Just last week, while I was in the middle of finishing up the Baked Apple post, I had that famous Art Print of Woodstock and Snoopy jumping into a large pile of dry leaves labelled “We Love the Simple Things in Life” flash through my head. And of course my mind immediately bolted over to Madeira, the islands heart and way of life so perfectly mirrored in its deliciously simple yet vibrant and colorful cuisine.
Continue reading “Madeiran Tomato & Onion Soup with Poached Eggs”
Welcome to 2019 everyone! I hope you had a good time over the last couple of days and celebrated the end of 2018 with a roaring party (or in any other way suited to your personal picture of “perfect”) that set exactly the right tones for a fantastic new year~!
Continue reading “Gluten-Free Protein Bread with Sun-Dried Tomato & Goat’s Cheese Spread”
The colder and nastier it gets outside, the more often my mind wanders off to about 2,800km west-southwest of here, to Madeira. Since there’s nothing I can do about shortening the actual distance on the spot, I can only tap into my recently refilled inner reserve of Madeira-Zen, roll up my sleeves and start cooking to bring a delicious little piece of the island into our corner of the world instead~!
Continue reading “Avocado-Beetroot & Buffalo Mozzarella Mille Feuille”
With the season of shorter, darker and colder days having set up shop on our doorstep, I find myself digging deeper and deeper into my repertoire of bright and colorful lunchbox’able recipes and combinations to bring a bit of smiles’n’sunshine on Hubby’s and my desks during the day. This particular salad is something that makes an appearance on our table quite often, during the hottest as well as during the coldest and darkest times of the year, but of course it has the biggest “brighten up the day” effect on us during the November Nasties.
I guess, if you’ve followed my posts for a while, this one might just raise an eyebrow or two. Potatoes really are a rare sight in my kitchen – and that’s exactly why I actually have quite the number of leftover-potato-recipes up my sleeves. You see, the fingerling/baby potatoes I always use, for Papas Arrugadas, Lemon-Confit Potatoes or the humble Potato & Herby Fromage Blanc dinner every once in a while, always come in 1kg packages. Since 1kg of potatoes is a lot for two people and the next potato-gig is at least a month or two away… Well, you get the picture.
As promised, here’s the savory twist on last week’s “quince bread”! I’ve actually been waiting to share this one with you guys for almost a year~! You see, while we were on Madeira last year, we came, more or less by accident, by a Hotel Restaurant we just couldn’t pass on for once. As you guys might know, usually Hotel Restaurants are a last resort for Hubby and me while we’re traipsing across the island, but at that point we’ve actually been driving around that silly hotel in circles, looking for the Wine Harvest Festivities that, according to several sources, were about to go down somewhere in its general vicinity.
Continue reading “Madeira-Onion Jam, Quince Bread & Goat’s Cheese Parcels”
Did anyone say “Heresy” and “open fire” in one breath? Welcome to the dark ages… or our latest garden showdown! I, carnivore, have come up with something other than the usual, extremely (at least to me, comparing the choices to what’s on the other side of the coals) boring “vegetarian options” to throw on a BBQ. Something that even my fellow lovers of a decent steak or burger have taken a serious liking to by now. A veggie burger pattie that doesn’t involve funky tofu textures, the ever present – tasty, but… again?! – feta & greek stuff combo or squeaky halloumi~!
Oh yes, July’s here! Unless you’re part of the die-hard, anytime, anywhere BBQ crowd, in our parts this is the month to keep the embers fanned. Finally warm enough to sit outside for an extended period of time, too early in the summer to be in any real danger of being eaten alive by mother nature’s bad-hair-day experiments, and not yet hot enough to call the friendly guys with the giant butterfly nets whenever someone mentions open fire and coals.
Continue reading “Honey Roasted and Goat’s Cheese Stuffed Nectarines”
You guys probably know how much I love asparagus by now, so you might be able to imagine the delicious – and extremely healthy, I might add – blast I’m having these days, running back and forth between my trusty pots and pans and the farmers market and all but rolling around in fresh asparagus and strawberries.
Oh yes, Summer’s here! Temperatures are slowly but steadily rising to a level where – if you want to survive the stuffy city nights – you have to find somewhere else to be during the day – and don’t even think about looking at your stove too closely, it might get funny ideas… – in order to keep the apartment cool…’ish. Of course, that raises the question of minimal-prep, healthy, filling and refreshing to-go’able meals that don’t turn into a pile of ick once exposed to a bit of sun.
Continue reading “Roasted Bell Pepper & Apricot Gazpacho with Spicy Goat’s Cheese Filo Pillows”
Nahdala's Kitchen 