It’s blackberry and hazelnut madeleines season! Well, it’s really just blackberry season but think about all the delicious things you can make with this delicious berry: jams, desserts, fruit salads, savoury sauces, etc. I have shared a few recipes using this wonderful fruit on the blog before such as this blackberry fruit salad or this blackberry and almond chantilly roulade.

Today's post is just a little photography walk of the Belfast Botanic Gardens, and more particularly inside the Palm House and Tropical Ravine.
All images taken from a slow day when I needed some fresh air and greenery, took my camera with me, walked towards Queen's University and ended up at the botanic gardens.

If all you want is a walk around, this is a perfect place to breathe and relax right in the city. On a dry day, bring a book and/or a picnic, sit on the grass or on one of the benches or picnic tables and enjoy the beautiful surroundings.

​I cannot remember the last time I baked a whole cake. At least, I don’t think I have made one since I moved to Belfast. I definitely bake less during summer time and tend to privilege fruit salads, ice creams and sorbets for dessert. But I do like the scent of summer fruit cooking and bubbling in a crumble or clafoutis such as this cherry and dark chocolate one or this version with raspberries and white chocolate. 

​My fruit bowl on the kitchen counter has seen a serious rotation of raspberries, peaches, nectarines, apricots, blueberries and strawberries over the summer. They have been mostly eaten as they are and sometimes added to a weekend smoothie with frozen bananas, almond milk or coconut water. But lately, I found myself wanting to bake a few things. It could be a combination of the weather cooling down and wanting to take advantage of all the wonderful produce before summer fruit season ends.

​I recently took a last minute decision to book a long summer weekend in London. The goal was to relax, take my mind off things for a bit and catch up with some lovely friends.
There was a long weekend here in Northern Ireland mid-July and I could have picked somewhere I had not visited before but I was in need of something familiar. Having been to London many times over the past few years, it was the perfect place to spend a mini break.

I mentioned it vaguely in my previous post and those of you following my instagram account @cremedecitron might already know: I recently moved to the city of Belfast in Northern Ireland.
When I say recently, it has actually been about three months already. Which is a good amount of time to get acquainted with my new surroundings and sort out a whole lot of paperwork. This is why I had to take a small break from blogging, because life priorities as important as these demand some attention.

​It is quite warm these days and I am happily swapping mugs of mint green tea for a lot of water and when I crave it, a refreshing glass of homemade lemon, lime and mint soft drink.