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This month I've been craving freshness, greens, crunch, vitamins... food that will energise and nourish me. Perhaps that's from having been busy in my little vegetable plot in the garden. The rhubarb has come up and I've harvested a few lettuce leaves (I'll report back later on whether I have any success or not – I'm not a natural gardener). So this month I've put together a meal plan that is, of course, simple but also packed with what I've been craving.
From crispy, golden fritters that fill your kitchen with the scent of fresh dill to silky mango cheesecake that makes even a weekday feel like a celebration, each recipe here speaks to different moods – the comfort of buttery pan-fried liver when you crave something rich, the bright freshness of green beans with shallot vinaigrette when you want to feel virtuous, or that perfect parfait when you need something sweet but not too fussy.
Enjoy!
Download the shopping list for all the ingredients below.
This month’s petit pleasures:
Read: A slow moment in the city of smoke.
Watch: The classic who dunnit gets the Shonda Rhimes (creator of Bridgerton/Grey’s Anatomy) treatment.
Do: Only takes 5 and comes with a side of mood boosting benefits.
MEAL #1 - A well dressed salad {nf, gf}
Recipe: Paris market salad
My secret sauce so to say with this salad. There's really not much to it. I'm a tad embarrassed that it's so simple.
MEAL #2 - Giving breakfast the 5 star treatment {v, nf}
Recipe: Petit Déjeuner Parfait
This parfait screams luxury hotel breakfast. It can be easily assembled in 10 minutes or less. Making it perfect for weekend brunch entertaining but to be honest I'ld quite happilly eat it anytime of the day/week (which I did).
MEAL #3 - The humble cabbage gets a tasty makeover {v, nf}
Guest Recipe: Alissa Timoshkina's Cabbage, Pea and Dill Fritters
Cabbage might not be the most popular vegetable, but trust me — once you try these fritters, you’ll find yourself making them again and again.
MEAL #4 -A controversial love affair
Recipe: Green beans with a shallot vinaigrette
You can either love or leave the liver but the salad is one you're sure to keep.
MEAL #5 - A bit of spice is nice {gf*, nf}
Recipe: Chicken paillard sandwich with brown butter crispy capers
Quick and easy way to cook chicken. Serve it as a sandwich, with a side of steamed new potatoes or I slice up the leftovers and toss it into a green salad (a sort of caesar salad).
Something for your sweet tooth…{v, nf}
Guest Recipe: Kiano Moju's Mango Cheesecake
The combination of mango and the spicy twist makes this baked cheesecake something special.