July/August announcement: PICNICS

The theme for Heart of the Matter for July and August is PICNICS ... whether you're travelling, on the beach, in the garden, going for a walk, rambling up a mountain, going for a bicycle ride - you'll need something to eat, and we'd like to know what it is. Every kind of picnic, from the elaborately pleasurable to the purely functional: what heart-healthy foods do you take with you?

Here it's been raining, so not really picnic weather. But I did make a lovely yoghurt cake soaked in rosewater syrup, and we did manage to eat it outside in between the showers. Not quite a picnic, but the next best thing.

This yoghurt cake is simplicity itself, pretty robust, and infinitely adaptable: you could flavour the syrup with all kinds of other tastes - orange springs easily to mind. And if you're not taking it out and about, you could serve it as a pud with some lovely bright berries simmered in a little water or wine.




Yoghurt cake

200g self-raising flour
110g ground almonds
150g caster sugar
1 tsp baking powder
2 eggs
250g yoghurt
150ml sunflower oil
zest of a lemon

Measure the dry ingredients into a large bowl. Add everything else and stir with a wooden spoon. You really do not need to use a mixer for this. Pour into an oiled 20xm springform tin. Bake at 180C for 30-40 minutes. Leave for 10 minutes, then turn out onto a plate. Pierce all over and pour in rosewater syrup. Allow the cake to cool and the flavours to mingle before serving.

Rosewater syrup

275 ml water
175 sugar
juice of a lemon
2 tbsp rosewater

Measure everything except the rosewater into a small saucepan. Dissolve the sugar, then bring to the boil. Simmer for seven minutes, leave to cool, then add the rosewater.

As usual, I've been inspired by Diana Henry's piece in the Sunday Telegraph magazine. Her cake looked lovely, covered in rose petals.


We'd love to hear your heart-healthy picnic ideas ... the Heart of the Matter website is a great place for ideas for heart-healthy recipes (something I wish had existed when we were changing our diet on doctor's orders after my husband's heart attack), and it only exists because so many bloggers have taken the time to share their recipes.

The usual rules: If you’ve participated before, you already know the basics. If you haven’t, check here, here and here for ideas on what “heart-healthy” means, and we hope that you’ll join us! Again, we ask that this please be a single event entry (please don’t use your post for other events – that way we can keep things centred on healthy heart awareness). Just send your entry to joannacary AT ukonline DOT co DOT uk (could you use the title HotM, so they don't get lost) by midnight Monday 25th August (a Bank Holiday in the UK) , linking to my site, Joanna's Food (and to the HotM blog if you’d like) and I’ll post the round-up on the Thursday or Friday on both sites.

Related links

A fabulous spot for a picnic in the south of England
A travelling beef sandwich (mark two coming up later this month)
A place in our garden for a picnic

The theme for Heart of the Matter for July and August is PICNICS ... whether you're travelling, on the beach, in the garden, going for a walk, rambling up a mountain, going for a bicycle ride - you'll need something to eat, and we'd like to know what it is. Every kind of picnic, from the elaborately pleasurable to the purely functional: what heart-healthy foods do you take with you?

Here it's been raining, so not really picnic weather. But I did make a lovely yoghurt cake soaked in rosewater syrup, and we did manage to eat it outside in between the showers. Not quite a picnic, but the next best thing.

This yoghurt cake is simplicity itself, pretty robust, and infinitely adaptable: you could flavour the syrup with all kinds of other tastes - orange springs easily to mind. And if you're not taking it out and about, you could serve it as a pud with some lovely bright berries simmered in a little water or wine.




Yoghurt cake

200g self-raising flour
110g ground almonds
150g caster sugar
1 tsp baking powder
2 eggs
250g yoghurt
150ml sunflower oil
zest of a lemon

Measure the dry ingredients into a large bowl. Add everything else and stir with a wooden spoon. You really do not need to use a mixer for this. Pour into an oiled 20xm springform tin. Bake at 180C for 30-40 minutes. Leave for 10 minutes, then turn out onto a plate. Pierce all over and pour in rosewater syrup. Allow the cake to cool and the flavours to mingle before serving.

