Making time for each other and sharing a little treat now and again keeps things fresh and introduces a wee bit of fun.
Lunches and dinners out, or attending a play, or watching a film are traditional "dates." We like to mix things up...
Last weekend we took time out to enjoy an soft ice cream cone followed by a drive along the seafront in Mr. HB's convertible.
We recently had a date night "at home"
We lit one of our scented candles on our vintage silver tray.
Mr. HB made me my favourite cocktail...a French 75 and
served it in one of our French Bee Flutes!
French 75
gin
bubbly
lemon juice
simple syrup
garnished with lemon curls
Delicious mixture of bitter and sweet with just a hint of bubbles.
We harvested a few spears of fresh asparagus from The Humble Bungalow garden.
I steamed the asparagus in a boiling water bath for 5 minutes.
Made a side dish of penne pasta with frozen peas and Gorgonzola cheese.
The star of the show was the Chicken Piccata!
Chicken Piccata
4 boneless skinless chicken breast halves pounded thin between parchment paper
lightly seasoned with cayenne pepper, salt and ground pepper
dredged in flour and set aside.
Heat 2 tbsp olive oil in a skillet on medium heat. Place chicken in the pan and cook until browned, about 5 minutes per side, remove to a plate.
Cook 1 tbsp drained capers in pan until warm, about 30 seconds.
Pour 1/2 cup white wine into the pan and scrape any brown bits from the bottom of the pan and cook for about 2 minutes.
Stir in 1/4 cup fresh lemon juice, 1/4 cup water and 3 tablespoons cold butter into mixture to form a sauce about 2 minutes of cooking time then add 2 tbsp. fresh chopped parsley.
Add chicken back into pan and cook until heated through...serve with sauce spooned over top and garnish with lemon slices.
Enjoy!
Jude The Obscure David Austin Rose
The Humble Bungalow Garden has been getting lots of attention on these warm sunny days.
People have been stopping by taking photographs...
and two women were out front this morning literally gushing about the roses and saying that since they "discovered it" they have added it to their walking route.
My goodness...
with all the lovely and lush gardens nearby
I cannot believe that our wee garden is getting so many compliments.
I suppose the hard work is paying off...
Our Humble Bungalow Garden
May 2016
~ Be Well and Be Kind ~
36 comments:
Your bungalow is looking gorgeous with all those flowers in bloom. I can see why those ladies have added it to their walking route! Great ideas for date nights, and thank for the delicious looking recipe.
Your garden is so beautiful!
Date nights are a good idea and the delicious chicken piccata is going to be on my summer menu soon :-)!
Dottoressa
That chicken dish sounds beautifully simple, longing to try it. And your date drive sounded heavenly; I've just read that bit to hubby - he said he could do the cone easy enough but will need time to work the tin opener on his hard-top car! Maybe I'll just stick to an ice and a beach walk ...
I for one am not at all surprised that people stop to admire and photograph your gorgeous Garden. It is spectacular with the pink climber seen against the creamy colour of the bungalow. Well done! In my ignorance, I have never heard of a French 75 cocktail, but have made notes and we will remedy that situation next date night round hereabouts :)
Oh I need a French 75. I'll wait til 3 at least but that is on my agenda now? I forgot about those I love them! I'm not surprised at all either! Your roses are so captivating and make your bungalow look like a dreamy cottage that certainly captures the imaginations of those passing by.
Your roses are so beautiful. I love to look at gardens when I walk. Next week, Monsieur and I are taking a UBC course together. I like the idea of "date night" though. I will try the chicken and penne this week. It looks tasty but not too filling.
amazing roses - what is the pink roses you have climbing? Right now I am obsessed!
Your garden and home are enchanting.
Your date night menu is so excellent! You introduced me to the French 75, it's such an elegant cocktail. Your garden is stunning and I wish I lived nearby I'd walk past every day too. You really do add so much beauty to your part of the world Hostess. :) XO
Beautiful roses. I think Stephen Andrew is right, there's something about a humble bungalow covered with sprawling roses that brings all kinds of magical archetypes to mind.
If I lived nearby, I'm sure I'd be routing my walks by the Humble Bungalow! Your photos are always so gorgeous. You must have the greenest thumb ever!
I tried to think of the perfect words to describe your lovely garden, I came up with 'heart warming' 💟
How utterly charming - your date night. Sure made me smile. You're an inspiration. I can well see why your garden would be a must see on people's walking route. Very beautiful.
Your sweet bungalow can certainly turn heads. Have to try a French 75, it sounds divine. Thank you!
Tomorrow will be a French 75‼️‼️
New to me too💥
Hope that you like the chicken recipe...it is tasty and so very moist.
Hope you like the recipe...please let me know if you make it.
Oh my I read your husband's comment to my husband and he smiled...an ice and a beach walk is perfect!
The French 75 is a cocktail that I discovered quite by accident and have a passion for...hope that you enjoy the taste.
Stephen if I could join you for a cocktail...we could chat about food and family and I would love to exactly that!
Sounds like fun sharing a course...date nights can be almost any fun event...you may be way ahead of us!
The pink rose climber is Constance Spry...she is a reliable rose, hardy and fragrant.
Thank you Kathy...my thoughts have been with you and your family...best wishes.
Oh YES! i remember you and I sitting in The Bengal Room at The Empress Hotel, sipping drinks..the Bengal is no more...the new owners are re-vamping the space...if you ever return to our fair city I thunk a dinner party is in order!
The roses really do a good job of covering up the weary parts of the Bungalow...and for that I am grateful!
Thank you Charlene...it is just a wee bit of knowledge and a whole lot of LUCK!
Oh my ...thank you..Mother Nature is the one!
We need to keep our lives hopping...if ever things get boring...
I fear that will be the end of our fun times.
Hope that you like it...please report back to me!
Please sip it in your beautiful garden....
Date night is key. Looks like you had a great one. That looks like a fabulous drink!
A French 75 sounds like just the thing of a summer evening. Your bungalow is looking just beautiful with its wreath of roses.
Your garden and roses are beautiful! Constance Spry is now on my wish list for next year, and I will need to add an arbor to my wish list to go with it. It is gorgeous growing up over the arbor like that. Is it a very fragrant rose? I planted a Zephrine Drouhine last year. It is a rose that doesn't have thorns and grows in the shade. It didn't bloom last year, but this spring every cane was loaded with beautiful pink roses. I did not find my Zephrine Drouhine to be as fragrant as my Christopher Marlowe rose, it has a lighter fragrance.
Just seeing your beautiful roses has inspired me to get out and snip the faded first flush of roses that are still hanging onto my roses. Working on the roses always pays blooming dividends.
Hi Susie,
Constance Spry is extremely fragrant...she scents the front garden while she is blooming!
I need to get out and do some dead heading myself...I do agree that roses are worth the effort! I am not familiar with the Christopher Marlowe rose...will need to do some investigating...thank you!
My roses are budding beautifully at long last. I've sharpened my secateurs ready for the dead heading. I've just bought a new David Austin climber named Claire Austin. She may not flower this year but should be beautiful next year. I must get MrM to make a French 75!
I purchased three Claire Austin Roses bare root roses this Spring! I am eager to see them grow and bloom next summer. I need to get out and do some dead heading too! Please let me know what you think of the French 75.
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