Light Meals and Weekend Treats from an English Woman in Berlin
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….
This is a recipe that can be used right from the start of the festive season when everyone is starting to cook something a little special in the kitchen, right to the end of the holidays when we are all rummaging in our fridges wanting to use up all those leftovers. These Cranberry and Stilton Stuffed Mushrooms can be made as a starter for the first dinner party of the season, served as canapés for your Christmas Eve drinks and nibbles or served at New Years Eve to make the last celebratory dinner of the year go out in style….
The festive season is officially in full swing! I have the sparkly nail polish out and I am frequently visiting the local Christmas Markets. My home smells wonderful from the Christmas tree and the advent wreath and I have the scent of all things cinnamon and spice coming out of the oven. I love this time of the year and Germany especially really knows how to celebrate it!
And what else do I enjoy about this time of the year? Christmas parties! It feels like almost every meet-up, if it is a catch up with a friend,…
Every year I make sure to carve a pumpkin to put out on my balcony for Halloween. I love adding little bits of decorations around the apartment and to have the pumpkin lit up. For me Halloween is more than scary outfits and trick or treat. It is the first real event of the Autumn and is the perfect opportunity to embrace those cold, dark winter nights with hearty stews and soups. I always buy extra pumpkins to match a big batch of Spicy Pumpkin Soup and there is nothing more comforting than coming home to a big bowl of delicious comfort food….
These sausage rolls are a far cry from anything you can find in a British supermarket or shop! In my opinion sausage rolls need to be approached with caution. Whether it is sneakily trying one (that ends up being more than just one) when fresh out of the oven or making sure you are strategically placed near to the sausage rolls at a party, these really are the most addictive finger food! But not all sausage rolls are eaten when piping hot out of the oven, or freshly made with crisp and buttery puff pastry …
It just isn’t a decent curry unless you have a side of little fried balls of onions that are crispy and generously spiced! I have made no secret of how disappointed I am in with Indian food in Berlin. The curries are mild with no spice or heat at all and are often just a watery or creamy bowl of blandness with some stodgy, wet rice on the side. A few years ago we did actually find a fairly good Indian restaurant and while their curries were in no competition to the ones we enjoy in the UK…
I am a big fan of charcuterie and cheese boards, or meat and cheese nights as my husband and I fondly call it. It is so much more than simply throwing a bit of cheese and crackers together. Of course cheese and cured meats are the main part of this delicious gathering of quality foods but I also love to serve some pickled gherkins, olives and these Paprika and Thyme Roasted Almonds on the side. During a trip to San Francisco last year we went on a wine tour to the Napa and Sonoma Valley….
Finding good mexican food in Berlin is near impossible. My husband and I were pleasantly surprised to find a decent mexican a few years ago that happened to be around the corner from the new apartment we had just moved into. They served black bean quesedillas, soft corn tacos filled with slow cooked juicy meat and delicious mains of grilled meats with spicy green or red rice. Although one of the main reasons we went there was for the margaritas! I find that a lot of the so-called cocktail bars fill the glasses…