Colombian Avocado Soup

Makes 6 servings

Creamy avocado soup that will take your taste buds on an adventure to Colombia. Accidentally vegan & gluten free!

I can’t take the credit for this recipe; my husband stumbled on it while looking for inspiration for lunch, because he was bored of sandwiches.
This soup definitely delivers on taste and is loaded with healthy ingredients.

This is a vibrant cold soup, very quick to make and ideal for a hot summer day.
Add a pinch of zing to your lunch break and give this soup a go!

Ingredients

• 6 spring onions (sliced)
• Oil for frying
• 4 avocados (stoned and de-skinned)
• 1 chilli (finely chopped)
• 1 bunch of fresh coriander (chopped)
• 1 can of coconut milk
• 1 pint of vegetable stock (cooled down)
• 1 lemongrass bruised
• Juice from 2 limes
• Salt to taste
• Tortilla chips for serving

Method
1. In a small pan, fry the spring onions until soft.
2. In a food processor add the spring onions, avocados, chilli, coriander and coconut milk. Blitz on high speed until smooth. Lower speed and slowly pour in the vegetable stock until fully mixed.
3. Pour in a large serving bowl and add lime juice, the bruised lemongrass to infuse and salt to taste. Cover and chill in the fridge. Serve cold with tortilla chips. Enjoy!

Thanks for the inspiration go to my husband.

Raspberry frozen yogurt

Summer vibes and raspberry frozen yogurt!
No churn fro-yo: delicious, simple & healthy.

Such a lovely light alternative to ice cream.
Tried and tested, proven to be a hit with both kids and grownups.
I used full fat Greek style yogurt, fresh raspberries and local honey.
I also make fro-yo with blueberries and it’s just as nice!

During the summer this is an essential item in my freezer; the perfect treat to help me cool down after a day at the beach or in the office.
Have a great summer!

Ingredients

• 300g raspberries
• 100g honey
• 500g Greek style yogurt

Method

1. Use a food processor to whiz all the ingredients together until smooth and creamy.
2. Pour the mix in ice cream lolly moulds and freeze for at least 4 hours.
   Enjoy on a hot summer day or night!

Hugo Cocktail

Makes 1 glass

Crisp and refreshing, Hugo is the perfect summer cocktail!
Packed with bubbly Prosecco, Elderflower cordial and mint, Hugo is guaranteed give you chills on a hot summer day.

Don’t be surprised if this will become your go to summer drink, because it tastes amazing and you won’t need a shaker to make this cocktail.

I made this cocktail for the first time after a friend shared the recipe with me at summer wedding party in Romania.  Easy to see how this would come up in conversation!
I have since, had a lot of practice making the cocktail, because it’s so good.

I have not come across this cocktail in any cocktail bars (but I will keep an eye out for it!) and I feel I’ve been missing out, hence why I am sharing the recipe. Having done my research, it turns out this cocktail originates in Italy. The original recipe does not include gin, but I find that a small amount of gin gives it a pinch of zing!

The recipe below is for one cocktail glass, but you are likely to have to multiply that once you have the first sip. Serve in wine glasses or a stemless wine glasses.

Ingredients

• Leafs from 1 mint spring
• ½ cup ice
• 3 slices of lime
• Half a measure of Elderflower syrup (12.5ml)
• A splash of Prosecco
• A splash of soda/sparkling water

* For a pinch of zing add half a measure of Gin

Method
In a large wine glass add the mint leafs, the ice, lime slices, elderflower cordial, gin and top up with your favourite Prosecco and some sparkling water. Give it all a good stir to release the mint and lime flavours. Garnish with more lime if you want to make it look pretty. Enjoy!

Pimm’s – summer drink

Makes 4 drinks

Pimm’s summer drink

Pimm’s summer drink

Pimm’s summer drink

The perfect summer drink! Citrusy and refreshing, a Pimm’s cocktail is guaranteed to bring a pinch of zing to a hot summer day.

Pimm’s No.1 is gin-based summer drink served with ‘English-style’ lemonade and garnished with fresh fruit and mint.

