January always feels like a liminal month to me. Not a clean cut, not a full beginning, more like a soft corridor between worlds. Even though the calendar insists we are already well into the new year, energetically we are still shedding the skin of the Year of the Snake while slowly sensing the hooves of the Horse approaching.
Some recipes arrive quietly and stay. This roasted beetroot with ginger, chives and a peanut lime dip is one of those dishes for me. It is simple, earthy and deeply satisfying, yet layered. The sweetness of beetroot, the warmth of ginger, the freshness of chives and the calm richness of peanuts come together without forcing anything. When I made it again recently, I realised how closely it mirrors the guiding word I have chosen for 2026: Yutori.
"Jump to recipe!" After my last post, I thought, why not offer something new to the blog to help those of us who are keen to get straight to the recipe without much fluff around a post.
There's something magical about the stillness of the early morning – a moment of calm before the world awakens. For me, it has become a special moment where I can set intentions for the day ahead. And I've found that creating a morning routine with good habits can really help me feel more balanced and centred throughout the day.
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.
It's July – already! My last post was end of May!
I had many plans through June for my blog – most importantly I wanted to celebrate my birthday with you. As a child of June, I am convinced it is the best month in the whole year. Don't think I wasn't working towards my plan though. I cooked, baked, styled and shot many delicious foods and dishes – job related yes - but also a selection for my readers here. But my plans to sit still and write a post often were interrupted by spontaneous photo shoots, travels and family fun in the sun!
Walking along Bombay's Marine Drive or on the beaches of Bombay Chowpatty or Juhu, colorful market carts sell not only vibrant fruit and vegetables but many have been converted to sell the street food varieties India is famous for. And Bhelpuri is one of Bombay's quintessential street food, not to mention one of the most loved snacks in India.
Many relationships are forged and strengthen over meals or social events. Emotions evoked and lasting impressions are made when people come together at the table to share a meal. As a daughter of an hotelier our family moved often from country to country, always leaving behind friends and a community that had taken us in. It was never easy and yet I watched my parents form new friendships and build a social environment in each new city with ease.
If I was to describe some of my favorite foods and dishes I would say whatever one can pile into a bowl and mix together to savor all the flavors. Not only of each individual ingredient, but also as each item intermingles with the other there are a range of flavor explosions! That is the real kick I get from a dish.
“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.
It’s the season! Pumpkins are here - a sure sign that Autumn has arrived. Versatile and available in several varieties the humble pumpkin is a wonder produce for sweet and savory recipes. A few years ago all one could find in Germany was the Red Kuri pumpkin. Slowly year for year I began seeing the butternut, then the Musque de Provence and then it seemed the pumpkin market exploded here. I love pumpkins and for me this change was a huge advantage in my kitchen
It’s been an intense couple of weeks with so many things happening. One highlight chasing the other for each of us! The positivity seems to give us wings to fly higher, faster and smarter. The art lies in preserving these special moments in the midst of the changes and the chances that arise to impact our lives.
Ever since our return from Alaska the weather has been a bit of everything. From warm sunny days with a cooling breeze, to hot humid days similar to those in Dubai or even monsoon-like summer rainy days reminiscent to Bombay, to cool autumn-like mornings. It seems Mother Nature just is having trouble deciding on which weather to shower on us.
The last thing I expected to really get hooked on in terms of food, when I first moved to Germany, was bread. Having lived in many countries I was used to a great variety of bread, mostly flatbreads. In my arrogance - or call it ignorance - I was sure that while Germany had some great bread-types – think of the pumpernickel, others were overrated – for me the pretzel!
By the time spring arrived the air thickened with the pungent aroma hanging over the park and the woods. Following the path on my bicycle my nostrils were overwhelmed with the smell of garlic that seemed to follow me. I had not been living long in Germany and spring in this magnitude was often still overwhelming to my senses. For someone who had spent most of her life in the Persian Gulf in the bi-seasonal climates of hot and hotter, the feeling of four seasons was intoxicating.
Ready, steady … go! Most mornings many of us are dashing out the door, grabbing a quick piece of toast and a coffee to go. I know you all are smart enough to know that a good meal at the start of the day takes you further, keeping your energy levels balanced. For me a good breakfast also keeps any mood swings or headaches at bay and I realized a long time ago that a good regular breakfast kept me focused by improving my concentration levels.
Kohlrabi Celeriac and Parsnip Soup with Chilli Chia Seed Tempering
Root vegetables bring me through most of winter. Over the past months they were some of the only variety of vegetables readily available at the markets. Luckily I love root vegetables and enjoy preparing them in all kinds of dishes. My family – well if I tell them they are getting celeriac or parsnip for dinner I always get that narrowing of the brow look.
Celebrations are a part of our life! Actually life should be a celebration, a party of our achievements, a banquet of our abilities and a triumph of our successes. We progress forward, sometimes at a faster pace and sometimes the pace is slower. Keeping the positive aspects in view is so important but we often fall back and waiver, brooding over things we have not accomplished.
We’ve entered the holiday season! With Diwali just past we are heading towards Thanksgiving, Chanukah/Hanukkah and Christmas so I can imagine there is a lot of scampering going on all around the globe and the kitchens in many households are already filled with aromas of sweet baking, sugar and spice – all so very nice!
People say, the second half of our lives will seem a lot shorter than the first. Many people will arguably confirm this feeling. I presume a reason for this could be that many things in our daily lives become more and more routine. Maybe that’s why in retrospect years seem like just a few weeks.