A spring dinner party

The time has come! We are finally able to see our friends and families in our gardens!

This calls for a spring dinner party (as long as no more than 6 people or two households). Here are some simple yet effective recipes so you are not slaving away in the kitchen all day but can actually enjoy yourself!

The perfect refreshing drink to offer anyone on a lovely spring afternoon is a glass of cold lemonade, but why not make it yourself!

Method 

1. Make a simple syrup – place sugar and water in a small saucepan and bring to a simmer, stir until sugar dissolves and remove from heat

2. While the water is heating for the syrup, juice your lemons 4 – 6 should make one cup of juice

3. Pour the juice and syrup into a serving pitcher. Add 2 to 3 ups of cold water and taste. If a little two sweet add more straight lemon juice

4. Then serve chilled

Ingredients

• 1 cup white, granulated sugar

• 1 cup water – for the syrup

• 1 cup lemon juice

• 2 to 3 cups cold water – to dilute

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FOR STARTERS

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Tomato Bruschetta 

Tomato bruschetta is a crowd pleaser with the perfect mix of tomatoes, onion, balsamic vinegar and bread, it’s perfect for a light bite or as a starter before a delish main.

Method

1. In a large bowl, mix the onions, tomatoes, garlic and basil, taking care not to mash or break up the tomatoes too much.

2. Add the balsamic vinegar and extra virgin olive oil. Add salt and pepper to taste. Mix again. Cover and chill for at least an hour. This will allow the flavours to soak and blend together.

3. Slice the baguette loaf diagonally into 12 thick slices and lightly toast them until they are light brown on both sides.

4. Serve the mixture on the warm slices of bread

5. Add a couple fresh basil leaves on top and the drizzle balsamic glaze over, to finish off the starter and then serve

Ingredients 

• ½ small red onion, finely shopped

• 8 medium tomatoes (500g), coarsely chopped and drained

• 2-3 garlic cloves, crushed

• 6-8 leaves of fresh basil, finely chopping

• 30ml balsamic vinegar

• 60-80ml extra virgin olive oil

• 1 loaf crusty bread

• Balsamic glaze

• Basil

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FOR MAIN

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Pasta Primavera

“Primavera” means spring in Italian which is a simple pasta dish with lots of spring vegetables. This is the perfect dish for all you pasta lovers without the heaviness, with this dish being super light and fresh. 

Method 

1. Prep your ingredients by chopping up all the vegetables

2. Add the oil and butter to a skillet over medium-high heat.

3. Once the pan is hot, add the vegetables and garlic and sauté, stirring often, for about 5 minutes until the vegetables are tender-crisp.

4. Stir in the lemon juice, Italian seasoning, and basil.

5. Before draining the pasta, add a splash of the pasta water (a tablespoon or two) to the skillet. Drain the pasta and add it to the pan and toss. Just before serving, stir in the parmesan cheese.

Ingredients 

• Butter & Oil for the light sauce

• Courgettes

• Peas (I used frozen but you could use sugar snap or fresh peas if you have access to them)

• Bell peppers

• Cherry tomatoes

• Thinly sliced carrots

• Garlic

• Fresh lemon juice

• Italian dried seasoning

• Fresh basil

• Parmesan cheese

• Pasta

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FOR DESSERT

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Lemon Drizzle Cake

Lemon drizzle cake is the perfect desert with it being ever so light and fluffy to not make you feel too full after the last couple courses!

Method

1. Eat the oven to 180C / 160C / gas 4

2. Beat together the butter and caster sugar until pale and creamy, then add the eggs one at a time, slowly mixing through

3. Sift in the self-raising flour, then add the lemon zest and mix until combined

4. Line a loaf tine (8 x 21cm) with greaseproof paper, then spoon in the mixture

5. Bake for 45-50 mins until a thin skewer inserted into the centre of the cake comes out clean

6. While the cake is cooling mix together the lemons juice and caster sugar to make the drizzle

7. Prick the warm cake all over with a skewer, then pour over the drizzle – the juice with sink in and the sugar will form a crip topping

8. Leave in the tin until completely cool, then remove and serve

Ingredients 

• 225g unsalted butter

• 225g caster sugar

• 4 eggs

• 225g self-raising flour

• 1 lemon, zested

For the drizzle topping 

• 1 ½ lemons juiced

• 85g caster sugar

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- Decorations -

As this is the first time in a very long time to have people in the garden, why not go all out and even decorate. Try by decorating the table with some flowers from your garden and place them in little jars on the table. Light some simple, plain pillar candles and place these on the table or around the garden to give some extra cute, cozy lighting. 

When eating outside it is great to have outside glasses and plates in case things break. Sainsburys home currently have some great plastic tableware which are all fun colours to fully embrace spring and soon summer. They are all inexpensive but also make you feel like you’re on love island drinking out of your plastic wine glasses! Another is to get a drink dispenser which can hold your fresh lemonade or even a mojito. This is perfect to keep the drinks cool by filling it with lots of ice, but also being accessible to your guests. Sometimes you just gotta be extra boujie, you know?

For seating, go boho by placing some rugs and comfy cushions on the grass, with some string lights, candles, and music. Perfect for a chilled Spring Evening.