Food Friday: Granola Bars!!!

When I was travelling through California last year we took a roadtrip with a guide and a group of cool Internationals. Hiking and camping in the woods, we ate a lot of granola bars and yes, our group name was GRANOLA! :) Haha, super funny!

How come that I made some? Well, working in the office eight hours a day, I always have a down-point in the afternoons. It's like I'm totally unfocused then and not as creative as in the mornings, additionally I'm super tired and tend to drop off into dreams. The solution: maybe a bit of sugar would help: fruits, nuts, dark chocolate and a cup of green tea are my go-tos. This time I've wanted to try out the no-bake granola recipe from Mind Body Green, but of course I did transform it.

Bread x Seeds x Nuts x Quinoa

I just LOVE LOVE LOVE this recipe, maybe one day I'll open up a health-store selling my own bread and health-foods like green juices and stuff! Haha! Anyways, super easy, super fast, use this signature recipe:

3 and 3/4 cups OR 500g whole-grain flour

2 cups of different seeds (pumpkin seeds, flax seeds, sunflower seeds) and nuts (almonds)

and I'd say 2 small cups of uncooked red quinoa

1/2 liter water

1 package active- dry yeast

2 regular teaspoons salt

2 regular tablespoons vinegar.

Just wanted to try out some quinoa, more seeds and nuts in my bread. Friends and I loved it! You should go ahead, make some bread and experiment with different add-ons!

Enjoy some Breadlove! ♥

Food Friday: Couscous Patties x Ratatouille

Do you know these days, when you come home and just want to chop and cook? Yeah, that was Monday night when I came home from work and was lusting after burgers. You'd say: How, you've just had some last friday! Well, yeah, but I was lusting after VEGETABLE burgers, the ones, which a good-friend's-mum made out of millet. This time I didn't have millet, so I did some with couscous. 

Sitting in the kitchen and talking to a friend I've just started chopping up some vegetables and the night ended up having friends over who stayed and a big meal with more additions like ratatouille and stir-fried chicken. Haha, I felt like a mum feeding all her kids, but why not? Cooking is just so much fun for me, I want to share with everyone :) Click for the recipe!

Frozen Berries and Orange Juice

Need some vitamins? What about a dose of antioxidants paired with a fresh orange and some currants? :) For many people orange juice is essential for a good breakfast and most of the time they'd get the store-bought one. My question would be, why not make your own juice because then you wouldn't have any added sugar. 

On sunday mornings when I'm having a big breakfast or brunch - oh yeah, I'm totally a breakfast-gal - I always need some fresh fruits. This time I went for some juice. Just throw some frozen berries, a peeled orange and other fresh ingredients in your mixer and there you go: A cold summery juice to give you a kick in the morning and start your day right! Simple as that, just try it!

My health and food-tip: If I cannot get fresh berries I always try to have a bag of frozen ones in my freezer since it's so easy to just make some juice or even dessert in the summer. And yes, the berries will still have their vitamins and antioxidants, do not worry: read the difference between fresh, dried and frozen blueberries here at the NY Times health section.

Beat the heat with Frozen Bananas!

Yesterday I was putting some bananas into the fridge, don't ask my why I came up with this idea. I've read about this in several food blogs living in the U.S. that this is such a healther choice comparing to ice-cream. Indeed!

I've put them cutted up in the middle for like 2 hours in the freezer and there you go: Frozen Bananas! Peeling them might be hard, I did it with my teeth and a knife =D But for next time, I might peel them first and then put it in the freezer but when I had my first bite: it was love!  Haha, yeah love at first bite! It's super duper delicious!!! Try it and have some healthy frozen banana to beat the heat in the summer. Swap it for ice-cream and popsicles, this is natural sugar, guys, you cannot beat this! I think kids will love this, too ;-)

