Lovely July
“Lovely July - with the evocative murmur of honey bees on the wing and the smell of sun tan cream” Cynthia Walton.
It’s the middle of the year and a great time to reset and plan for the next 6 months, whilst picnicking, staying up far too late, and (if you are in Ireland this year) wonder if it will be sunny enough to smell sun tan cream or to languish at the beach.
July Dates 2022
It’s Wimbledon season. Whether you enjoy tennis or not (I do!), this is hours of endless action that you can potter in and out of, whilst nattering with friends and sipping Pimms and lemonade. Strawberries too, are traditional, and perfectly seasonal and local at this time of year. We like them with clouds of soft vanilla whipped cream - or straight from the punnet.
“English summers and a glass of Pimm's and lemonade go hand in hand. This light, yet alcoholic drink is synonymous with many midyear events in Britain. Sold at all festivals, concerts, and even sporting events like Wimbledon, this refreshing cocktail is also part of weddings, social gatherings, and family celebrations.
Originally created and sold in an oyster bar in London in the mid-1850s as a digestif made out of gin, herbs, and liqueurs, the beverage is now a British staple found everywhere in the country. Although there are many recipes and variations on the drink, this is, in essence, a refreshing gin-based carbonated fruity drink (or fruit cup as they are known in England) “ From The Spruce Eats.
RECIPE FOR PIMMS & LEMONADE
In a large jug, dilute Pimms in a 3: 1 ratio (ie. 600mls lemonade to 200mls Pimms for 4 glasses)
Add slices of mint, cucumber, and oranges with plenty of ice. Stir and serve with long spoons to enable eating all the fruit.
Variations add ginger ale instead of lemonade, or a splash of gin. You can try different fruits, but the cucumber and mint are key!
The 4th of July is American Independence day, and the reliance on YouTube in our house symbolises a need to eat hot dogs and key lime pie in honour of our neighbours across the Atlantic. I can’t complain, as we love hot dogs, especially when made with vegetarian sausages and topped with lots of fried onion and mild mustard.
The 14th July brings Bastille Day and all things French. Some of my favourite movies - The Big Blue, Ensemble C’est Tout, the Intouchables and Ameile bring the French culture home and great to unwind with a cheese and charcuterie platter and a bottle of red wine.
July is busy in the garden. Everything needs watering and weeding. The vegetables start to come in and suddenly the kitchen is consumed with chopping and pickling. Keep picking flowers and leaves, or in the blink of an eye it will all have gone to seed. Tomatoes need to be watered every morning to keep them consistently moist, or the fruit will split when they ripen. If you are lucky enough to have raspberries (sadly I’m not), make lemon tart and cover it with raspberries (great recipe here from Sarah Raven) and invite friends over to eat at sunset when the day’s work is done.
July is sublime for reading in the hammock, going to festivals, camping, visiting the beach with a picnic and paddling if you don’t dare to dip.
The full moon in July 2022 (the Buck moon) is a supermoon and falls on the 13th of July.