One of the loveliest things about summer is eating outside. Here are 4 Perfect Recipes for Al Fresco Dining plus the linky for Week 31 of #CookBlogShare!
Hoorah – the summer holidays have arrived! And whilst I have to admit it is a bit of a juggle trying to work at home round the kids, it is lovely to be able to spend some real quality time with them and do all the things we normally don’t have time for.
Last time I hosted #CookBlogShare, I told you of my plan to make my summer less stressful this year – the idea was firstly to blog less over the summer holidays (I was aiming for just 1 blog post per week – pahahaha) and secondly to upload and schedule all my summer posts during the last two weeks of July, so all I had to do over the summer was a bit of social media and linky action.
Well, I sort of did it guys!! I totally failed at the first part as most weeks have 2 or 3 posts planned, buuut I am feeling super smug that I have all my posts scheduled for the WHOLE OF SUMMER – whoop whoop!! (well, apart from #CookBlogShare, which I obviously can’t do in advance!) I can’t tell you how good that feels…
It did admittedly make the last few weeks of term super stressful, but it is so nice to have a much lighter workload over the summer and to be able to spend some quality time with my children. The rest I can juggle round them (hoorah for TV!). But most importantly it means I can have some proper time to rest and recharge…I have been working so hard recently that I really, really need it!
4 Perfect Recipes for Al Fresco Dining
Not only is summer a time to rest and recharge (in theory at least!!!), but it is also a time when we can eat outside a little more – I love eating outside in the fresh air, whether it’s a picnic, a BBQ or just deciding to transport our normal dinner out to enjoy it sitting at our little picnic table in the garden…it really feels like summer has arrived when you are eating al fresco.
And it seems the other #CookBlogShare bloggers are definitely on the same wavelength as me this week…there were so many lovely recipes, that would be just perfect for al fresco eating, so I’ve picked out a few of my faves to showcase for you this week. 🙂
If you are not a #CookBlogShare regular and are wondering what an earth I am going on about, #CookBlogShare is a place for bloggers to share their recipes. If you are a blogger and have a recipe to share, you can link up your post by following the instructions below. If you are not a blogger, but love food and cooking, do check out the recipes that will be appearing below. If this week is as good as they usually are you will find some awesome recipes – the #CookBlogShare bloggers are very good at what they do!
Halloumi & Sweet Summer Veg BBQ Kebabs
First up are these gorgeous Halloumi & Sweet Summer Veg BBQ Kebabs from Kate over at The Gluten Free Alchemist. This is exactly the kind of food I love to cook on the BBQ. Sure I love burgers, sausages and meaty kebabs too, but I like it when a BBQ is a balanced affair, with some lovely vegetable dishes too – and these colourful kebabs of sweet peppers, soft and squirty cherry tomatoes and crunchy red onions, perfectly offset by the saltiness of the ‘squeaky’, slightly chewy Halloumi cheese (Kate’s wonderfully evocative description) are exactly the kind of thing I crave at BBQs to offset the meat overload – they are also a great option for those following a gluten free, egg free, soy free or vegetarian diet.
Persian Ground Lamb Kababs
Next, and still on the barbecue theme, we have these awesome Persian Ground Lamb Kababs from Balvinder at Simple Gluten Free Kitchen. As you know I am mad about lamb and also Persian flavours, so this kind of meal is just so up my street. And these kebabs are so wonderfully simple to make – simply combine lamb mince, grated onion, garlic, sumac and saffron, shape it round the skewers and then barbecue for about 5 minutes – my kind of easy peasy meal. Balvinder also gives lots of helpful hints and tips about how to ensure your kebabs come out perfect every time (and don’t fall off the skewers into the BBQ!!!) – these are really worth reading, for anyone planning on making this kind of kebab – I learnt loads!
Chicken and Asparagus Caesar Salad
Next up. we have this delicious sounding Chicken and Asparagus Caesar Salad from Jacqui, over at Recipes Made Easy. I love Caesar salad, but Jacqui really takes this classic salad to the next level by adding strips of chargrilled chicken and barbecued asparagus, together with her rustic style homemade croutons. She tops it all off with her own homemade Classic Caesar Salad Dressing – a brilliant recipe, with super helpful step by step instructions and photos. And, if the weather is a bit iffy, this salad can also be done inside, in a griddle pan.
