We ran out of cake the other day (I know, how could that have happened…!) so I took a look at our stock of food and decided to make a crostata with cherry marmalade, which we made two weeks ago. While mixing the shortcrust dough together in a meditative way, […]
Not sure about you, but I could eat pasta every day … guess not a huge surprise for an Italian …! I do however like variety and have come up with this great topping the other day. Crunchy breadcrumbs roasted in olive oil (in my case I used ones from […]
I am currently still in the beautiful Provence and one of the many things I enjoy are the marchés des producteurs. The other day I found some gorgeous looking beetroot and could not hold myself. Don‘t you just love these leaves…they look like they have blood going through their veins. […]
We found some delicious looking pulpo last weekend at the market in Pernes-les-Fontaines and I could simply not resist the freshness and temptation! I made this receipe up as I went along and was really happy with the overall taste and the balanced flavours … the lemon zest, the taste […]
What is a balanced meal for you? Do you have a list of what you should resp should not be eating? Do you trust your cravings? For last night’s dinner party I went for what my guests and I like, knowing that all in all it is a balanced meal: […]
What a day…full to the brim with exciting projects, webinars, neighbors …. It is therefore not a surprise that dinner plans went sideways … but Thank God for orzo: a quick and vegetarian comforting plate of orzo mixed with spinach and cherry tomatoes served with ricotta and lemon zest.
Can you believe that after so many years of passionate cooking and baking it was not until yesterday that I made my first homemade granola! And can you believe that I actually planned to make something else and the „happy mistake“ at least gave me granola as a result. I […]
My first goose egg and I am literally overwhelmed! Really not sure what to do with it… I read that geese lay there eggs between October and May…so we are definitely coming to the end of the season. While hen lay up to 200 eggs a year, geese lay a […]
Wow, what an explosion of flavours: chicken marinated in date molasses. Three from the five basic tastes are triggered with every delicious bite: sweet, salty and bitterness. Accompanied with a green salad and some rice, this is a quick and rewarding meal to serve. Juicy chicken combined with an explosion […]
After a day at work, an intensive lunchtime workout and a webinar about food diplomacy and the impact of cooks, I was craving for a tasty and satisfying Spring midweek dinner. Within a few minutes I had prepared this beautiful dish with new potatoes and fresh peas seasoned with EVO […]
Can you believe it, but until a couple of days ago, I had never made what is THE traditional Sunday lunch for my Italian part of the family myself: braciole al sugo. For me it has always been a very special treat when I visit them and I guess this […]
How do you judge if something you baked was good? Compliments? Silence at the table? Mmmmmms? I made a tarte au citron the other day and got this photo as a reply as to whether it was tasty … it says it all!
We are finally (again) in the phase, where you hopp from one season to another within a few hours. This beautiful morning sunlit composition shows you Mother Nature’s answer in terms of vegetables: the picturesque Castelfranco almost steals the show while the newly available basil and asparagus just dare to […]
Spent the afternoon in Basel to see a lovely exhibition and an extraordinary installation. Before going to the museum, we stopped to visit the Münster and saw some creative flags done by the citizens of Basel to express what they currently feel and want to share. My favorite is the […]
A great way to celebrate Spring: (even though the weather is really still quite wintery) some fresh and crisp green asparagus pasta accompanied by a lemon ricotta sauce. A lemon infused pasta dish with ricotta and green asparagus
Like many of you, I have tackled the world of sourdough bread baking during the pandemic – something that had been on my bucket list since a while … As a fairly successful home cook (as my family and friends like to see me) failing regularly has not been a […]
When a foodie wants to impress a restaurant owner … Both the super tasty cornbread from Ottolenghi‘s Simple and the delicious blood orange and pistachio cake from Honey & Co look amazing but unfortunately they were not quite right in terms of texture this time around. Lessons learned for next […]
No other dish gives me more comfort and at the same time makes me miss my nonna so much: pasta e piselli. I have finally found the real Italian salsiccia, which gives this dish the spicy touch. The fresh peas and the leek give it the herby-flavour and the ditalli […]
We are in full spring here in Zurich (although it did decide to snow the last two days…) and the wild garlic is available in abundance, which is probably also why there are many creative ways out there to use wild garlic other than pesto. These scones are very easy […]
What a surprise to wake up to snow this morning when two days ago I was dreaming of swimming in the lake … April definitely started off with some crazy weather … I nevertheless took the opportunity to get some beautiful tulips and the first fresh peas … at least […]
Already my second receipe from Emiko Davies’ gorgeous book Torta della Nonna and I can’t wait to continue this endeavor. Ricotta and pears have a very long tradition in Italy and the addition of the lemon zest and vanilla makes this crostata a love at first bite.
