Starter

Use a stiff brush to scrub the mussels under cold water. Note

Canned whole baby beets can be substituted for fresh beetroot, if preferred. Potatoes, beetroot and peas can be cooked in advance and refrigerated, covered. Combine salad just before serving or beetroot will “bleed” into egg and potato Note

Reserve some of the feathery fennel fronds to sprinkle over the soup at serving time. Note

To finely shred (or chiffonade) the basil leaves, lay the leaves flat on top of each other, then roll up tightly and cut into thin slices. This results in long, fine strips. Note