I was unfamiliar with this drink until I discovered it in UK. Pimm’s is quite a special drink, as it contains a secret mixture of herbs and liqueurs. ‘English-style’ lemonade is a clear and carbonated lemon flavoured drink, known as ‘lemonade’ in UK. I am being explicit about ‘English-style’ lemonade to avoid any confusion, because my concept of lemonade is slightly different (fresh lemon, honey and still water) and I am not sure if that would work as well.

Although I call this drink a cocktail, you won’t need a cocktail shaker for it. All you need is a big jug for all the ingredients and a quick stir.

This is now my go to drink for a summer parties, or just as a treat for a relaxed summer evening. I like to add quite a lot of fruit to this drink because it’s delicious and it also contributes to my daily vitamin intake! The fruit is even nicer once it gets to infuse in the drink for a few minutes before serving. Any reason really to have a Pimm’s.

Ingredients

• 200ml Pimm’s No. 1
• 600ml ‘English-style’ lemonade
• 1/2 orange – sliced
• 1/3 cucumber – sliced
• 6 strawberries – quartered
• Leafs from 2 mint springs
• Ice cubes

Method
1. In a large jug add the ice, sliced orange, cucumber, quartered strawberries and mint leafs.
2. Pour the Pimm’s and lemonade. Stir and enjoy!

Rose Milk

Rose Milk

Rose Milk

Rose Milk

Sweet and delicate rose milk. A cold, creamy and fragrant summer drink, that tastes as good as it smells!

I discovered this special drink while visiting Paphos in Cyprus and now I turn to it every summer while reminiscing of the warm breeze and sandy beaches.  As it turns out, rose milk is very popular with the locals in Paphos and having tried it, I understand why. I liked it that much that I thought it’s worth sharing.

Rose milk is as simple as it sounds: cold milk mixed with rose syrup and some ice for good measure.

Although simple, my first challenge was securing the rose syrup. I got my first bottle of rose syrup on my way back from Cyprus, at the airport duty free. Once I finished this bottle, it was a bit more challenging to get another one in UK. Luckily I found that one of the stores in my town that specialises in international groceries stores rose syrup – crisis adverted.

So if you can get your hands on rose syrup it may be worth surprising your senses!

Update: Try using a plant drink to make this, instead of dairy milk. Yum!

Ingredients

• 300ml cold milk or plant drink
• 2 fingers rose syrup
• ice cubes

Method
In a medium sized glass (mine was 340ml) pour rose syrup about 2 fingers high (depends how sweet you like it).  Add ice, cold milk and mix them using a straw.
Enjoy the taste of rose petals!

Eton mess

Makes 4 servings

 

Eton mess is a traditional English dessert that combines cream, fresh berries and meringue into a scrumptious mess! And it’s gluten free!

Effortless to make and easily understated, but guaranteed to win you over from the first mouthful. Crunchy meringue, fresh berries bursting with flavour, all embraced by velvety cream. Oh sweet mess!

For a pinch of zing and extra richness, I like to combine whipped cream with Greek yogurt for this dessert.  Maybe it is not the ‘done thing’, but if it’s good enough for Jamie Oliver, it’s good enough for me.  I don’t usually make my own meringue, so for this recipe I have used shop bought meringue nests.

Although traditionally this is literally served as a mess in a big bowl, I like plating it up in individual bowls. Plating in individual bowls not only makes it look ‘fancy’, but also helps with portion control and ensures everyone gets an even share of each ingredient. You can also personalise each portion to individual preference or cater for guests that may have a strawberry allergy for example.
Like I would miss a chance to be practical 🙂

Messy, casual and jovial, perfect for a summer day. But be warned, once you try this dessert you will be hooked!

Ingredients

• 6 meringue nests
• 400g mixed fresh berries , such as strawberries, raspberries, blueberries and blackberries
• 200 ml double cream
• 200 ml Greek yoghurt
• 2 tablespoons of sugar
• 1/3 of a vanilla pod

Method
1. Whip the double cream with the sugar until it forms soft peaks; then stir in the yogurt and vanilla.
2. Half or quarter the strawberries.
3. In a bowl, place 1 meringue nest, cover with fresh berries and spoon 1/4^th of the vanilla cream. To finish off, crumble half a meringue nest on top. Repeat for 3 more servings. Enjoy with friends and/or family!

Thanks for the inspiration go to Jamie Oliver