A Midsummer feast!

23.06

Fine-green-beans

I woke up Saturday morning, realised the date, and said to Jason ‘Let’s invite ourselves round to Mum’s house this evening and have a Midsummer feast!’

He replied ‘What’s a Midsummer feast?’. I told him it would be a lovely fresh, summery meal, eaten outside, with candles and cold wine and maybe some Pimms and lots of talking and laughing and celebrating of us being right in the middle of summer. Jason replied ‘So, it’s basically just dinner then? Like, we have dinner every night, right?’ ‘Whatever’, I said. ‘It’s happening, it’s going to be awesome, and we’re calling it a feast because that makes it much more fancy and fun than just regular old dinner’. ;)

So I called my Mum, she loved the idea (we do love a bit of celebrating for the sake of celebrating in this family!) and we had the whole evening planned and organised in 10 minutes flat! I was to bring the food, Mum was to provide the Pimms, and that was that!

Peonies-and-Sweet-Williams

^^ I spent the morning cleaning and doing a little Pilates, and then went to the shops and picked up all the ingredients we needed for our ‘feast’ plus some bunches of fresh flowers too. Beautiful Sweet Williams and peonies for me, plus another bunch of lovely peonies for Mum too. We’ve had fresh flowers in the house the last couple of weeks now, and whilst they are an indulgence they really do make me so happy. Peonies especially. This bunch are now almost completely open, and are brightening up our living room a treat. ^^

Jason-and-Teddy Peonies-and-mama Cider-with-Rosie-Midsummer-feast

I had some leftover roasted chicken in the fridge at my house, so I brought it round to Mum’s and we had a go at making a warm chicken and green bean salad kinda thing I’d seen on an episode of Jamie Oliver’s latest show during the week. It’s just fresh, par-boiled fine green beans tossed in a garlicky honey-mustard vinaigrette and with shredded cooked chicken, served on a bed of lentils and topped with sliced hard boiled eggs. It was crazy good! So fresh and summery tasting, but filling too!

Green-beans-and-chicken-with-lentils Midsummer-feast

The meal wound up being a collaborative effort- Jason took charge of the potatoes, I did the bean salad, and Mum cooked salmon fillets glazed with raspberry balsamic. Oh, and I played Mother, and served everyone up. ^ Scuse fingers. ^

It was all demolished in about five seconds flat out in the garden, with glasses of Pimms for company. It’s the warm evenings that I love most about summer, and spending time in my Mum’s lovely garden is just my absolute favourite. The little patio (where we eat) is lower than the rest of the garden so it feels all cosy and intimate, and there are huge tall trees (one my Mum’s nicknamed Russell because it makes the most soothing rustling noise every time the wind catches it) down the far end of the garden that catch the last of the day’s light so beautifully.

Cider-with-Rosie-Midsummer Midsummer-meal

^^ FEAST! ^^

Cider-with-Rosie

^^ New summer dress from Boden! I wore it all weekend long, and am kind of in love. (It’s on sale now too!) ^^

Teddy-in-the-garden

Teddy was on best behaviour all evening, and was mighty proud of himself when he found a tennis ball in one of the flower beds. He got stung on the nose by a bee whilst retrieving it though, poor little man. How much more grown up does he look here, compared with last June?!

Frozen-berries-with-white-chocolate Frozen-berries

For dessert, we did iced berries with white chocolate sauce. It’s one of my favourite desserts, and one I’d not had in such a long time. Super simple too- just chuck frozen berries in a bowl, heat cream until it’s just almost at boiling point, remove from the heat and stir in an equal quantity of white chocolate, then heat gently again so it’s warm enough to soften the berries, and pour over! I kind of served up excessively large portions, and we learnt that this is definitely a dish served in modest quantities. I did manage to plough through my whole bowlful though, because I’m a trooper like that. If you’ve not tried it yet, promise me you will do just once this summer?

Jason-and-Rosie Lavender Midsummer-eve-candles

The rest of Midsummer’s Eve was spent watching the sunlight fade, drinking tea by candlelight, and dancing to BeyoncĂ© in the garden. Maybe my favourite Saturday we’ve had in a long time. Can this summer last for another six months, please?

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30 Comments
Posted in FAMILY, SUMMER, WEEKEND
  • http://www.bluebellandbumpkin.blogspot.com Beccy

    Those peonies are just beautiful! Gorgeous post – it looks like a wonderful time!

    Beccy ~ Bluebell & Bumpkin

  • http://www.thisparticular.blogspot.com Ala Skrakowski

    I solemnly swear to have frozen berries with a white chocolate sauce – looks divine! x

  • http://www.supernaturallyhealthy.org kezia

    Sounds amazing – i forgot about the solstice as we were in a DIY haze of activity – maybe I will have a belated one!

  • http://thewallflowerwardrobe.blogspot.com Emma

    This looks like the perfect way to start Summer, everything looks so delicious- definitely a feast rather than dinner! :)
    Emma xo

  • http://slothlyf.wordpress.com Debs

    this looks dreamy, what a perfect solstice!

  • http://www.jenniferpolly.com Jennifer Polly

    That dessert looks so wonderful! I’m definitely going to be giving it a try. x

  • http://www.rhymeandribbons.com Amanda @ Rhyme & Ribbons

    There’s nothing better than celebrating just for the sake of it! xx

  • Brookies

    Love the way my lavender is looking this year!!

