These photos don’t do justice to the beauty of this Artichoke Tart. It’s one of the most wonderful, special, healthy and tasty tarts that I’ve ever had. It’s fancy, yet very rustic- exactly my style! It’s the perfect meal to serve for lunch or as a light dinner. Artichoke Tart cutWhat makes this tart so special? This is not your everyday tart. Its dough already makes it truly special: it’s a homemade, whole wheat Shortcrust pastry with linseeds. Healthy and tasty, what more could you want? ! Also, the way you assemble this Artichoke Tart is different than how you might usually do it. To make i ..read more

Looking for a sunny dish to spice up your summer night? Try this Chicory Salad – it’s light, fresh, bright and it is guaranteed to give off summer vibes! This salad does not only look and taste beautiful, it is also very simple to make and perfect for kicking off a dinner with friends or a BBQ night. Oh, those su-ummer nights! The best dishes are often the simplest: chicory leaves drizzled with a sweet orange-honey dressing and paired with the earthy flavor of artichoke hearts and fresh orange slices – this salad basically screams summer! When to make this salad? When you feel like a fresh and ..read more

These Pulled Pork Street Tacos are bright, fresh, juicy and have an incredible depth of flavor. Serve the pulled pork with sides of pickled onions, guacamole, and fresh coriander so that everyone can assemble their own favorite taco. It’s the perfect meal to serve at a party you’re hosting! Pulled Pork Street Tacos bird-view When I invite a lot of people over for dinner, I love to set out a table full of different platters so that everyone can serve themselves to their liking. And these tacos are perfect for doing just that. The star of the show is, of course, the pulled pork, which will defin ..read more

Let me introduce you to my new summer favorite: Apricot-Almond Cake with Rosemary. This is a simple, but flavor-packed cake with a surprise, sublime, herby taste from rosemary herbs. The batter itself is moderately dense, includes almond flour and greek yogurt, and is topped off with fresh apricots. The roasted almond flakes on top give it an extra-special touch. This is a summer must!! Apricot Almond Cake bird-viewWhat makes this Apricot Almond Cake so special? There are several aspects that make this cake unique. First of all, the batter: this is not a regular cake batter. It includes basic ..read more

Wait, what? Saffron in a dessert!? Oh yes, you’ll be surprised how well saffron works in a sweet dish, too. This Frozen Saffron Dessert is a very elegant dessert that features a deep aroma and an irresistible bright yellow color – perfect for a summer date night! It’s simple to make and sure to impress! Saffron Dessert with Peach Carpaccio and Pistachio CrocanteSaffron in a dessert If you know saffron from savory dishes, you might be surprised to hear about a saffron dessert.  Yet, saffron has the brilliant quality of working great in sweet recipes, too. It gives the sweet parfait a disti ..read more

Feta is so much more than just a crumbly cheese that gets sprinkled onto your salad. In this recipe, we placed this underrated cheese center stage. This Roasted Feta starter is full of flavor, color, and freshness and definitely worthy of being the star of the show! If you’re only used to eating Feta cold served on a salad or integrated into a spinach tart, you might find roasting Feta a little off. Buuuut, I promise you, you’ve got to try this. This Roasted Feta cheese is crispy, warm, melty, and so delicious. It transforms the crumbly standard block of Feta into something both luscious and u ..read more

These Raspberry-Brie Tartlets are small bites of goodness! Once you serve them, they’ll be gone in minutes. This is a super easy appetizer recipe, and is perfect for any gathering. These tartlets have the perfect balance of aroma thanks to the salty Brie cheese and the sweet, homemade raspberry jam. By adding the caramelized onions, this appetizer gets bumped up to the next level, making them even more tasty. Then all you have to do is wrap these three ingredients in a puff or filo pastry and you’ll have the perfect little welcome for your guests that will leave them wanting for more! Raspberr ..read more

Have you ever heard of Persian Crispy Rice (Thadig)? I first discovered it myself  when my husband returned from a trip to Iran, where he got this traditional rice dish served by an Iranian family.  It is a crispy, caramelized basmati and saffron rice meal that features different textures. He loved it and I must say, as soon I saw the photos, I knew I had to give it a try as well – and that is how this recipe was created.  Persian Crispy Rice (Thadig) sprinkled with pomegranate seedsWhat is Persian Crispy Rice (Thadig)?  Tahdig, literally means “bottom of the pot” in Persia ..read more

Homemade Japanese Dumplings??  Yes, it’s possible. I became familiar with  Gyoza (their official  Japanese name) from Street Food Festivals and they were always my top  choice at  these kinds of events. I used to think these were the only places where I could find them. I loved seeing all the bamboo steamers at the stand and observing how much they expanded in there. Never, ever would I have thought that I’d make them at home one day. That is, until the day we cooked Japanese food at culinary school.  It was the first of many times that I made them for myself at h ..read more

These Roasted Fruit Crostini Appetizers are one of my favorite ways to kick off a dinner party with friends- or to glam up a simple starter salad. The combination of the crispy bread, nutty cheese, and the sweet juiciness of the roasted fruit is just perfect. They are very easy to make, and also look and taste wonderful.  Roasted Fruits + Cheese = Match!What makes these Crostini Appetizers so special? The secret to making these Crostini special lies in the marinade. It gives the fruit a deep, complex flavor and brings out their beautiful colors, even more. I added a hint of chili flakes i ..read more