightly seared fillet of beef.

Mini poppadums with sweetcorn chaat, tandoori chicken and micro coriander.

Beetroot macaroons, goats cheese mousse and micro mint.

Here below, Georgie has passed on the recipe for these delicious 'Carrot and cumin frittas' with goat's cheese, pine nut and dill.  Thinking about it, they would have been perfect for recent Halloween, as they remind me of little mini pumpkins....next year!

Ingredients:

3 carrots

1 egg

1 tsp toasted cumin seeds

1 tbsp chopped coriander

1 tbsp plain flour

Dip:

1 log of soft goat's cheese

1 tbsp greek yoghurt

50g toasted pine nuts

1 handful chopped dill

Method:

Grate carrots or shred in a food processor.  Mix carrots with all other ingredients and mould in small rounds.  Heat 2 tbsp of oil in a pan and cook until golden, turning to cook evenly.  Mix the dip mixture in a food processor and place a small amount on each of the warm fritters.  Garnish with a little dill and edible viola flowers.

Healthy and delicious...

Bon appétit!

Sophia xx

Ps.  For more food inspiration, or to make an enquiry, check out 'G's Kitchen' on Instagram @georgies_kitchen

A SUMMER LUNCH...

We love to entertain here at home....especially in the summer months, when we can all enjoy the garden too, English weather permitting of course!

  I especially like to mix our children and their partners and friends, with our own friends and just love the dynamics of mixing the generations!

A couple of weeks ago, with twenty-four family and friends due for lunch, it was with happiness and relief that we woke early to blue skies and sunshine!  My plan to seat everyone outside, down one long table was going to work.

With a useful collection of trestle tables that we have to hand, and hired chairs, crockery, cutlery and glassware, lunch on this scale is easily organised....not to mention, the saving on washing up!  (so love our hire company, for collecting everything used!)

Entertaining should be fun and relaxed, especially for those hosting.  Noone enjoys seeing a frazzled host or hostess!   The joy of summer food, especially at lunch, is that it can be served cold and prepared ahead, leaving more time to enjoy the company of guests.  

Having said all this, I have a big confession to make....on this occasion, I cheated!  

Yes, this summer lunch was super relaxing for Mr. W and I, as we enlisted the help of our wonderful daughter Georgie to prepare the food.  As a talented (sorry, proud Mum!) and in demand 'Private Chef' working in London and abroad, (follow her on Instagram @georgies_kitchen) it was such a treat to enjoy her delicious canapés and yummy, fresh and innovative lunch dishes.

Flowers for the table were dictated by what was good for picking in the garden....tall glasses of white Hydrangea and vases of brightly coloured Budlea, Zinnias and  Calendular and a large jug of Lizianthus brightened the table....

White bunting strung beneath the pergola and adjoining gazebo...

A large bucket and jardinieres filled with ice for white wine, rosé and mineral water....relaxed and fun for guests to help themselves.

Simple place cards, attached to freshly picked Rosemary...

For me, the table setting is the fun part!

One of the delicous canapés we enjoyed pre lunch...crab and wasabi mayonnaise with edible violas.

Three of the gorgeous salads to accompany the delicous fillet of beef...

Sadly we were all too busy having fun, to photograph the rest of the delicous food.  I hope to share some of her delicous salad recipes on the blog soon with you though!

We weren't the only ones to enjoy this perfect summer day....there were of course, two very happy dogs who just love having all the family home!

Happy days.....

***

How do you like to entertain family and friends?  Do you have any tips or traditions that you enjoy? I would love to hear!

Wishing you a happy week,

Sophia xx