Inspiration: Do it yourself Chocolate Advent Calender

I made this for my boyfriend with 24 different, selfmade chocolatebars.

White chocolate, dark chocolate and milk chocolate. Topped with all the treats he 

likes and that are christmassy: Oreos, gingerbread men, peanut m&m's, cranberries, 

cinnamon, roasted marshmellows, dried fruits, pretzels, and so many more! 

I am sure everyone will love it. 

Easy to do, even if it takes some time, but makes a lot of fun! 

I packed them all seperately and put them in a decorated shoe box. 

Merry Christmas & love

Cooking: Red Beet Risotto with Roasted Vegetables

My simple, tasty and veggie winter recipe:

For 4 Persons:

- 80g Abrorio Risotto per Person

- 200ml white wine

- 100ml redbeet juice

-30g Parmiggiano Riggiano

- 8 mushrooms

- 1 carrot

- 1 red beet (middle size)

- 2 onions

- fresh thyme

- rosemary

- one pinch of lemon zest

- olive oil

- 400 vegetable or chicken stock

-2 Tblsp white balsamic vinegar

Salt & Pepper

1. Cut the red beet, mushrooms, carrot and one onion in mouthsize pieces. 

Then season with vinegar, salt, pepper, thyme and rosemary, drizzle with 

olive oil and roast at 200°C in the oven for about 45-60 minutes.

2. After 20-30 minutes cut the other onion very small and fry it for 1 minute 

with the rice and a pinch of salt in 3 tablespoons of olive oil.

3. Add 100ml of the white wine, then continue adding 50-100ml of the stock 

and the white wine every time the liquid gets absorbed by the rice. 

Don't forget to stir, otherwise the rice likes to stick to the base.

4. Add the red beet juice to the rice and stir. Now it gets a beautiful 

rose color and a slightly sweet taste. Test the rice, it should be cooked 

and sticky, but not to mellow in the middle of the corn. 

5. Grate most of the parmiggiano in the rice and stir, then serve with 

the roasted vegetables on top and finish by adding the rest of the grated cheese.

Bon Appetit!

Location: The Kiez Eats Blog names the best pâtisseries in Berlin!

A Post always desired and finally existing:

http://kiezeats.kitchensurfing.com/post/66080407619/die-besten-patisserien-in-berlin

Cooking: My best pumpkin soup

After I participated last Friday a mexican cooking class, I was so 

inspired that I tried a new way to make a pumpkin soup - a must do in october!

Usually I made it with coconut cream, ginger and carrots. 

Good but very common...Now this is my new favorite, and I think that 

I am going to make it again in two or three weeks.

You will need for 6:

1 small hokkaido pumpkin

2 cans of sweet corn

1 small onion

2 garlic cloves

pinch of cipotle powder

1 avocado

100g/3,5 oz feta cheese (made of sheep milk)

500ml / 13,5 fl oz chicken brooth

200ml water

4 little tomatos

Bake the whole pumpkin for 50min in the oven (200°C /392°F)

then let it cool down while you cut the corn from the cobs. 

Chop the onion and the garlic in small pieces. 

Take about one tablespoon from the onions and fry them in a bit of hot 

oil until they are almost black - I really mean almost black! It will give a 

fantastic smoky flavour to the soup...now take the fried onions beside 

and bring the chicken brooth to boil. Add three quarter of the corn and 

the fresh onions and garlic and let them simmer for 10 minutes 

while you  add a bit water every 5 minutes. 

Take the pumpkin, core it and cut it into fingerthick pieces. 

Quarter the tomatos and add them with the pumpkin pieces to the corn.  Then 

let the soup cook another 10 minutes, until you blend it (I suggest a hand held blender). 

If the soup is to thick, add some hot water. Serve the soup with bits of avocado, feta 

cheese crumbs  and a bit of the remaining  uncooked corn.

Bon appetit! 

Location: La Maison du Chocolat in Potsdam

It was the last warm day of fall, so we made a trip to Potsdam, 

a little, old city near Berlin, the capital of Brandenburg. 

Sights to visit: castle and park "Sans Soucis", Brandernburger Straße, the dutch neigborhood. 

To drink a delicious, creamy hot chocolate take a seat in the beautiful Maison du Chocolat. 

But if you got a little bit more hungry - don't hesitate to order one of the wonderful 

salads or snacks. Everything is fresh, regional and seasonal. The menu is changing regularly, 

so it's always exciting to go there. Buy some cake or pralines for you dear ones at home and 

finish your meal with the signature dessert: the chocolate quartett 

( I love the chocolate creme brûlée )

Bloodpudding on sauerkraut bread and beet salad

Chocolate quartett: ice cream, mousse, mini cake and creme brûlée

http://www.schokoladenhaus-potsdam.de/

Best of New York - Part 2

Hi there! 

