Review: An outdoor (sort-of) picnic

I was originally saving these special utensils for an intended rooftop terrace party...however due to unforeseen circumstances (well they were foreseen, just stubbornly refused to believe it - the weather) it never happened.  So I finally got my arse in gear and used it for vegetarian month.  

I was kindly sent some gingham style patterned plastic plates from Whitbread Wilkinson along with the salad bowl from Joseph Joseph, which brings a smile to your face - and that's without the food.

The main feature I have to say is the salad bowl.  Not just any salad bowl - one with servers, ATTACHED.  Sounds simple, but so effective and practical.  I'm not usually a big fan of fancy 'technology' - sometimes it can get more complicated than it needs to be, or it's just plain lazy, but the Joseph Joseph salad bowl is probably one of the best kitchen gadgets (can you even call it a gadget - I think it's just a necessity) you can use.  The servers slot perfectly to fit in with the bowl so there is no hassle, and mixing up my salad was so much fun, and not awkward to hold as sometimes it can get with standard long servers.  I felt as though my salad was truly mixed and varied.  The main test was picking the salad and onto the plate - not one drop of a leaf.  It well and truly passed the test.  The only thing I will say is that at around £30 - it is a tad pricey for what essentially is a salad bowl, but you can see where the quality is in its design and material.  It can also at times be quite heavy to carry - but I guess that is just one of the features of having an outdoor tool.  

Joseph Joseph outdoor salad bowl - served and won the match.

A Summer's lunch

I once said that advocado and mango should be made compulsory in every salad.  It's just the most refreshing thing to have on a lovely summer's day (what's left of it anyway).

A few ingredients - don't forget a snazzy lunchbox.

Just a few simple rules to keep the mango and advocado tangy and juicy ready to brighten up your working day:

Nothing beats the staple leaves and tomatoes. 

1. Lemon juice.  Lemon juice is the key to stop your advocado going brown and fresh.
2. Soy sauce.  No need for salt, as soy sauce is already salty, and adds to the dressing.
3. Rice white wine.  Adds an extra element to the salad.
4. If you like a bit of spice, add some wasabi to the salad.  

Salmon, advocado, lemon juice and soy sauce. Mango at the ready. 

I also added some teriyaki sauce to my mango, advocado and smoked salmon (you can also add prawns) and marinaded it in the sauce whilst prepping the other part of my salad.

If you're like me, and need a fuller lunch to help you get through the rest of the day, add some long grain rice or cous cous.

Lunch! Just don't eat it next to the computer.

Recipe:10k Pasta Salad- the lunch of champions

Lots of reviews coming up soon for the food and snacks we used in training for the British 10K! To kick it off here's out night before pasta feast- high carb to energise us for the challenge ahead!

We both finished in an hour! Great results!

INGREDIENTS

Salad leaves of your choice
Cherry tomatoes
2 (big) servings of whole wheat penne
2 cans of tuna
Finely chopped red onion
Salad cream and mayonnaise
Olive oil and vinegar

METHOD

Wash your salad leaves and tomatoes. Boil your pasta and then drain and rinse with cool water. Add everything to a big serving bowl and mix in the tuna, onions and dressing. You could add other chopped vegetables and maybe some ham too.

This is a lovely filling lunch that's great for sharing with friends!

Italian Tomatoes and Buffalo Mozzarella

A quick and delicious dish that I grew up with, serve with warm bread.

Ingredients
1 ball of buffalo mozzarella
4 large tomatoes
Olive oil
Basil or parsley

Method
Slice your tomatoes thinly and arrange so they cover a plate. Drain your mozzarella and tear it with your hands., arranging over the tomatoes.

Drizzle with olive oil and a sprinkling of salt, and add a few leaves of basil or parsley to serve.