Summer Salad: Pea, mint and feta

I have been wanting to make a pea and mint salad ever since last summer when I sampled a supermarket one which was very much enjoyed, and gobbled up without much delay, on a picnic. It was the perfect refreshing, light, and healthy side dish.

Last weekend, as the sun was shining brightly that same salad was all I could think about. What's more we had two varieties of fresh mint in the garden- so there really was no excuse.

This is the recipe that I came up with in an attempt to replicate the shop-bought salad. It's not by any means complex, but sometimes simplicity is best!

Fresh garden peas,

Mangetout peas,

Green beans,

Mint,

and Feta

Give yourself a little time with the peas as it is fairly labour intensive, but luckily quite fun and strangely satisfying.

For the dressing:

Oil,

White wine vinegar,

Lemon juice,

and a little sugar if you fancy.

And there you have it. Yum.

Serve as chilled as possible for optimum crunch and freshness.

Perfect for a picnic, or to enjoy alongside a BBQ.

What is your favourite accompaniment to a BBQ?

Do you have a side that you always prepare if you're picnicking?

A mother daughter weekend: Sun, Al fresco dining, & (a little) wine

The weekend just gone saw my return down south- and what a sunny home greeted me! Dad had just flown out to China for business, someone was obviously keen to get to the other side of the world! Not really, he had come and driven all the way to York and back to pick me up, before dashing away. So we were left just the two girls. A much needed girlie weekend was in order. And that's just what we had, lots of wonderful food, giggles, incessant chatting, and a glass of wine or two.

Mum and I both love similar food, and after heading to the supermarket and really being that annoying child, i.e picking up everything, (which I can't afford when living as a student and normally just gaze longingly at), we had picked up enough fruit and veg to seriously overdose on the stuff.

So, naturally, having considered what to have for dinner, what we decided on was nothing short of a feast.

What we came up with was perfect for the summer's evening; we dipped into our mezze platter as we spoke for hours. 

We enjoyed some fresh bread, cured meats, peppers, olives, and pea & mint salad (a recipe post of which will follow.)

When it became dark it was finally time to come in after what had been a wonderful evening back at home. It was time for bed in anticipation for the day to follow.