Rosewater syrup

275 ml water
175 sugar
juice of a lemon
2 tbsp rosewater

Measure everything except the rosewater into a small saucepan. Dissolve the sugar, then bring to the boil. Simmer for seven minutes, leave to cool, then add the rosewater.

As usual, I've been inspired by Diana Henry's piece in the Sunday Telegraph magazine. Her cake looked lovely, covered in rose petals.


We'd love to hear your heart-healthy picnic ideas ... the Heart of the Matter website is a great place for ideas for heart-healthy recipes (something I wish had existed when we were changing our diet on doctor's orders after my husband's heart attack), and it only exists because so many bloggers have taken the time to share their recipes.

The usual rules: If you’ve participated before, you already know the basics. If you haven’t, check here, here and here for ideas on what “heart-healthy” means, and we hope that you’ll join us! Again, we ask that this please be a single event entry (please don’t use your post for other events – that way we can keep things centred on healthy heart awareness). Just send your entry to joannacary AT ukonline DOT co DOT uk (could you use the title HotM, so they don't get lost) by midnight Monday 25th August (a Bank Holiday in the UK) , linking to my site, Joanna's Food (and to the HotM blog if you’d like) and I’ll post the round-up on the Thursday or Friday on both sites.

Related links

A fabulous spot for a picnic in the south of England
A travelling beef sandwich (mark two coming up later this month)
A place in our garden for a picnic

The Heart of the Matter, The Heart Healthy Salad Roundup

Now it is time for the roundup of last month's The Heart of the Matter, the theme was Heart Healthy Salads and I am delighted to say that I have received a whole bunch of delicious and inspiring salads for us to try out! I don't have much appetite right now as it is very hot and humid here right now but going through the entries this morning has created a certain appetite I have to say. I think you will feel the same at the end of this roundup!

The first entry I got was from The Blushing Hostess who sent in a delicious Fresh Field Pea and Brown Rice Salad with Chile Pasilla Vinaigrette to be eaten on a well mown lawn! Or what do you say Cathrine? (If you read her post you will understand what I am alluding to)


Next out is Kevin from Closet Cooking who has prepared a very attractive Teriyaki Salmon and Asparagus, Spinach Salad that he guarantees never ends up as a leftover!


Sweet Arfi from HomeMadeS sent in a Mixed Green Leaves with Shaved Beetroots, Apples, Walnut and Blue Cheese, both crunchy and tasty!


Then Ann of Redacted Recipes, one of our habituees here on HotM, sent me an entry for a mouthwatering Grilled Lamb Salad that just makes me even more hungry!


Here we have a Thai inspired Avocado and Mango Salad made by Ricki of Diet, Dessert and Dogs that is so lovely and healthy too!


This time we have an Italian food blogger among us, Rori from Ma Che Ti Sei Mangiato who even has translated her post into English for those of you who don't know Italian. Her entry is a The Day After Farro and Barley Salad that must be perfect on a hot day!


A beautiful Chicken, Cherry Tomato, Spinach and Raisin Couscous Salad, that is what Michelle from the Greedy Gourmet has prepared for the HotM this month!



An ahhh and ohh salad made of bell peppers and herbs tempts us all the way from Leafy Cooking where my friend LaBelga has mixed this delight!


Chris from Mele Cotte has sent me her delicious Spinach, Strawberries, Mandarin oranges, Walnuts, Honey roasted turkey and Blue cheese Salad. Go and check out her incredible cake decorations too!



A winter salad is good to have and Joahanna from the Green Gourmet Giraffe has made a real tasty Cauliflower and Sesame Salad for us!


One of my HotM partners, ever so busy but ever so delightful Michelle of The Accidental Scientist has finsihed her teaching just in time to send me this tasty Grilled Sweet Potato Salad!


And last and slightly reluctant, I forced Tanna of My Kitchen In Half Cups to participate with her Texas Carrot Salad. She insists on calling it Ilva style but I honestly think it is pure Tanna style, check it out and decide for yourselves!



Oh, I forgot my own entries, I made a Lentil and Potato Salad with Tomato and Oregano Dressing,



a Pasta Salad with Carrots, Onion, Capers and Pine Nuts



and finally a Fruit Salad with Chili Pepper and Lime Honey!

Thanks a lot to all the participants who make this event a success, without you it wouldn't exist! And if I have forgotten someone or something, please tell me!