We want you all to get in the spirit of things at Casa Bella and so we’ve been searching for the best summer recipes out there. Whether you’re a barbecue fan or you prefer something a little lighter and healthier, we’ve found a few that grabbed our interest so we wanted to share them with you. As always, if you have any of your own, please feel free to share them. If you try anything we’ve listed, let us know how you got on with them!

What flavours do you associate with summer?

This is different for everyone and even asking the people at Casa Bella, we got a wide range of answers. Salads and fresh vegetables are a popular choice for the summer, especially when combined with something a bit spicier to add a bit of a kick. There’s a sense that cooking for hours isn’t as enjoyable when it’s already warm and hot meals can be less enjoyable as a result.

Pasta and rice are also good, and we have found a sizzling sausage rice salad which seems to combine the best of all worlds and chilli chicken pasta with pesto. Both bring together vibrant colours and flavours for you to try.

Fruit flavours and textures are also common, with light, juicy and sweet fruits more popular than berries. This is down partly to the colours, with darker fruits being popular in winter and options such as melons, peaches and similar fruits making up a lot of desert and snack choices.

Sweet or savoury?

Sweet foods are a guilty pleasure for many people but they can never replace the bulk of your diet and while we all love something sweet you have to balance it out with some great flavours. Here are a few more options to get you going.

Burgers are a popular choice for barbecues and for cooking inside. Sure, you can buy burgers ready-made but what if you want something a little different? Well, handmade burgers are growing in popularity and if you want a little more heat in your food, then these spicy BBQ burgers are great choices – a great recipe from Channel 4!

Salads are light and refreshing at almost any time of day. You can enjoy one throughout the year but when it’s already warm outside, they prove to be much easier to prepare and then eat than a large, cooked meal. It doesn’t have to be all salad though, as the sauce can make a huge difference and adding some chicken will give you more variety. Here’s a great chicken salad for you to try out.

A good desert completes every meal and while there is no shortage of recipes out there, we’ve taken a poll and chosen a giant peach, nectarine and apricot meringue tart – it’s a bit of a mouthful to say but from the looks of it you won’t want it to ever end. You can find the recipe for it here, courtesy of the BBC.

Sitting in or out?

Wiltshire 4-Seater Round Teak Set Wiltshire 4-Seater Round Teak Set

This is the time old question. Just because you’ve been cooking inside doesn’t mean you have to eat there but it’s always best to have a good place to sit and eat. This is easier inside because you probably have set eating areas but it might be a whole new story when you venture into the garden or beyond.

We have a number of garden table and chair sets that can make eating outside enjoyable and comfortable, with a particular favourite being the Wiltshire 4-Seater Round Teak Set. With sizes from two to eight seats, you’ll be able to pick out the perfect option with us, or do it individually and buy as you need and want more with our garden tables and garden chairs sections.