Let's have a quick start with the second part of my favorites in New York. 

Look, be inspired and check out, if you can!

1. First To Do: A Hot Dog on the street! This was the first of a lot. 

Served fresh and hot with sauerkraut, onions, ketchup and mustard, it's a great lunch 

snack for 2-3$ (Attention: Tourist locations like Times Square charge 5$!)

2. Hot Pot Stickers from  a food truck near Staten Island Ferry station downtown.

Here: Korean style pulled pork.  Attention: Delicious, but veeery hot! (5 pieces 3,50$)

3. Three-cheese fries and Burger at "Burger Burger"

Just awesome! Crowded at lunchtime between 1 and 2 pm.. 

one of the best burgers I've ever tried! 

http://www.burgerburgerny.com/burger_burger_ny/Burger_Burger_ny.html

4. Red Velvet Dessert Cup from Whole Foods:

Layers of red velvet cake pieces and cream cheese, 

topped with fresh strawberries. Heaven!

http://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/

5. Oyster Barney in New York at Grand Central Station.

Sorry I have no food pic! I had a great, spicy gazpacho with shredded lobster and 

fired oysters wit peachbutter. Delicious, nice service, even when crowded and 

beautiful atmosphere - imagine a french fish restaurant in Marseilles 

http://www.oysterbarny.com/

6. One and only: Magnolia Bakery - went there 3 times in 10 days!

You see their famous cupcakes: chocolate vanilla and lemon. We tried a red velvet 

Mini-Cheesecake and the Smores Cake too - fantastic, sweet, just yummy! 

Plus, the shops look so cute! I bought the pale blue eco tote bag as a souvenier.. 

I'll be back!

http://www.magnoliabakery.com/

7. Japanese mochi boutique on Madison Avenue - please, just go there!

Wonderful minimalsitic and chic store for traditional mochis and other japanese sweets. 

We tried two different little rice cakes - mine was filled with red bean paste, wrapped in 

a salty (!) cherry tree leaf and topped with a cherry blossom. 

Delicate, exceptional and sweet - the new maccarons?

http://www.kitchoan.com/

8. Joe's Shanghai - best dumplings (TRY!!!) & best chinese food!

Try the Szechuan Style Ribs, chicken and shrimps in plum sauce and the wonton & cabbage brooth. 

Chic in Midtown, authentic in Chinatown - both are great! 

http://www.joeshanghairestaurants.com/kill_dumpling_eng.html

9. Pork chop at Moma Café on the 2nd floor. 

Great food for a museum restaurant!

http://www.moma.org/visit/plan/eating#cafe2

10. Dreesen's Donuts in Easthampton NY

The very best. Period.

(I heard R. De Niro likes them glazed...)

http://www.dreesens.com/

Bon appetit!

Best of New York - Part 1

Hi! I'm back, finally. 

I have been in beautiful New York for the first time. 

Twelwe awesome days exploring the big apple - and it's culinary treasures. 

There were so many treasures I want to share with you,

 that I decided to give you an outline of my absolute favorites. 

This is a list of the best locations and things I suggest to check out when you are in NY. 

Let's start - this is part one - the second is following soon!

1. Awesome, fresh Lobster Roll at Red Hook Lobster booth

every Saturday 'til 3pm at Smorgasburg Food Market in Williamsburg

http://www.smorgasburg.com/

 

 2. Brisket Sandwich from Mighty Quinns Barbeque
(also on Saturdays at Smorgasburg Market)
Brisket is smoked, marinated and slowly baked beef...delicious!

http://www.mightyquinnsbbq.com/index.html

3. Mexican Popsicles - here: Cucumber & Lime - sooooo refreshing!
La Newyorkina Mexican Ice & Sweets
http://lanewyorkina.com/Home.html

4. Marie Belle - the BEST creamy, italian hot chocolate & patisserie

Also teas, chocolates and a cute parisian atmosphere - Go there!

https://www.mariebelle.com/ 

5. BUY one regional farmer tomato from an organic store!

Very expensive but THE BEST. I ate italian, south french, romanian, greek 

and spanish tomatos. I swear, this one was better!

6. Bubba Gump's

shrimps, shrimps and shrimps - my favorite: fried Coconut Shrimps

http://www.bubbagump.com/

Cheers!