Recipes and Menus for May

“I have solved the mystery of all those ancient May Day customs, such as dancing around the maypole, crowning the May Queen, and skipping about waving branches of apple blossom. These were, in fact, clever excuses for getting out of all the do-it-yourself jobs.”

Oliver Pritchett, The Telegraph

Saucy Dressings aims to complete this post – four weeks’ menus and recipes, plus a few spare by the end of 2024. Every year an additional week’s menu, with the links to the individual recipes, is added.

For food in season in May, follow this link.

For music to listen to while cooking in May, follow this link.

In May we have two bank holidays and the Chelsea flower show…. nothing very interesting.

But we also have improving weather and more spring vegetables dropping onto our kitchen tables – it’s the month of the Alresford watercress festival. You might also be interested in these posts:


Week’s menu for May: number 1

recipes and menus for may

The Trees

The trees are coming into leaf
Like something almost being said;
The recent buds relax and spread,
Their greenness is a kind of grief.

Is it that they are born again
And we grow old? No, they die too,
Their yearly trick of looking new
Is written down in rings of grain.

Yet still the unresting castles thresh
In fullgrown thickness every May.
Last year is dead, they seem to say,
Begin afresh, afresh, afresh. 

Philip Larkin

Saturday lunch:

or

or

followed by

Sunday evening mince:

WITH

OR

Monday evening meat:

OR with

Tuesday evening:

  • night out or leftovers

Wednesday evening poultry:

  • little red rooster, inspired by Mick Jagger’s song and Christopher Bruce’s choreography

OR

Thursday evening dinner party:

OR

OR

OR

Thank God It’s Friday Drink:

Friday evening fish:

OR

WITH

OR

OR


Week’s menu for May: number 2

recipes and menus for may

“And who could not be touched to melancholy in the fifth month, when the sweet flag iris leaves are laid on roofs, and the rice seedlings are planted out, and the water rail’s knocking call is heard?”

Kenkō, A Cup of Sake Beneath the Cherry Trees (written circa 1330)

Saturday lunch:

OR

OR

FOLLOWED BY

Sunday evening:

OR

Monday evening chicken:

OR

WITH

Tuesday evening:

  • night out or leftovers

Wednesday evening meat:

OR

Thursday evening dinner party:

OR

Thank God It’s Friday drink:

… and to nibble at with it:

Friday evening fish:

OR

OR


Week’s menu for May: number 3

food for may
The mayfly season begins

“May in Ayemenem is a hot, brooding month. The days are long and humid. The river shrinks and black crows gorge on bright mangoes in still, dustgreen trees. Red bananas ripen. Jackfruits burst. Dissolute bluebottles hum vacuously in the fruity air.”

Mina Holland, The Edible Atlas

Saturday lunch:

AND

OR

  • Piperade, a sort of spicy Basque version of ratatouille  – served every which way, with eggs, with ham, as a savoury tarte Tatin…or a sauce for pasta or fish

OR

FOLLOWED BY

Sunday supper:

OR

Monday evening meat:

Tuesday evening:

  • night out or leftovers

Wednesday evening poultry:

with

or with

Thursday evening dinner party:

Thank God It’s Friday drink:

….. and to eat with it:

Friday evening fish:

OR


Week’s menu for May: number 4

recipes for May
Marmots awakening from their winter hibernation.

In May, that moder is of monthes glade,
That fresshe floures, blewe, and whyte, and rede,
Ben quike agayn, that winter dede made, 
And ful of bawme is fleting every mede
.”

Geoffrey Chaucer, Troilus and Criseyde

Saturday lunch:

OR

OR

OR

FOLLOWED BY

  • lemon puffs

Sunday supper:

  • pasta alla carbonara

OR

Monday evening meat:

  • coconut and coriander lamb

Tuesday evening:

  • night out or leftovers

Wednesday evening poultry:

Thursday evening dinner party:

OR

OR

Thank God It’s Friday drink:

….. and to eat with it:

  • ricotta and yoghurt dip with celery

Friday evening fish:

  • haddock with saint’s sauce

 

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