And it was all yellow

Today is the last day of World Meat Free Week but hopefully a new start for many people and a step towards helping to save animals and ultimately save the planet. There's no point me preaching to the choir but, if you are a meat-eater, give it a try. It doesn't matter that you missed the designated week - you can start tomorrow!

Something we may all have in common is ... The love of Gin! I have just bottled my first attempt at Elderflower Gin and, let me tell you, it is golden nectar. Not only does it taste delicious, it was sooo easy to make.

You will need:-

1 litre of gin (or vodka)
6 tbsp white sugar
25 elderflower heads (shake out the bugs - this is a vegetarian version)
Peel from 2 lemons

Pour the gin and sugar into a large sterilised jar and swish around
Submerge the flower heads under the liquid
Top with lemon peelings to weigh down the elderflowers
Keep in a cool, dark place and give it a swirl each day
After 1-2 weeks strain the liquid through a mesh or muslin cloth *
Pour into sterilised bottles

*Add more sugar at this stage if you want a liqueur
It can be drunk alone, with tonic water, ice and lemon slices or added to fizz for a cocktail

One glass in and I'm feeling rather mellow.

Fetes des peres/Father's Day

Fathers Day in the UK and once again we've been blessed by hosting our two elderly fathers - a pair of peres.

Whilst not having large appetites, they both have a sweet tooth and so I decided to make Pear and Almond Friands which are a version of French Financiers.

140g unsalted butter
1tbsp plain flour
125g ground almonds
150g icing sugar
4 large egg whites
1tsp almond extract
1 pear from a tin
4tbsp flaked almonds

1. Melt the butter in a pan and set aside to cool
2. Mix flour, icing sugar and ground almonds together
3. Add the lightly beaten egg whites and almond extract
4. Pour in the cooled butter and mix
5. Chill in fridge for 2-3 hours
6. Divide batter into lightly greased muffin tins
7. Place a few diced pear pieces in the centre & scatter flaked almonds around the edge
8. Bake in preheated oven at 180/gas mark 4 for 20-30 mins until cooked & browned at edges
9. Leave in tin to cool for 10 mins then turn out onto a wire cooling rack
10. Serve slightly warm with double cream

Both dads agreed the pears for a pair of peres were pearfection!

Minted

The health benefits of mint have been celebrated throughout history. It is known to improve digestion and prevent nausea, acts as an anti-inflammatory, aids recovery of colds, reduces fever, treats bad breath and improves mental awareness and reduces stress. Mint!

Mint is easy to grow and will spread through your garden so is best grown in a pot and can be submerged in your garden bed. This helps prevent the roots spreading.

There are many kinds of mint and whilst the overriding taste will be mint, some smell of lemon, grapefruit, banana and even chocolate and can be used in many ways.

The summer meal below consists of courgette, pea and mint fritters served with a watermelon, feta and mint salad and minted new potatoes.

A refreshing drink is mint tea where mint leaves are infused in hot water. This can be done from fresh or dried mint as well as purchased peppermint tea bags.

Other drinks include a mint julep consisting of bourbon, crushed ice, sugar and fresh mint. My own favourite is mojito where white rum is substituted for bourbon. Maybe this one should only be consumed after eight!

Green Gardening

Finally watching Chelsea Flower Show on catchup, the two standouts for me were how gardening and being in open spaces can help with mental health and, secondly, the importance of growing food sustainably.

Camfed's Giving Girls In Africa A Space To Grow highlighted climate change hardy super-crops which are resilient to pests, diseases and dry spells as well as being fortified with vitamins.

The Montessori Centenary Children's Garden encouraged children to pick flowers, eat edible flowers and herbs, watch pond life and learn about future technology with plants being grown under artificial light.

Gardening Will Save The World by Tom Dixon and IKEA showcased plants with medicinal, health and environmental benefits as well as those growing using hydroponic technology which is a method of growing plants without soil.

Right in the heart of London there is a tunnel 33m below ground where salad leaves and herbs are sown onto a kind of mat and kept in the dark. Once sprouting, they are placed under LED lights. The benefits are that intense flavours are grown in a short space of time. Growing in these circumstances mean there are no insects and the plants are not prone to disease, therefore eliminating the need for pesticides and other harmful chemicals.

It's good to see how diets may be improved in Africa, how our future generation will understand the benefits of looking after the earth and how science and technology may be the way forward in providing food for the planet in the future.