Summer sizzlers – Let Lakings help you cook up a storm on hot and sunny days.
Strawberries, tennis, sunshine – finger’s crossed – British summertime is most definitely upon us. Schools are ready to break up for the holidays, we have a few more Bank Holidays to enjoy and a whole host of excuses to get together and celebrate the big and little things.
Weather forecasters have been promising a hot July for several weeks now – and we have had glimmers of hope they may have got it right. Waking up to clear blue skies and temperatures in the mid-20s is always a bonus during the summer break. But what to eat when it is hot and sunny?
Here at Lakings, we have some suggestions for dishes to serve on those days when you cannot stand the heat of the kitchen… and you’d much rather be out on your sun-lounger.
Keep it simple with cold cooked chicken and a Greek salad, with flatbreads and Tzatziki
A healthy option, this meal can be served as a light lunch or evening meal and can be prepared first thing in the morning, while the temperature outside is still cool. Simply coat a Lakings Grain Fed chicken in a marinade of garlic, lemon, and seasonings, then roast for the required time, cool, and then chill in the fridge until you plan to serve. The salad can also be prepared ahead of time, so all you need to do is toss the salad leaves in a light olive oil and red wine vinegar dressing and then add the feta cheese. Throw in a handful of vine tomatoes and serve with warm flatbreads and tzatziki.
It’s a wrap
Tortillas make a great cupboard staple during the summer months, not least because they tend to have a longer shelf life than your average bread loaf and you can fill them with anything you like.
Go for a Mexican vibe by chopping Lakings high protein chicken breasts into thin strips and sizzling with a mix of seasonings including chilli powder, cumin, paprika, garlic powder and a pinch of dried oregano. Load up tortillas with hot chicken, cheese, sour cream, and salad and serve. Alternatively, you can add slices of cold roast ham, mustard and serve with a punchy rocket leaf and sliced beef tomato. Or why not sizzle Lakings beef strips in oil with salt and pepper and serve with coleslaw, roasted onions, and peppers?
Quick noodles
You do need to stand at a hot stove to cook a stir fry, but your meal can be on the table in 20 minutes thanks to the high heat involved. In a large frying pan or wok, fry slithers of Lakings locally sourced pork with onions, garlic, freshly grated ginger, sliced red peppers and trimmed mangetout.
In a separate pan, cook the noodles according to the instructions on the packet. Add soy sauce and Chinese five-spice once the meat is browned. Serve noodles and sticky coated pork with a sprinkling of freshly chopped spring onions.
Finally, the ultimate cold ‘pick and mix’ meal – the picnic
You don’t need to leave the house to have a picnic. Throw a blanket across your lawn or decking, grab some cushions and paper plates and ta-dah, you’re having a picnic. Lakings have a range of delicious treats perfect for picnicking. Our freshly made sausage rolls are cooked on-site using our traditional Lincolnshire sausages wrapped in a delicate puff pastry. Or why not try our Scotch Eggs? Each one is handmade with locally laid eggs, wrapped in sausage meat and rolled in breadcrumbs. And don’t forget to serve our ham and tomato quiche – a shortcrust pastry case, filled with home-cured ham and slices of tomato. Finally, great in sandwiches or simply served sliced with pickles, Lakings haslet is a Lincolnshire speciality and was famously featured on the Hairy Bikers’ Tour of Britain, which we think, makes it the perfect talking point of any picnic.
