These long summer days are perfect for ripening fruit and we've indulged in a favourite summer holiday activity of strawberry picking at the local pick-your-own farm. I love that they grow the strawberries in raised troughs, there's no bending down to hunt for the best berries or finding them covered in dusty soil, instead the berries hang plump and delicious from the plants and are easily picked and popped in a punnet. It's made me very happy to be carrying on this tradition with Amy. We had a lovely morning spent together and topped it off with lunch in the farm cafe – I had a twice baked goat cheese souffle on a bed of rocket, pear and pomegranate salad and she enjoyed a mexican pulled pork parcel, delicious!
Back at home summer has brought bounty to my garden and we are enjoying fresh feasts of french beans, broccoli and peas. I like to pick them just before we are ready to eat so they are as fresh as possible. Here's how we like to eat them…
Ingredients:
- French beans / peas / broccoli
- A clove of garlic (or more if you like)
- A couple of handfuls of chopped cherry tomatoes
- A handful of chopped fresh herbs (rosemary, sage, thyme and marjoram are good but I tend to pick whatever looks best at the time)
- A drizzle of extra virgin olive oil
- Fresh ground black pepper
Rinse and lightly steam the beans and peas (or broccoli), then let them cool a little while you saute a clove of garlic in butter over a medium heat until soft. Once the garlic is soft but not browned throw in a couple of handfuls of chopped cherry tomatoes and let them soften while you chop some fresh herbs. Add the herbs to the pan and give everything a good stir, you can add a little more butter at this stage depending on whether you like a thick or a runny sauce. Pop the beans and peas (or broccoli) into a dish and scoop the garlicky, herby tomatoes over the top. Slosh over the olive oil, a twist or two of black pepper and a few more herbs and eat with some crusty bread to mop up the juices with. It makes a delicious summer lunch or a good accompaniment to grilled steak or fish.
The garden is also being productive in other ways. We currently have a family of newly-fledged robins chirping noisily in the hedge and I'm over the moon that we have blackbirds nesting in the clematis. I've watched them build the nest over a couple of weeks, then the male popping in with tasty treats for the female while she sat incubating the eggs. Last weekend she was out of the nest and we heard the first tiny cheeping noises from inside the deep cover and since then both parents have been busily dashing in and out with beak-fulls of worms. I am a bit worried though that food is a bit scarce as it's been very dry recently, so yesterday I went to the fishing tackle shop and bought a couple of beakers of worms and I'm leaving a few in a little dish in the hope that it helps keep those hungry mouths fed. I'd be so thrilled if these little birds make it to fledging day – the odds are rather stacked against them, especially around here where nests are often decimated by magpies, so it will be wonderful if they do.
There is even a little productive knitting going on here too, though not as much as I'd like a Toby is a demanding chap during the school hols. Still, I'll pop back soon and show you what has been on my needles, 'til then keep well and thanks so much for stopping by x
little cotton rabbits 
Hi there! Thank you for writing such a lovely blog! I bought your boy bunny pattern a while ago and have really loved knitting the little guy. I would love to sell a few on a Christmas stall this year but only if you wouldn’t mind? I of course understand if you’d rather I not, and if I do I will of course credit you and your wonderful patterns! Sorry I had to ask in a comment, I would have emailed but I couldn’t quite get the link to work, although I’m sure that’s just me and my bad technology skills, haha! Thanks again, your blog posts really do make my day!
Ps. Congratulations on your feature in Simply Knitting! It was lovely to read more about your wonderful work!
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Oh sugar, I didn’t mean to include my email as a name! Me and my bad technology skills, haha! Sorry about that. Thanks again!
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Mmmm, that does sound and look delicious Julie! Lovely that you have some little families in your garden too, I hope they all do well! Great photos!
I’ll look forward to the knitting!! 🙂
V x
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Lovely blog as usual Julie, I will definitely try your delicious sounding recipe. Good luck to the blackbirds too. Have a loveky summer break. Sue x
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Those strawberries look phenomenal. And lovely green things from the garden too. I really like the look of the way you’ve cooked them. Well done on looking after the blackbirds so well. We have some round here that feast on my blueberries. They’re beautifully glossy! CJ xx
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Lovely recipe for your fresh garden produce, it looks very tasty. Our blackbird couple have been nesting in the ivy by the back gate for years. We think they are the same birds because the male will sometimes ‘challenge’ my husband when he uses the gate. One brood has already fledged this year and sometimes they manage a second. It is great to watch the comings and goings, I hope you get as much fun as I do from your blackbirds.
