20 great recipes for a Summer Potluck

21-06-2016 Local Black Bookbarbecue, BBQ, party, party recipe, picnic, pot luck, recipe, recipes, round up, salad, salads, summer1 Comment

Summer is the perfect season to organise a potluck party.

If everyone makes a dish, it’s easier for everybody, right?

Well, it is. Up until the point when you have to decide what you’ll bring!

…and if you need a little help with that, the list below is just what you’ve been looking for!

Whether you said you’ll bring dessert or salad, and no matter what your cooking level is, there is something for everybody!

1. Guacamole

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Everybody loves the guy/gal that brings guacamole. Simple as that.

And I won’t even make you the offence of linking to a recipe because nobody needs one.

What you do need is ripe avocadoes, loads of lemon juice, salt, pepper, Tabasco and everything else you might want to add.

2. Pimped-up hummus

You better practice your most mysterious smile because everybody’s gonna ask what you put in your hummus to make it taste that good (I won’t tell if you don’t).

Get the magic tips here. Want to take it a step further and make your own? Get the recipe here.

3. Tzatziki

This lighter version of the classic Greek tzatziki is ready in minute and the perfect accompaniment to grilled meats… And also delightful scooped up with soft, light pitta bread!

Get the recipe here.

4. Crispy bacon wrapped prunes

Sweet, salty and sticky all in one bite. If that’s not snack-fection, I don’t know what is.

Get the recipe here.

5. Radishes in soil à la Noma

For those times when your usual crudité platter simply won’t cut it and you need to take it up a notch.

Get the recipe here.

6. BLT salad

Ditch the bread & keep all the BLT goodies to turn the classic lunchtime sandwich into the best barbecue side there ever was.

Get the recipe here.

7. Tomato & feta crumble

Tomato crumble is a Summer supper game changer; the intense flavor of roasted tomatoes, combined with the slight sourness of feta and topped with a deliciously cheesy crumb-topping is simply impossible to resist.

Get the recipe here.

8. Hoisin watermelon salad

I am yet to try the duck part of this Gizzi Erskine recipe but watermelon being one of my favourite fruit, the salad has become a firm favourite and I make it any time I have an opportunity. Refreshing and satisfying, it’s a bit of a wild card that’ll be perfect to surprise your foodie friends.

Get the recipe here

9. Potatoes in foil with cheat’s tartare

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Particularly appropriate for a BBQ get-together. Simply parboil the potatoes until just about tender, then wrap each one in aluminium foil and throw in/on the barbie together with the meat to reheat.

Cheat’s tartare is the perfect (and lazy!) accompaniment for it.

Get the recipe here

10. Tomato & pomegranate molasse salad

My favourite recipe from Queen of Persian cooking Sabrina Ghayour’s debut cookbook, Persiana. It only takes minutes to put together but packs in loads of flavours and everyone I’ve ever made it for LOVED it.

Get the recipe here

11. Bacon potato salad

You can’t beat a classic, but you sure can improve it (with bacon. Bacon improves everything.)

Get the recipe here.

12. Very Greek halloumi/chicken

Marinate your protein of choice in this fresh, vibrant marinade packed-full of Greek goodness before throwing it all on the BBQ for an instant Mamma Mia effect!

Get the recipe here.

13. Tomato & tapenade tart

Get the recipe here.

14. Cheese plate & fresh bread

Cheese and fresh bread are right up there on the list of things any host LOVE their guests to bring to a potluck party. An especially brilliant news if you’re not quite so comfortable behind a stove, have no time on the day or are simply obsessed with cheese! Don’t have the first clue about cheese? Here‘s a handy guide!

15. Whole baked camembert

Add a chilled glass of white wine of the side and there you have it: the ultimate indulgence!

Get the recipe here.

16. The world best brownies

The name says it all. #WorldBestBrownies

Get the recipe here.

17. Mojito ice lollies

Mojito ice lolly from The Ice Kitchen

Fresh, zingy, refreshing and the very best way to sneak more mojitos into your diet!

Get the recipe (from ice lollies mastermind Ice Kitchen) here.

18. Chocolate mousse

Unlimited chocolate mousse? Count me in! #thedream

Get then ultimate recipe here or make a fancy marbled version (recipe here)

19. Lemon & poppy seed cake

We all have that one friend who doesn’t like chocolate…

Get the recipe here.

20. A big batch cocktail

Because a party with good food is good, but one with good food AND drinks is better.

Many cocktails are easy to make big batches of… but this Raspberry Wine Spritzer is the prettiest of them all!

What’s your go-to recipe for a potluck? Any of the ones above you want to try next time?

