Whole Wheat Granola Goji Muffins

 

Medicham, Gyarados, Hitmonchan, Crawdaunt, Shelgon, Venusaur, Pikachu, Zigzagoon or how about Jazz, Ratchet, Bumblebee, Optimus Prime, Ironhide or Megatron. If I have gotten you a bit confused here then I presume you are not a parent of a 6-10 year old boy. Those who do have sons in this age will straight away know what I am rambling on about - right?

Caramelized Quince Jam with a Sprinkling of Cinnamon

 

Monday 9th November 2009 marked 20 years of German re-unification. I remember, like it was only yesterday, watching The Wall come down back in 1989. I was in Doha watching CNN with my parents and friends and thinking "WOW! They do not have to queue for bananas anymore!"

Feel Good: Carrot and Red Lentil Soup with a Hint of Cumin

 

It’s been fairly quite around here, I know. I’ve been feeling rather low and a funny kind of flu seems to have taken hold of me. I say funny because it’s not a full blown flu – it seems it’s fighting inside of me. It wants to come out but I am fighting to banish it from taking control. This is taking away a lot of energy and I’ve been feeling a bit drained.

Dimpled Mirabelle Plum Focaccia with Lemon Poppy Seed Butter

 

There are certain times in my life when I feel like I need to break free. Free from the usual. Beak away from what I do everyday. Don’t get me wrong – I love my life – especially where I am today. I have everything I could desire and am happy – right down to the core. I am a Gemini you see, and every now and then my terrible twin comes out of the hiding and asks “What if …?”

Spiced Pumpkin and Carrot Cake with Orange Cream Cheese Frosting

 

As a mother there is an emotional sanctuary that, in my opinion, is unprecedented on all emotional levels. That being the unconditional love a mother feels for her child. This love defies all boundaries of tantrums, embraces pain and sorrow, expels sickness, is joyous at success and finds an answer to any question or problem. I honestly believe a mother would put her hand in the fire for her child without even a second thought.

Daring Bakers: Saffron Macarons with Cardamom White Chocolate Ganache

 

Well I have to say I got lucky this time. Imagine my surprise at seeing that this month’s Daring Bakers’ challenge was to be gorgeous macarons. If I was poetic enough I would write an Ode to Macarons. That’s how much I am liking making macarons at the moment. It’s probably because of the success I experienced the very first time I made the pistachio lemon cream macarons not too long ago.