Smoked Mackerel & Horseradish Pâté
Finally, I just had to share this gorgeous Smoked Mackerel & Horseradish Pâté from Jo at Jo’s Kitchen Larder…This recipe combines smoked mackerel and horseradish, a combination which Jo is a big fan of (not tried it, but I love the idea) and turns it into a delicious, but super simple pate by adding mayonnaise, lemon juice and spring onions – so simple, but it looks really impressive and I can only imagine it must taste fantastic. This would be perfect for a lovely al fresco starter, with some crudités or pitta breads to dunk in it and equally lovely taken on a picnic, as Jo suggests, with some of her lovely Asparagus and Parma Ham Twists with Pesto and Sun-Dried Tomato and Basil Turkey Rolls – now that sounds like a pretty incredible picnic don’t you think?
#CookBlogShare Linky Week 31
And so we come to this week’s linky. You can link up any foodie post that you have – both old and new posts are welcome. All you need to do is:
- Link up a recipe or foodie post by clicking the blue ‘add your link’ button below and following the instructions.
- Add a link from your post back to this post (so everyone else can find it and link up too!) and / or add the #CookBlogShare badge to your post (you can find the code below).
- Comment on some of the other recipes linked up here and generally share the love with a bit of social media action!
If you wish, you can tweet a link to your recipe to me @easypeasyfoodie and also (if you have room on the tweet!) my co-hosts Kirsty @k_phillipson, Jacqui @jacdotbee and Monika @MonikasRecipes, using the #CookBlogShare hashtag and we will retweet them. You can also post your recipe on the Cook Blog Share Facebook Page.
I will comment on all the posts this week and pin them all to the Cook Blog Share Pinterest Board. I can’t wait to see what you’ve all been making!
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Just to remind you, by joining in you are giving the #CookBlogShare hosts permission to use your pictures in a round up and on social media, if your recipe is selected as one of our favourites!
Next week #CookBlogShare will be hosted by Jacqui at Recipes Made Easy 🙂
Jhuls @ The Not So Creative Cook says
Oh, I wish I could put my posts in schedule, too. I know how that feels coz I did that before, but life now is crazier than ever! Great round-up, Eb. And thanks for hosting!
Eb Gargano says
It is such a lovely feeling, but does take an enormous amount of discipline to sit there at 11 o’clock at night and finish a post that won’t go out for 5 or 6 weeks – so easy to put it off till later…but it was worth it for a much more enjoyable, less stressful summer this year…so much better than last year!! Eb x
Angela / Only Crumbs Remain says
Wow Eb, super impressed – but what a great incentive to get all of that recipe/post preparation done to spend time with your two children 😀 I’m hoping the weather bucks up to have some al fresco dining – I’m particularly loving Kate’s haloumi skewers too – such a fab cheese!
Angela x
Eb Gargano says
You are right, Angela – spending quality time with my kids really was a great incentive…last year I spent too much time away from them, whilst they watched way too much TV! I was determined I would get a better balance this year. Oh yes, haloumi is one of my faves too – almost as good as feta, eh? 😉 Eb x
Mandy says
Those halloumi kebabs look so good! I wish I could have those for lunch today! Well done for getting your summer posts scheduled. I don’t have any done – argh!
Eb Gargano says
They do look so good, don’t they? Haha – I am a determined woman when I want to be – just got my head down and got on with it! So glad I did, there isn’t enough time as there is, not sure how I’d have coped if I hadn’t got all my posts scheduled! Eb x
Monika says
Congratulations on being super organised and having succeeded in preparing all your posts for this month! Hope you have a relaxing summer:)
Eb Gargano says
Thanks Monica!!
Corina says
Wow! I’m so impressed by how organised you’ve been. I’ll be lucky if I get three posts out in the whole of August. I hope you have a lovely summer x
Eb Gargano says
Haha – I find it really difficult to leave my blog alone for too long, so it was either get organised or have a stressful summer! The former sounded more pleasant!! Eb x
Lathiya says
I wish,I too can be as organized as you..as summer vacation going on..I struggle between blogging and kids..
Eb Gargano says
It’s always a juggle, even with being relatively organised, but I find getting as much done as I can ahead of time and then taking my opportunities as and when I can over the summer to be the best formula! Eb x
jacqui says
Bloody hell Eb, I swear you really are super woman! 2-3 posts a week for the summer under your belt. How on earth do you do it all. Anyway I really do hope you take time out to enjoy the summer and the family. Thanks for including my chicken caesar salad in your round up. There are already some fab recipes linked up for me to choose from next week too which is fab.
