Watermelon Mint Salad

This is far less a recipe than it is an amazing combination of tastes. 

The next time you have fresh watermelon, try adding some finely chopped mint leaves and freshly squeezed lemon juice. I like to leave it in the fridge for at least 30 minutes so the flavour of the mint really skinks in, but in all honesty, this is entirely optional - serving it as soon as you make it is also delicious.

Gazpacho

I may have developed a slight addition to gazpacho this summer. It is, without a doubt, my favorite summer dish. It's so light and refreshing. Not only is it delicious, it is probably the easiest and quickest thing to make. 

4 fresh tomatoes

1 green capsicum (bell pepper)

1/4 of a large cucumber

1 tablespoon of extra virgin olive oil

2 teaspoons of red wine vinegar

A small handful of fresh baguette

1-2 small cloves of garlic

A small white onion

Salt and pepper to taste

a hand mixer or food processor 

How to make your gazpacho

1. Wash your veggies
2. Seed your capsicum 
3. Peel the cucumber (seed if you prefer, I'm lazy so I tend not to)
4. Add all your ingredients together in a food processor (or you can use a hand mixer) until your ingredients are as fine as possible
5. Be sure to taste as you go, I tend to not measure anything
6. OPTIONAL - if you want to make a very traditional gazpacho, pour your blended ingredients through an extremely fine sieve  to make it even smoother and leave over night in the fridge. I, however, tend to prefer a bit more texture to mine and don't add this step. But be sure to serve your gazpacho cold.
7. Garnish with garlic croutons and finely diced onions and green capsicum

Veggie Fritters

zucchini 

2 potatoes
2 carrots

1 small onion

2 eggs

1 tablespoon of flour

1 lime

Some sprigs of fresh parsley (about 2 talespoons minced)

Salt & pepper to taste

Oil for frying

Tzatziki 

1. Grate the veggies and chop the onion and parsley
2. Mix the grated vegetables in salt & pepper, squeezed lime, beaten eggs and flour
3. Heat oil in a pan (enough so the fritters will be half submerged) and try to ball the vegetables as best you can before dropping them into the oil
4. Cook them until they are golden on each side before laying them on paper towel to cool slightly and serving them with tzatziki!

Tzatziki

Turned out a bit more liquidy than I would have liked, but still so delicious. 

Ingredients: 

• 1 full cup of Greek yogurt
• 2 small cloves of crushed garlic
• 3 small cucumbers grated (I didn't even skin them)
• 3/4 a cup of sour cream
• A small handfull of fresh dill (or mint if you want to add some different flavour)
• 1 teaspoon of extra virgin olive oil
• Salt and pepper to taste

Preparation: 

1. Be sure to strain your yogurt, I was clearly really smart in thinking this step wasn't crucial
2. Mix the yogurt with sour cream
3. Wash and seed the cucumbers then grate them into the yogurt
4. Crush and combine the garlic
5. Very finely dice the dill
6. Add all of your ingredients together and stir well

Healthy Alternatives:

Truth be told I actually used ultra low fat Greek yogurt and it was just as delicious :)

Strawberry Peach Smoothie with Yogurt

A delicious meal in a glass - healthy and full of fresh fruit

You will need:

• Half an apple of your choice
• A small handful of strawberries
• One tablespoon of yogurt
• 4 ice cubes
• One medium sized peach
• 2 tablespoons of water (you can use juice if you prefer)
• A bender or food processor

Okay.. now I must warn you, the preparation of this is very complex and should not be attempted by someone who is new to cooking. 

Uhm, no, kidding, just put your ingredients all together in a blender or food processor.. and serve. 

Banana Bread

A good snack, dessert, even yummy for breakfast.

• 1/2 a cup of room temperature butter
• 2/3 of a cup of brown sugar
• 2 eggs
• 4 or 5 overly ripe bananas
• 2 teaspoons of vanilla essence
• 1 & 1/2 cups of flour
• 1 teaspoon of baking soda
• 1 teaspoon of baking powder
• A pinch of salt
• 1/2 a teaspoon of freshly ground nutmeg

1.  Preheat your oven to 170 degrees Celsius
2. Mix together the flour, baking soda, salt, baking powder and nutmeg
3. In a separate bowl, mix butter, sugar and vanilla essence
4. Get your hands dirty and squeeze the bananas. Add them to the bowl of butter and sugar and mix
5. Slowly add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, stirring well
6. Pour into a greased tray
7. Bake for 50 minutes to an hour

I'm listening to:

Guacamole

I'm yet to meet someone who doesn't love this, but hey, if your guests don't finish it, you have yourself a face mask ready!

• 3 very ripe avocados 
• 2 large tomatoes
• 2 medium sized onions
• 1 large lemon
• A stem of cilantro (or coriander)
• Salt and pepper to taste

Chop everything up very finely and squeeze in your lemon, stem and dice your cilantro and mix it all together!

Olive-Garlic Tapenade

• 3/4 of a cup - a full cup of black olives (I prefer to use kalamata olives)
• 2 large cloves of garlic
• 3 stems of fresh parsley 
• 1 & 1/2 tablespoons of freshly squeezed lemon juice
• optional: 2 tablespoons of fresh capers
• Salt and pepper to taste

In a food processor, mix together all ingredients until they are fine. Serve on fresh baguette or crackers.

Photos by Alvaro Chocano De Rossi

Mint Cucumber Tea Sandwiches

Very nice and proper little fancy finger sandwichies.

• Soft brown bread
• Fresh min leaves
• Thin slices of cucumber
• Boursin or cream cheese
• Salt

1. Finely chop the mint leaves
2. Slice the cucumber into thin pieces
3. Spread the creamy cheese of your choice on the bread
4. Sprinkle the mint leaves and salt over the bread
5. Lay your cucumber slices
6. Put it together and cut off the crusts to be extra proper :)

Caprese Bruschetta

You will neeeeeeed

• A fresh baguette
• 4 tomatoes
• Fresh mozzarella (about 6 ounces)
• 3 or 4 stalks of fresh basil
• 2 teaspoons of garlic powder (that is... if you like garlic as much as me)
• 2 teaspoons of dried oregano
• Salt and pepper to taste
• 1/4 a cup of olive oil
• 3 tablespoons of balsamic vinegar

1. Finely (and when I say finely, I mean reeeeaaally finely) chop the mozzarella, tomatoes and fresh basil
2. Toss everything together in a bowl and mix well
3. Cut your baguette and there you go!