Bruschetta

Why do I always wait to eat Bruschetta in a restaurant?  It is such a deliciously light meal to have on a summer's day, sitting in the garden.

During  the heat we've had in the last few days, I've eaten plenty of salads.  Throughout the summer I I try to eat plenty of  fresh tomatoes and often make this family favourite, bruschetta.

Tomato Bruschetta

4 slices of a good artisanal white loaf
1 clove garlic
olive oil
3 or 4 good sized tomatoes
1 shallot
Fresh Coriander or Basil

Lightly toast the slices of bread.

Whilst still warm rub with the peeled clove of garlic and drizzle with olive oil.

Meanwhile cut the tomatoes into 16ths (horizontal and vertical- so you have wedge shaped pieces)

Finely slice the shallot, add to the tomatoes with some roughly chopped coriander .

Place the tomato mixture on the prepared toast and enjoy.

We often have a little tomato mixture left over and it makes a perfect salad with pitta bread, houmous and olives.  The perfect garden picnic.

Do you have a favourite tomato meal?  Here in Richmond this is a firm favourite.  I am looking forward to a summer of heritage tomatoes, as well as tomato and fennel salads in Brittany.

elderflower harvest

By this time last year, I had made bottles and bottles of cordial, but the reluctance of the sun to shine, means that the elderflower harvest is running slightly late this year.

Elderflowers and Lemons

As a result of the weather, there is  at least a month of elderflowers left on the trees, and time to  plan some recipes which I can use them for.  Last year I made Elderflower Gin and Elderflower Vinegar!

My favourite elderflower treat is a truly scrumptious Lemon and Elderflower Marmalade, using a delicious recipe from Urvashi at The Botanical Kitchen. (My husband has specially requested it again this year, and I am planning a batch  as soon as we have a day or two of sunshine.)

There is such a plethora of Elderflowers in Richmond, sometimes I  pick too many,   I retain the extra flowers to decorate a simple dish.

If you have some Elderflower Cordial then I cannot recommend this simple dish too highly, it's tasty and (I'm sure) very healthy.  It takes moments to make and provides a scrumptious breakfast or an ideal pudding, in other words it is a truly versatile dish.

Elderflower Fruit Salad with Goat Yoghurt

Make a simple fresh fruit salad with a variety of summery berries such as:

Raspberries
Blueberries
Strawberries
or pre-prepared Tropical Fruits

You will also need:
Elderflower Cordial
Elderflowers (foraged)
Mint leaves
Goat Yogurt

When you have made the fruit salad, drizzle with a teaspoonful of Elderflower Cordial
Scatter the Mint leaves and the Elderflower Petals over the fruit salad
Serve the fruit salad with a delicious helping of Goat Yoghurt

Sometimes I sneak some onto my breakfast muesli too!

There  are many other  delicious Elderflower posts to be found on the web, I particularly recommend  a tasty selection of elderflower recipes from  Helen at Fuss Free Flavours and some scrumptious elderflower madeleines from Laura at How to Cook Good Food.