Hello again my friend!

Crikey it's hot. I hope you're staying hydrated. I recently treated myself to this water filter carafe, and now I'm enjoying gallons of chilled, filtered water 💦. Sooo refreshing! And the carafe doesn't take up a ton of space in the fridge either, which is great. Small things, but they make a big difference!

Pro tip: use an insulated coffee cup for your chilled water on-the-go. Keeps it much cooler than a bottle and easier to swig from, too!

Cold, noodly deliciousness!

You might have spotted a new recipe on family-friends-food.com last week. Easy sesame noodles are the delicious, filling, nutritious, and importantly COLD dinner option that you'll soon be making on repeat.

They go well with all sorts of proteins and veggies, or you can just slurp them up as is, as a cold, noodly treat! Yum!

What's in season - July

July is here, the Summeriest of months, and with it a whole host of delicious fruits and vegetables. Let's take a look at some of what's in season:

Vegetables:​
Aubergine 🍆, beetroot, broad beans, broccoli 🥦, carrots 🥕, cauliflower, courgettes, cucumber 🥒, fennel, French beans, kohlrabi, peas 🫛, radishes, rocket 🚀, runner beans, sorrel, spring onions, summer squash, sweetheart cabbage, Swiss chard, tomatoes 🍅, turnips, watercress.

Fruits:​
Blackberries, blackcurrants, cherries 🍒, gooseberries, greengages 🍈, raspberries, redcurrants, rhubarb, strawberries 🍓

Look out for locally grown seasonal produce at your local greengrocer, farm shop or market. Local, in-season fruit and veg is usually tastier and cheaper, as well as being more environmentally sustainable - yay!

Seasonal recipes for July

Given the heat, here are recipes for delicious seasonal goodies that require minimal cooking. You might have to use the stove for a few minutes at a time, but I've avoided the oven at all costs. And there are some no-cook options too. Phew!

• ​Griddled Summer vegetables - aubergine, fennel, courgette​
  Crispy, smoky, juicy, and downright delicious! This simple method makes the most of fresh Summer produce.
• ​Summer pea and bean salad with radishes and dill​
  One of my all-time favourites! Fresh, tasty, and surprisingly cooling!
• ​Zesty tuna pasta with broccoli and cherry tomatoes​
  ​This quick and filling pasta dinner is full of yummy Summer flavours, and the leftovers are great in tomorrow's lunchbox.
• ​Sephardic-style cauliflower with tomato and dill​
  An easy, traditional recipe of fresh cauliflower, cooked in a garlicky, herby, fresh tomato sauce. Yum!
• ​Classic carrot salad​
  This simple but sophisticated French-style dish is easy, fast, and has filled a hole in my menu more than once! Crunchy and delicious.
• ​Avocado salad with oranges, olives and watercress​
  I love the peppery flavour of watercress in this salad, and the acidity of the oranges is the perfect foil for the creamy avocado.
• ​Rhubarb, ginger and raspberry jelly​
  A quick and easy seasonal dessert – fresh tangy rhubarb, spicy ginger and zingy raspberries in a fresh and fruity jelly.
• ​Fruit and nut yogurt parfait​
  These make a wonderful breakfast or an indulgent but healthy dessert. Creamy layers of yogurt and nut butter with fresh berries, they look as good as they taste!

Shabbat Shalom

I hope the Summer is treating you well and you're able to enjoy the heat rather than suffer with it. Either way, remember to take plenty of breaks to relax and recharge - Shabbat is a perfect opportunity!

So here's wishing you and yours Shabbat Shalom - Good Shabbos! May Shabbat and the week ahead bring us peace, blessings, happiness and only good things.

With love, Helen x.

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​You can buy me a cuppa here ☕️ Thank you!

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