Get the last of the summer strawberries before they're gone

Stay calm and carry on ... cooking ... but opt for easy dishes so you don't wither in the sultry heat. The Black Bean Soup with Avocado featured here is a stunner. While the base is fast and easy to make from canned black beans, it's the topping that makes it a standout: avocado, chilli, coriander (that's cilantro to you my American friends), all topped with a sprinkle of toasted ground cumin. I'm a stickler for using unsalted canned beans. Check the back of the can to make sure you are not getting a load of added sodium. I like adding a few twists of fried corn tortillas to the soup. They're not necessary, but they sure are nice! Salads are a staple at my home in Rocky Bay Waiheke, and Ilaria and I put this one together yesterday and it just sings of summer, so bright, so colourful, so tasty and textural. Summer Corn Salad Need a little help to stay cool on humid days? Mint & lemon water really does help. If you want to drink wine but you're worried about gulping it down because you're thirsty, make a spritzer. This one with crushed lime leaf, white peaches and strawberries is gorgeous.Rosé spritzer with white peaches, strawberries & kaffir lime leaves Two more things: apologies if some of the pages on Shared Kitchen haven't opened properly this past week. We had an unwanted visitation (a hacker!) but we are dealing to it smartly, so bear with us. And, the Summer Cooking Classes are in full swing with availability still on just a handful of classes. This Friday and Friday 17th have a few spots on the Summer Sunset class (tie these in to a visit to see Sculpture on the Gulf on Waiheke if it appeals, or just come along to the class!); Barbecues, Rubs & Marinades 18th Feb, Vegan BBQ Sunday 19th and Best of the Middle East Saturday 25th have a few places left. So get on to it if you are keen to come along. We are also still taking enquiries for the trip to Puglia in May. Have a great week! Julie