That Tea Time Nibble: Tahini Granola Cookies

I recently stumbled upon a hilarious Instagram REEL that jokingly poked fun at the habit of bloggers writing long intros before sharing a recipe. Guilty as charged!

Zesty Olive Medley: Marinated in Preserved Lemons, Infused with Cumin and Za'atar

The heartbeat of P@l3st!ne lies in the roots of the زيتون (zaytoun) tree. ⁠ As a resilient symbol of peace, heritage, and sustenance, the olive tree is more than an icon – it's the lifeblood of families. Tales that span centuries echo the strength of a people, rooted deep in the soil.

Almond Butter Seed Fruit and Nut Granola

“Simple can be harder than complex: You have to work hard to get your thinking clean to make it simple. But it's worth it in the end because once you get there, you can move mountains.” ~ Steve Jobs

My 2017 mantra is Focus and Simple! Keeping all aspects of my life clean, simple and clutter-free is something I have been aiming to achieve for a while. I am on the right path I know it – but I still tend to fall back on some old habits. That is why I have chosen to make 2017 a year where I consciously push out all the toxic junk and matter and open up to purity, to grace and to calmness.

Gooseberry Nectarine Galette

It feels good to be back home! After over 3000 kilometers through the Normandy from Étretat to Mont Saint Michel then over to the Pays D’Auge and ending in Versailles and Paris, we are quite contended to be back home. After a little over two and half weeks of living in a RV the luxury of space is felt in every room but most of all in my kitchen. It was a sensational vacation: we hiked on steep cliffs, we relaxed under gorgeous cornflower blue skies, we swam in the ocean and we ate our weight in mussels, oysters and seafood.

A Genoese Farinata, Photo Shoots and Travels to Far Away Places

 [Farinata | Image for Köstlich Vegetarisch Italian Special 04/2013]

Time has been speeding past me like a super-high speed jet. It’s like I am in a whirlwind, being sucked into the daily chores, replying to the many emails, the photo shoots, keeping up with the son who is getting more strong-willed and developing a distinct character, attending meetings, going to physiotherapy. It feels like I am scattered in a multitude of places all at once. I’m not complaining … it’s the way I function and it’s what my energy needs to keep it at the soaring level. However, I often feel that the days are getting shorter and I am being shortchanged with the hours in the day. Don’t you feel that too? .

Almond Milk Quinoa Breakfast with Fresh Fruit and Toasted Pecans

“Don’t eat breakfast cereals that change the color of the milk” - Michael Pollan, Rule 36

I instantly cringe as I remember eating bowls of Fruit Loops and Lucky Charms as a growing child all those years ago. Although my mum was particular about our meals and paid attention to eating well and healthy, somehow this did not apply to breakfast. Growing up in the early 80s we were subjected to the common, popular TV commercials - bright, gaudy and colorful. The cereal commercials always had my brother and I proverbially eating out of their bowls. My mother, usually strict and alert, snapped, crackled and popped with our selection of breakfast cereals.

Quarkkeulchen with Cranberries and a Cinnamon Blueberry Compote - A German Specialty

The icy grip of winter holds us firmly. Just as I was thinking we were going to get the mildest winter in years, things took a turn and we are now facing the coldest winter in decades. It totally amazes me how we are at the mercy of Mother Nature.

Spicy Bacon Italian Heirloom Tomato and Buffalo Mozzarella Tartine

It seems Autumn has finally come to Weimar. September was filled with non-stop sunny days, bright blue skies and summery high temperatures. It spoilt me. Basking in the warmth of an extended summer I got used to walking out of the house in flip flops and shorts, leaving the warmer jackets behind, hanging on the cloak rack. It felt unusual to enjoy the pleasures of summer right through into September.