POST-HOLIDAY HOLIDAY ESSENTIALS

We got back from two weeks of sun last week. Two nights on Syros, four on Folegandros, six on Milos, three in Athens.

It was heaven.

By the time we arrived on Folegandros we knew that we had taken far too much with us, Scotland can make it hard to remember that there are places where you won't need layers, where one cotton cardigan and a cotton scarf will be enough, where the same dress will be thrown on over a bikini day after day...

Clockwise from top left: an easy dress (sadly sold out) to throw on over a bikini, zipped pouches, some holiday reading, a lightweight towel to use for swimming, sitting, or as a quick cover-up, a Summer dress for evenings, a coral lipstick that looks good with a tan, my favourite earrings, a canvas bag, sandals that go with everything. 

17TH MAY

 
I just had a meeting sitting outside on the stoop to make the most of the bright sunshine that has finally appeared (although maybe just for one day).

Whether the sun shines on you or not, here are a few links for your weekend:

Flags for Edinburgh
How to make baklava
An easy dress for Summer
The cake we'll be eating this weekend
It might be time for new sunglasses
Salted chocolate pretzel peanut butter cookies
A sweet Summer bracelet
1986
This farro
Ice-cream (I want to go back to Portland)

And, if you're in New York you should really be going to this exhibition.

Finally, because we all need to laugh at stupid things and because I only found this out yesterday, if you have an iPhone with Siri go and send yourself an emoji filled message and ask Siri to read it. 

THE POTATOES WERE THE STAR

After attempting to buy lamb late on Easter Saturday and (seven shops later) failing, and after calling Chris (who had had to abandon the lamb hunt three shops in to go home and tidy up) while standing staring blankly at the supermarket shelves trying to decide what to make instead of the baked lamb with tomatoes and orzo that had sounded just right that morning, we settled on chicken. Margot Henderson's roast chicken with lemon potatoes and wilted watercress.

The chicken was great - lemon, thyme, garlic, olive oil, butter.

The watercress was a hit - a tiny bit of olive oil in a pan, add watercress, salt and pepper and stir until it just starts to wilt.

The lemon potatoes were the star.

We made it all again on Sunday just to make sure. 

Peeled and halved (or quartered) waxy potatoes go into a roasting tin with some quartered tomatoes. You quarter a lemon and squeeze over the juice, then throw the lemon shells in with the potatoes. Next you add four crushed garlic cloves, a teaspoon of paprika, some salt and pepper and a hefty glug of olive oil. It all gets mixed together and roasted in the oven until the potatoes are caramelised and the tomatoes have released their juices and become jammy.

You eat a few potatoes, and then a few more, eventually sitting with the empty tin between you as you idly scrape up nuggets of crispy deliciousness, making sure that nothing is missed.

WE ALL HAVE OUR PROBLEMS

 

 

Wise words from Quentin Blake. 

Happy Friday xo

SPRING

It doesn't feel like it with the snow and the rain and the sleet and the hail and the heating and the scarves and the hats and the gloves but, apparently, Spring starts today and it's Easter next week...

Clockwise from top left: a green egg cup, an illustrated edition of Watership Down, a rabbit jelly mould, mallow eggs, a baby bunny, chick and egg biscuits, duck egg nail polish, Cadbury mini eggs, a wooden egg cup. some flocked chocolate ducklings, a Bath stone egg cup, a vintage wooden bunny, and, finally, some tiny bunnies for your ears.

INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY

14TH FEBRUARY

Happy Valentine's Day.

(Food valentines by The Indigo Bunting, available at Paperless Post.)