Picnic at Garden Cove

This is why I feel so lucky living here on our beautiful Island out in the Hauraki Gulf, to be able to enjoy the wonderful sea and sunshine.

Our friends kindly invited us out on a picnic lunch last Saturday where we met at their place along Onetangi Beach.
It was so much fun to be able to take a trip out in their Sealegs boat - driving down their drive, along the road which turned into the sand and then wait until the time and surf was right, to effortlessly launch into the water.

We sailed along the waves at a good clip around to a beautiful spot called Garden Cove, where a few other families were also enjoying this little secluded horse shoe shaped bay.
 

Under the shade of the trees we set up our picnic Jo and Grant had made some delicious salads, with juicy watermelon, and green beans. My husband made his terrine which we had with French bread, a cheese platter with crackers and washed down with a glass of cold Rosé from the chilly bin.

To finish off our lunch, I had baked some Madelines with a lemon glaze and we all had a second one as they were so good, if I may say so and will definitely be baking these again.

I had told my husband for Christmas I wanted a Madeline tray, after watching Rachel Khoo baking some on her show. 

Have always wanted to try baking them.

My daughter bought me the cook book 'Patisserie made simple ' by Edd Kimber {From Macarons to Millefuille and more} 

Edd was the first winner of 'The Great British Bake Off', a show I really enjoy watching. Anyway there are some lovely recipes in this book and I look forward to trying some more from the book.

Makes one feel healthy after a day out, with a swim in the sea, breathing in the salty air and having a light golden tan from the sun

All too soon it was time to head back home.

A perfect summer day is when the sun is shinning, the breeze is blowing, the birds are singing and the lawn mower is broken.
~ James Dent

Have a happy weekend

hugs

Carolyn