A Summery Supper

Having returned from holiday recently and with the weather warming up again that has really put me in a summery mood. We had friends staying this weekend and as usual everything started with a Friday night dinner, partly alfresco.

I made a very casual starter to have with champagne which was Ina Garten's Tuscan mashed chickpeas on bruschetta. With some crisps, nuts, olives and stuffed pepadews I wanted to create a Spanish tapas feel that was relaxed and casual. The weather just about lasted for pre-dinner drinks outdoors anyway!

This is a simple but delicious starter or canape served with very cold champagne, prosecco or a rose wine.

The Spanish theme continued with a Chicken and Prawn paella. I don't normally make things that need a lot of attention whilst guests are there but if the ingredients are prepared it takes very little time and can hardly be described as hard work. As this is dinner in one pan there's nothing else to worry about either and very little washing up! I like Lorraine Pascale's recipe (click here). I served it from the pan with lemon wedges on the side.

And so to pudding! I made Martha Stewart's fudgy brownies and served these with store-bought chocolate ice cream and chocolate sauce. I went through a phase of trying out lots of brownie recipes and this one is simply the best. You have to underbake them so they are really moist and they keep well for about 3 days, if you can keep your hands off them for that long! One of our friends became quite addicted to them and took every opportunity over the weekend to ask for another with a cup of tea. I'm very pleased she enjoyed them so much!

The table setting was casual. The metal skillet was to place the paella pan on.

A very simple table setting for a casual dinner. I have blogged about some of these place settings before.

I think everyone enjoyed dinner and the weekend as a whole which included a return trip to West Green House Gardens with a picnic and a very pleasant Sunday afternoon in Winchester. We said farewell to our guests on Monday morning with a breakfast of toasted English muffins and creamy scrambled eggs, all topped off with smoked salmon.