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Freshen up with seasonal produce
May is a month to celebrate. There are the bank holidays to start with, which is always a good thing: and with any luck at this time of year, the weather may be kind to us. Most importantly though is the fact that seasonal produce begins to appear. We can make those high days particularly special by treating the family to some of the delicious goodies that are available in spring.
Asparagus is a seasonal treat
Look out for fresh asparagus, either from Spain or later in the month English sprigs will come through. Asparagus is a sumptuous feast just served with melted butter or a few shavings of fresh parmesan grated over – or you can try using the sprigs as ‘soldiers’ to dip into softly boiled eggs.
Feast on luxurious lobster
Hugely extravagant and very festive, lobster is the perfect bank holiday treat. It can be served cold, with merely a big bowl of mayonnaise (home made, ideally) and some lovely new season potatoes. Yes, we can not pretend it’s not expensive. But comfort yourself with how much cheaper it is to have at home rather than in a restaurant; it is a holiday, after all.
Serve Spring lamb simply, minty
Another new season treat is spring lamb. Easter was so early this year that you may have decided to wait for the first of this year’s lamb until now. Mint and lamb is a marriage made in heaven, so remember to get a couple of springy bunches in. Mint sauce is a doddle to prepare: just chop fresh mint (the aroma as you do this is wonderful) mix with wine vinegar and sugar to taste.
Spring stews are lighter
Spring lamb can also be the prime ingredient in a light stew or ‘Navarin’. It’s a useful way of using cheaper cuts. The stew is different from the long slow winter infusions. Tender young lamb takes less time to cook and is served with equally tender young vegetables to make a light flavoursome broth.
Put the Zing into high days
May days are perfect for sipping something fizzy and the most luxurious and romantic of all fizzes is pink champagne. It puts the zing into high days. Luckily the supermarkets buying power means that you can treat yourself to a really good bottle without swooning at the price.
Lighter meals means fish
The warmer weather lends itself to lighter eating and fish becomes appropriate. Trout, which is easy to farm is good value and tasty. Try it simply baked with a knob of butter and if you want some roasted sliced almonds.
Salmon with a twist
Salmon works well for holiday meals because it is so flexible. If the weather turns out colder than we would like then serve it hot, pan fried in a little olive oil and spritzed with lemon and if we are lucky with the weather and we get a sunny day, serve it cold cooked with a twist – by using oriental ingredients such as Thai flavourings.
Dainty cup cakes
As with main dishes, we want lighter puddings and tea time treats at this time of year. Waitrose inspired us with their recipe for carrot cup cakes which are sweet but really quite healthy and served it dainty portions.
