Summer Kitchens: Recipes and Reminiscences from Every Corner of Ukraine

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An open fireplace dancing with flames under a starlit canvas adds more than warmth--it kindles stories, sparks nostalgic conversations while injecting an enchanting allure into any outdoor space. There's something fundamentally mesmerizing about fire--the way its unpredictable dance lights up faces, stirring shadows across convivial expressions--that amplifies even ordinary gatherings into memorable occasions. The Ukrainian take on baba ganoush – its third cousin, quips Hercules – was smoky and silky as all good baba ganoush is. I didn’t think that the addition of butter (whisked into the beaten aubergine) added enough to the finished product to justify the extra fat content. However, the idea of serving it spread on top of pan con tomate was a good one. I often make this easy to prep toasted bread with garlic and tomato as it is a great accompaniment to a table of mezze or even a starter in itself. I had never thought of adding a topping to it other than chopped, ripe, tomatoes and basil and pools of top-quality olive oil. There are plenty of kitchen trends that will be popular for 2023 and wood flooring is definitely one to get on board with.

Now imagine this same scenario without any music--a barren acoustic landscape with only the monotonous drone of sizzling meats for company. How desolate! Olia Hercules is a storyteller-foodwriter, and a wholly original voice in the kitchen – there’s not a recipe of hers I don’t want to cook immediately” Nigella Lawson If you fancy a pop of colour using kitchen trends, but you don't fancy a permanent feature wall or bright pink set of cabinets, neutral walls, cupboards and work surfaces can acts as a blank canvas. Try adding bright accessories and artwork which can be removed or replaced when fashions or your mood changes. Alternatively, you may like a simple neutral palette left as it is.A summer kitchen, my dear reader, is not merely another space to cook; it is a culinary oasis, a gastronomic utopia that transports you into the very essence of summer regardless of the season. Picture this: an outdoor extension to your home, brimming with warmth from the hearth and aroma from the grill, as Mother Nature herself acts as your sous-chef. It's about time we step away from insipid indoor cookery and embrace the vivacity that comes with cooking under open skies.

Nothing ruins an alfresco dining experience like everyone tripping over each other because pathways weren't planned properly. Design wide lanes around key areas--like between grill and table--to allow easy movement without bumping into Aunt Patty enjoying her mojito at bar counter! Material Selection - The Battle Between Durability & Aesthetics

Remodel & Repurpose Your Existing Summer Kitchen

From the winner of the Observer‘s Rising Star Award and Fortnum & Mason Debut Food Book Award 2016 comes a celebration of the food and flavours of the Caucasus – bridging Europe and Asia and incorporating Georgia, Azerbaijan, Armenia, Iran, Russia and Turkey. Olia Hercules introduces us to more than 100 recipes for vibrant, earthy, unexpected dishes from across the region such as Plum fruit leather, Chestnut plov with pumpkin crust, Quince stuffed with lamb & carmalised shallots, Vine leaf dolma, Village breakfast, Khachapouri, Armenian “cognac” profiteroles and Red basil sherbet. Praise for Kaukasis Summer days in the UK are long-awaited and us Brits look forward to this time of year. A kitchen island is perfect to socialise around, pour a glass of bubbly and entertain whilst cooking. Let's not fall prey to irrelevant features that serve more to inflate prices than enhance our cooking experience. Instead focus on choosing durable appliances that offer reliability and practicality meeting our requirements rather then enticing us with superficial allure. Refrigeration and Storage Solutions -- Your Unsung Heroes in Combating Heat Lighting: You’ll need multiple bright lights so you can clearly see what you’re doing, especially if you plan to use the space at dusk or after sunset.

It's the sizzle of a steak on a hot grill, the comforting aroma wafting from a slow baking oven or the vigorous boil on a open flame stove! These are what genuinely define our culinary experience.This is another great example of a summer kitchen in Billericay. A modern style with additional traditional features such as polished brass fixtures and fittings and Magnolia in colour. Large glass sliding doors open up the space out into the garden that’s perfect on these hot summer days. Our client’s garden even boasts a hot tub! Colour wise for 2023, green will remain very popular from dark greens to subtler shades such as sages will be very popular as we take inspiration from nature and being outside. We’re also seeing a really shift towards warm greys, puttys and barley colours too. The creams and beiges are very popular rather than the colder blues and greys,' says Rebecca Nokes, Head of Design & Brand Creative, John Lewis of Hungerford. This large open-plan space we designed and built for our client in Winchmore Hill consists of a double galley layout with a grand island sat in the centre. The perfect ‘kitchen triangle’ has been added with the three main areas close together, including appliances from Wolf and Perrin & Rowe. The kitchen has been completed with our stunning traditional shaker style with raised and fielded panels on the door and the drawers are flat fronted, which is a beautiful combination.

So, please, invest in a solid vent hood that can carry away all that smoke from your grilling escapades. You owe it to your guests and yourself. Similarly, if you intend to cook up a storm, plenty of work surface to balance plates of food, ingredients and cooking utensils will be a real boon. Have respect for wind patterns unless smelling like grilled steaks all day seems appealing to you! Also remember- sun exposure plays a vital role too; nobody wants their ice cream dessert melting before they even have their first bite! Chapter 2: The Secret Sauce - Designing Your Summer Kitchen Architectural Style - A Blatant Disregard for Harmony In my view, anyone who thinks they can merely slap any refrigerator into their summer kitchen has sadly missed the mark by miles. Outdoor refrigerators need to combat fluctuating temperatures valiantly while maintaining optimum conditions within themselves--an uncelebrated feat which many overlook. The first step towards attaining the kitchen of your dreams is a consultation with one of our design experts, who will be on hand to guide you through the process from start to finish.From all-singing-all-dancing areas, inclusive of everything you could possibly need (yes, even the kitchen sink!) to more basic, yet still incredibly fun and functional spaces. As summer kitchens exist today, though, they are completely obsolete. As kitchen technology changed, it no longer became necessary to move food preparation—and various unsightly chores—outside of the house. Although it Editor's note: This story was originally published on June 16, 2016. It has been updated with new information.