Let me take you to the greenest, most stunning landscapes of the Anaga mountains.
Italian Memories: Amalfi Coast/Praiano 2015
Three years ago? Could it have been three years? Well, I’ll let the facts speak for themselves: After I had left Chiang Mai in late July 2015, I undertook a 30+ hour trip to Rome. And then stayed there for all of 14 hours. Why? Because I “had to” go to one of the most beautiful places I had ever seen.
Continue reading Italian Memories: Amalfi Coast/Praiano 2015
Go Put Some Carrots in a Cake
So… there was mostly travel here, lately, and barely any food. But I am about to change that right now! Here is a recipe for my all time favorite cake.
Peachy Goodness
Today, I experimented a little and it turned out very well, so I will gladly share it with you. I had received a bunch of very soft peaches earlier. They were a little brown already, so I had to do something about them fast.
Nutty Pear and Honey Porridge
It’s fall where I live and all of a sudden the weather turned grey and wet. I like to eat a warm breakfast, especially when the weather is cold.
My mom brought me some pears from her garden this weekend and here is what I did with them:
Shortie but Goodie: Roasted Fennel
I looove fennel, but I realize that not many people do. I get it! What do you even do with that bulbous stuff that smells like the tea you had to drink when you were sick as a child? (For me it was chamomile, so that’s the reason why I loathe that particular tea)
Anyway! Hear me out! I encourage you to try this once, and if you STILL hate it, you have my permission to type up some angry comments.
Shortie but Goodie: Feta-Stuffed Dates
This is the easiest one yet: Two ingredients. Unless you have a severe dislike for one of those, you will love this.
Shortie but Goodie: Hempseed Chocolate Bites
Apparently, hempseed* is super nutritious, high in protein and healthy fats and works well when sprinkled over smoothie bowls. At least that’s what my best friend since kindergarden served me for breakfast when I stayed with her (it was super healthy and super delicious). Which I don’t eat very often these days, because it is too cold and I want something hot.
So, I bought some hemseed and the stuff has been sitting on my shelf for a while and apart from occasionally putting it in my Müsli I haven’t eaten any of it.
What to do? Add chocolate.
Continue reading Shortie but Goodie: Hempseed Chocolate Bites
Shortie but Goodie: Oven-Baked Eggplant
I like baked stuff a lot these days. This baked stuff is a super easy dish or appetizer and a favorite for the summer time (or those yucky winter months when a hit of Italian-style goodness is everything).
Eggplants are cheaper in the summer, of course, but if that is not an issue for you, then knock yourself out right away.
Oven-baked Eggplant
1 -2 eggplants (really fat ones if you can get them)
100 g tomato paste
100 g grated parmesan cheese
a bunch of fresh basil leaves
a sprinkle of freshly ground black pepper
- cut eggplant lengthwise in thin slices (3-5 mm, yes you can)
- grill in the oven on a reck until they are soft (no baking sheet at this point will speed up the process), at about 200 degrees Celsius
- remove from the rack to cool a bit, cover rack with a baking sheet
- spread a thin layer of tomato paste on each slice, stick a basil leave on top and put the slices next to each other on the rack, add pepper
- cover everything with grated cheese
- bake for 10 mins at about 200 degrees Celsius or until the cheese is golden
Serve with ciabatta or any kind of (toasted) bread you like. This also goes well with tomato butter.
Also, as always, feel free to add as much garlic as you like. Timing-wise, I suggest drizzling the tomato pasted-ed eggplant with garlic oil before adding the cheese.
If you want to keep it vegan use toasted nuts or breadcrumbs instead of the cheese.
Shortie but Goodie: Tomato Butter
I recently heard of apple butter. Then I found out that apple butter contains no actual butter, and was a bit bummed. I will not do this to you. Tomato butter is made with butter.
So, uh… Like tomatoes? Not afraid of fat? Often consume bread and bread-like substances and need something to smear them with?
I’ve got you covered! Try mixing up this simple yet delicious concoction:
Tomato Butter
250 g butter or margarine
1 jar sun-dried tomatoes in oil
150 g tomato paste
Loads of thyme, oregano and other Italian herbs you like
Pepper, salt
Yours Julie - Mostly travel, also food. 