Our night with Jon Gomm

At the end of the month it will be our 9th wedding anniversary. This weekend was the only one we could get a babysitter for the boys for so we used it as our anniversary night out. We could have gone for a candlelit dinner for two, a hotel for two, we could have chosen to do a whole variety of things just the two of us but instead we decided to drive from Thirsk to Grassington, in the Yorkshire Dales, to spend the evening with a group of music lovers who had turned out to see the fantastic John Gomm.

Being a fan of Mr Stephen Fry, when he sees someone on YouTube and declares them to be the dogs bollocks (in a more polite and cleverly worded way of course), I’m going to have a nosy. I am glad I did. His music is fantastic.

When we pitched up, I have to say I was disappointed at first to find that the venue was indeed a church, not a large stage or hall as I imagined it would be. Other artists who have attended or are due to perform at this year’s Grassington festival include Alan Davis, Billy Ocean and The South (Formally Beautiful South), well known names. As it turned out, he worked the church fantastically and proved that as an independent artist you don’t need a huge stage to grab the attention of your listeners.

The concert was excellent with something for everyone helped along with Jon Gomm’s own rather witty sense of humour. We had a fantastic time and hope to see him over here again before too long. Keep an eye on this fella folks, I think we will all be hearing a lot more about him.

More examples of his music can be found on YouTube and downloaded via his website.

Summer Salad Recipe 5 – Super Speedy Apetina Pasta Salad

As a family we love to go off and explore, whenever the weather allows that is, and a picnic plays a large part in our plans. As experienced picnic lovers we have moved past the soggy sandwich stage and enjoy a variety of delicious salads and pastas while we are out and about.

When I was challenged to make something delicious using Apetina cheese I was more than happy to accept. Having never used Apetina previously I had to first decide which variety I wanted to use. As my local supermarket had two different, and very reasonably priced types in stock I did of course have to buy both.

Apetina Classic & Apetina with sun-dried tomato and herb oil

This is my simple summer picnic Apetina recipe, Summer Salad Recipe 5 – Super Speedy Apetina Pasta Salad

 

Super speedy pasta

This recipe is a throw together recipe and quantities depend on how many people you aim to feed.

Ingredients

Dried pasta shapes

Sliced cooked chicken

Apetina Classic

Apetina in a herb and sundried tomato oil

Cucumber

Tomato

Lemon juice

Black pepper

Method:

Cook the pasta and cool.

Finely chop the tomatoes and cucumber.

Mix the sliced cooked chicken breast, cucumber, tomato in a large bowl with the drained cold pasta.

Drain the Apetina cheeses and mix through the pasta salad.

Add lemon juice and black pepper to taste.

*Warning: do not open to Apetina packets until you are ready to add to the salad. If you do, you will be unable to resist picking at the delicious cheese, leaving less for the picnic!

Variations

This as versatile recipe that can be thrown together at a moment’s notice, which is perfect for unplanned days out. You can add a variety of chopped vegetables and salald items such as peppers and spring onions as required. Chopped hard boiled eggs really bulk this picnic feast out to fill even the hungriest of picnic lovers.

Fans of Apetina and those who just love to try new recipes can pop over to the Apetina Facebook page to view a variety of cheesy salads. All visitors who vote for their favourite recipe (mine obviously is simply delicious) will be entered into a prize draw to win a picnic hamper (complete with salad bowl and servers as well as a dressing botlle). During the final week of the draw the prize will be for a new BBQ.

For more information on Apetina and the ranges visit the website.

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