I cannot believe I am already sharing summer recipes here. Wasn't it winter time not that long ago? Did the lockdown also make us skip Spring altogether?
As much as the first month of lockdown went really slow, the rest happened in a flash. 
We had completed on our very first house right before the lockdown and had not been able to get some much needed work done or even move there (because damp proofing would have required us to stay away for a while). And suddenly, work is being done and we are already packing our boxes for the big move (which we will do by ourselves because of social distancing).

​How have I been sharing recipes here for more than seven years and never once made one with celeriac?
Well, this delicious celeriac and hazelnut soup should be the first to make it here anyway.

I truly enjoy this wonderful root vegetable packed with nutty flavours. If it is anywhere on the menu when I eat at restaurants or cafés, I am almost certain to order it. I know that if you look at it in its raw and unpeeled form, it does not look especially appealing but it is worth trying a few recipes with it, including this soup.

Long time no see! Ok, I will try to make this little expression less frequent here on the blog but I do feel like I have a valid excuse: I moved to a new city early in May and it has been a very busy time from packing to settling in with a whole lot of paperwork in between.
So, I thought that I would first share a delicious recipe for courgette tart here before telling you all about where I moved to (if you follow my instagram account @cremedecitron, you probably already know).

Winter time is such a perfect season to enjoy all types of comforting and warming food. And to me, one of those comforting things is definitely a big bowl of delicious soup served with buttered crusty bread.

At home, soup is on the menu at least once a week during the colder months (that said, a chilled soup is also lovely in the Summer). We alternate between some of our favourites that I make more regularly: butternut, tomato and leek. I also like to try other recipes every now and then. One that has been added to the list lately is creamy mushroom soup. 

What I love about Autumn is that some of my favourite ingredients are in season: leek, endives, celeriac, pears, apples, rosemary and hazelnuts. And one that I add to our grocery basket almost every week this season: butternut squash.
I really like the nuttiness and sweetness of this vegetable. My favourite way to cook it is to first peel it, then cube it, toss it with olive oil and spread it on a baking tray for roasting. It is perfect when tender and lightly caramelised on the edges. When cooked this way, it can easily be added to a pot of soup with seasoning, stock and whatever ingredients would go well with it. I have used it before in this miso soup with chestnuts and also not roasted in a simple butternut soup with blue cheese and walnut toppings.  
Among many recipe ideas, there is something else you can add it to: a delicious quiche.

One of the things I love serving at a dinner party is a platter of various delicious cold things with a bowl of dip. You can find some really good store-bought dips but it is not actually that hard to make your own and it is also much nicer.
I became familiar with the idea of dips while living in Australia as I discovered entire supermarket aisles dedicated to this. And then every party we went to there always had a huge selection: spinach, corn, caramelised onions, artichoke, cheese, humus, beetroot humus, guacamole etc. the list could go on an on.

I do love having dinner parties where the main course is just a giant platter of cheese and charcuterie. To balance it, I add a few crudités (selection of raw vegetables) and a dip or two. As much as there are many many dips to choose from, I prefer to stick to just a couple I really like: humus and whipped feta. Those are easy enough to make at home rather than buying ready-made.