This receipe brings me back to happy childhood memories and warm Easter days with la famiglia from Napoli. Like most family receipes, also this one has been changed from generation to generation…we even changed it since last year and will most probably continue to do so … This receipe is […]
Not bad for a Monday lunch: homemade sourdough discard bread with roasted hazelnuts, homemade relish with Alpenkäse curtesy of #babette and some nice and crunchy Treviso radicchio
You might think it is controversial to enjoy a slice of crunchy sourdough bread … but it is actually very surprising and as such fulfilling. I was craving for a bread with roasted hazelnuts…don’t ask me how this came about because I had not had this before. By simply adding […]
As an Italian, I am a rather conservative cook when it comes to our jewels…and risotto is certainly one of them. But what do they say: special times ask for special actions… 🤔 I was a happy host last night, when this super tasty and surprisingly fresh citrus risotto accompanied […]
Are you also having “that kind of Monday”? I certainly am … so I decided to treat myself with some olives…even better, this gorgeous smelling olive sourdough bread. What do you do, when you are having “one of those days”?
After my first 20 min run in a year and just before an inspriring webinar for International Women’s Day, a quick and nearly entirely homemade sandwich gives me strengh for the afternoon ahead. The first of wild garlic in my kitchen this season gives the sandwich a nice and sharp […]
It’s been a busy few days, but I have managed to make my first no-kneed bread: the combination of emmer whole wheat and spelt flour give the bread a nice and rustic taste. I also added a few walnuts to enhance the flavours. This sandwich was life-saving during an intese […]
This citrusy cake tastes as vibrant as it looks. Letitia Clark’s receipe is a perfect way out of a winter depression … the Southern sun literally shines in your kitchen. The cake needs to be completely cooled before it is served and will keep well for 3-4 days. A very […]
You might have noticed my absence these past two weeks…the sourdough fever hit me – my sleep and as a consequence my days … and actions … I am slowly getting some presentable results and will not hold back this delicious sandwich: home made olive sourdough bread with home made […]
This risotto surprises with the freshness of the pomegranate seeds, the sharp ruccola as well as with the creaminess of the manchego. A vegetarian risotto with a surprisingly fresh taste
I am sure you have seen the craze about the baked feta pasta lately…well, I decided to join…but my way… As you might know, I love Mediterranean food, so I decided to give this famous dish a certain twist. A quick mid-week pasta dish that will leave you surprised
Who said that hummus can only be made out of chickpeas? This tasty hummus has white beans as a basis, which is nicely complimented by the caramelised onion wedges and radicchio leaves. Another great Diana Henry receipe, which I will definitely be making again, and again, and again…
I guess you can’t go more Mediterranean than with this beautiful clementine and almond cake. It is my first experience with muscovado sugar and I like the way the smoky taste is an amazing contrast to the slightly bitter clementine and lemon pulp. The crunchy topping is the perfect contrast […]
This not really a receipe, more a creative moment in my kitchen: A few days ago I cooked some artichokes with lemon until they were both nice and tender. I then drained them while keeping the water I had cooked them in. Tonight I decided to cook some red wheat […]
A few days ago I saw a post from @emikodavies which inspired me to try out this unusual combination of a bitter salad in a sweet cake … a beautiful cake … ready to sweeten my Monday morning
When life sends you #artichokes … you make #artichokefrittata Thank you @crowdcontainer for having organised these tasty and tender artichokes. I woke up with the desire to fully use these beauties (actually wanted to make pancakes) and just followed my instinct … and here you go … a very tasty […]
As an Italian, I obviously have my set idea of what a lasagne should look like, taste like, smell like. But now and then it is worth jumping a bit over your own shadow and let great chefs like Diana Henry inspire you to something new, different and just sooooo […]
For those of you, who are “cacio e pepe lovers” like me, this is a welcome and wintery variation – especially in the peak of the orange season. I was a bit sceptical to change this “sacro santo” from Rome, but my brave move was rewarded with this super tasty […]
I am not quite sure whether I should be more happy about the result of this amazing tiramisu or more ashamed that I have had the courage to change the basics of a tiramisu, which you just don’t do as an Italian… anyway, believe me, this version with both mascarpone […]
Earlier this week I had the urge to treat myself with a lamb tagine – the cold outside made me crave for some Moroccan warmth… An easy to make tagine, which brings you to Morocco…
Not sure what the weather is like where you currently are…here it is grey, white and wet…a perfect morning to light a candle and enjoy the morning coffee in style and warmth before the day’s challenges start to drop in… Make the most of your day – even in these […]
Inspired by the creative Anna Jones, I have decided to treat myself to this colourful wintery curd making the most out of the fantastic clementines I recently received. As the days are still quite dark and not always as bright as I would like them to be, this extra boost […]
My first receipe of the new year: an Ottolenghi inspired wintery one pot chicken receipe, which satisfies both the sweet and the savory tooth. I decided to serve this dish with Jerusalem artichoke, which nicely soaked up the fruity juices. A wintery sweet and savory chicken one pot receipe
Hello winter…hello clementines! The freshness of the fruit and the heartiness of the nuts are equally balanced in these amazingly tasty muffins.
