The Friday 5 #187

8 Sainsbury’s wines under £7, where to eat in Bristol this summer and why you need a crustless quiche in your repertoire

Sometimes friends say ‘you’re always dashing around’. I deny it stoutly but I realise they’re mostly right. Except this week I’ve done nothing. Zilch. I am in a state of total torpor.

It’s the unrelenting heat isn’t it? My brain has gone to mush. You too?

I long for a day of Irish drizzle . . .

The thought of having to come up with 5 things this Friday was actually quite daunting. Normally it’s a breeze so you’ll have to forgive me if they’re not quite as engaging as usual.

I make an exception for crustless quiche, one of the most useful inventions for summer entertaining. There’s a recipe for that below along with some unbelievably good value wines from Sainsbury’s and some alcohol-free suggestions for our forthcoming aperitif tasting*. Which is on MONDAY the 20th (not Sunday as I previously indicated.

And if you haven’t had a chance to look at it yet, do check out the latest post in my Much-Loved Cookery Writers series which is all about the magnificent Diana Henry.

As I mentioned, I pinged her a few questions to check, for example, whether she had a team of recipe developers (spoiler: no!) and how many cookbooks she had (over 4000) and she came up with such good answers I’ve reproduced them in full. Your comments are great too

Also, given the weather, you might enjoy revisiting this post I published last year about cookbooks on the subject of picnics.

*One of the perks you get as a paid subscriber is the opportunity to come along to a free online wine tasting each month. We decide on a theme, you bring a bottle and we natter about the wine - or other drink - in question. If you just want to sign up for a month as a taster it’s only £5.

But first, what wine should you be buying this weekend?