A BLUEBELL WALK....

Good morning, and hope you all had a lovely weekend, and that your Monday is going well?

A busy day today and tomorrow, getting ready for our trip to Portugal on Wednesday.....clearing my desk, laundry and packing, leaving the house prepared for our house sitter.....I really shouldn't find it stressful to get ready to go away.....but it is always a relief to get on that plane and be on our way!  My husband and I have planned a seven day 'road trip', staying in a series of 'Pousadas' and small hotels......two inland up in the mountains, one in Lisbon and then a couple of stops travelling up the Atlantic coast back up to Porto.....should be a wonderful few days of culture, beautiful scenery, warmer weather, and of course...

great food and wine!

Photos: Sophia Home

Out walking the dogs yesterday in the woods by our house,  we were met with the stunning site of Bluebells in full bloom.

A sea of amethyst blue......and the distinct sweet smell of their Spring extravaganza.

Rocco our Labrador ran off as usual, tempted with the smell of foxes and rabbits.....whilst Kiki our Cocker Spaniel was happy to take her time, and admire the stunning woodland show 

as much as we did.....

Photos: Sophia Home

Vibrant new green mosses covering bark.....

Fresh new foliage on the trees.....

Back home now.....

Is there a more beautiful time of year?

Sophia xx

CHINA TOWN, DIM SUM AND 

BEAUTIFUL TEAS.....

Photos: Sophia Home

Yesterday we met up with our three children in London, who as young adults, are now living and working/studying there. Because of our daughter having been away working in France, it was the first time that we had all been together, the five of us, since Christmas. As you can imagine, I was like 'Mother Hen'.....so happy to have all my chicks in one place after so many weeks.

With a craving for Dim Sum, we popped in to China Town.....such a vibrant, bustling part of London, with a great choice of restaurants.  We happened upon 'Dumplings' Legend' and were lucky to get a table at this popular venue which has been hailed as one of London's best Dim Sum eateries.  With chefs preparing the extensive array of delicious bundles in a glass booth in front of the customers.....it doesn't get much fresher.  By the time I even thought about getting my camera out to photograph the gorgeous array of the delicious little dumplings we had ordered, we had pretty much demolished the lot!  So curtesy of Pinterest, I have some similiar yummy examples for you!

Having finished our Dim Sum feast, and spent a happy couple of hours catching up with each other's news, we strolled around the pedestrianised streets, lined with stalls selling a fascinating array of oriental fruits and vegetables.  We then made our way to my favourite Asian supermarket 'Loon Fung' which is a must to visit, if like me, you like stocking up on speciality Chinese ingredients.  

On this occasion, I came home with a large bag of super fresh Bok Choi, a selection of noodles, dumpling wrappers to make our own Dim Sum (a new future experiment, which I shall report back on!) and also some rather beautiful packets of tea.

Photo: Sophia Home

A pretty 'Flower Tea' infusion, with Chamomile, Cherries, Rose and Bay......better strained, but beautiful to look at!

Photo: Sophia Home

A so called 'Slimming' Tea.....with Goji Berries, and various herbs.......surprisingly nice and 

very refreshing.

Photo: Sophia Home

So in all, it was a fun and delicious Saturday!

I do hope you are having a very happy weekend.....

Sophia xx

HAPPY FRIDAY.....SPRING IN THE GARDEN!

All photos: Sophia Home

Happy Friday.......my favourite day of the week!

Although a little overcast here in Kent first thing this morning, it is trying to brighten up, and Spring is definitely here with all its bright evidence.

My Tulip and Viola pots by the front door 

are in full bloom now.....

Our majestic 'Oak' is in full leaf.....with its circle of daffodils still holding out.....

The fish in the pond by the kitchen are showing their faces.....after a long winter of semi hibernation.....

Tulips 'Spring Green' and 'Queen of the Night' in the 'White Rose Garden'  are through, and are showing their beautiful colour combination....

The Auriculars that I potted on from tiny plug plants are showing their happy faces in their new individual pots by the back door......

Photos: Sophia Home

And we have new 'friends' who have been pottering around all week, and are showing signs of wanting to settle here.....

A lovely weekend planned, with lunch in London with our three children tomorrow.....and a day in my kitchen garden on Sunday.

What do you have planned?  

Wishing you a wonderful weekend...

whatever you are doing.

Sophia xx

SHOWCASING  'G's KITCHEN'
AND DELICIOUS CANAPE INSPIRATION....