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Your photography is absolutely stunning.
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I’ve never seen raised strawberries and I’ve never seen a clematis that big. Gorgeous!
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It’s always so nice when I receive a message that you have a new post in your blog. Following you from Lisbon, Portugal.
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Hi Julie, it was so nice to read about what you’ve been doing this summer. Your blog is such a beautiful and inspiring one. I enjoyed seeing those strawberries. What a great idea to grow them in raised planters. It looks so much easier to pick them. I’m glad you and Amy are having some nice times together this summer and I hope that things are going well with Toby. Take care and enjoy the rest of your summer.
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Your clever photos make it all look even more delicious! x
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Now I’m wanting to make your veggie recipe too!!! It looks yummy. Thanks for your lovely pictures too. Do you often use your little outdoor getaway? I haven’t seen it in your posts recently. x
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What wonderful produce from your garden. You have a golden thumb! I can’t wait to see what is on your needles.
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Beautiful pics as always. Those strawberries look soooo yum, we are in the midst of winter here. Good luck with the blackbirds , I’m a fan myself
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Wishing you a very happy birthday Julie. Have a lovely day. xxxx
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that is SOOOO sweet that you bought your birds some worms!! love it!!! And those raised beds of strawberries…never seen such a thing, but oh, so practical. I’d be there every year, too. Lovely photos—–as always!!! 🙂
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What a lovely post! Yours is a great garden for the birds and you are a perfect “mum” to them!Anne
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I love that you bought some worms for the birds, a cool thing to do. Wonderful produce you have, a lovely recipe thank you. Those strawberries look terrific and such a good idea raising them up in troughs.
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Great blog as usual Julie!
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Ooooh yum! Nothing better than fresh vegetables and your tomato accompaniment looks wonderful! It looks like you’re having a good summer — may it continue!
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👏💞 always FABULOUS,your knitting is inspiring💖😇😁. Your garden’s MAGNIFICENT🍴🌱🌞 YOUR photography is so~delicious~
and vibrant all the TIME it has MADE me buy patterns and knitting needles😁 beyond my expectations… Bahahaha
Started out on your wee Bunnies 🐇and grew to egg bunny 🐇then Bunny boy,Pie bald Bunny🐇. I also crochet for charity.
Love your writing💞
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Lvely to read your news Julie, lovely pictures. Yes I remember my mother taking my two girls strawberry picking and remember the youngest coming home totally red round her mouth!!!!! But sad she only had two strawberries out of her basket lol nothing mentioned about all the rasps that didn’t make the basket. Am sure you and your daughter had a great day.
The fresh veg look great nothing to beat them straight from the garden.
Take care love to Toby, enjoy the rest of the holidays.
Hugs
Ellie (Scotland ) xxx
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Oh I detect from the comments that you may have celebrated a birthday…Happy Birthday if that is true…may you have spent your special day doing something you love with those you love! Make it the kick off to the YEAR of Julie! Love having your update. Me & my love went & picked strawberries & made his favourite freezer jam. Lots of sticky fun! We are grabbing moments in lieu of any formal vacation…just easier. I continue to knit…monkey on my needles & the pebble shawl in a lovely cotton, bamboo, & silk (CoBaSi) in a lovely purple blue turquoise & lime green variegation…my first shawl inspired by you!
Enjoy your days!
As always, Lori from Port Perry
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that recipe looks delicious will have to give that one a try!
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Your blog always makes me feel uplifted and on my lower days your writing always makes me feel better, thank you. You have such a good eye for all things creative and artistic, are an accomplished crafter and cook and now I see you go out of your way to care for nature too. I do a similar recipe but with a glut of courgettes. Cooked with tomato and garlic they are simply delicious, especially if you add a little butter and tomato purée too. Today I used another batch of courgettes to make a courgette, lime and pistachio cake with cream cheese frosting, delicious! Summer blessings Julie.
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What lovely pictures – I hope those fledglings made it. Sadly the noisy magpies near us decimated the blackbird nest in the climbing hydrangea on the back of our house. I’m hoping that the nest in the rampant rose was more successful (the thorns hopefully proving a deterrent)
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I have to admit that my first visit to your blog occurred today, brought here by The Loopy Ewe blogpost about 3-dimensional toys. Such sweet little creatures. I am trying to locate your book now – my nephew’s wife is expecting a little girl, and that elephant will be perfect! Congratulations on your 10th blogging anniversary! Nancy (Menomonee Falls Wisconsin USA)
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