Retrospective 2014

Happy New Year! Hope you all had a fantastic and safe start to 2015! After a relaxing break over the Holidays with 2 weeks off I am back ready to kick-start 2015 with much enthusiasm. As I do each year, I’d like to review my year 2014, looking back and reflecting the past year. This is a moment to take a step back to look at the achievements and to give thanks before we all tumble forward into a brand new year! 

2014 has literally blasted past me. Never do I remember a year sweeping past so quickly.

Time flies when you are having fun!

If that is any measure for fun and time then in 2014 I had masses of fun making time really fly by. It was a year I was determined to progress in as many aspects of my life as I could. If 2013 left me battered and bruised, 2014 has given me strength and power to take bigger steps and to dare a little more. It was also a year where I forced myself to put “me” first in some parts of my life. Totally uncharacteristic for me, however when I cut the bad static out of my life and was not always around to pick up the pieces of shattered glass every time after an unpleasant situation, I realized and saw the things that really mattered. And I actually had time to focus on those things that really mattered - because I was not being sucked out elsewhere. 

In my first post of 2014 I wrote

I want to indulge in myself this year. Take a gear down and slow down a bit. With all the things I have planned and want to achieve, it might not seem like I am slowing down but my focus lies on what comforts my soul and makes me happy. I want to feel free – carefree again without feeling the constriction I often felt last year. I plan to re-connect with body, mind and soul – and I want to do it consciously, with awareness and … savor it.

I think I can say I have made a very good start towards this goal and am on the right path, intending to follow it further through 2015. With this in mind my word and goal for 2015 is

resolute

steadfast, firm, purposeful, determined, unwavering

All of which I can very well wrap my head around and would like to apply to my daily life.

• Steadfast in my faith and belief
• Firm in my thoughts
• Purposeful goals to follow
• Determination to follow through those goals
• Unwavering courage to step out of the box

January

Usually a slow month but my January 2014 started with a few real sparkles:

• I was featured in Elle India’s current issue under the Elle Gourmet section with my Quarkkeulchen with Cranberries and a Cinnamon Blueberry Compote
• I went to Hamburg and found a silver lining in the form of new clients: One of Germany’s oldest Publishers signed me on as their photographer for a selection of their magazines.
• My favorite recipe in January Slow Roasted Turmeric Vegetables with a Moghrabieh Pilaf
• Favorite Instgram image of a little house in the park
  

February

• My blog this little space called What’s for lunch honey turned 8 and I celebrated like a champion
• I started to read to make up for having read so little in 2013. My favorite book in February was Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn. I literally inhaled this book!
• Picking up on our photo walks Soeren and I enjoyed re-connecting with each other more consciously.
• My favorite recipe in February: Goan Tangy Pork Vindaloo with Cashew Nuts
• Favorite Instagram image of baby onions used for caramelized onions.

March

• I read Jay Raynor’s A Greedy Man in a Hungry World, which gave me a lot of food for thought
• Raynor’s book inspired me to write this post asking my friends and readers what their top 3 seasonal springs produce / food. An awesome list for sure!
• I baked the most amazing cookies, inspired by Kerrin’s Apricot Crunch Cookies. Since then I have baked them in several varieties and have become a steadfast family favorite!
• I talked about trends and said that the 2014 chocolate trend is something I can do very well. In retrospect I actually only posted two chocolate recipes in 2014!
• My favorite recipe in March: Semlor - Swedish Cream Buns
• Favorite Instagram image of my homemade spelt apricot loaves

April

• I was having a lot of fun as many of my projects and goals began progressing. My photography work flourished and I began working for another prominent publishing house in Germany and Spring was giving me happy feet. I was also having fun in the kitchen!
• I continued to read Gillian Flynn and breezed through Sharp Objects and Dark Places. Not as outstanding as Gone Girl but still thrilling and enthralling!
• I reflected on the contrasts and differences in the upbringing of both my husband and I and how we manage to come together to find common grounds in parenthood. The chocolate hot cross buns played a part too!
• We celebrated my husbands birthday in style!
• Spent a few lazy days over Easter in my favorite city - Berlin!
• My favorite recipe in April: Whole-Wheat Raw Orange Blossom Honey and Ricotta Pancakes
• Favorite Instagram image of spicy Indian style scrambled eggs

May

• As my photography work flourished in Germany, I also got the opportunity to collaborate and work with Italy’s inCucina
• I found inspiration on the Strada del Prosecco as I travelled to Valdobbiadene just outside of Venice for my first workshop in 2014 - Venice Workshop 2014! What a rush it was!
• The Francos and their prosecco had already dazzled me but their hospitality during our workshop blew me away!
• I was reunited with my sister-from-another-mother!
• My favorite recipe in May: Mujadara Jnoubiyeh - Lebanese Lentil and Bulgur Pilaf and Cabbage Salad with Za’atar and Sumac
• Favorite Instagram image of shimeji mushrooms on pure whites.

