Eat the Seasons July

July

Summer is in full swing, and keen gardeners are reaping the rewards of their allotments and raised beds with an abundance of salad leaves, vegetables and berries.

But, for those who don’t grow their own, we are lucky enough to have great fruit and veg suppliers on our patch, with The Fruit Basket in Stubbington and Titchfield-based Boxxfresh both delivering to your door.

July is National Picnic Month, so portable snacks are the way forward. Pick up savoury treats at Soothills Bakery in Locks Health, or why not order a delicious traybake from The Bake Bag in Portchester?

Other foodie dates to look out for this month include World Chocolate Day on July 7 – treat yourself to a box of luxury Belgian chocolates from Kards and Keepsakes in Park Gate, or some old-fashioned favourites at Hilbornes Sweets in Fareham shopping centre.

On National Ice Cream Day (July 17), why not whip up a delicious homemade peach ice cream – the recipe is on our blog here using fresh peaches from The Fruit Basket and local honey made from the hives at Silversprings Garden Centre.

For National Cheese and Wine Day on July 25, pick up a bottle from Titchfield Vineyard or Alexander Hadleigh in Locks Heath, where you’ll also find a good choice of vegan wines.

Or catch up with friends at the Wine Garden in Titchfield, a hidden gem in Hallmark Jewellers’ beautiful 12^th century building, where you can treat yourself to a wine sharing board – choose from cheese or charcuterie and you’ll be given wines to match.

Meat 

Rabbit and lamb

Fruit

Blackberries, blueberries, cherries, raspberries, gooseberries, currants

Vegetables

French beans, lettuce and salad leaves, courgettes, beetroot, cabbage, carrots, tomatoes, spinach, shallots, radishes, runner beans, new potatoes, spring onions, peas, fennel, samphire, summer squash

Fish

Dover sole, bream, crab, salmon, turbot, lobster, mackerel, haddock, scallops, monkfish

Recipe for the month

Summer tomato and feta tart

This simple tart is ready for the oven in minutes and is the perfect way to showcase the best of the summer tomatoes. Crisp and light, it’s good served with a either a green leaf or Greek salad.

Ingredients

One sheet puff pastry – rolled into a rectangle

Sliced red and yellow tomatoes

Feta cheese

Red pesto

Fresh basil or oregano, according to preference

Method:

Crimp the edges of the pastry and then spread all over with red pesto.

Sprinkle with crumbled feta cheese and cover with slices of red and yellow tomato.

Season, and brush the crimped edges with a little beaten egg.

Put in a 200C oven for 25 minutes, or until the pastry is puffed and golden brown.

Sprinkle over more feta cheese, torn fresh basil or oregano leaves, and a drizzle of olive oil.

Serve with a Greek salad or green leaf salad.