Stylist & book author SELINA LAKE shares her on-trend styling ideas & glorious garden buys
During the summer months is when I feel inspired to try out new recipes, especially salads, marinated and barbecued meats and seasonal fruit-based puddings and cakes.
Perhaps it’s because summer is a wonderful season for gathering locally grown food – I love visiting farm shops and farmers’ markets.
I also love using fruit and veg we’ve grown in the garden. I relish eating outdoors and hosting gatherings. My favourite part about it is styling the table, it doesn’t take long to throw a tablecloth on the table and gather flowers for a jug arrangement.
I like to create yummy dishes that look and taste of summer. However they need to be easy and not take too long as I don’t want to spend a lovely sunny day in the kitchen when I could be outside enjoying the weather.
I recently came across Sophie Hansen’s new book What Can I Bring? Sophie is from Australia, a country renowned for outdoor living and barbecues. The book is full of easy food that’s perfect for sharing. I love the title. I’m always so pleased when one of my guests brings along a homemade dish to add to the table, sweet or savoury, and it’s super special when the main ingredient is homegrown.
My husband Dave and I grow lots of fruit so I was intrigued by Sophie’s recipes using figs and summer berries. I also like the simple yet flavourful salad dressing recipes – in my opinion a dressing can make a salad really sing or zing! Depending how you like it!
Sophie’s book inspires you to take a relaxed approach and her recipes and ideas are achievable. Here’s to a summer filled with yummy food, plenty of sunshine and happy gatherings. Enjoy!
Selina
Fruity party pots
When it’s too hot to bake, how about assembling these sweet fruity pots in recycled glass jars with screw lids? Make your own granola (recipe in Sophie’s book) or buy shop-bought, then layer the granola with Greek yoghurt, a mix of pureed fruit and slices of fresh fruits. Add honey for extra sweetness and edible flowers on the top for a perfect finishing touch. These little pots transport well so can easily be taken along to an alfresco party or stacked in the fridge, essential when space is tight.
