Roll on my early Summer: some old favourites

I thought re-introducing some favourites from a couple of Summers ago wouldn't go amiss.

Who likes black olives, the ones which are stored dry in salt.  Such a great salad for this is this salted black olive and tomato salad, just something really salty and fresh tasting at the same time.  Try serving this as another topping for bruschetta or with a green salad with some cold meats and cheese.

Or, to go with the olive theme, how about some tapenade, this is rather a luxurious recipe and not for the faint hearted.  The butter alone will clog your arteries, but this is a great recipe for entertaining, although it really needs to be eaten on the same day as chilling it and then softening it again, makes it loose its fresh taste.

If you want a good bean dish this baked peppers with mint and black eyed beans is extremely versatile, a great alternative to vegetables and potatoes to go with roast meat on a Sunday or as great packed lunch.

How about the ultra-red tomato salad - a very good dish to serve with some pan fried fish, and it looks just the picture for entertaining, perhaps lunch on a Saturday with friends?

My final one from memory lane, at least for now, is a five part hints and tips for sweet Summer Basil, from tea to a great sauce for a quick pasta supper.