Poppies

I just can't get enough of them.

Lemon and Pistachio Cake

Zesty sponge cake with some crunch on top. Lovely.

175 g Sugar

75 g Butter

2 Eggs

150 g Plain Flour

2 tsp Baking Powder

Juice and Grated Zest of 1 Lemon

100 ml Milk

Icing Sugar

Juice of 1 Lemon

Crushed Pistachio Nuts

Melt the butter in a saucepan. Whisk the eggs and sugar until nice and fluffy. Mix the dry ingredients, then fold them into the eggs. Add the butter, milk, lemon juice and zest and stir until smooth. Pour into a greased tin and bake for 40 minutes at 180 degrees.

Once cooled, mix lemon juice and icing sugar to make a slightly runny icing. Pour over the cake and before it has set completely, scatter the crushed pistachios on top. Enjoy!

Today it is Summer

You can tell it is going to be be a beautiful day, it is still and warm and there is a promise of sunshine. My garden looks like summer too. The poppies are going for it now and it is so beautiful I can't describe it. I end up late for work because I can't resist going out there to just stand and...look.

Tapestries and more at Victoria Miro

We were not the only ones who wanted to see the Grayson Perry tapestries at Victoria Miro on Saturday - this is a very popular show so for quiet viewing, I would recommend going early. Great to see them for real though, my favourite is the one with the club singer pictured above. There were a few pots and drawings too.

Also on show was work by Sarah Sze which I really enjoyed. And outside there is lovely garden backing onto the canal where they serve tea and cakes.

Pit stop at Salvation Jane

This is a new gem of a place just off Old Street roundabout. Salvation Jane are open for breakfast through to dinner, and they also do great coffee and cakes. We stopped by for a quick lunch on Saturday. I had some grilled halloumi with tomatoes and poached eggs. Really good. Top marks for their Bloody Mary too - spicy and rich just as it should be.

We will be back!

Five Spice Roast Duck Legs with Watermelon, Feta Cheese and Quinoa Salad

The starting point for this dish was the watermelon, we had some in the fridge that we had eaten on it's own for pudding twice already so I fancied using the rest for a dinner recipe. I came up with this salad which is really yummy if I may say so myself...the melon, feta, mint and pistachios go so well together. Nice colours too. To go with it, I thought some duck legs would be good, just roasted with a chinese five spice rub. These are really good value and available from my local supermarket. So much more interesting than chicken.

Watermelon

Feta Cheese

Spring Onions

Mange Tout

Quinoa

Pistachio Nuts

Mint

Coriander

Limes

Olive Oil

Salt and Pepper

Pinch of Sugar

Wholegrain Mustard

Duck Legs

Chinese Five Spice

Salt and Pepper

Olive Oil

Season the duck legs with salt, pepper and chinese five spice, drizzle over some olive oil and rub the spices into the skin. Put in a baking tray and cook in the oven for an hour at 180 degrees. Cook the quinoa according to the instructions on the packet. Cut the watermelon into cubes and put in a large bowl. Add sliced spring onions, chopped herbs and cubed feta cheese. To lightly cook the mange tout, put them in a colander and pour some boiling water over. Chop them roughly and add to the the bowl. For the dressing, mix fresh lime juice to taste with olive oil, salt and pepper, a pinch of sugar and some wholegrain mustard. Let the quinoa cool, then add it to the salad and mix everything together gently. Pour the dressing over and serve. We enjoyed a crisp white wine with it - not bad for a Wednesday night

Bauhaus at the Barbican

On Saturday we went to the Barbican to see the Bauhaus exhibition. As always, it was an extensive show with lots of interesting material. Still, I couldn't help but feel it was a touch dry. I am sure there are lots of fun, juicy stories about what really went on at the Bauhaus but I guess I will have to look elsewhere for those.

I love the Barbican. The idea of urban utopia, the Brutalist buildings only slightly softened by greenery hanging over railings from window boxes - all a bit strange, but I like it. There are often good things on at the Curve gallery with free entry. I am still sad that I missed the show with birds that played electric guitars.