Light Meals and Weekend Treats from an English Woman in Berlin
The summer months can include a lot of tempation to go out and eat. Berlin summers can be quite warm and on some days a little too stuffy. It is so easy to want to just pop to a beer garden after work and grab some food on the way home. But this Goats Cheese, Caramelised Onion and Rocket Tart is one of my favourite summer dishes because it is so quick and easy to make. It takes just minutes to prepare and then just sits in the oven for a short time….
I love a quiche! It is one of my favourite things to make, especially during the spring and summer months. For me a quiche is a vital part of a picnic or easy and laid-back al fresco dining. It is also a great one to keep in the fridge for a couple of days, ready to pack up a slice for lunch or to have a quick and simple dinner waiting for you that evening. I like to make a big quiche on a Sunday and to let it cool down before serving with a salad on the side for a delicious and easy Sunday lunch on the balcony in the sunshine. I then use all the leftovers for lunch the following days….
Greek Orzo Salad is one of my go to packed lunches. I make a big batch on a Sunday and store in the fridge for 2-3 days. It is a delicious and filling lunch and packs up nicely to take to work. The orzo pasta also helps the salad to keep its shape and give it a bit of a firmer texture which makes it the perfect dish when wanting to store in the fridge for a few days.
I love a Greek Salad. There is something so simple yet delicious about a classic Greek Salad with crunchy bits of lettuce, soft and juicy black olives, thinly sliced red onion, fresh tomatoes and a big slab of feta on top….
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 is so easy to think of a potato salad as a pile of stodgy potatoes that are smothered in an acidic mayonnaise. In fact, a potato salad is pretty much a staple at any BBQ or picnic that we all have a slight fondness towards! At the first rays of sunshine us Brits (and Germans..) head out to the parks or into the garden armed with sausage rolls, meat, sandwiches, quiches and basically anything else that can either be thrown onto a grill or packs up nicely into a box and is easy to eat while all squashed up on a tiny bit of the picnic blanket …
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….
We are set for another sunny weekend! I jump at any chance for a picnic which is why this weekend I am making a batch of these sausage rolls to take to the park. They are a favourite picnic classic of mine that always go down as a treat on a sunny Sunday afternoon with friends. I usually pop these in the oven in the morning before and my flat smells of fresh herbs and spices. It’s a great last minute recipe. …
I was back in the UK this weekend and on Saturday night we were treated to a lovely outdoors concert. In true British style the rain did not dampen 
our spirits and we all had a great time. We had a gazebo and so we were protected from the rain. We also had a load of food and wine to enjoy during the concert and it got me thinking about Brits and their picnics. Whilst the Germans love to do a bit of grilling and take their BBQs to the park to grill some Bratwurst us Brits love a good picnic. This often ends up being in the rain but that is all part of the fun! A picnic basket full of treats and champagne – you can’t go wrong. …