I'm quite sure that you are the same as me when it comes to the amount of time spent in the kitchen during the different seasons. I'll explain further. On a cold day in November or December I am happy to stand by the warmth of the oven and tend to a stew. I shall lovingly cut up the meat and veggies and place them in the pot. I'll happily take it out and check on it from time to time, excusing myself from the book I am reading in the kitchen at that moment. I'll bring whatever it is I am doing into the kitchen and stay there for the duration.
This is not the case when the sun is shining on a glorious day in England. I want to be in and out of the kitchen very quickly indeed so I can re-join the others in the garden. This is why I am a huge fan of very easy and quick to prepare dishes at this time of year. I adore kitchen gardens as it means that so much more can be done outside and the thought of standing by a hot oven for any length of time fills me with dread.
Having just returned from Italy I can assure you that there will be an abundance of fresh produce and big plate recipes to follow in the next few posts but I'll start with a tasty side dish that went very well with the first chicken that I roasted in my new oven.
Cherry's Anya's & Cress
Serves four as a side dish with chicken or fish
Boil 500g of the small Anya variety of potatoes. If you can't find these any baby or new potato will do but do try and stick the small ones. When the potatoes are almost soft and ready to eat place a large handful of cubed pancetta into some olive oil and saute until it's slightly crispy on the outside. When the potatoes are ready, drain and place in a large serving bowl. Add the pancetta and a little bit of the oil from the pan and mix well with a large spoon allowing the oil to slightly coat the potatoes. Add 1 chopped avocado and an entire tub of English mustard cress (alfalfa sprouts). Mix well once again and drizzle a little more olive oil over the bowl if it looks a little dry. Get it to the table as soon as you can and scoff in the sun with those you love around you.
This dish should take you no longer than 10 mins depending on how long the potatoes take to go soft. We don't use cress enough in our summer salads so you'll see the little fellas popping up rather a lot this season. What fun, I do like them!!
Wow! If I could cook like you.. I would never eat out. But what happens with me, is that I think I can leave something for just a minute while I paint this and add just a few dots on that and pretty soon I smell smoke and it would amaze you how small and tough and black a lamb chop can get.
I am so excited to have a vegatable garden this year. I love to just make a veggie sandwich or a salad out of things that we've grown ourselves and I almost never mess up a sandwich. Plus, can you get more locally grown that your own back yard.
Who was it in England that started the whole Victory garden concept? I think it's still a great idea and I love being able to grow my own food chemical free.
Posted by: tiffany | June 09, 2007 at 05:29 PM
Trader Joe's, here in Cali, offers cubed pancetta now. My husband thinks pork fat is an aphrodisiac. This salad will have him producing that wedding ring he owes me!! ( I used my engagement ring as my wedding band when we got married.) ^__-
Posted by: sara, the house of charm | June 05, 2007 at 09:14 PM
Cherry, Your salad sounds wonderful, I think I will try it. I am not sure what pancetta is, but I'm sure I can figure it out. Cindy from Canada
Posted by: C. Stower | June 05, 2007 at 03:20 PM
Sounds delish. I'm anxiously awaiting the first potatoes from the garden--one of the few things I actually got planted this year! So glad you had such a nice time in Italy. xx
Posted by: farmgirl | June 04, 2007 at 02:54 PM
Very nice salad!
I agree with you, in this season it's better to stay outside than on the kitchen!
Posted by: Saffron | June 04, 2007 at 09:39 AM
Great looking salad! That's one of the things I enjoy most about summer, all the salads that you get to invent and put together! Somehow salad doesn't taste the same in winter! You need a good healthy dose of warm summer sunshine to get all the flavour out of them I guess!!!
Posted by: Marie | June 04, 2007 at 06:58 AM
Gorgeous salad Cherry! I feel exactly the same about spending less time in the kitchen in the summer. When I live in my dream house I'd like to have a little covered area in the garden with a stove that's safe to use, that way best of both worlds could be had or is that having cake and eating it?. Amanda
Posted by: Amanda @ Little Foodies | June 03, 2007 at 02:06 PM
Thanks for the recipe I love to find differnt potato slad recipes.My hubby being of Irish descent they always go down well!
So glad to hear you are settling in well and that you are feeling much better.The Florence pictures are beautiful.Did Mr Armani press charges for stalking?!Sorry I haven't commented recently I've just been so busy but I do think of you and your new home xxx
Posted by: Kristy | June 03, 2007 at 11:02 AM