summer eating for damp days

This summer in London has been a rollercoaster. wonder | wander | women are all turned around between sunny summer days and wet rainy days. . . .and often sun and rain chase each other in a single day. This has made the garden mushrooms pretty happy.

What to do when even the weather can’t decide what season it is?

Even with the bewildering weather it hasn’t been too hot to cook. A cloud swallowing the sunshine is a good excuse to dash inside and make something nice for lunch.

A quick stir fry is perfect. . . .just remember to make the rice beforehand. Some mushrooms [from the green grocer, not from the garden], pickled radish and spinach make a yummy mix of Japanese and Western flavours.

Or try some cubes of spicy salt-and-pepper beef with green onions for a protein-rich meal.

The spicy beef, sweet onions and egg make a great topping for a simple bowl of rice.

How about pasta? Baked sardines go well with fusilli in tomato and basil sauce. Light but filling, with lots of calcium and omega-3.

For rainy days we like hearty, hot meals. Pepper steak with mushroom gravy and rice reminds us of Sunday meals together. People from our hometown of Bacolod will remember Bob’s sizzling steak. . . .this is our version.

Or what about noodles? This is Korean jajangmyeon with Chinese sausage and vegetables. . . .nice thick sauce that was sweet and savoury instead of spicy.

My housemate is obsessed with the neighbourhood fishmonger and often buys too much fish. . . .to our collective benefit. Here’s a feast of grilled bass with potatoes, and Aperol spritz with strawberries for extra summer freshness.

There are always new recipes to learn and sometimes our cravings make us a bit ambitious. Our next goal is the ultimate Japanese comfort food, omurice. Wish us luck for the next rainy day!

Originally published at https://wonderwanderwomen.blogspot.com.