Tag: meal
Kistinic Gatehouse in Brittany
On our recent holiday to Brittany in France we stayed in two stylish holiday homes in the department of Finistere. I discovered Frenchberry whilst searching for family friendly holiday accommodation that provided that little bit extra. We have been treated to absolute luxury with each home and location we’ve stayed in.
We spent the first week of our holiday in the Kistinic Gatehouse just outside the medieval city of Quimper. The Kistinic Gatehouse is a charming house that comfortably sleeps six. It’s situated in the park grounds of the Kistinic Chateau where Frenchberry owner’s Claire and Andrew Bernard live. Our second week was spent by the beach at Lostmarc’h.
The Kistinic Gatehouse is a few minutes drive from Quimper where we enjoyed viewing the medieval architecture and cathedral, indulging in fine patisseries and leisurely meandering through pedestrianised streets. There’s something for everyone in the city of Quimper with a large range of shops and boutiques, restaurants and museums.
Stunning family friendly beaches with crystal clear water are less than a 30 minute drive away from the Kistinic Gatehouse. We visited Benodet for the day and had fun paddling, building sandcastles and walking along the coastal pathways.
The Kistinic Gatehouse has been lovingly restored and renovated by Claire and Andrew. Each bedroom and bathroom are uniquely decorated and designed to a high standard.
There’s a private garden with outdoor table and chairs providing a tranquil spot for reading or enjoying a meal, complete with melodic birdsong.
We roamed freely within the 15 hectares of parkland surrounding the Kistinic Chateau. Imogen loved exploring the pathways and discovering the tracks in the woodland.
The lawned garden is perfect for children to play and run around in.
Having stayed in numerous French cottages and gites over the years, I can say that this truly surpassed our expectations and we will happily return here for future holidays.
Grilled Fish with Lemon
One of the great pleasures of summer is cooking and eating outside. Celebrity chefs Jamie Oliver and Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall of River Cottage each have their own take on summer recipes and eating al fresco.
My favourite way to enjoy summer fare is to eat fresh, organic and home grown food when possible. Nothing tastes better than fruit or veg plucked straight from the garden. Today we enjoyed grilled fish cooked in the garden with organic home grown sugar snap peas and runner beans, freshly picked lemons, organic brown rice and avocado.
It’s so simple to put these ingredients together to create a healthy, quick and nutritious meal for the family to enjoy at lunch or dinner time.
Do you grow your own potatoes? These would taste delicious with the fish as an alternative to brown rice. And if you’re cutting back on the carbs a green salad would be a perfect accompaniment for the grilled fish with lemon.
What’s your favourite summer recipe?
Leek and Potato Soup
This is such an easy recipe for a really nutritious meal. I make this soup using all organic vegetables, they’re free from chemicals so better for your family and the soup will taste delicious.
This Leek and Potato Soup recipe can be prepared in 10 minutes and within 30 minutes you’ll be sitting down and enjoying ladles of hearty, warm and filling soup.
Serve with some crusty bread on the side for lunch and the family will be full until dinner time.
Leek and Potato Soup
Serves 4
Preparation Time 10 minutes
Cooking Time 30 minutes
Ingredients
50g (2 oz) butter
1 clove garlic, chopped
1 small onion, chopped
3 large leeks, chopped
3 medium potatoes, peeled and diced
900ml vegetable stock
Small handful chopped fresh parsley
Salt and fresh ground black pepper to taste
Preparation
Melt the butter in a large saucepan on medium heat and sauté the garlic and onions for a few minutes, stirring frequently.
Add the remaining ingredients and bring to the boil. Simmer for 30 minutes. Purée soup with a hand blender.
Serve with fresh crusty bread.
