Best of summer: Bringing the garden to your table

Whether you’re growing your own up at the allotment, in window boxes, or in your own veggie patch, the best of the summer season produce is to be had right now.

Here are some of the best ways to make the most out of your home-grown produce.

From fresh fennel, courgettes, spinach and strawberries, to potatoes, leeks and beetroot, there’s so much to be enjoyed at this time of the year, not just in salads, but with meat dishes and in drinks.

Benefit from a vitamin boost:

Try whizzing your home-grown goodies into a body-boosting blend with a super-juice. Try blending beetroot and carrots together with some apple juice for a super health. Packed with antioxidants, the apples contain vitamins including A, B1, B2, C, E and folate, niacin, zinc and copper, with beta-carotene filled carrots and beetroots, enriched with vitamin A, C, B-complex, potassium, iron and magnesium, you’ll feel totally virtuous with this healthy juice.

Funk up your fizz:

Summer wouldn’t be summer without a glass or two of Pimms. Finely chop strawberries, mint, cucumber, and add slices of orange and lemon for a truly fruity tipple. Keep healthy by eating the fruit at the end!

Add more bite to your barbecue: 

A fresh side salad can really enhance the meat part of your barbecue. Try an alternative to potato salad by baking chunks of sweet potato, add feta cheese, spring onion, a drizzle of honey and red wine vinegar for a tangy accompaniment. The sweet potato is less heavy than regular potatoes, and the onion and vinegar add a real tang.

Make a meal of your veg:

Take your fresh vegetables and chop into chunks and roast with salt and pepper. You can either eat them on their own, use as a side to a meat dish, or add to a curry to really bring the flavours of your garden to the table. It’s one of the easiest ways to get your five-a-day.