In winter, we eat for comfort but in the summer we eat for fun. Big meals are exchanged for light bites during a heatwave but you don’t have to be a cordon bleu chef to prepare some tasty morsels.

Local produce is best

If you stick to food that is grown locally you can rest assured that it’ll always taste delicious and fresh. If you eat produce that is in season, you’ll be helping your regional economy as well as cutting down on your carbon footprint.

You can always add some exotic sauces and spices to your recipe. Ask some older people, including those who live in a McCarthy and Stone property for some tips and ideas. They were probably brought up before the days of large supermarkets and out of season produce and may be able to share some secret knowledge with you.

For more inspiration, here are some of our top recipes.

1. Asparagus with smoked salmon with ginger and soy dressing

This wonderful vegetable is best when in season, during the months of early May and June.

Fry grated ginger and garlic with a dessert spoon of dry sherry and soy sauce before leaving to cool. Snap off the ends of the asparagus and grill lightly in olive oil then wrap the smoked salmon around the asparagus and mix with the dressing.

The delicious flavour of asparagus complements the other ingredients perfectly.

2. Chicken salad with new potatoes

When it’s hot outside, the last thing you’ll feel like doing is slaving indoors over a hot stove. To prepare your salad, buy some free-range chicken breasts and coat them in egg white and then Parmesan cheese. You should steam or grill the breasts for around 12 minutes.

Combine fresh peas and spinach leaves, or any other leaves that you have to hand, add boiled new potatoes to the ingredients and drizzle some olive or rapeseed oil mixed with vinegar over the dish.

You’ll have only spent around 20 minutes preparing this delicious meal!

3. Fruit is always refreshing in summer

One of the easiest ways to cool down in the summer is to mix some fresh fruit with natural yoghurt. You can pick the fruit yourself from a farm or your garden and then simply combine with for a delicious breakfast or a refreshing snack.

Farmers’ Markets are a good source of fresh produce or you could simply grow the fruit yourself. Strawberries can be nurtured on the windowsill of a city flat or in a suburban garden.

4. Chilled soups are easy to prepare

One of the easiest ways of rehydrating your body in the sun is to enjoy a chilled soup. Gazpacho is easy to make and all you need is a blender some ripe tomatoes, a chunk of cucumber, garlic, ½ a pepper and a mixture of summer herbs.

Add oil and vinegar to these and blend. Chill the mixture (adding a little cold water if necessary) and enjoy!