This lovely autumn cake is great with a nice cup of tea…or a Martini. The cinnamon and nutmeg give it a touch of orient. A tasty autumn cake with a touch of orient
A perfect autumn dinner bringing out the best of mushrooms in a tasty and creamy sauce. The sharpness of the ruccola goes very well with the mascarpone and balances the dish perfectly. A quick vegetarian autumn dinner full of hearty flavours
An autumn version of the highly loved baklava…great way to use up some apples, which are no longer as crunchy as you wish. I was amazed at how much flavour the first walnuts have – welcome to my home, baklava…! As juicy and sweet as baklava can get…with a touch […]
We are in the middle of fig season and maybe you are just like me: you just can’t get enough…! This full-on Mediterranean cake brings out quite some intense flavours – and not only of figs. Inspired by #annajones, I have adapted her receipe somewhat to my likings. The hazelnut […]
Hugely inspired by the great #dianahenry, this dish is a heart (and belly) warming receipe, which brings the comforting feeling we are all looking for during these first dark and wet nights. The lamb and spices make it taste Middle Eastern – obviously you can also choose to make this […]
A warm welcome to autumn into my kitchen…what a way to start the pumpkin season…hearty pumpkin and lentils with the freshness of burrata – definitely a keeper in my house! Also this receipe is #inspriredbyottolenghi. I like to serve this warm, so that the fresh burrata cuts into the hearty […]
Inspired by the great #ottolenghi I have tweaked the original receipe somewhat – what a great way to lighten up this umami pasta dish: first and not last time that I made zoodles (coming from noodles and zucchini). This dish is a great way to bring back a bit of […]
This hearty tomato tart is a great way to use up any super ripe tomatoes you might still have. Served with a green salad, this is a light and super tasty lunch. A hearty and very tasty tomato tart
Some people call it an upside down cake…others call it tarte tartin…fact is that this comforting cake is just the right thing when the days are becoming darker and wetter… If you have a very sweet tooth, you might want to serve the first slices (when the cake is still […]
When the plums are as ripe as they are now…this is a receipe sent from heaven…and insipired by the amazing #dianahenry. I have tweaked her receipe a bit in order to make it more rustic and less sweat. An alternative to the hazelnuts are ground almonds – they make the […]
As the first of many apple cakes this fall/winter I chose an easy and tasty one. The quality of your apples will make a huge impact on the taste – firmer and less sugary apples tend to work better in this kind of cake. You can enjoy a slice of […]
A great pie to make late summer when the peaches are nice and ripe. This beautiful cake is great as a dessert and a fantastic present to bring along to a dinner party. A very tasty pie to enjoy juicy peaches embedded in a beautiful shortcrust
Just before another summer weekend, I thought I would share the receipe for this flavour-intensive salad with the best that nature has to offer at this moment: ripe and sun-blessed tomatoes, firm zucchinis and sharp basil. This easy to make salad can be kept 1-2 days and is best with […]
I finally had the courage to make koftas…and what a feast this was: and explosion of flavours…! #inspiredbyottolenghi, I adaped his receipe for turkey and zucchini koftas to suit the slightly more fatty lamb. The lemon and sumac work well and should not be left out. I served the koftas […]
It’s definitely the season of zucchini and this tasty bread is a great addition to a brunch or served with a salad. It keeps well for 1-2 days.
