Light Meals and Weekend Treats from an English Woman in Berlin
I have a new favourite brunch recipe – these delicious Ham, Egg and Mushroom Muffins! I came across the idea for these when thinking about healthy and appetizing breakfasts. I don’t really have that much of an appetite for breakfast until it gets to about 11am and then my stomach is rumbling. I am firm believer that breakfast really is an important meal of the day and that we need to eat something…
I think 2018 is shaping up to be a pretty good summer! Of course while Berlin is hardly a Mediterranean climate I am fortunate to live in a city that experiences proper seasons such as cold winters, blooming springs, crisp and cosy autumns and a scorching summer. Yet this year summer has felt like it did when I very first moved to Berlin. I cannot remember the last time…
I don’t actually need an excuse for an Aperitif but I always find that the summer months are the perfect opportunity to do so. I love nothing more than on a warm evening to put together a few little snacks, like these Mozzarella, Olive and Tomato Crostini and to serve with an ice-cold Aperol Spritz. I always think that we don’t do the Aperitif as often as we should, and I think that is largely down to just having the time to do so….
I always have some tins of tuna in the cupboard. They are perfect for those last minute dinners or if you are cooking for one. If I am cooking for just myself and don’t want to spend too much time in the kitchen then I will often make some tuna and sweetcorn to stuff inside a baked potato. It did however take me some time to start eating tins of tuna again after finishing University. While I don’t actually find tins of tuna particularly cheap to buy, for some reason this was more or less all I ate as a student. I think it must have been because it doesn’t really involve any cooking!…
The summer months can include a lot of tempation to go out and eat. Berlin summers can be quite warm and on some days a little too stuffy. It is so easy to want to just pop to a beer garden after work and grab some food on the way home. But this Goats Cheese, Caramelised Onion and Rocket Tart is one of my favourite summer dishes because it is so quick and easy to make. It takes just minutes to prepare and then just sits in the oven for a short time….
Summer is now in full swing over here in Berlin and I am kicking off the season with the perfect recipe for some al fresco dining – a Courgette, Feta and Tahini Dip! I am a huge fan of Middle Eastern food for its exciting flavours, use of fresh vegetables and it’s all things spice. I can eat Mezze all year but it feels that little bit more special during the summer months. I think it is because you can cook just a few items then pile a load of olives…
It’s happened – I am officially more of a fan of the white asparagus than the green kind. There was me thinking that my love for bread and salami in the morning for breakfast, constant grilling of sausages in the summer months and my love for anything pickled had made me continental enough. But now I have joined the rest of Europe and fully welcoming the delicious spears of white asparagus. Not that I don’t enjoy green asparagus….
I love a quiche! It is one of my favourite things to make, especially during the spring and summer months. For me a quiche is a vital part of a picnic or easy and laid-back al fresco dining. It is also a great one to keep in the fridge for a couple of days, ready to pack up a slice for lunch or to have a quick and simple dinner waiting for you that evening. I like to make a big quiche on a Sunday and to let it cool down before serving with a salad on the side for a delicious and easy Sunday lunch on the balcony in the sunshine. I then use all the leftovers for lunch the following days….
