End of summer blues (and rasps and currants)

Berry Blondie Batter

Sliced and Diced

How does mother mature know that when the calendar turns September 1^st we automatically need to start thinking  – wool jumpers, tights, and boots?*  Forever in denial of this fact (I won’t be swapping over my spring/summer wardrobe for fall/winter at least until October**) I concocted some late summer berry blondie bars to capture the essence of the lingering summer days.

I started with a blondie recipe from one of my favourite all-time butter packed cookbook’s, Foster’s Market. However, wanting to summer-fy it up, to the batter I added a trio of berries (blueberries, raspberries, currants) as well as an extra cup of white chocolate (in addition to the semisweet chocolate the recipe already called for).  It was a bit random, I mean - I hardly ever bake with currants (they were on sale, hence the inclusion) but in the end, really very scrummy.  Little bites of buttery sweetness mixed with the tart and colourful fruit made for a mini mouth fiesta.

With my upcoming birthday I'll likely do a fair bit of baking (hosting a wee get-together, an apropos Guilty Pleasure theme of "Birthday Party" on the actual day, and treats for work), and am pretty sure I might keep the summer going just a little bit longer with another batch or two.

*In London this does not apply, as indicated by women everywhere wearing tights and boots on 75 degree days in July.  It’s something I will never fully understand. Yes, GT – I’m speaking to you.

**Current closet space in London is more or less 2 square feet so half of my wardrobe has to live under my bed and in suitcases behind my couch until it’s time to come out with the change of seasons.

Summer Lovin'

Skordalia, Tzatziki, Salad - All consumed lickity split

Sunset drinks (4 Euro per bottle Greek wine)

Swiss Sausage, salad, and pretzel - overlooking the Swiss alps

As summer draws to a close (evident in the three layers I was wearing when I headed out this morning) it’s about time I look back on my summer travels (slightly shortened due to starting the new job back in June) and share some of the food highlights.

The beginning of August brought me to the sunny / sandy shores of Mykonos for a few luscious days and nights of Greek island life.  I was on holiday with one of the Mykonos locals, my good friend Flamingo, who quit her ‘corporate’ job in London the summer of 2010 to spend three months working on the island.  She headed back to London in the fall, but sensing the need to return back as a proper tourist, we booked our flights way back in January - there was a lot of build up, anticipation and excitement over the past seven months whilst waiting for this trip.

Every day without fail we started out with a frothy iced Greek coffee.  Most I’m sure were just instant coffee, ice and milk – but somehow when consumed under an umbrella and in a bikini you’re convinced it’s the most delicious drink ever created.

Evenings were spent water-side drinking fresh fruit cocktails and the food in-between invariably consisting of tzatziki and/or skordalia with pita.  Two dishes I could happily eat each and every day (although friends and family might object to the skordalia).  For those of you less familiar with this Greek dip – it’s a potato-based dip that in essence is 50% roasted garlic.  It’s pungently delicious. 

While August was ushered in with balmy temps and sandy beaches, it was ushered out with the snow-capped peaks and colder temps of St. Moritz, Switzerland.

There for 2 days for the exquisite Studdkler wedding, we feasted on divine swiss hospitality and the 5-star Suvretta House catering.  The wedding cake was even the beloved Sachertorte, baked in the shape of a heart and ready to be consumed by the 155+ guests.  

However, the culinary piece de la resistance of the weekend was for me, the simple Swiss fair at the Trutz mountain restaurant.  After a 5 am finish the night before I thought it would be a good idea to walk off my ‘headache’ with the wedding party’s scheduled “alpine walk”.  Little did I realise that dressing in skinny jeans, my gym shoes, a cashmere sweater and carrying a massive Prada handbag MAYBE wasn’t the smartest thing in the world.   Especially when I met up with everyone and people were mostly in shorts or loose trousers and hiking boots. There were definitely no skinny jeans and handbags. I’m blaming these tactical errors on visiting the only nightclub in St. Moritz that was open (it's the off season) at the slightly shocking hours of 3-5 am. 

Anyway, after a lot of huffing and puffing up the mountainside I was greeted with the most spectacular view of the Upper Engadine lakes and the most glorious local food.  Cucumber salad with dill, pickled beets and carrots, fennel, linzertorte, sausages and homemade breads.  It was a most welcome site and even better once in my belly.