I got 3 kg of super yummy zucchini on Friday…just in time for some weekend cooking. As a first I made these zucchini pancakes, which were the stars of the brunch. Of course you can also serve them for lunch or dinner with a nice salad. Salmon could be the […]
…thanks to #grassrooted… watch this space for some delicious receipes on how to enjoy this great summer vegetable
As you can see, I am back in full action and of course I could not resist to bake this summery galette with the most beautiful nectarines and blackberries. The nectarines can be substituted with any stone fruit – if you use peaches, you might want to peal them before […]
It has been a long month absent from the kitchen…a month of TLC from my mother looking after me…but I am extremely happy to be back in action – still on crutches… This receipe inspired by #ottolenghi comes at the right time in summer…the plums are nice and ripe and […]
There are moments, where you feel the need to be loved… ♥️
Just back from a lovely holiday in the South of France, I could not do differently than bring back home a receipe for a very popular pastry: cannelés de Bordeaux. It takes a bit of time – resting time, but is very simple to make and is loved by people […]
Inspired by Ottolenghi, I have made my own version of this delicious starter. I served it with pita bread on the first day and then had it as a salad with green leaves the second day. The aubergine will keep well in the fridge for 2-3 days…and they will only […]
Muhammara is a dip made from red pepperoni and walnuts. It is lovely in a cheese sandwich, served with grilled red meet or just as a dip – as I served it the other day. The fava bean mash is a nice contrast to the rather spicy muhammara, which can […]
This is more a “putting together of ingredients” rather than a receipe… I could not resist the fresh fava beans on the market, which according to Roman tradition should be served with a fairly young pecorino. I happened to have Mimolette at home, which is a perfect contrast in taste, […]
I was asked for my shakshuka receipe…there are already so many out there, but I must admit, this one did taste very good! As with many receipes, shakshuka tastes the best when you put a lot of love…and what you have in the fridge….into it!
I just recently got this amazing book “Brunch the Sunday way”, which has very inspiring receipes…not only for brunch. I made these pancakes the other day for dinner…a great combination of 8 different vegis and greens. As with all pancakes, make sure the dough is fluffy enough so that the […]
This is one from the beautiful book of Falastin by Sami Tamimi and Tara Wigley. I have changed the proportions and added quite some lemon and the lemon zest, which “breaks” the heavy tahini sauce quite nicely. I served the pie with a green salad, which is a perfect complement.
I wanted to give myself the challenge of making my own receipe for a strawberry cake: mission completed…with a “not too bad success”: I put too much of the filling and assembled the cake the evening before we ate it … so lessons leart and already incorporated into the receipe […]
The weekend can’t really start any better…a home made Zopf! Although we see it as a Swiss receipe in Switzerland, this mild and buttery bread has a few traditions in many different countries. Not sure about you, but I find it fascinating to see that as people from different countries […]
I have posted this delicious summery fish stew before…but not as a full receipe. For me this stew works particularly well with rice – I used black venere rice, which gave this dish a hearty touch as this rice stays “al dente”. You can equally serve this dish with a […]
It’s definitely the season for this amazing pie: a lot of fruit, which is nicely embedded in this very rich dough. A treat for the eyes, taste buds and soul.
Another one of my favorite Spring vegetables: Swiss chard. A lovely side dish…or just as a main with some bread…a quick and healthy weekday dinner. As with most vetegables, be sure to get the stems as fresh as possible…the cut at the bottom will indicate when they were cut and […]
To find land seaweed (or barba di frate in Italian) is a real treat….which I definitely don’t miss out on. This vegetable looks like a mixture of chives and seaweed…comes with quite strong roots, which need to be carefully removed before cooking. Some add anchovies to the mixture, I prefer […]
Inspired by a receipe from “Brunch the Sunday way”, I created this Mediterranean bread, which works well as a snack, an apéro, for brunch and as a side for a green salad. Depending on what you have available (herbs, cheese, flours, seeds), this cake can be totally different every time […]
A quick weekday dinner with some of the best spring has to offer: cime di rape and new potatoes. As Italian, I felt this dish needed a traditional Italian sausage to complete it.
