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A Modern Rose

Light Meals and Weekend Treats from an English Woman in Berlin

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Asparagus and Goats Cheese Tart

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I am loving Spring! May is my favourite time of the year in Berlin. The sun is out (well, for some of the time at least!), there are plenty of public holidays and the parks are busy with people hanging out and enjoying the sunshine.

We had friends over last weekend and spent sunday afternoon in the Tiergarten. Of course most of that time was spent at Cafe am Neuen See, a beer garden right by the lake. I am already looking forward to the warm weather this weekend and spending the weekend relaxing in the park with a picnic. One of the things I always make for a picnic is my Asparagus and Goats Cheese Tart which is like a quiche but I use puff pastry instead of shortcrust. …

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Crispy Duck with Rosemary Potatoes and Braised Red Cabbage

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Many of us are now clocking off work and heading home to spend Christmas with friends and family. I love this time of the year and enjoy heading back to the UK for a couple of weeks of festive fun. And what better way to kick start the holiday than with a special home cooked meal? …

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Antipasti with Tomato Crostini

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The Berlin summer is in full swing at the moment! We have 34 degrees and I am enjoying the warm evenings after work sat in the beer garden.

I made this antipasti last night after work before heading to the beer garden. It is very simple to prepare and easy to put together. Just what I need in this weather! I also serve some tomato crostinis on the side that I really enjoyed when I was in Florence last month. They are similar to the Catalan tomato bread and is best prepared with good quality olive oil, juicy tomatoes and plenty of fresh basil….

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Salmon Niçoise

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I am loving the sunshine over here in Berlin at the moment! The weather is hot, the sun is shining and I am spending my lunch breaks sitting by the river. But that’s the problem with Berlin, when it get’s hot it really does feel hot! Being stuck on the tram after work is pretty awful and the air feels so still. Sometimes the heat can be a bit too much when you have to rush about your daily life. Not that I am complaining! After the long Berlin winter I am loving the sunshine!…

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Exberliner Column: Thai Noodle Soup

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Walk into my kitchen and you will see shelves packed with jars and jars of different herbs and spices. The sheer number of them stacked on top of each makes the likelihood of a crashing spice fall rather high!

I love to add different spices to a dish which is probably why Asian food is one of my favourite cuisines to cook. This Thai noodle soup recipe is very easy to make and includes one of my favourite spices – turmeric. Plus I love any excuse to garnish a dish with plenty of fresh coriander!…

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Simple Egg Fried Rice

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The sun is finally shining again over here in Berlin and I am certainly making the most of it after a rainy week.

This egg fried rice recipe is a real winner for the working week. It is easy to make, tastes delicious and will stop you from ordering a take out option that will be loaded with calories.

Enjoy!…

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Asparagus and Chorizo Carbonara

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Ah, asparagus season – it’s nearly over! Good thing is that this means it is ‘officially’ summer, although summer seems to have avoided Berlin at the moment!

This weekend I am making the most of the last of asparagus season. I was in Florence last weekend and it was good to see the local Italian markets also selling loads of green asparagus.

This chorizo and asparagus carbonara is easy to make and a real weekend treat!…

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Exberliner Column: Italian Style Fish Stew

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I was celebrating a friend’s birthday at a favourite Italian haunt of mine, Donath, the other night. One of the reasons I love this place is that their menu constantly changes and they usually have two or three fish recipes. I had the calamari, squid and salmon pasta on my latest visit which prompted a British friend of mine to say “I miss fish, you just can’t get fish easily in Berlin.”

That is where this fish stew recipe comes in. I like to call this my pick n mix stew because it is a great one to add whatever fish you can get your hands on. And the great news is that fish is not completely impossible to come by in Berlin! …

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