This year I visited the Chelsea Flower Show on the wettest, coldest summer day ever. We huddled in the overcrowd pavilion with everyone else trying to make the best of a bad day. We shuffled around inside inspecting, admiring and being intrigued by the gorgeous displays and got drenched when we ventured outside. Eventually we gave up and as we left we fell into a Pizza Express on our way home.
Read MorePeach, mozzarella and lemon salad
It is the time of the year to enjoy peaches at their best. I buy mine from Asquith's an independent green grocer in Ilkley who sources peaches which are displayed outsidethe shop and left to ripen in the sun naturally. I buy them warm and soft and they are brilliant value at three for £1.00.
Read MoreEverything from the garden pizza
"Steamed yellow French beans, griddled courgettes and their flowers, rocket and marjoram are all from my tiny, weeny garden. The dough is made from leftover sourdough from this afternoon's mammoth bread making session. Big sis arrives tomorrow. I don't want her to think I am slacking".
Read MoreCumin and coriander flat bread
This is another really great easy to make bread which is lovely to eat with summer food like grilled fish, meat or salads. The dough only needs to be left to rise once which makes the turnaround from start to finish swift without compromising the quality of the bread. The mashed up chick peas and baked cumin and coriander seeds add depth to the flavour and provide a clear signal that this bread goes well with Middle Eastern food, and perfectly with the salad below.
Read MoreBeetroot and goat's cheese salad
It's happened again. My kitchen has a dribble of beetroot here and a spot of beetroot there. It does not quite look like a massacre but it's close. The beetroot came from Arthur's allotment which is a few strides along the famous Dales Way walk close to the Old Bridge in Ilkley.
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