Cameralised orange cake with vanilla
This is a perfect weekday receipe for all the pasta lovers out there: it is quickly put together and sooo tasty – the lemon gives this dish the freshness, while the creamy chèvre makes it umami. Obviously you can play around with the ingredients and use any cheese and most […]
We had a lot of fresh herbs/greens in the fridge the other day and I thought it would be a pitty to throw them away – I am a vicious fighter against food waste. This cake was a lovely side to a BBQ, where we had salads and some vegi […]
If you have ever been to Graubünden, you probably also feel in love with their nut pastry. While you can get different versions everywhere in Switzerland, be sure to treat yourself to a slice next time you go to this beautiful spot. If you love this cake as much as […]
I don’t know about you, but for me fresh peas are one of the better things in life – directly from the field would be the best…! For yesterday’s Mother’s Day, I made this light and springly frittata, which I served with some crème fraîche, lemon zest and a bit […]
A go-to-receipe for me – since I discovered these amazing fennel seed sausages from the Metzgerei Keller in Zürich. Comfort food with a taste of freshness and umami…try to vary with the pieces of fennel and see what this does to this dish. Don’t forget the chopped parsley on top […]
I have always had a lot of respect for those, who bake their own bread….until I recently found out how effortless and simple it really is. My respect still stands for those many, many people…and I am happy to be one of them 🙂 This relatively dark bread bakes especially […]
Mainly insprired by the mediterranean ways of cooking chicken, I quickly made this very tasty and full-on flavoured chicken the other day. The lemon and olives bring out the best in chicken – there is no need to add much more. I served this with a warm lentil and beetroot […]
The receipe in “The Baking Book” from Honey & Co. starts off with the words that receipes are like nomads…they travel from one person/family to the next and each time they get changed / adapted a bit. I have done the same…but am thankful for the inspiration that I have […]
With all the left over spicy olives we had and the fact that we ran out of our home made taralli (see my post from April 26), I decided to make some breadsticks, where I can use up not only the spicy olives, but also a good part of the […]
Had not made labna for a while now and was very happy to have found fresh oregano, which I believe goes particularly well with the labna balls. You might think that it is a waste of oil…it is not…the oil can and should be used for many more yummy receipes…it […]
The weather has turned to be rather wet and cold again (thank God, as we needed the rain sooo badly) and this calls for more comforting food. Try to get a real Italian spicy sausage…the flavour of it will make all the difference for this dish. As you can see […]
Had the chance to get some typical Zurich saussages yesterday, Wiedikerli with fennel seeds, which only needed a colourful and hearty side dish. The waxy potatos needed using, so did the fennel and therefore I decided to prepare this none-mayonnaise potato salad. The leftovers gave a lovely lunch today.
As you can see, I am in my weekend mode…projects that are a bit more elaborative … but soooo tasty. Tonight I will enjoy these crunchy freshly made fennel seed taralli with a glass of Petite Arvine. For about 70-80 taralli you will need: – 400g flour – 2.5 dl […]
About a week ago I set myself a challenge: home made brioche….and I am sooooo proud 😊 For sure I will make this a regular for my brunches…but the main ingredient, time, will probably be more of a challenge then during this lockdown period. The ingredients and method are not […]
After a few days of my endless love and dedication to Italian food, I decided to turn to Spain…not a bad culinary country either… This tasty and quick tortilla used up potatoes, some eggs, a pepper, some parsely as well as tomatoes. I served it warm and with jamon.
From time to time it is wonderful to profite from previous intensive cooking and just enjoy leftovers: chicken with preserved lemon, beetroot risotto and a crunchy green salad. By the way, the chicken, beetroot, salad and cabbage tunip are all locally grown.
Why wait over 2 years to finally cook this delicious chicken dish…? Make sure you get an organic farm chicken to ensure the full taste! Wash it throughly and bath it in salted water for ca. 15 mins. During that time, make the marinade: juice of a lemon, 2-3 crushed […]
Another Italian Easter tradition: after the richness of Easter and in full spring, once the first greens of the year can be harvested, Italians like to bake what they call Erbazzone…erba is grass… an assembly of greens. It is tasty the day you make it and it is a great […]
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