Eb Gargano says
Haha, it’s not every week that I have 2 or 3 posts going out! Just the original plan was a strict 1 a week, but some weeks now have 2 or 3 planned – gah! I do it by being very organised and determined…and I worked some long days in the two weeks leading up to the summer holidays and a few hours at weekends too, but I’m so glad I did it, summer is much less stressful this year! A pleasure to include your lovely salad – so up my street! And yes you are right, already loads of lovely recipes have been added, you are going to have a job to choose, I think! Eb x
Nat @ Intolerant Gourmand says
Oh my word, how organised are you??!! Not jealous in the slightest *read totally jealous!! 🙂
I really shouldn’t look at recipes when hungry and trying to wait for dinner to cook, makes you even more hungry doesn’t it! They all look amazing, what a lovely selection, particularly the Caesar salad – that’s my kind of salad! Yum!!
xx #cookblogshare
Eb Gargano says
Hahaha – I used to work in a corporate environment where I had to juggle multiple projects with multiple deadlines…I had to be super organised back then and it’s just sort of stuck…I’m a firm believer in a well written to do list!! (and for list, read ‘lists’!!!) Oh I know – looking at food all day just makes me so hungry…it’s quite amazing how I am not the size of a house, really! Eb x
Jo Allison - Jo's Kitchen Larder says
Big thumbs up for the organisational skills and determination Eb! 🙂 I have failed miserably with pre-planning and “the plan” is to go with the flow. 🙂 Wish me luck! lol Thank you so much for including my mackerel pate and sneaking couple of other picnic ideas too! I really love all your other choices too. They all look so good, perfect al fresco dining fare! Enjoy your Summer lovely lady! xx
Eb Gargano says
Thanks Jo, I am quite amazed quite how well I stuck to my plan this year…I learnt my lesson from last year though and kept July super quiet, apart from working on posts for the summer (well, you know that and all the school trips, end of year services, sports day etc. etc.!!) Good luck with your go with the flow summer – you never know, you might enjoy that more…I have learnt over the years that I am just not a go with the flow person…I hate it! So I need to be organised or I just get super stressed!! A pleasure to include your recipes – love your picnic ideas!! Eb x
Sadhna Grover says
Hi Eb,
I hope you are enjoying summer and resting too, I know we have a lot to do in summer.
I like the halloumi b b q kebabs. Thanks for hosting the lovely party where we learn a lot.
Eb Gargano says
Thanks, Sadhna 🙂 Me too! I’m not very good at relaxing – I can always find something I ‘need’ to do…but I really do need some time off…I’ve been working so hard on the blog lately…I need a break!! Eb x
Michelle Frank | Flipped-Out Food says
Ah, yes, summers with the kids at home. Opposite of relaxing, but the quality time is nice. Kudos to you for scheduling most of your blog posts in advance! I’m inspired to figure out a plan like this for myself. These recipes all look so YUM—I can’t wait to test drive them!
Eb Gargano says
Haha – it sort of sounds good, doesn’t it? And then the reality kicks in…I have to admit, I used to half dread the summer holidays when they were younger…but now they are older, they are capable of occupying themselves better and we can do much more interesting stuff together…plus having most of my work done ahead of time means I can relax and enjoy the hols a lot more!! I would really recommend it – so much more fun!! Eb x
Michelle Rolfe says
I’m super impressed with your discipline. We normally take the summer to relax with our kids too but as this year I’ve only had a quick week away I found I’ve been on social media way more than I should have. As well, my kids are at the age where Youtube rules their lives its really hard to discipline them when you are just as bad!
Great round up though and all look great to add to the summer (if Scotland sees summer that is!;) list of cooks! Thanks for hosting, and hope you are enjoying the holidays.
Eb Gargano says
Haha – thanks Michelle – I must say it was a tough few weeks before the holidays started, but worth it for a much more relaxing summer!! Thanks for your kind words 🙂 Eb x
Kate - gluten free alchemist says
I’m impressed that you are so organised Eb….. although I am not surprised! I have you down as a very organised person and very determined too! That’s all good. I wish I was the same….
Thank you so much for including my kebabs. They really are so lovely to eat, I hope others enjoy them too! xx
Eb Gargano says
Thanks Kate – I am pretty organised, but I am VERY determined…it’s one of those character traits that is sometimes very useful…e.g. with getting organised for summer, but sometimes bad – basically I can be downright stubborn sometimes!! It’s generally a good trait to have for blogging though, I think. Such a pleasure to include your kebabs…such fab flavours, and a lovely vegetarian/free from option for the BBQ. Eb x