Since I love ice-cream, especially chocolate or fruity flavours, I've tended to eat a lot in the summer. This here is just the perfect substitute for sugary ice-creams. I could imagine doing this again with some dark chocolate or coconut sprinkles on top :) Will try and then post it ;-)

Happy summer! xx

Bite Club: Brooklyn x Asian Night Market in Berlin

Oh my world! Brooklyn in Berlin City!!! When I first heard about this event I was totally crazy about it and yes, once again, I just had to attend this street food market-kind-of-thing! Reading the Facebook invitation it remined me a lot of the food booths at  Smorgasburg in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. Back in the U.S. I have been to several food fairs like the Renegade Crafts Fair and the Great Googa Mooga Food Festival and I loved it so much. Yes, I know that there are not as many healthy options, but I'm such a foodie and always need to try out new things and creations of others. Maybe I will then transform those versions into healthier ones ;-)

Check out what I've tried at the opening party of the Bite Club on Friday night at Badeschiff Berlin. Brooklyn meets Asian Night market they are saying! :)

Food Friday: Steffi's Burgers x Phyllo Bags

It's not too late yet! Well, would say: It's never too late ;-) Yet, it's still friday, even though it's 10pm German time zone. Anyways, I'm sitting here and writing about my roommate's recipe for last night's dinner ;-) 

As you know I'm having lots of friends over from my hometown, but it's nice, isn't it? This week my dear friend Hong Anh was here, who taught me longboarding! Therefore we've spend every single minute boarding and cruising through the streets. Yes, I even took it to work and she waited for me every single day =D That's also the reason why I haven't posted anything the last few days. Anyways, last night after spending some nice hours at the Tempelhof Airport, it was like coming home to mum's since Steffi (roommate) was cooking for us. 

What did she serve us? Burgers and phyllo bags aka 'Bulette mit Blätterteigtaschen'. Click on for the recipe.

Getting back on track: #3 Muscle ache and maintaining

How do I feel after a good workout the day before? I can feel my muscles which I haven't used for a while and don't you feel great?! :) Yeah, it might hurt and you're feeling like: Oh my, I cannot move anymore, just want to lay down and sleep forever.

Trick: Do not! MOVE instead! What? Yes, really, I'm telling you, the muscle ache will leave when you keep on exercising and moving. If not, the ache will take much longer to heal itself. Then you'll wait another week for the next workout and then the day after you'll have another ache. So, get moving and try to get used to exercise. 

I try to exercise most of the days rather than working out one day per week and skipping six. With this method, I can skip one or most of all two days in a row and then get moving again. You do not have to go for another run or do the same workout again, find some light exercise like yoga or find a sports hobby like longboarding, soccer, tennis, biking, beach volleyball, inline skating or climbing. Anything fun!

How to find a hobby? Try things out and do it for one week, and then another and see if it fits your lifestyle and if it has the right purpose for you. For example: Yoga and meditation for me is to keep me focused, to clear my mind and to calm down in this hectic world. Longboarding is passion and freedom, I'm feeling like a kid again. Need this for new inspiration and energy. Find YOUR active hobby!

Furthermore: Working out hard you might also feel: Okay, I can now allow myself some ice-cream, cake or cookies. My thought would be: Did you workout the first time in your life or do you do it every single/or other day? If so, then hell yeah, go for it! If it was your first time, I'd try to stay away from sugar and fats or did you workout to maintain bad food habits? And NO, I do indulge as well, but just not as often ;-) 

I choose to nourish my body with greens and engery. Just anything which lifts me up. At the end it's your body, it's on you!

I might post an article on how to say NO to bad food choices soon, so stay tuned, keep moving and never give up! :)

Food Friday: Mango x Green Salad

In summer I'm always longing for fresh and raw food. The other day I was invited for an International dinner at friends' place. Everyone had to bring some food from their own culture. This is just a nice activity to spend some quality time with friends, good food and to get to know their roots better.

This was another improvisation session for me. I wasn't thinking about any special dish from Vietnam, instead I bought some ingredients and mixed everything up with a bit of fish sauce. Read on for the recipe.