London’s Dîner en Blanc 2015

07-09-2015 Local Black Bookchic, Diner en Blanc, event, London, picnic, white6 Comments

There are events that look so beautiful they almost not feel real. From the very first time I read about Le Dîner en Blanc, I knew it would be one of those.

Launched by a Frenchman returning to Paris 27 year ago, the event has since grown and thousands of people attend one of the worldwide events each year. From Paris to New York, Cape Town, Brisbane and Copenhagen, every city wants to host their version of the chic-est picnic of the year.

And with a tradition of posh picnics as soon as the sun shines, London‘s first Dîner en Blanc was set to be a massive success.

Early in the evening, guests, dressed in white from head-to-toe, gathered at a few handpicked locations around town…

… before heading to the secret location the Dîner will be held at, causing a lot of confusion and wondering everywhere they pass by!

Secrecy is key in building anticipation, which is why everyone only finds out where it’s all going to be at the very last minute!

There truly is something quite magical in hundreds of people dressed in white all flocking to the same venue.

I heard people saying it must be a wedding, or coming to me asking what we were all up to… One thing is sure, it does leave everyone around wondering!

Once you finally arrive, it’s time for a few well-deserved selfies…

… as well as setting the tables and getting the picnic party started!

On that point, some are more organised than others…

(others being me, quite obviously! But in my defense, it was my very first Dîner en Blanc!)

Actually, it didn’t look all that bad once I finished putting it all in order! There was salad and lemonade (and a few cheeky chocolate puddings as well!)…

After dinner, we lit sparklers, ate cake, danced and drank wine until late in the night.

The brightest party of the year? I sure think so!

Illustrated recipes #1 | The fantastic quiche!

05-06-2015 Local Black Bookbuffet, cooking, easy, food, French, illustrated, picnic, potluck, quiche, recipe, tartLeave a comment

After my hosting of yesterday’s #ltbloggers chat (it’s everyday at 1 and 5 PM on Twitter, join us!) where we discussed all things food (and got so excited we almost broke Storify! oops! #sorrynotsorry) I thought it would only be fitting to share my absolute favourite recipe over here today. Welcome the fantastic quiche (aka. the easiest and most adaptable recipe I know)!

I initially created this illustration for one of my friends who was looking for easy recipes to bake in his newly acquired oven. You can of course substitute bacon for anything you have laying in your fridge (don’t forget to let me know what you go for!).
What’s your favourite recipe? Send me your links!

#Letsgetfoodiechallenge Week 2 – Something green | Spinach Tortilla

29-05-201527-05-2015 Local Black Bookchallenge, cooking, easy, food, gluten-free, grain-free, healthy, healthy living, letsgetfoodie, letsgetfoodiechallenge, picnic, recipes, Spanish, spinach, tortilla2 Comments

In the second edition of the #letsgetfoodiechallenge, Amanda challenged us to create a recipe with something green in it.

Now I love my greens, so once again, I was a bit paralized by the choices. But since we were heading to Brighton during the last Bank Holiday weekend, and the idea of a picnic on the beach was simply too difficult to resist, I ended up revisiting one of my favourites recipes: Tortilla. Since I got some beautiful spinach at the farmers’ market that same morning, I thought I would add some in as well and cross my fingers really hard for it to work and result in something delicious. And IT REALLY DID!

Spinach Tortilla – serves 4

You’ll need: 5-6 medium waxy potatoes, 5-6 eggs (I only had 3, but more would have been better!), chopped parsley, chopped garlic (I used dried garlic), 2-3 sliced spring onions, 2 big handfuls of spinach, olive oil, salt, pepper.

Start by preping all your vegetables. Slice your potatoes up as thin as possible (without slicing your fingers though!).Slice your onions too, and wash your spinach and dry it up. Chop your parsley and garlic.In a bowl, whisk your eggs with some salt and pepper, then add in your garlic and parsley.Get a pan (one that goes into the oven would be perfect here! I got mine from IKEA) nice and hot, then add in some olive oil and your potatoes and fry those until they’re tender. Transfer to a bowl and keep them to the side for now. Fry your onions and do the same.
Next up, you’ll need to cook your spinach.
Once it’s ready, add the onions and potatoes on top and give the whole thing a good stir to combine all the elements. Pour your egg mix on top and cook for about 5 minutes. Transfer to a hot oven (180-200 °C) and cook for a further 5-7 minutes. Take your masterpiece out of the oven and eat it while it’s hot. Or get some friends together and bring it to a picnic on the beach!What’s your favourite picnic recipe?