As Summer slips by, we look forward to bountiful harvests, as the fruit is ripening, vegetables are thriving and flowers are bursting into bloom.
For many of us, the summer months mean long, lazy afternoons outdoors and the chance to experiment with a whole new host of flavours and summer dishes, from rustic pizzas and zingy salads to light, spongy cakes.
To kick off our new series on summer cooking, we caught up with Stella West Harling MBE, Founder and CEO of Ashburton Cookery School in Dartmoor, to find out what’s on her recipe list this summer, inspired by her beautiful ageless recipe book ‘A cook’s Book’ covering the classics of all aspects of kitchen cooking throughout the seasons.
Stella, what flavours do you most enjoy this time of year?
Well we’re still in the lean month, but asparagus, baby vegetables and the new tomato crops are with us. By mid-June, after a few boiling hot days, the strawberries will be warm and sweet. I’m also now making my first batch of elderflower champagne.
Which vegetables, herbs and edible flowers are you growing right now?
I always have nasturtiums, parsley, watercress, sage, rosemary, different mints, bay leaves, sweet peas and marigolds. In the borders there are mange tout, cherry tomatoes, French beans, baby greens and yellow courgettes.
Do you have a go-to summer evening dinner recipe?
I do – sliced avocado and sliced beef tomatoes with torn buffalo mozzarella and torn basil leaves is a staple. I add single variety Italian or Spanish extra virgin olive oil, balsamico, salt and toasted pine nuts and I’ll often have a side dish of barbecued asparagus and haloumi, along with my cinnamon and walnut Cheat’s Sourdough Bread.
What are the most common mistakes when making pastries, bread or cakes?
People panic when it ‘goes wrong’ and that’s usually about having a mixture that’s either too wet or too dry. You can normally get it back to what it should be quite easily. That’s why doing a practical course is really useful. You can’t really learn the basics out of a book with a recipe which doesn’t show or describe the textures or how it should feel.
What do you tend to bake in the warmer summer months?
Breads tend to bake well in the warmer months, as do some cakes. Pastry is tricky in the summer unless you have a very cool room.
Do you have a favourite cake for summer celebrations?
It would definitely be a classic Victoria sponge with thick whipped cream, a strawberry jam filling and a fresh strawberry topping with a sprinkle of icing sugar – and a glass of bubbly, of course!
Thank you, Stella!
‘A Cooks Book’, by Stella West-Harling MBE.
Over 300 beautifully illustrated pages of essential recipes with tips and cheats to enhance your kitchen experience throughout the seasons. Purchase and save here
If you’d like to learn Stella’s baking secrets and discover what it takes to create outstanding breads, pastries and cakes, you can buy cookery school gift certificates to use on a cookery course at Ashburton Cookery school and over thirty other accredited cookery schools UK wide. More details here
Stella is now also busy in her roles as CEO of Feeding Devon and founder of the ‘Community Kitchen Hub‘, working with food aid agencies both national and local to create a sustainable food justice system. She is also an active member of Orchard Link and Devon Artists Network, and President of ICSA, the Independent Cookery School Association. Promoting consistent ‘Excellence in cookery skills and training’ in independent cookery schools uk wide.