Getting back on track: The time is NOW!

# 1: Food habits

Oh wow, after binging on food and having a döner here and there it's just super hard to get back on track. I mean going for a run once in a while is okay, but keep doing it is the real thing. Being dedicated to your actual lifestyle is hard especially when you're stressed out, having friends over who'd eat fast food and so on.

Here's the deal: I've been eating 'badly' for my standards for like three weeks now and I do feel unhealthy. I'm always tired, feeling sick and sluggish. Additionally there was the Berlin Fashion Week three weeks ago and then I had friends over from home for like.. yeah, they stayed three weeks long. Result: No meditation, no strength workout, bad food choices and being inconsistent with my routines.

You know what I really do not like? When people around you say things like: Hey, don't be hard on yourself, you can have that once in a while... Well, what if that 'Once in a while' happens every other day?! NO MORE! I do not understand how people would be like: Hey, yes you should definitely eat fast food when you actually know that's bad for you. I get that it tastes good and stuff, but it slows down your metabolism and you'll feel like me: Sick. 

I think it's not worth it when you pay with your health, so I rather stay away from fats and sugar.

I'm lacking of energy, so what my body really needs is: REAL food meaning vegetables, fruits, whole grains and seeds. Tons of water as well!   

It's so easy to just give in and to indulge in food cravings, but what I ask myself right now is: Do I really want this long-term? Did I start eating healthier and mindfully to give up after almost two years? NO! And this is not a diet, this is a lifestyle change. Let's get back on track starting NOW.

Here are some tips if you want to get healthier and read my weekend food shopping post for a refridgerator-makeover!

YES, call me a health-freak ;-)

Vöner: Vegan Döner

It's hard being in Berlin and NOT eating a döner, but it's like everywhere. You can get one at any place for around three bucks. As you've noticed in my former posts, I do like vegan food and my boss recommended me this vegan place where you can get a Vegan Döner, it's called: Vöner! 

It looks like a regular döner with the flatbread but it's actually more crusty. Instead of the meat they're using Seitan made out of grains and legumes. They've also had three sauces: chili, tahini-garlic and a herbal sauce. At first I went with the first two, but I was missing something, like salt or so. After adding the chili sauce it was way better, more spicy. 

The taste was really different, but in my opinion it couldn't replace the signature taste of a real döner. Still, it's a good alternative for vegans and I'd go there again :) If you're curious, you should definitely try it out and go for it!

Enjoy eating in Berlin!

Vöner, Boxhagenerstr. 56, 10245 Berlin

Food Friday: Kristin's Vegetable Curry x Bok Choy

Having friends from home over is a real luxury, especially when they cook for you :) This friday I want to represent you a super-duper-delicious recipe from my dear friend Kristin. It's funny how she cooks because she does not use any salt and pepper, and whenever I ate her food I was like: Really? NO SALT AND PEPPER?! She'd answer: Uhm..yep! Still, it's surprisingly delicious!

Have some vegetables: Broccoli, Green Pepper, Bok Choy.

Cut them into small chunks and then stir-fry them in the pan with some vegetable oil.
Add two table spoons of curry powder, one quarter spoon of cilantro, 
add one can of coconut milk. Dash some pine nuts, almonds and sunflower seeds
and then depending on your taste: add more curry.
Oh totally forgot the pineapples: add some for a bit of sweetness!

Have some healthy wild rice with it :)

I love the idea of cooking with no salt and pepper, you will taste the vegetables differently.
Try it and have a new experience in cooking. 

Vegan Burger x Sunday Shopping

What are you guys doing on sundays? For me, I just love sundays fleas and markets. Right now, I'm having friends over from my little hometown and we've made it to the handmade supermarket. I was very much looking forward to the vegan burger and the fairtrade products. The vegan burger from Sunday Burgers with tofu, red beets, sprouts and three different sauces was just delicious. I'm telling you, go there, get it, have it, you'll be instantly happy. The sauces were chili-chipotle, peanut-coconut and mango-chutney, everything self-made! Besides I had the berry juice, full of antioxidiants and super healthy, love the pink colour!

