Light Meals and Weekend Treats from an English Woman in Berlin
It seems like this sunny weather is sticking around although I have felt slightly British the last few days by complaining about the heat already..! Every year it always takes me by surprise the lack of air coniditioning in Berlin. I get that Berlin is hardly the Mediterranean climate but the summers are hot! So instead, it means plenty of afterwork beer garden visits to the Prater or sitting on the balcony with a cold glass of wine….
I am a big fan of a salad and it is something that I eat quite often. The humble salad often gets a bit of negative press, mainly due to the stereotype of it being a bit of limp lettuce with some soggy tomatoes, a bit of cucumber and a rather acidic dressing. But for me a salad is a great way to use up any leftovers in the fridge and bring together an array of different ingredients. They are quick and easy to make and are the perfect light dinner, while also packing up nicely for lunch the next day…
It seems that spring is finally in full swing over here in Berlin and there is the start of that summer feeling. I love this time of the year where the restaurants and bars open up their terraces and the streets are filled with people eating and drinking, I get to eat dinner on my balcony and spend the evenings sipping on an aperol spritz. I love it and the sunshine these last few days has definitely put in the BBQ spirit! Ah, hotdogs! An American classic…
Recently I have cut down on the amount of bread I eat, not that I typically eat a lot of it but instead of always going for that grab and go sandwich I am starting to make more of an effort in pre-preparing my lunches so that I have something waiting for me on busy days. However, as I have mentioned before anyone who lives in the real world will have their favourite go to sandwich! I mean, who doesn’t love a sandwich!? They are the staple of a typical kids school packed lunch…
A slice of toasted bread isn’t just to be eaten in the morning with a spread of jam and butter or topped with some eggs and bacon. The humble slice is for any time of day and meal time. At the weekends I like to buy a nice fresh loaf of bread and Germany is definitely the right place to have plenty of choice. Bread is often something that German’s miss when they are away from home and they really do take it seriously. When I first arrived in Berlin I found it difficult to get my hands on a typical loaf …
Armed with a tin of chickpeas you can be assured that a healthy and delicious meal is on it’s way! I love chickpeas. They are packed full of protein and high in fibre, iron and zinc. They are also incredibly filling and easy to prepare, making them a perfect lunch or midweek dinner. I find that chickpeas are really versatile. They work well in stews such as a Chickpea and Chorizo Stew, can be made into burgers or turned into delicious hummus. A tin of chickpeas is certainly a store cupboard staple!…
Whether you identify yourself as a bit of a foodie, a healthy eating guru or suspicious of anything pre-packaged, if you also live in the real world you will have a favourite go to shop-bought sandwich! It is convenient, quick and let’s face it, it is cheap. Realistically you are not going to have a home made packed lunch every day. Maybe you didn’t actually make it to the supermarket recently, been away for a weekend or with work or just had no time. The humble sandwich is easy, you can eat it at your desk…
Opening the fridge on boxing day and wondering what on earth to do with all that leftover turkey is as much of a Christmas tradition as the big dinner itself! It is one of the best parts of Christmas where you spend the next few days simply enjoying leftovers and fridge raids. It makes the effort of cooking the big meal on Christmas day last for a few extra days with mininal stress. For me, Christmas is all about the leftovers and there isn’t a more perfect time for us to have a fridge full of food ready to go….