Ten Perfect Summer Drinks

 blueberry lemon fizz / lavender french 75 / watermelon mojito

clementine & red wine spritzers / mint cucumber & lime crush / blackberry meyer lemon gin tonics

 apple & elderflower fizz / iced chamomile sun tea / lemonade with orange blossom water /

and finally this vermontucky lemonade by the fabulous Deb Perelman from Smitten Kitchen


I'm definitely going to be trying some of these, so many delicious berries everywhere right now....
and with the weather so hot in London, these summery drinks are perfect - and a great way of getting your children to consume lots of fruit (not the alcoholic ones obviously!)

My new favourite food blog Spoon Fork Bacon has some great suggestions for drinks &
delicious fruit ice cubes....

Which one of the above would you choose?
(recipe links available under each image)

Summer Style : Picnic Accessories

1 Voile Bunting/ 2 Kandelini/ 3 Bright Colourful Jars 

all Cox and Cox

Summer is here and here's a selection of some of my favourite picnic accessories....

I especially love the two bottle bag & the glass drinks dispenser.

Lots of bright colours to brighten up your summer table or your holiday....and all very portable.

101 Picnic dishes to make in 20 minutes or less....

Two Bottle Bag /  Extra Large Beach Bag / Extra Large Summer Bag

3 Tier Stacked Glass Drinks Dispenser / Picnic Tote /  Stacking Plastic Wine Glasses

Garden Party Drink Jars / Animal Motif Picnic Blanket / Family Coolbag

Knife, Fork, Spoon Napkins / Picnic Basket / Gelato spoons

Wine & Cheese Basket for Two / Picnic Bag / Paper Cups

Ten Perfect Summer Salads

asian quinoa salad / zucchini, feta & mint salad / quinoa salad with asparagus, peas, avocado & lemon basil dressing

thai coconut cucumber salad / white bean salad with peas & mint / chopped vegetable watermelon & feta salad

moroccan quinoa salad / the perfect picnic pie / sweet potato & couscous salad 

italian potato salad

The weather in London is hot, hot, hot and -  suddenly - all we want to eat are salads, ice lollies & ice cold drinks.

I'm also collecting some great salad recipes to take with me to Italy next month....

here is my round-up of some of the best & tastiest salads to be found on the internet....

enjoy!

(links are provided under each image)

Recipes via....

What Katie Ate

The Soho

Two Peas and Their Pod

Smitten Kitchen

Love and Lemons

Green Kitchen Stories

Kitchen Corners

Summer Style : Eating Al Fresco

 
all images via Pinterest

It only takes a few consecutive hot & sunny days here in London and we've all managed to convince ourselves that summer is here to stay.

There's nothing better than eating al fresco....even the simplest of meals seems to taste better eaten in the open air, preferably in the sunshine. 

Plus possibly a view....of the sea or endless green fields.

A fabulously set table is wonderful but if you haven't the space - or the perfect table - simply take a summery tablecloth and put it on the lawn.

Some colourful/fun plates, some tealights in jam-jars if it's evening-time....

add some french bread, a bowl of salad, some cheeses or meats and a large jug of water flavoured with lemon or lime....

and you have yourself a pretty good picnic.

Above and below are some of my favourite "al fresco" images....

I think simple is the way to go....it doesn't have to be expensive whatsoever and I think the fact that you can throw it all together relatively quickly makes it even more appealing.

Great lighting also adds so much, there are so many options....
alternatively, a row of tea-lights dotted around the table always looks so pretty.

Add multi-coloured or mix & match chairs & tableware,

When we're in the south of France during August, dinner is often on the beach....

and very often consists of just 4 or 5 items....

a baguette, good cheese, tomatoes, salad, olives....

these are the meals & the times that my children remember....me too actually.

There's something special about being outside, the freedom, the space....

these the evenings you want to go on forever.

I cannot wait to be in Italy this summer!!