It is somewhat soul destroying to come back to a cold and rainy London after having spent two weeks in the scorching sun (daily temperature 35-38 degrees. Heaven!). I don't think that weather changed here since last October. Sunshine is very elusive in these parts of the world.
So, while away, swimming and sun bathing every day, travelling through Montenegro, Croatia and the beautiful, green Bosnia and Herzegovina, I, of course indulged in some seriously fresh and delicious food.
I'll start these posts with fruit.
These two are a staple food for most Bosnians in the summer. I am yet to find a house that doesn't have plums and watermelons on their table. I can't say I am a fan of plums, but do love watermelons:
Now, wild strawberries are a bit of a treat. They grow for a few weeks in the spring, and that's it. Blink, and you'll miss them. I used to pick them as a kid, every year. They hide very well in the green grass and you can spend a lot of time looking until you find a little red head peeking through. But when you find one, it feels special and you can't help but smile. Strong is a person that doesn't put it straight in their mouth but collects jars full of them. You'll find children selling them by the road in th spring and at somewhat high prices. They are worth every penny though.
And need I say, they are the sweetest, and most exquisite of the nature's gifts. Strangely, I have never, ever saw them in the UK.
My mum always puts some in the freezer for me to have when I go back home in the summer. Here was my helping on the last day of my holiday:
Montenegro and Croatia have some wonderfully exotic fruit growing in their gardens. For example, kiwi:
Pomegranates (you'll see one hiding in the right hand corner of the picture):
Carob. Apparently a good substitute for chocolate. All I can say is that, it looks interesting, and smells like smelly, stinky feet. We picked some and had to wrap it up in a plastic bag and hide it at the back of the car, otherwise the journey back would have been unbareable:
And then,... my absolute favourite fruit. The mighty FIG.
We were lucky to have had a tree right in front of the place where we stayed in Montenegro. So, of course, we picked and picked.
Such a simple looking thing on the outside. Unassuming and plain, almost shy. But once you open it, you are treated to the sweetest taste imaginable and most wonderfully expansive and rich colours and texture. I love the almost "vulgar" and brazen look they hide inside. I could eat them all the time, all time.
And every day after a swim, this was my healthy and fresh treat:
I hope your summer was hot and full of nature's healthy gifts.
Here is to everything good that autumn brings.
Red xx
