Menu of the month: June 2012

Fresh Crab Salad in Vinaigrette 

This is a very good recipe for using those small, ready-dressed crabs that are sold in the half-shell. The tartness of capers, gherkins and lime cut through the richness of the crab perfectly.
 

Oven-baked Lamb Chops with Onion and Rosemary Sauce 

This is simplicity itself – just pop the chops into the oven to bake, and the sauce is easily made. We like to serve this at home with tiny steamed new potatoes tossed in a teaspoonful of lamb fat and some freshly snipped chives, with some young fresh shelled peas or broad beans.

Eton Mess

This recipe, inspired by the strawberry-and-cream dessert traditionally served at Eton College on 4 June, is great for nervous meringue makers – because the meringues are broken up, it simply doesn't matter if they weep, crack or collapse. So, you can practise making them over and over with this dish until you get them perfect and, at the same time, enjoy this amazingly good summer dessert. Don't forget, though, to make the meringues the day before you want to serve the pudding.