The Year of Living Gorgeously

Still Living Gorgeously

Just no time to write about it.

You've probably all suspected as much, given the recent lack of posting, but Helen and I have decided to stop writing here.

Since we started the blog at the beginning of the year I've started doing up a house and garden in Seattle and Helen has stopped being a student, got a new job, moved house and got herself engaged and we're just TOO BUSY to do the blog justice.

It's making us really sad to call it a day - we've 'met' many wonderful people through this blog and really enjoyed all your comments and ideas.  Please catch up with us on our personal blogs - mirrormirror (Paola) and Beholden (Helen) or else at mirrormirror (Paola's online lifestyle shop) or on Countryside Weddings (Helen's beautiful new wedding blog).

We'll still be trying to live gorgeously and posting up as many gorgeous recipes and ideas on our personal blogs as we can.

Adieu.  And thank you.

A Scrumptious Summer Salad

A wonderfully easy and scrummily successful salad made for the Sis’ birthday party was a potato and green bean salad adjusted from a recipe in a free supermarket magazine.

It couldn’t have been simpler to make, which was handy, as we scaled it up to satisfy 80 tipsy young people.

Boiled new potatoes

Caramelized red onions

Boiled ‘green’ beans – we used broad beans, peas and runner beans

Tossed together while warm with a dressing of half white wine to extra virgin olive oil.

Leave to cool to room temperature then serve with a sprinkling of chopped macadamia nuts (we used cashews).

It was served alongside a hog roast, quiches, a green leaf salad and a couscous salad, but I think would work as a good foil to any summer barbeque or grilled meat.

I think a garnish or fine chopping of mint could have worked nicely or the addition of chunks of feta .As it was, though, with no risk of curdling mayonnaise, it was perfect for a summer party in the sunshine.