I love making dishes that are inspired by the flowers in our house. And I love that this new found inspiration means I can justify having vases, bottles and jugs of flowers, dotted around our home!

Plus who doesn't love popping candy? A treat for grown ups and children alike.

What I don't love is how quickly fruit seems to go soft in the fruit bowl, in the summer. 

I made up this easy recipe for sad looking peaches, that are a day past their best, inspired by these beautiful roses my husband gave me for our "bronze" 8 year anniversary! (You can see our wedding video here) I always find it such a shame that they start to shrivel, almost seconds after looking their best.

Ingredients: 

• Ripe or almost too ripe peaches
• Honey
• Amaretto (or not if you fancy it alcohol free) 
• Cinnamon sugar
• Vanilla sugar
• Popping candy
• Ice cream to serve

Pre heat your oven to 180 degrees or Gas Mark 4.

Slice your peach and layer in a skillet or oven proof dish. I made individual ones but you could make a larger version just layer up a few more peaches.

Drizzle over approximately 2 tablespoons of honey to coat your peaches. 

Add a splash of Amaretto, or two if you are feeling cheeky. 

Sprinkle some cinnamon sugar (make your own by mixing Demerara/Caster sugar and ground cinnamon together)  and a few shakes of vanilla sugar. 

Bake in the oven for 10-15 mins until the tops of the peaches are caramelised and golden. 

Serve immediately with a generous sprinkle of popping candy (it fizzes with the heat) and a dollop of ice cream.

Have you got any good recipes for using up soft fruit?

You might like some of my other recipes inspired by beautiful blooms. Have a peek!  

Summer Pasta Salad

Blood Orange Pimms

Baked Berry Mess

Summer Canapés

My boys and I love cold pasta but my husband is not a fan. He doesn't like the wetness of pasta salads and the sloppy texture some end up having.

So I tried something sweet and pretty and he ate the lot! 

Ingredients: 

• Dried angel hair pasta - 250g for a 2 person portion
• 1 packet sugar snap peas
• Handful edamame beans
• Half a red cabbage
• Handful cherry tomatoes
• 3 figs
• Handful of pea shoots
• Lime  
• Drizzle of olive oil

Cook your pasta according to the instructions. Chop your red cabbage, tomatoes and figs and sprinkle amongst cooled pasta. Top with the zest of half a lemon and sprinkle your pea shoots, sugar snaps and edamame beans on top. Drizzle a little lime juice and olive oil to finish.

For extra bite toss your edamame beans in sea salt before hand.  

What have you made this week? I'd love to try some new dishes. 

I adore the Summer and warm balmy nights as every night feels like cocktail night. 

At least it does in our house! 

I also love blood oranges but can I get hold of a couple of juicy ones?! No way, not in any of the 6 supermarkets or green grocers in Weston super Mare. 

In the absence of the real deal I found this seriously tasty blood orange drink by Sanpellegrino. Perfect for a Pimms cocktail. 

Ingredients: 

• Lime
• Lemon
• Orange
• Kumquat
• 1 measure Pimms
• Top with Sanpellegrino Aranciata Rossa

For extra taste add pomegranate and passion fruit seed ice cubes. 

Fill half your ice cube tray with the seed mix and top with water. Freeze and serve immediately. As the ice melts the flavour of the seeds permeates through the drink! 

What else would you mix Pimms with? I would love to hear your cocktail suggestions!