  • http://northernambitions.com Ursula

    Feasting is the best! Any excuse to eat outside really. Your dinner looks delicious and I’m excited to try your dessert. it looks so simple but decadent, which is my favourite kind of treat.

  • http://su-sews-so-so.blogspot.co.uk/ Suzie

    What a lovely looking evening! I agree, if there is a way to turn a meal into something that little bit more special then it should be done!
    I made that same salad about 2 weeks ago for the first time and my husband (and I) declared it a big hit, so shall be making it again for sure.
    Oh and I love peonies so much as well – sigh…

  • http://www.littlemisskaty.co.uk Little Miss Katy

    Oh that sounds absolutely divine! I wish my mum lvied close enough to do things like this on a regular basis.

    Definitely going to try out the berries and white chocolate!! xx

    Little Miss Katy | UK Lifestyle and Fashion

  • http://www.katgotthecream.com/ Kathryn (@KatGotTheCream)

    Oh what a lovely idea – spontaneous feasts are the best! P.S. I might just have the same dress ;-) xx

  • http://www.daisychainsanddreamers.wordpress.com Sarah Linda

    This looks so idyllic, and yummy! Really simple salad, perfect for a warm summer’s day.

    Sarah
    http://www.daisychainsanddreamers.com

  • http://winterthorne.blogspot.com/ Myra

    Beautiful photos! That bean salad looks delicious! Could you post recipes sometime? Thanks for sharing!

  • http://www.melissalovesthis.co.uk Melissa

    This looks like the perfect evening! That salad looks so yummy and nothing like what I have tried before, will have to give it a go :)

  • http://shadeofredblog.com Shade of Red Blog

    You put a smile on my face! What a lovely evening!
    http://shadeofredblog.com

  • Katie Faulkner

    I’m so envious of your evening – I was marking university dissertations. I did at least have some frozen fruit as a consolation. Thanks for sharing such lovely photographs.

  • http://www.foodielaura.com Foodie Laura

    My family celebrate at the drop of a hat too, no excuses needed. The feast looks delicious.

  • http://www.rosedogandco.blogspot.com.au Rosie

    Oh my lordy! that looks like a perfect Midsummers Evening. Super jealous of that delicious tasting food and love the idea of the frozen berries with white chocolate sauce. Yum. Yum & Yum!
    Rosie x

  • http://www.miel-cafe.com Giada

    Lovely post! The peonies look gorgeous and the whole evening sounds like an amazing time and the dessert sounds delicious, should try it soon!

  • http://arowantree.blogspot.com Polly

    I didn’t hang about – I raced to the shops for white chocolate last night after reading your blog post on my lunchbreak. My family absolutely loved the berries and creamy white chocolate sauce! Amazing and it took 3 minutes to make! Thanks, new Summer favourite. x

  • http://withinmylocket.blogspot.co.uk Mo Ray

    Aw this sounds and looks like a fabulous night. I have never tried the frozen berries and white chocolate sauce dessert before but rest assured I will be whipping up a bowl this summer :D And that chicken and green bean salad looks oh so yummy too!! Thanks for sharing this wonderful day and your recipes with us Rosie. I am so glad I read this before my weekly shop day!! Hehe :)

    Mo x

  • http://www.thegirlinthemoon.co.uk Anna

    This sounds like a perfect evening and that dessert looks incredible! I think I’ll be trying to persuade my boyfriend to have a midsummer fest very soon!

    Anna xx | The Girl In The Moon

  • http://www.lucyandtheboys.co.uk Lucy

    Ooh your feast looks so good! Love the sound of that green bean recipe, it looks so fresh and summery. It’s so lovely to have the sunshine, it’s so nice to be spending more time outside.

    Lucy x

  • http://acertainadventure.blogspot.co.uk/ Tamsin | A Certain Adventure

    Midsummer is just the most magical time of the year! I love the look of your frozen berries with white chocolate sauce – will definitely give it a go this summer :)
    Tamsin xx | A Certain Adventure

  • http://www.sevenlivesandmore.com/ Melodie

    I think that’s a lovely idea Rosie, “celebrate the little things” is one of my favorite motto! The food looks delicious too and these flowers! So pretty!! You look adorable dear and that poor little Teddy, i know how bee sting can hurt and on the nose?!! Ouch! But he seems kinda okay and still the cutest pup i’ve ever seen!
    Much love beauty!
    Melodie
    http://www.sevenlivesandmore.com/

  • http://mutedmornings.blogspot.se Mimmi

    This looks so lovely :) The dinner looks delicious and it seems you were lucky with the weather! In Sweden, Midsummer is one of the most important holidays of the year and basically everyone celebrates by eating dinner (traditional food mixed with summer-y dishes) outside. So, essentially a Midsummer Feast!

    xx Mimmi, Muted Mornings

  • http://lmgeorge.blogspot.com Laura M George (@lmgeorge92)

    Your photos are so wonderful :-) and you look perfect. Sounds like a yummy meal. Will definitely try this when I’m home. L x

  • http://www.owl-girl.com Candy

    This is probably one of my favourite posts from you! I love how magical midsummer feels, and that green bean salad looks bloody divine. Fantastic!

    http://www.owl-girl.com

  • http://dinoprincesschar.blogspot.co.uk char

    Love your dress and the idea of a feast!

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