The Friday list and fresh pasta

It's all about basil and tomatoes here this week. That's mostly because they're the two things I've managed to grow this summer, but they also happen to be among our favourite ingredients. Yesterday both made their way into pasta which I wrote about over on Village Voices.

Wishing everyone a lovely weekend and maybe, just maybe, we'll get some of that rain 'they' have been predicting all week. Here's hoping.

• I love this blog and this post about a hot summer at home.
• And for armchair travel this week....a little trip to Utrecht via one of my favourite blogs Griottes palette culinaire. Gorgeous gorgeous images and a nice wintry escape from this long, dry summer of ours.
• This workshop by Whole Larder Love's Rohan Anderson sounds brilliant. If you can get there...then...do.
• Sticky toffee pudding from Herriott Grace.
• Wouldn't it be nice to start every day with a breakfast like this.
• Yet another inspiring post from Roost, and while we are a couple of months away from apple season here, I'm thinking these little pots would also be great with peaches or apricots.
• A new favourite blog and recipe to try; Chocolate almond madeleines by Tabitha Emma.
• In celebration of Australia Day, here's a recipe for lamb, feta and mint sausage rolls by Emerald and Ella, and a very tempting one for lamingtons by Adeline and Lumiere.
• Still loving all this beautiful stone fruit in the markets and shops right now? Then make this tart.  
• Port-braised venison with oat dumplings by Nigel Slater.
• Seafood plate with tartare pesto by the always amazing Island Menu.
• Eat this Poem's latest offering combines a beautiful poem ('The Olive Jar') and recipe for eggplants, lentils and pine nuts.
• A beautiful, seasonal juice recipe from Cook Republic and here are a few more healthy juice recipes, this time from Chalkboard magazine.
• My peaches and cream shortcake posted over on JustB this week.
• How to cook the perfect lemon drizzle cake thanks to The Guardian.
• How to make chocolate bars by David Lebovitz and a chocolate buckwheat cake by the same.