The love in a mist are out with their blue, white and pink flowers and just in time for Memorial Day the poppies have burst forth in all their delicate glory.
Love-in-a-Mist in my garden have three different colors of flowers
I was able to bring home flowers from the garden, a big mixed bouquet. No lettuce though. The rabbit has been taking care of that.
I do love a mixed bouquet!
Tonight was my first time bringing the grill out for the season. Some friends came for dinner and we sat in the courtyard chatting and eating hummus and stuffed grape leaves with a fine muscadet which they brought. On the principle of “be[ing] here now,” I prepared a very simple meal beforehand so I wouldn’t be bustling in the kitchen. I had some good bread and knew that a fresh garden salad was arriving with the guests.
I got the salmon ready.
Once I started the grill, these went in the oven.
This morning I made the dessert, a Berry Bakewell Cake, whose recipe you can see at Jane’s Patisserie. I am not a huge fan of dessert and this cake is good–dense, moist, and enlivened by tart seasonal berries. If you’re in the States and want to make it, drop me a comment, as I’ve done the conversions. It really is easy. I dropped all the ingredients in the food processor and then poured half the batter in a pan, dropped the berries in and poured the other half of the batter on top. Delicious. Sensibly, I sent my guests away with a good portion of what was left…
This was delicious. I put whipped cream on top, but if you wanted something heavier, ice cream would also be good.
arlingwords 
That looks like a lovely evening, especially the earlier preparation so you could join in. I and any guests always spend some time in our kitchen/diner when she is preparing a meal, so she doesn’t miss out.
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Yes, it’s nice to have a lot of people in the kitchen visiting. Most people seem to be pulled there by varied attractions, including whatever cooking is going on.
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Perfection! I’m like you, I like to prepare beforehand and keep it simple so I’m not at work when my guests arrive. With rain, sleet, hail, snow, thunder and lightening for the past twenty-four hours, dinner in the courtyard sounds pretty nice to my ears 😉 I’m sorry the bunnies are eating all your lettuce. Do you have to resort to cages over the crops to keep them safe or do you just let the foragers have free range?
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Ooooh, the little monsters. I have been mixing up water and cayenne and sprinkling it on the lettuce and the beet greens. I’m hoping that works. I already enclose the beans and peas and could do something with hoops and bird netting, but I’d rather train them out of it!
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I did the cayenne thing when I first took over my tiny garden – it was the next door cats toilet – it worked really effectively! 🙂
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I’ll have to tell my brother. He had the cat issue!
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The bunnies are having a field day with the lettuces here, too. Lecturing them doesn’t seem to help so we’ll be working on the fencing today. Your dinner looks and sounds delicious (and has my tummy rumbling…lol!).
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Fencing… I’m trying hot pepper water on them first–the lettuces, not the rabbits. If that doesn’t work, I’ll rescue the beets and enclose the lettuces next year. Good luck with yours!
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The first cookout of the season is always a big deal around here, too! And it’s so kind and thoughtful of you to make sure the rabbits have salad!
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I’m making up hot pepper water for the lettuces in hopes the rabbits will leave them alone–they’ve started on the beet greens now as well. Brazen little critters!
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Hello Lisa. I have nominated you for The Sunshine award. Details on my post tonight, ‘Stalking The Starling’.
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Goodness! Thanks! I’ve never received a blog award. I’ll be visiting later.
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Mine have been like buses – 2 came along together 🙂
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Your meal looks delicious! Like you, I try not to spend too much time in the kitchen when entertaining – and your menu seems to fit the bill! Having problems with my lettuce too – but not caused by rabbits. They just don’t seem to have germinated – perhaps not warm enough over here. Certainly not been warm enough for eating outside like you guys!
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It’s only recently become summery. So sorry about your lettuces, but maybe they’ll come up when it warms up. I hope so! Out of your own garden they’re so buttery and fresh…
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It sounds like a wonderful weekend, Lisa. I’m glad your garden is growing well, and hope you can resolve the rabbit problem. I just held a miniature rabbit in my arms yesterday (it belongs to the neighbors). It was so soft and cute.
My mother never cared much for sweets, and like you, she was slender all her life. Hmmmmm…
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Oh, the rabbits are cute, there’s no question. I just wish they’d stick to the grass. Or not be so GREEDY. Two rows of lettuce!!! Ah, well, they didn’t get any of the cake…
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LOL! No cake, eh? I’m sure they’re heartbroken. [snicker]
It’s hard finding that balance, isn’t it? Best of luck with the pepper.
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I’ll let you know if it works.
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Thank you!
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Salmon and asparagus are my go-to girls for the grill~ lovely that you are enjoying the weekend.
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Perfect food for the season, Tammy! Thanks.
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There’s nothing like dining Alfresco with the good company of friends. Your house must have been really warm with the oven bakin’ and makin’. We eat outside most nights in the summer, especially with it being daylight out so long. Hey! Your cake looked really yummy. I love these kinds of deserts and would totally choose whip cream over ice-cream. Sounds like a coffee cake I really love. Your courtyard is really beautiful and secluded. It’s such a great feature to have a enclosed park out your door.
Bon-appetite ! xK
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Thanks, Kelly–and happy belated b-day to you!!!
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Merci !
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