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Happy Easter!
Hello everyone! Remember me? No, I’m not dead yet. But I have a confession to make: I am awful – and I mean absolutely, terrifyingly, hopelessly awful – with computers and all kinds of technological devices. And so sometimes, I manage to lock myself out of my accounts. And sometimes, it all seems so, so complicated that I feel too overwhelmed to even try to get back on track. I suck at this, and I know it. So while I have gathered so much new content for this blog, I admit that I lacked the time, the motivation and sometimes simply the knowledge to put it all online. And being…
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layered autumn apple cake
How is it October already? Is it just me or did September simply fly by? I have to admit, it’s been an exhausting month and I didn’t see October coming and that’s something I do regret. October is my favourite month of the year after all, with its beautiful, opulent, warm colours and the first crisp nights. I love the crunching of dry leaves under my feet, the squashes and pumpkins, the gruesome joys of Halloween and those first long nights spent at home with candles and blankets and a hot cup of tea. Yes, you could say I love October quite a bit. Looking outside, there’s no denying it:…
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Authentic German Baumkuchen
What I love about the world today is how small it is. How easy it is to connect with people all over the globe. And despite the hate and separation and extremism we see and experience every day, that part makes me hopeful. It also makes me feel grateful for the friends I found all over the world, too. And every year I send Christmas packages to the US, to a very dear and cherished friend. And sometimes, when there is still enough space in the box, I put a German classic into those packages: authentic German Baumkuchen. However, I can only send the storebought variety. So when this dear…
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Velociraptor Birthday Party Cake
And just like that… over three months have passed since I last posted here. It wasn’t planned. Because life sometimes has other plans. The last quarter has been pretty insane and unpredictable, and for many reasons. A rollercoaster of emotions and hell at work. It was supposed to be a quiet year. And I have noticed that I say this more often than I should. But when times are difficult, it’s all the more important to reflect on the precious things in life. To take the time to appreciate the people who are always there for you and who never fail to make you smile. Your friends and family, whether…
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last minute Easter nest cupcakes
Not even one week left until Easter and I must admit, I haven’t had the chance to decorate yet. But I finally have a few days off. Time to clean up and decorate and to prepare for one of my personal highlights of the year: our annual Easter brunch. It’s something that – although it is so much work – I am looking forward to every year. The preparations usually take about three days minimum and at the end I am awfully tired, my feet hurt and the kitchen is a mess. Sometimes I fall asleep in my armchair after the brunch. But you know what? It’s worth it. Every…
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homemade braided pesto bread
I’ve already mentioned it, but every year we invite our dearest friends – our family – to a decadent, lengthy and delicious Easter brunch. And while there are a few dishes I make every year, there are some things I tend to experiment with. And two years ago, I brought in something new that quickly became one of my favourites: homemade braided pesto bread. For a long time, I’ve been intimidated by the thought of baking with yeast. And sure enough I’ve experienced some epic failures, but over time I’ve grown more confident working with it. And, I won’t deny it, a new oven that could actually hold a certain…
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5 ways to create Easter decorations on a budget
Last year, we spent the first Easter in our new home. It was such a magical time, everything being so new in our home. And on top of it, it was a year we’d had so much snow ever since February. It’s rather unusual where we live, so I celebrated every flake that fell from the sky. And sure enough, when Easter came in April, we were snowed it. One of our new neighbours even turned on the Christmas lights on his giant fir tree. We even built a snow Easter bunny! But money was tight, and I was challenged to create some Easter decorations on a budget. It’s tradition…
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veggie packed spring bowl with wild garlic dressing
I have admitted it before: I don’t like spring and summer. And many allergics might nod their head now in silent agreement. But there is one thing I am looking forward to whenever the temperatures go up: an abundance of fresh, ripe and delicious vegetables. And this veggie packed spring bowl will definitely bring a delicious garden of healthy greens to your plates. And the best part? All those veggies are topped by crispy halloumi cheese (or tofu for a vegan version), walnuts and a wild-garlic dressing with lemon and ground almonds. If you haven’t heard of wild garlic yet, you are certainly missing out. But fret not, this veggie…
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the perfect puff pastry apple roses
I have a confession to make: I don’t like the spring. The only season I dislike more is summer. I’m a cold weather person. Yes, that kind of thing does exist. But just like this… it’s March again. And spring is just around the corner. Everyone is waiting eagerly for the first warm days, for flowers and sunshine and backyard barbeques. So here is a recipe for you that brings spring to your kitchen and flowers to your plate: Delicious puff pastry apple roses. And the best part? These beautiful pastries are so versatile and easy to make! 6 ingredients and 9 steps are all it takes. You want to…
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London calling 2019 (prologue)
Fernweh. A beautiful word in German that can’t be properly translated into English. One of my favourite words in my mother tongue, and one that describes a yearning I know all too well ever since my teenage years. Many try and use “wanderlust” instead in English, but it doesn’t have the same connotation. Because we do have the word “Wanderlust” in German, as well. It describes an excitement, a passion for travels. The desire to wander off. But “Fernweh” means something entirely different. It’s an ache that’s hard to put into words. It’s a yearning for places far away. Sometimes for distant places you can’t even describe, places you don’t…
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a recipe for cold days: broccoli cheddar soup
Five years ago, pretty much exactly around this time, I visited a friend in the United States. It was the first time for me to leave my continent behind to cross an ocean. And, oh boy, was it an adventure! Me, alone in a different country, in a place where nobody spoke my language, among people I had never met before in person. And although this was five years ago, it feels like it was yesterday. And that first night, after being on my feet for about 20 hours, when I was still terribly insecure and incredibly jetlagged and tired, when everything was new and strange and a little overwhelming,…
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orange and thyme pasta with crispy salmon
I had a hard time deciding which recipe should be the first on this blog. And I have so many to choose from. I chose this one, because this is often the first meal I cook in January. Orange and thyme pasta with a crispy, delicious salmon on top. It’s become something like a “New Year’s recipe”, so to speak. I got inspired by a restaurant visit many years ago. It’s a busy but cosy place we have dined at frequently ever since 2001. On their menu is a rich and creamy pasta, flavoured with orange and thyme and topped with crispy, delicious salmon. And one day, I decided I…
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Hi. I’m new here.
Every year on New Year’s Day – just after midnight – a dear friend of mine lets us all draw a tarot card. Although I’m not an excessively spiritual or esoteric person, it has been a helpful ceremony for me that I’ve come to cherish. And this year, my card told me to start something that I’ve been wanting to do for a long, long time now. It told me it would be a good year to start new things and to create. Admittedly, after 2018 – a year of great success but even greater loss, a year of mourning and, yes, even death – this sounded like a good…
