THE OPTIMISM OF SPRING...

ALL PHOTOS: SOPHIA HOME

This morning the sun came out, and although a little chilly, there was a definite change in the air.  Birds singing, bulbs popping through, and a freshness in the atmosphere. It was a treat to be outside for a morning, before returning to my desk.

Spring is such a positive and optimistic season of new beginnings.   A time to clear out the debris of Winter both inside and out.  A good Spring clean in our homes is called for, and what a joy it is to fling open those windows and let in that fresh new air.  

The garden is our main focus at this time of the year.  A busy time of weeding and mulching, greenhouse cleaning and seed sewing.  An investment of time and effort which pays back in abundance when everything is in full summer bloom and the kitchen garden is rewarding us with delicious organic vegetables and fruit. 

Days are getting longer, and thoughts turn to a change in routine.  I love the early evening ritual of watering my greenhouse and watching for new life.  

Seed and plant buying is always exciting.  This 

year I plan to add greatly to last year's planting of Dahlia tubers, and also Ranunculus in my cutting garden.  So lovely to have bunches and bunches of beautiful blooms to fill the house with all summer long until the first frosts.

Not just lighter days, but also the craving for lighter food, and trying some delicious new springtime recipes...

Lastly let's not forget lighter clothes too. (British weather permitting!)  As much as I love my cosy winter boots and jumpers, the opportunity for bare ankles and lightweight dresses and tops is so welcome!

What are you particularly enjoying at the start of this gorgeous fresh new Spring season?  I would love to hear....

Sophia xx

***

Ps.  I certainly didn't want to dwell on anything negative for this optimistic Spring post, but I just wanted to say a huge heartfelt thank you to so many of you who sent lovely messages to me with regards to the recent hacking of my Instagram.  The long and short of it is that both mine and Delilah my puppy's accounts were taken over, bombarded with obscene images and have now been removed by Instagram who inspite of numerous messages, have not responded.  I lost several years of a precious visual diary and over 6,000 followers.  I have no idea why this happened?  I like to think it was nothing personal and just for audience numbers and I may have been one of many who had our emails hacked.  What was a harmless, happy, creative place for me, my family and lovely like minded followers, was obscenely violated. 

To end on a positive (it is Spring after all!) I have taken a deep breath and started again.  Everyone has been so lovely and supportive, and as I say, this is so appreciated!  The little corner of Instagram that I know and love is incredibly kind and supportive and so full of talent and inspiration and I shall certainly not be giving up, just because there are such horrible low life people out there. I have now set up new Instagram accounts (with a very slight change in name) for myself and Delilah, and you can find them here if you would like to follow:

@sophiahomeandlifestyle

@delilahtheminidaxie

Wishing you a very happy rest of the week...

xxx

SNOW CALLS FOR SOUP...

MORNING VIEW - PHOTO 'SOPHIA HOME'

What is it about even the slightest sprinkling of snow, to bring out the child in us?  It was with much excitement that I opened the shutters this morning, to see a light dusting of snow covering the garden and fields beyond.  Mr. W was less impressed with the thought of possible disrupted trains to London, but for a home based designer and blogger like myself, a day working at home was going to only be enhanced by being surrounded by this pretty winter wonderland.

KITCHEN GARDEN - PHOTO: SOPHIA HOME

My poor kitchen garden and greenhouse looked a little cold and sad this morning, and it is hard to believe that in just a few weeks, it will be all go in here with much preparation and planting to do.  

However, look a little closer and there is life in here!  We have leeks and kale to enjoy at the moment, and these beautiful 'Marveille de quatre saisons' lettuce.  Whether the latter will stand up to this snow and cold temperatures I'm not sure, but they are incredibly hardy and as their name suggests, they really are a marvel to grow all year round!

PHOTO: SOPHIA HOME

Another great success this year has been growing Brussel Sprouts, which is encouraging as it is the first time I have grown them. Love them or hate them?  Personally I love them!  If you are not so keen, just try and think of them as 'mini cabbages' and roast them or stir fry them with bacon or chorizo and maybe chestnuts or pine nuts.....a complete revelation! 

PHOTO: SOPHIA HOME

Like a number of winter vegetables, sprouts benefit from a cold snap and this brings out their sweet nuttiness beautifully.  

PHOTO: SOPHIA HOME

Followers of my instagram @sophiahomelifestyle will know that last week I tested out a delicious recipe for 'Brussel Sprout, chorizo and chestnut soup' which I can confirm was SO delicious!  It is the perfect winter warmer, and bar the small amount of chorizo (an essential addition!) which adds a wonderful rich and spicy kick, it is super healthy and perfect for all those good intentions for the new year.                                                                                                                                                                                                 

PHOTO: SOPHIA HOME

Sadly I forgot to take a photo of the end result, but trust me, it's delicious, so do try it!

