Sesame & Soy Dressing

Well look who is still around.

First of all, sorry for the unannounced hiatus (AGAIN). And sorry for me still being on it. Meaning: There still won’t be any new posts for at least two months. Before I will tell you the reason for that, I feel  like explaining a little why I haven’t been blogging for so long. I’ll keep it short, I promise.

Sesame Cupcakes with Honey Meringue Frosting

Hello everybody!

Finally I can share this amazing news. Today, I am guest posting Sesame Cupcakes over at Just One Cookbook! Nami - my blogger friend and the unremitting source of beautiful and delicious Japanese home cooking recipes - is away on a well-deserved family trip to her native country and took good care that her blog won't be neglected meanwhile.

Please head over to Just One Cookbook and check out Nami's recipes!

Hoisin Beef on Pak Choi Spoons

Aren't food-bloggers a peculiar little folk? Always seeking for inspiration, trying hard to add something of  value and entertainment to the ever-growing  niche of online writers. And while I guess that most of us don't write for fame or fortune (ehrm...), I am always very appreciative of any feedback I get, may it be through mails, comments or in this case, an award given to yours truly by children's book illustrator, food blogger and New Yorker Melissa Iwai of The Hungry Artist fame.

Solyanka

"Hnguh" was the first word Valeriya managed to press through her dry, crackly lips. If you can call that a word but at least it was something. Well done, she thought to herself sarcastically. The last time she has had a night like this she could not talk for a whole three days from singing, shouting and fighting. Not that it really mattered - nobody was actually talking to her in that dead-end job she was clinging to, anyway. The big city is full of opportunities. That was what people were saying in that forlorn village in the middle of nowhere up there in Lyubye.

Phở Xào

I’m a worrier by nature. I overthink things, always think twice (except my words maybe. I really should learn to think before I speak sometimes but that’s a whole different story) and more often than good for me, assume an outcome to be the worst case scenario. 
It’s not only my own business I worry about. I worry about others and everything. Life. I’m simply a worrier and I cannot change it.

Olive Oil & Orange Cake with Pistachios

Soooo, I was working at the CeBIT Computer Expo two weeks ago. For the oblivious ones among you (read: probably everyone), CeBIT is the largest IT fair in the world. Attending a fair that is the “barometer of the state of the art of computer technology” (thank you, Wikipedia) is pretty amazing, huh? Well, I wouldn’t know. I was busy ruining people’s days. All day, every day. 

Parsnip Dumplings with Scallion & Bacon Filling

Spring is on like donkey kong!

Not forgotten are the icy claws of winter still clenching this part of the world, numbing both nature and minds with its dull, dreary megrim. There are people who gain strength from this quiet melancholia. People who find inner peace and unbend. To me, winter is the time I am trying with all my might not to get in a funk. I am generally rather susceptible for winter blues and January and February are the worst.

Bread Roll Blossom

Do you know that moment in the morning when you still lie in bed – not full asleep but not yet quite awake? The duvet has just the perfect temperature. Not too warm and not too cold and your thoughts go into wondrous directions bordering from sheer fantasy to deep discussions with yourself, salutary and bright – gone within a gasp. I like to think of that moment as the closest overlap between conscious and subconscious possible. Between what is really going on in my mind and what it wants me to believe is going on.

Rumkugeln

It's give a little, take a little, right?

I love the concept of food blogs because you can be sure there is at least one person who has tested and approved the recipes and likes them enough to recommend them to you. Everybody has been given a great, well-tested recipe from a good friend, family member or neighbour he or she swears by and this is a bit like having a gigantic neighbourhood. Sure, everybody lives in certain streets and you cannot be friends with all there are but somehow, a community sticks together. 

Divine Cherry & Red Wine Chocolate Cake

As most of you may already know, tomorrow is Valentine's Day. At first, I did not have the intention of covering this oh so essential day for baked goods - from the bland perspective of food blogger-me, that is. The reason why is the me-me. Mixed feelings.

February 14^th has never really been the day for lovers, but more the day for love in a different way, as it was my grandfather's birthday. A man I have more respect, admiration and appreciation for than I could never form into words that would not fall short to what he really deserves. A man who was kind and honest. Benevolent. A man who met not the fate in a way he deserved.

This day will always be his birthday but of course, Valentine's Day is becoming more important as well. Giving it a bit more thought, the idea of a day that reminds happy couples how great and valuable it is what they have is quite appealing in its essence. However, the execution fairly often somewhat questionable. When shiny things and expensive gifts become the main focus – and especially when the lack of such result in tears and tantrums – maybe the relationship is not so valuable after all. Like I said, mixed feelings on so many levels.

But yes, in the end, I have decided to think up something for Valentine's Day.

Sesame Rice Noodles with Honey-Soy Drizzle and Chicken

Where has time gone?

No worries, this is no whimsical post about the finiteness of life.

I mean, seriously? Where did the last weeks go? Christmas, New Years, BAM! Exam time.

It has just been a bit too busy to really catch up. Does anybody else get that feeling sometimes that it is all just an endless stream of overlapping tasks, appointments and work? One little unforeseen bump in the road and the little car that is trying to bring me from A to B is up sh*t creek without a paddle (pardon my French).

Alright whiny little boy, it is time to get yourself together again.

Feta-Filled Carrot Meatballs

So, this is me slowly crawling my way out of the holidays. Happy New Year, everybody!

I have spend the days between Christmas and New Year like most of us probably did: stuffing my face with delicious fat-loaded heavy goodness of both the sweet and savory kind with friends and family. And the days I have spend at home I was still feasting on left-overs (sounds familiar?). Thank you stomache for handling this maltreatment as well as you did, even though you have had me lying on the sofa feeling drained more than once this time. Those pillows have never felt that good before. I don't regret nothing.

But that's what December is for, right? Now is not quite December anymore.