What a weird summer we've been having. Last week, despite the grey clouds and intermittent drizzle, we escaped our muggy flat and ventured up to the rooftop garden to get some fresh air (well as "fresh" as central London can be) for a little al fresco dinner. On my way home I picked up some of my favourite ingredients for a quick and easy summer supper: Spanish gordal olives, pea shoots, serrano ham, asparagus tips, vittoria tomatoes and mixed leaves to go with some quick-and-easy quiches and a bottle of fizz.
I've always loved having quiches in summer with simple salads when it's too hot to spend time in the kitchen. Step in Higgidy, a British company making handmade pies and quiches since 2003. One of my favourite products is the ham & petit pois quiche: a shortcrust pastry filled with slow-cooked smoked ham and peas in free range egg custard, topped with a mustard crumb crust. YUM. The feta & red pepper veggie roll is a healthy, vegetarian alternative to sausage rolls: feta cheese, crushed chickpeas, red peppers and chia seeds in puff pastry topped with a crunchy tomato crust. Put both in the oven for 10-15 minutes and dinner is served; easy peasy.
I drink Champagne at every opportunity ("it's a Friday/ not raining/ payday!" etc) but when I can't think of anything to celebrate we're having dinner at home I often buy this Taste the Difference vintage Cava - I've always preferred cava over prosecco and this is dry, zesty and vibrant with big bubbles and half the price of champers. For dessert, we had cherries, blueberries and raspberries served in vintage cake stands and stayed up on the roof until the heavens opened once again... Ahh, British summer.
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in collaboration with Higgidy
