Rain, thunder and floods, but summer berries are arriving
Thu, 2 June, 2016
You couldn’t make it up: it’s the second day of summer and I’ve switched my central heating on...
The ranting about the weather is our national pastime. I should know, a major part of my domestic income originates from that obsession. And yet we seem to have enormous enthusiasm for all things summery: picnics, barbecues, street parties, garden parties, outdoor wedding parties and Pimms.
Not so easy to enjoy all those things when it’s 15 Celsius outside on the 1st of June. How about some nice soup and a blanket?
Seriously though - I do hope it will improve here in the UK and the rest of Europe (I can still say it! ‘Here and the rest of Europe’! Wonder if I will after 23rd June?).
Rain, thunder and floods, not the conditions to enjoy summer berries and eat al fresco. But strawberries are getting cheaper and more plentiful so we should at least bake with them. Baking! The answer to rubbish weather outside.
The buttermilk cake mix works with all berries and soft fruit, and it’s what I call a bucket cake - throw all the ingredients into a bucket, mix a bit and you’re done. Can’t be any easier. Here’s an equally easy recipe - soft and buttery strawberry cake.
Blueberry focaccia will make a good breakfast and it’s something a little different. Time for apricots yet? The fantastic and easily adaptable upside down cake recipe.
And of course I can’t wait for raspberries, the best berry for baking. I have some raspberry canes in the garden, obediently and abundantly fruiting each year but - somewhat rebelliously - reaching their peak in October…
Let’s not wait that long with the raspberry cake, raspberry muffins and the divine cream roulade.