June

• I was packing my bags again!
• I celebrated my 42nd with lots of cake!
• Spectacular workshop in Helsinki with some of the most funniest ladies I have ever met!
• Reunited with my awesome girlfriends and raised a few many toasts!
• My image Shapes and Sizes made it to the Vsco Grid for the first time!
• In terms of jobs/projects probably the best thing in 2014: I was hired by the Board of Tourism in Thuringia to work, plan and execute their new campaign Kulinarik a massive project which includes travelling, TV spots, my photography and writing and so much more!
• Sometimes taking a wrong turn leaves me breathless
• Although I ate and drank extremely well in June I did not post any recipes!
• Favorite Instagram image of my favorite breakfast in on my blooming terrace

 

July

• It was a hot summer in more ways than one!
• Soccer craze hit Germany with a vengeance as Germany blasted their way from game to game to become World Champions! We loved every minute of the summer soccer fun!
• I was on the road to my next workshop this time in Berlin!
• A great styling session with some great sponsors!
• Reunited with my darling ladies again!
• I found myself in front of the camera more often than I really felt comfortable! On MDR TV, on Deutsche Welle and on Dima Sharif’s You Tube channel for her Ramadan Special. I made the most divine roasted chicken ever! But I did enjoy myself very much!
• I continued reading many books including two of my favorites books of the summer Me before You by Jojo Moyes and The Husband’s Secret by Liane Moriarty
• My favorite recipe in July: Ricotta Lemon Slice with Summer Berries
• Favorite Instagram image of the yogurt desserts at the styling session during the Berlin workshop

 

August

• I took a whole month off from blogging to relax and enjoy the summer and travel a lot!
• I continued to travel for the Kulinarik project discovering some awesome Thuringian traditional dishes
• I was one of the “Top 20 Food Bloggers who will ignite your taste buds” ... did I ?
• Feature on Deutsche Welle’s Shift did make me some what proud!
• We ate our way through Brussels, Neufchâtel, Mont Saint Michel and Paris
• Coming back to Paris after so many years brought back some pretty amazing memories for me. I was ecstatic to share this city with my son and husband! I promise you a travelogue is coming up!
• Soeren turned 12! and we celebrated with a grand brunch! I can feel the 13 coming on hard!
• Breakfast in style hit the Vsco Grid with honors!
• My favorite drink in the summer of 2014!
• Favorite Instagram image was the breathtaking view of Paris from the Arc de Triomphe

September

• The blog got a new look - this clean, crisp and fresh design was in the works for several months.
• I starred in a series of trailers for the #Kulinarik campaign. Learning text in a foreign language by heart was pretty weird! More to come this year!!
• Totally surreal ... an Indian girl making traditional Thüringian dumplings!
• I continued to travel through the state of Thuringia on my mission to discover classic traditional dishes for me to re-interperate
• The first part of the 5 part series in the Kulinarik series went live! In English on my blog here.
• My favorite recipe in September: Tomato Basil Tart with Polenta Crust
• Favorite Instagram image of Fig, nut and honey breakfast!

The lovely ladies who have supported me throughout the year(s) with the workshops. We make such an awesome team! From Helsinki, Berlin, Venice to Dubai: Mari, Sandy & Simone, Jeanne (& crutch), Dima. Thank you! 

October

• I traveled to Dubai for a gorgeous 2 weeks in the sun with my parents and friends and of course my annual workshop with my lovely friend Dima Sharif.
• The Dubai workshop simply rocked and blew me away on all levels. Each year we get better and better! This video shows you just how much!
• I partied with a few girlfriends and Chef Nobu Matsuhisa. The next day the Dubai’s newspaper the Gulf News reported about me and Chef Nobu!
• I visited a Grand Mosque and was blown away!
• I was shortlisted as one of the “60 Amazing Food Bloggers with Inspiring Food Photos”
• A first: I drank Champagne with 0% alcohol but 24 Karat Gold leaves!
• My favorite recipe in October: Fennel Seed and Cardamom Spiced Carrot Rice Pudding
• Favorite Instagram image of a gorgeous selection of focaccia, brioche, and sourdough

November

• I was featured for the Kulinarik campaign in a nationwide promotion across Germany
• I took you on a stunning virtual tour to the Grand Mosque
• A very busy month with several photo shoots for Christmas, Carneval and Valentines!
• The black and white challenge was something I totally enjoyed with my photos. Hornfleur, Christmas Glimmer, Gondoliering in Venice, Winter is coming, At the Foot of the Mountains
• The second part of the Kulinarik series was published online
• My favorite recipe in November: Roasted Root Vegetable and Pearl Barley Soup 
• Favorite Instagram image of a pairing of Muscat de Provence and persimmons

December

• I baked a Christmas stollen and my son made a gingerbread house
• An even busier month of travelling and shooting for a Michelin Star chef Maria Gross and a restaurant tour of Weimar - shots for Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner and of course lots of cake
• More cakes to shoot
• Going beyond the boarders of Thuringia with a feature in papers across the Rhein-Pfalz area
• Signed the dotted lines for some big projects next year one of them is for an event for Bauknecht happening later this January!
• Third part of the Kulinarik series Thüringia meets Asia goes online and causes a controversial furore for and against the idea of dumpling sushi!
• Cooked a massive Christmas Day meal for Tom’s entire family as we celebrated the day in Weimar for the first time!
• Happy Holidays frolicking in the snow! A well deserved break after a very eventful year!
• My favorite recipe in December: Orange Marmalade and Port Glazed Duck with A Parsnip Pumpkin Truffle Butter Mash
• Favorite Instagram image of gnocchi filled with a herby cream cheese with caramelized tomatoes and brown butter and crispy sunflower seeds and sage leaves!

Looking back it has been a fantastic year. A lot of good and many ups made the few downs easy to master and I am resolute to keep this high going strong in 2015.

Throughout the year in my various projects I have had the support of so many wonderful and inspiring people - the year would not have been such a success without the help and unconditional encouragement and backing from these great folks. I thank you so very much!

A massive thanks to all of my lovely readers here on my blog, which has been going strong for almost 9 years now (next month I celebrate!). Some of you have been here since day one, some hopped on board along the way and others only recently joined me on my rollercoaster ride of a blog. Your loyalty and and faith means a lot to me and without your comments, thoughts and feedback this space would only be half the fun. I love how sometimes a simple comment can develop into a deeper more profound friendship be it virtually or developing into a personal meeting as it has over the past years. I look forward to many more adventures, posts, and images with you and hope you will be there each step of the way. THANK YOU always!

Now let’s get 2015 off to a sparkly start!

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