Light Meals and Weekend Treats from an English Woman in Berlin
I love this time of the year in Berlin as it is packed full of public holidays although it is probably one of the things I miss the most about the UK. The UK has plenty of Bank Holiday Monday’s whereas in Germany a holiday is always on a specific date and therefore can easily fall on a Saturday or Sunday. This year May 1st falls on a Monday which means we actually get a long weekend! And what better way to spend the weekend than enjoying a lazy brunch?…
I have made no secret of my love for asparagus, especially the white kind that is hugely popular in Germany. The other week I picked up my first lot of asparagus of the season and made a simple but delicious White Asparagus with Cured Ham and a Chive Sauce. The smokey ham goes so well with the delicate white asparagus and the chive sauce has plenty of fresh lemon juice to add that almost sour kick to the dish. I like to plain boil my white asparagus with a pinch of salt…
The working week is a bit chaotic that we often end up working late, eating out or making quick dishes that can be thrown together such as a classic Leek and Spinach Spaghetti Carbonara or a Pad Thai. And so I find that the weekends are perfect for spending a little more time in the kitchen and enjoying good food. While I try and keep my freezer stocked up with mid-week leftovers such as a Classic Chilli Con Carne, ready to warm up after a long day, the evenings are still so short that finding the time to cook a nice meal is difficult….
Greek Briam is a favourite spring/ summer time dish of mine. Sat out on the balcony, with a glass of wine and a plate of this medley of olive oil roasted vegetables is another example of how Greek cuisine is all about taking ordinary ingredients to create full and beautiful flavours. It is good, honest and healthy food that is cooked simply. It is very similar to a ratatouille or a tourlou (a Greek oven baked stew) and typically topped with feta and basil….
Ah, Easter weekend – we have almost made it! And I plan to sit back, relax and enjoy delicious sweet treats such as these Carrot Cake Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting! There is always so much chocolate around at Easter that like my Cointreau Fruit Cake, these carrot cake cupcakes provide a refreshing change. A four day weekend is the perfect opportunity to catch up on some baking, especially if you are having friends and family stopping by. I recently made these for my colleagues….
It’s here – Spargelzeit! Germany’s obsession with asparagus season, and especially the white kind never fails to amuse me! And I love it! This weekend I popped into my local Galeria Kaufhof and there it was – a Beelitzer asparagus pop-up stand! Beelitzer grown asparagus is local to Berlin and something that Berliner’s take great pride in. This is the BMW of asparagus, not your imported Spanish kind but local, home grown and claimed to be the best and most delicious! …
I always look forward to Easter weekend. It has felt like a bit of a slog since the last holiday break (Christmas) and still a bit of a way to go until our long summer holidays. This time of the year in Berlin is really special due to a lot of public holidays in May but in my opinion Easter can never come soon enough! In fact, my husband and I value – and need! – the break so much that we now avoid all travel. Instead we stay in Berlin and enjoy a four day weekend of complete rest, nice food and long walks in the fresh air….
Any dish that can be thrown into the oven and left to cook is a winner for me. I do love one pan recipes and it is why pasta works so well. A Blue Cheese, Broccoli and Walnut Tagliatelle or a Chilli, Prawn and Rocket Linguine can be put together in minutes. If I am wanting to cut down on the number of pasta dishes that week but still want that easy and quick recipe then Courgetti with Meatballs is a great midweek meal and perfect to pack in some extra veg to your diet….