Photos: Sophia Home

Many of my regular readers will know that my daughter Georgie is a Chef, and have kindly shown great interest in her culinary pursuits!  I am therefore delighted to share with you today as promised, some pictures of the delicious canapes she prepared yesterday here at home in my kitchen for a client's party.

  In her early twenties,  she is following her passion to cook.....having trained and worked over the last few years both here in England and abroad for private clients in beautiful locations....she is most definitely fulfilling her dream.

Now looking to settle and be based in London in a more permanent private chef position, we are thrilled to spend more time with her....and of course, be taste testers for some of the gorgeous canapes she prepares for her clients, when booked to cater for private functions!

Clockwise from top: Spicy marinaded prawns - to be dipped in Wasabe Mayonnaise, Herbed fish cakes with a basil and lime sauce, Asparagus wrapped in palma ham and tapanade and rocket,  Fillet of beef and finely hand cut chips with salsa verde, Bite sized Chinese pancakes......

With a keen artistic eye....presentation is such an enjoyable part of her work....shown here with a selection of her canapés displayed on slate, with herb and flowers to decorate.....

Delicious bite size 'Fish Cakes' with a herb mayonnaise topping and fresh edible viola flowers....

New season's asparagus wrapped in palma ham, olive tapanade and wild rocket......

Fillet of beef wrapped around finely cut hand made chips, with a salsa verde dressing......

Using seasonal, organic produce to cook with, whenever possible.....quality of the ingredients is of utmost importance....as well as being visually attractive and appetising.....

I do hope you have enjoyed this delicious bit of canapé inspiration this Thursday morning.....

Georgie is busy taking bookings for the forthcoming summer entertaining season.....cocktail parties, celebration picnics, lunches and dinner parties.  She can be contacted by email: georgie.wadsworth@hotmail.com

*****

Wishing you a very happy Thursday!

Sophia xx

Good morning!

***

Here in the UK, it has been a long bank holiday weekend.....and how lovely that the sun shone!

We had a very happy weekend of gardening, visiting a great local plant sale, cooking some new recipes, a lovely surprise visit from one of our sons..... and yesterday ended the happy weekend with a fun lunch with friends, spent sitting in their beautiful garden, eating and drinking delicious food and wine.....a perfect three days!  How was your weekend spent?  I would love to hear!

A short but busy week lies ahead, with various projects on the go.....but also a lunch with girlfriends on Thursday and an overdue get together over coffee on Friday with an old friend to look forward to.

My kitchen is a hive of activity today and tomorrow, as my daughter prepares an array of gorgeous canapés for a client's party tomorrow night, and I look forward to sharing some of her delicious creations with you in the next
 day or so!

Whilst wishing you a happy Tuesday, whatever you are doing......I shall leave you with some beautiful Swedish 'Gustavian' style to bring some elegant, cool, 
calm to your week.....

Sophia xx

(All pictures via: Pinterest)

A FORAGED SUPPER...

At this time of year, the distinct, sweet heady aroma of wild garlic (or 'Ramsoms') permeates the air along the lane leading to our house.  Found growing in abundance along grass verges, and in damp woodland,  with a growing season from April to June, it always heralds the start of the growing season to me, and signals that Spring is in full swing. With its delicate white flowers and tender leaves......it is milder than you would expect.....and is a wonderful foraged ingredient for the kitchen.

The leaves are delicious steamed with spinach or other leafy vegetables........chopped in to creme fraiche or mayonnaise to make a gorgeous sauce for fish or chicken.......cut in to strips, it goes perfectly with a tomato salad.....or infused in olive oil it makes a wonderful oil for salad dressings or to cook with.

This weekend, I shall be making a wild garlic pesto.....which will make the most delicious 

pasta sauce....quick, easy and will keep for a week or two in the fridge.  

Ingredients:

1 large bunch of wild garlic, washed

1 small bunch of curly parsley

60 grams pine nuts, toasted

60 grams parmesan cheese

150ml extra virgin olive oil

squeeze of lemon juice

salt and pepper

Method:

Place all the ingredients into a food processor apart from the olive oil and blitz for a minute or two, then slowly pour in the olive oil until blended.  

This pesto is also delicious stirred in to mashed potatoes, or mixed with yoghurt for a gorgeous fresh tasting crudite dip.

Bon appétit!

Wishing you all a very happy Saturday evening....

Sophia xx