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….
I think that a good tomato sauce is the first thing that every cook should learn. It is incredibly useful! When I first went to University (a very, very long time ago now …!) I couldn’t cook a thing. I would constantly buy those ready made jars of tomato sauce to throw over some penne or spaghetti. Thinking about it now this was a lot more expensive than me simply making my own and I could have probably saved myself a small fortune considering how often I actually ate tomato pasta! I soon came to start making my own sauce and I have never looked back….
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….
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….
The other week I was pleasantly surprised to find that my local Rewe had packets of fresh mussels in the fridge sourced from Belgium. Mussels are at their most succulent right now as they thrive in the cold water which is why I am happily making the most of mussel season and snapping up packets during my supermarket visits! You can also find mussels at a favourite market of mine, Mitte- Meer or the Galeria Kaufhof often have a good selection on offer….
This is a perfect starter and is great with any Italian pasta dish or light meal. It is easy to make and ideal for a nice midweek meal or to be enjoyed at the weekend.
Ingredients (to serve 2):
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