Strolling through markets I'm always tempted to get myself some handmade jewelry. I had to get the bracelet from Maugold Berlin because it's something different and I'm drawn to anything gold and green. I think this is a statement bracelet. Whenever I see things like that, I'm always like: I should start doing more DIY-stuff, but I just don't take my time for it. Are you up for DIY?

Happy Sunday! xx

Food Friday: Stir-fry tofu x Bok Choy x Soy curry

What is it called? Yeah, improvisation with ME! Last night, I had some friends over and we were like: What to cook? What to eat? No idea! The only thing I knew was: I was longing for tofu and curry. We bought chinese bok choy, wanted to steam it and then dip it into fish sauce. A simple dish. Instead I did something totally different. Have a look.

Vietnamese weekend in B.

Fam. Dang, Torstraße 125, 10119 Berlin

Since my friend Tina from Munich is here and we were longing for some Vietnamese food, we wanted to try out some restaurants in Berlin. I have to say, there are so many Vietnamese places here, you won't know where to go. She told me that we should check out Fam.Dang because one of her friends recommended it. Friday night we went for Lime Juice, a Goi Mien-Salad with glass noodles, Ga Xau Rau-chicken breast with mixed vegetables and Vietnamese herbs and the same thing with beef: Bo Xau Rau. Everything was really good and super delicious, the waiters were friendly as well. Whenever you're in Berlin and you want some authentic Vietnamese food, check this out!

Food Friday: Whole grain bread x dried tomatoes

So, apart from all the fashion week shows and events, I've just needed a little break to calm down. What to do? Grab your longboard, even if it's just to the supermarket, take a little ride and enjoy the wind and fresh air! What's next? Get some healthy ingredients and start cooking! :) And no worries, in the next few days I'll post something about what I was up to this week!

As you can see in the pictures above I'm having an affair with bread!!! With hearty-whole-grain-delicious bread! It is called: Breadlove. I think I should ask for a new word in the dictionary. Do you think I could do that? The love for making bread?! :) Whenever I make it, it's so easy and super fast! This time I'll present you my signature one, everyone loves it and I cannot stop eating it. I always use this Whole-grain bread recipe as my base and then I'd change the add-ons. 

Whole-grain-bread-Quiche

This weekend I really felt like making a quiche, so this sunday was the day. The first time I've ever made a quiche was this year's mother day, so today was the second time. When I got up this morning I realized that I forgot to buy whole-grain flour. Shoot! So, what do you do then? 
Like the quote 'Necessity is the mother of invention' I've used whole-grain bread and oats instead. As you can see in the first picture it worked out pretty well. I've used up four slices of bread (cut them up into breadcrumbs) and maybe one small bowl of oats, mixed that up with one egg and some butter and put it on the tin. 

The recipe is actually from the German cooking site: Chefkoch but I didn't follow it and totally transformed it. I mean, this is the way I cook. I cook by instict and always see how it works.
And you'll realize that this is definitely not a tomatoe-quiche =D

So, the recipe to THIS quiche:

Green Tea at Mamecha's

What do you guys do on a saturday when it's rainy outside? Right, you meet friends for coffee and have some cake. Although I always meet friends for 'coffee', I'd always get tea. This morning we've decided to go to a tea place instead of a coffee place. Google helped us and we've found MAMECHA!

Food Friday: Oatmeal

That's what I eat for breakfast! Every single morning :) Oatmeal is super yummy and I just love it! The consistency, the warmth in your tummy, the different mixtures and hey it makes you feel happy and full! In the U.S. I'd eat the packaged ones but since there is none in good old Germany, I make my own which is way healthier as well! You won't have added sugars then. How do I make it?