INGREDIENTS:

400g Brussel sprouts, trimmed

1 onion, chopped

1 carrot, chopped

1 bay leaf

100-150g cooking chorizo chopped

1 tsp group cumin

1/2 tsp cayenne pepper

1 tsp smoked paprika

Leaves from 2 sprigs rosemary, finely chopped

4 garlic cloves, finely chopped, in two equal piles

2 large tomatoes or 1/2 tin chopped tomatoes

500g cooked peeled chestnuts, vacuum-packed 

1 litre chicken or vegetable stock

4 tbsp olive oil

salt and pepper

METHOD:

Separate the sprouts into two equal piles.  Cut one portion into halves and finely shred the other and keep separate.

In a large saucepan heat 2 tablespoons of oil and fry the onion and carrots until they start to brown.  Add the bay leaf and chorizo and continue frying for another few minutes.

Now add the halved sprouts, the cumin, cayenne, smoked paprika, rosemary and half the garlic and stir for another minute.  Next add the tomato, chestnuts and stock, bring to the boil and simmer for 10 minutes.

Use a hand blender or food processor to blitz the soup but don't make it too smooth - some texture is good.  Reheat in the pan, adding salt and pepper as needed.

Heat the remaining 2 tablespoons of olive oil in a large frying pan over a high heat.  When the oil is hot, throw in the remaining garlic and the shredded sprouts and stir fry for a minute or two until the sprouts are just tender and bright green.

Stir through the soup just before serving, saving a spoonful to garnish each bowl.

****

Bon appétit!

With more snow forecast, do stay safe and warm.   I have a new delivery of seed catalogues, and shall be doing just that, and dreaming and planning for Spring, which really is not too far away.

Happy Friday!

Sophia xx

HYDRANGEAS....

PRESERVING AUTUMN'S COLOUR.

ALL PHOTOS: SOPHIA HOME

My love for Hydrangeas is very evident in our garden here at home in Kent.  When we designed and started planting on what was a complete blank canvas six years ago, we wanted to concentrate on bold blocks of same type perennial planting.  Roses, Agapanthus, Spring bulbs, and especially Hydrangeas....all contained within box hedge edged beds...with the aim of creating a 'Modern Country Garden'.

Predominantly white Hydrangeas....'Annabel' and the spectacular sized heads of 'Incrediball'....their bright, white, creaminess so uplifting in 

the garden and beautifully illuminating in the evening.  

One area, either side of steps up to our back deck, I have planted a variety called 'Magical Amethyst'.  This beautiful variety starts its growing season white, and slowly turns to gentle hues of pink and green.

Inspired to preserve their beauty longer, before the winds and rain take hold, a large bunch has been picked and brought inside to dry.

Hung up in the 'Boot Room', suspended from the lantern...

Only two days, and the flowers are drying nicely....watch this space for what I plan to do with them!

Do you have a favourite variety of Hydrangea or preserving method?  I would love to hear from you....

Sophia xx

 MAY TIME TREAT...

ALL PICTURES: SOPHIA HOME

Around the beginning of May, we wait with much anticipation for the sign to go up at the local Asparagus farm down the lane from us, here in Kent.

Those early days of Asparagus sales from their barn, cause much competition from we locals, as we race to get our beautiful bunches of this seasonal delight before they run out each day.

No all year round, air freighted tasteless imports can begin to compare with the gorgeous, sweet, fresh taste of these just picked spears of goodness. With such a short season of barely eight weeks, depending on the weather, fresh local Asparagus has become a delicacy to savour...

Whether steamed, or oven roasted, with butter or hollandaise sauce, used in flans, or delicious pasta and risotto dishes...we try to eat as much of it as we can before the season ends!  Saturday lunch found us eating it in our favourite way...oven roasted in olive oil, with parma ham, shavings of parmesan and pine nuts....yummy!

Dating back to Roman times,  Asparagus not only tastes good, it does you good.  Packed with vitamins A, B and C, virtually fat free and full of fibre and folic acid, it is also good for the heart, boosts the immune system and cancer defences, and also great for skin, nails and hair....wow, what better excuse do we need to indulge in this super delicious super food!

Is Asparagus on your menu this month?  If so, how do you like to serve it?  I would love to hear!

Wishing you a very happy week...

Sophia xx

A LATE SEPTEMBER HARVEST...

ALL PICTURES: SOPHIA HOME

Happy Monday everyone!

I do hope you all had a lovely weekend?

Ours was very much a 'catch up' weekend in the garden….it's frightening just how out of control things can get when you turn your back on things for just a week or two!  

Our efforts were concentrated on the kitchen garden, where the warm September weather had caused the weeds to completely take over! Back breaking work, but quite satisfying to turn chaos into order, and most beds are now weeded and mulched with a thick layer of manure.  Followers of my Instagram @sophiahomelifestyle, will know that it wasn't my most glamorous of Sunday activities!

What was enjoyable, was September's late harvest….here are a few of Sunday's pickings….

Cucumbers from the greenhouse...

'Uchiki Kuri' squashes...

Still an abundance of courgettes!

Beautiful Victoria plums…

Onions to be stored and used over the coming months…

An abundance of apples in the orchard…

And my absolute favourite….

Who could not love these gorgeous 'pink' offerings of Dahlias and Stocks from this year's new cutting garden….and beautiful Borlotti beans!  The perfect ingredient for a delicious Cassoulet supper to end a perfect September Sunday…

Wishing you a very happy week!

