There’s something rather lovely about summer in the Ribble Valley. The days feel longer, gardens burst into colour, and suddenly every spare moment seems to revolve around food, friends and making the most of the sunshine while it lasts. Whether it’s an impromptu BBQ, strawberries enjoyed in the garden, or a relaxed evening with a chilled glass of fizz, summer dining always feels a little more special.
This season, I have packed Aud’s Kitchen with lots of inspiration to help you savour every moment. Over the next few months will be sharing some delicious seasonal recipes, including BBQ favourites, beautiful salads, summery desserts and easy sharing dishes perfect for entertaining. There are also plenty of ideas for gifts, celebrations and seasonal occasions happening throughout June, July and August.
June: Hello Summer
June always feels like the official beginning of summer. The BBQs come out of hibernation, gardens begin to bloom and lighter evenings encourage us to spend more time outdoors. It’s also the month of the Summer Solstice – the longest day of the year – when the countryside looks particularly beautiful in the golden evening light.
This month also includes National Cream Tea Day, on the 26th, which gives us the perfect excuse to bake a batch of homemade fruit scones and enjoy a leisurely afternoon tea in the garden. Audrey’s classic fruit scones are still one of our most popular recipes, and they never disappoint.
Behind the scenes, June is also an exciting month for the Valley Living team as we attend the annual Progressive Greetings Live event – a wonderful opportunity to discover new trends, fresh ideas and beautiful products for the seasons ahead.
Auds’ Kitchen – June Recipes
Simple, rustic and perfect served warm or cold, a Spanish tortilla makes a wonderful summer lunch or picnic dish. Packed with potatoes, onions and eggs, it’s one of those recipes that feels effortlessly impressive while being wonderfully easy to make. Serve with salad and crusty bread or alongside grilled meats at a BBQ.
Old Favourite: Beetroot Salad
Fresh, colourful and packed with flavour, this vibrant beetroot salad is ideal for lighter summer lunches.
Sweet Treat: Lemon Posset
When the weather warms up, desserts should feel effortless, too. Lemon posset is silky, refreshing and wonderfully simple to prepare ahead of garden gatherings or relaxed summer suppers.
July: Weddings, Wimbledon & Summer Traditions
July is one of the busiest and most joyful months of the summer season. Wedding invitations fill the calendar, schools prepare to break up for summer, and we all begin searching for thoughtful gifts for teachers, newlyweds and summer celebrations.
At Valley Living, we’ll be sharing plenty of beautiful gift and card ideas throughout the month, from elegant keepsakes to thoughtful finishing touches that make special occasions feel even more memorable.
Of course, July also brings Wimbledon and with it, the unmistakable arrival of British strawberry season. Strawberries and cream have become synonymous with the tournament since the late 1800s, when the light, refreshing dessert became the perfect accompaniment to summer tennis. It’s estimated that hundreds of thousands of strawberries are enjoyed during the championships every year.
That tradition inspired this month’s nostalgic summer pudding recipe, a wonderfully British dessert that celebrates the very best of seasonal berries.
And for chocolate lovers, World Chocolate Day on 7th July gives us every excuse to indulge in my irresistible chocolate pots recipe too.
Auds’ Kitchen – July Recipes
Old Favourite: Bowland Black Chicken Thighs & Sticky Ribs
Summer BBQ food at its very best. These recipes are packed with flavour and ideal for relaxed family gatherings, garden parties and sunny weekends with friends.
NEW: Summer Pudding
One of the prettiest desserts of the season. Layers of soft bread soaked in rich berry juices and packed with strawberries, raspberries and blackberries create the ultimate summer centrepiece.
NEW: Summer Berry Refresher
Don’t waste those delicious berry juices! Audrey’s clever twist turns the leftover strained juice from the summer pudding into a refreshing summer drink, simply mixed with chilled lemonade. Perfect after a few hours gardening or on a warm summer afternoon.
World Chocolate Day Treat – Chocolate Pots
Rich, indulgent and wonderfully simple, my Chocolate Pots remain one of my favourite easy desserts to make.
August: Sharing Food, Friendship & Summer Gatherings
By August, summer entertaining is in full swing. Gardens are full, tables are shared, and there’s always an excuse to gather friends and family together. This month’s Auds’ Kitchen focuses on easy sharing food, relaxed entertaining and recipes perfect for long summer evenings.
International Friendship Day (30th) and Prosecco Day (13th) both fall during August, making this the ideal time to enjoy canapés, fizz and simple dishes designed for sharing. Whether you’re hosting a garden get-together, enjoying a lazy bank holiday weekend or simply making the most of warmer evenings, this month is all about relaxed summer living.
It’s also sale season at Valley Living, so keep an eye out for summer reductions and plenty of inspiration for outdoor entertaining, gifts and seasonal accessories.
Auds’ Kitchen – August Recipes
NEW: Lamb and Cumin Burger & Tzatziki
Nothing says summer quite like a really good burger. My homemade burger recipe paired with cooling tzatziki is fresh, flavourful and perfect for BBQ season.
A special shoutout this month goes to The Barn at Burholme Butchery for their exceptional locally sourced beef which made these burgers extra delicious. Supporting brilliant local producers is something we always love to celebrate.
Old Favourite: 3 Ways with Watercress
Fresh, peppery and packed with goodness, watercress is incredibly versatile and ideal for lighter summer dishes.
NEW: Luxury Tiffin
No-bake recipes are a summer lifesaver, and this indulgent luxury tiffin is perfect for sharing with friends over coffee or a glass of fizz.
Summer Entertaining Inspiration
If you’re planning summer get-togethers, Audrey’s canapés and fizz ideas are perfect for effortless entertaining with minimal fuss and maximum enjoyment.
A Wonderful New Local Find: The Barn at Burholme Butchery
One of the loveliest things about living in the Ribble Valley is discovering passionate local producers who genuinely care about quality, and The Barn at Burholme Butchery is a wonderful new addition to our local food scene.
Josh and Janet only opened the doors to their beautiful new butchery on 1st April this year. Still, they’re already building a fantastic reputation for exceptional local meat, traditional butchery skills and warm, friendly service. Janet’s family have farmed Burholme Farm in the Hodder Valley for more than 65 years, while Josh brings years of butchery experience and a real passion for quality produce.
What I particularly love is their commitment to supporting local farming and keeping food miles to a minimum. In fact, if you’ve ever enjoyed the famous Burholme lamb at The Inn at Whitewell, it’s travelled less than a mile from field to plate. That’s pretty special.
Alongside their own meat, the shop also stocks an excellent selection of locally reared produce, and this week’s special is beautiful, flavoursome venison, which sounds absolutely delicious.
I used their wonderful beef for my August burger recipe in this issue, and it really was of outstanding quality. Supporting young local families starting something new feels more important than ever, and I know many of you will love discovering this hidden gem too.
Opening times are currently:
Thursday: 2 pm – 6 pm
Friday: 10 am – 6 pm
Saturday: 9 am – 12 pm
As they’re still newly opened and finding their feet, it’s worth checking their Facebook page for the latest updates and opening hours.
Here’s to a Beautiful Summer
Whether you’re planning garden parties, searching for the perfect seasonal gift, experimenting with new recipes, or simply enjoying slower summer moments, we hope this season’s Valley Living blog gives you plenty of inspiration.
Here’s to sunshine, BBQs, berries, fizz and making the very most of summer in the Ribble Valley