Sophia xx

THE FRESH TASTE OF SUMMER...

ALL PHOTOS: SOPHIA HOME

With the asparagus season several weeks in now, we have been making the most of the relatively short lived season of these healthy, delicious early summer delights here at home….with our local farm keeping us in plentiful supply, I have been trying to incorporate them in to as many meals as possible.  A new favourite salad recipe from June's edition of 'Homes and Garden' magazine was given my additional twist of asparagus recently…but with or without, the fresh zingy flavours of mint and lemon with hot smoked trout are absolutely delicious.  With also the first pickings of pea shoots from the kitchen garden, it has the true taste of summer….do try it!

HOT SMOKED TROUT SALAD WITH POTATOES, PEAS, PEA SHOOTS AND MINT.

FOR THE DRESSING:

1 lemon, juice and finely grated zest

1 heaped tsp wholegrain mustard

4 tbsp extra virgin olive oil

pinch of caster sugar

FOR THE SALAD:

500g small new potatoes

handful of mint leaves, shredded plus 1 spring of mint

200g shelled peas, fresh or frozen

2 large handfuls of pea shoots

1 bunch of asparagus

baby spinach or salad leaves

300g hot smoked trout fillets, flaked

Put all the dressing ingredients plus 1 tablespoon of water in a lidded jar and shake to combine thoroughly.   Put the potatoes in a saucepan with enough cool water to cover generously.  Add the mint sprig and a large pinch of salt, bring to the boil and simmer for about 16 minutes, until the potatoes are almost tender.  Add the peas and cook for about 3 minutes more.  If using my addition of asparagus, steam this over the potatoes for about 5 minutes at the same time.  Drain thoroughly and slice the potatoes into thick coins as soon as they are cool enough to handle.  Toss the warm potato slices, peas and asparagus with the dressing, shredded mint, pea shoots and salad leaves and trout.  Season with salt and pepper before serving…..

Bon appétit!

Wishing you all a delicious, healthy and very happy start to the week!

Sophia xx

LA FÊTE DU MUGUET….

La Fête du Muguet….according to French tradition, on 1st May, give those you love a little bouquet of Lilly of the Valley (Muguet), to wish them happiness and good luck in celebration of the arrival of spring…..such a lovely tradition!

King Charles IX of France, who offered Lily of the Valley to all the ladies of his court on May 1st, 1561, decreed that on this day anyone in France can legally sell flowers without a license to sell, as long as they are a reasonable distance away from the nearest flower shop….another little fact for your day ahead!

ALL PHOTOS: SOPHIA HOME

So with this posy, picked fresh from the garden, I wish you all happiness and luck, and a 

very happy day!

Sophia xx

ANOTHER BEAUTIFUL DAY!

ALL PHOTOS: SOPHIA HOME

PHOTO:SOPHIA HOME

Another beautiful day here in Kent.  So lovely to have the sunshine streaming in through the house…..

PHOTO: SOPHIA HOME

PHOTO: SOPHIA HOME

 Brightening the space and spirits alike….

PHOTO: SOPHIA HOME

Giving a hint of what we have to look forward to…. in the form of Spring.

PHOTO: SOPHIA HOME

With a craving for something fresh and healthy for lunch today, it was to the kitchen garden that I turned to this morning.  Looking a little battered by the recent high winds and rain….but still with a reasonable supply of winter veg to choose from.

PHOTO: SOPHIA HOME

 Leeks, Celeriac, Chard, Beetroot, Purple Sprouting Broccoli and my absolute favourite….Kale!  A red 'Curly Kale' variety that has a particularly good flavour….

PHOTO: SOPHIA HOME

Kale is the perfect ingredient at this time of year, when we are all trying to keep fit and healthy.  A powerhouse of nutrients, it is high in beta carotene, vitamin K, vitamin C and rich in calcium.  As with broccoli and other brassicas, it can significantly lower cholesterol and also contains 'sulforaphane' which is a chemical with potent anti-cancer properties…..no wonder it is right up there on the list of 'Superfoods'!

  

One of my favourite ways of using this tasty, nutritious winter crop, is to put it in a delicious warming, hearty soup….similar to a Tuscan Robollita,  but using whatever I happen to have to hand.

PHOTO: SOPHIA HOME

PHOTO: SOPHIA HOME


Today's mix was as follows:

1 onion
clove of garlic
1 red chilli
1 red pepper, chopped
6 mushrooms chopped
1 tin chopped tomatoes
1 tin of cannellini beans 
1 pint of vegetable stock
large bunch of Kale, chopped
Parsley and Parmesan cheese to garnish

***

Fry garlic, onions, red pepper mushrooms and chilli until soft.  Add tomatoes and stock, followed by Kale and allow to simmer for 5 minutes.  Add beans and warm through.  Serve garnished with Parsley and Parmesan cheese.

***

  Voila!
  Easy, delicious and incredibly healthy!

Enjoy the rest of your weekend and here's to a happy and healthy week!

Sophia xx