Happy New Lunar Year ♥

Hey guys! :) 

Long time no post from me, why?! Well, as a media and communication student you're always busy with studying, papers, and classes and yay, I have been working on last papers until the next semester starts - actually next week =D But anyways, I just wanted to keep you updated and say: 

Happy New Lunar Year ♥ 

In Vietnamese: 

Chúc Mừng Năm Mới :)

Therefore, last weekend, I just had to take a few hours off to enjoy a bit of celebration with my family and asian loved ones :) It's crazy how much food vietnamese people can eat! So, we had big dinners for three days in a row like christmas, you know ;-) I've enjoyed spending more time with my parents and eating super-delicious food :) And see what the fortune cookie had in store for me:

Always smile in the morning and 

fortune will smile on you! 

Right now, I'm honestly trying to slow down, to breathe and to take breaks because my body is telling me to pull the brake again. I am back on meditating and yoga again, are you into it, too? :) xo

Food Friday: Vegan Banana Pancakes ♥

Oh my! I really do have a thing for vegan everything although I am not one. How come? Just so, I love trying out vegan food and cooking and baking with meat/egg/milk-substitutes :) Right now, I'm having a semester break, but not really, anyone who understands me? Yeah, I still have to work on papers'n stuff, but there's never no time for cooking delicious meals :)

Earlier this week, I was lusting for some banana pancakes, so I've tried out some recipes and this is how it turned out.

Ingredients:

1 cup of whole-grain flour (spelt etc.)

4-5 teaspoons of brown sugar

1 teapsoon baking powder

1 pinch of salt

1-2 teaspoons of cinnamon (depending on your taste)

1 cup of soy milk

100g almonds

2 ripe bananas

1 teaspoon vanilla sugar

1 banana or 1 apple to slice up separately

1. Smash the ripe bananas and mix them with all the other ingredients. If the almonds are too chunky or too big for your taste, you can also chop them up.

4. Slice up the banana or the apple into squares and add them to the dough. You will love the big pieces in your pancake later ;-)

3. Put some oil (olive oil, coconut oil) on a pan, heat it up and put two-to-three spoons of dough onto the pan to form one pancake. Depending on your pan, two to three small ones will fit in. Thinner is better and faster, and don't forget to turn them around ;-) Serve pure, with some honey or jelly. 

 Et voilá, that's it! 

Enjoy and happy weekend :)

Food Friday: Raw x Vegan Oatmeal

Today, I just wanted to give you a small update of my everyday breakfast: the oatmeal :) It started in the U.S. with the homemade oatmeal from the stove. Whenever we were busy, it had to be the packaged one. Back in Germany again, I've did it with some milk and the microwave and tried out adding other ingredients like dark chocolate squares :-P Later, I left the microwave and the dairy. Instead I added hot green tea to my oatmeal, yes! Try it, it's delicious ;-)

And now, throughout the summer I went all raw and vegan, how? 

Ingredients:

1 banana, oats and/or crunchy oats, chia seeds, linseed oil, nuts, additional fruits (apple, kiwi, slices of oranges, berries).

Utensil: a fork and a knife.

Slice the banana and mash it up with the fork in a bowl, add some oats, add two to three tablespoon of chia seeds (prepare the night before with clear water), add the nuts (I love ALMONDS), two teaspoons of linseed oil and slice up some additional fruit, mix it all up and have an oatmeal party :)

Haha, well, there you go, you'll have an amazing start for your tummy and it's raw, vegan, healthy, delicious, filling, what else do you want? :) And no worries, it won't be too dry because of the chia and the oil, add some more if you want ;-)

Food Friday: Korean at Madang's Berlin

Today's Food Friday Restaurant Review is more of a recap since I was there back in the summer 2013. That night, we actually wanted to go to Little Tibet, but unfortunately we were standing in front of closed doors. However, we decided to walk up the street and find out what's around. It was pretty late and crowded when we stopped at Madang's, but the chef was so kind to still serve us. 

So, we ordered the grill for two with beef and mixed vegetables. It reminded me a lot of NYC and the lovely dinner I had with my Asian friend Kendy in 2011 :) oh and the Kimchi! Just love it :) funny stories come into my mind when I think about it: some Koreans were on our California trip and brought tons of Kimchi in plastic bags to the U.S. because they thought they'd run out =D 

Anyways, I really like Korean Food and in my opinion it's pretty healthy, too! Lots of protein and veggies ;-) The waiters in there are super nice and Madang is highly recommended because of their calm atmosphere. The prices are fair and the food is really authentic and delicious. Always worth a stop whenever you're looking for some authentic Asian food in Berlin, I will definitely go there again ;-)

Madang, Gneisenaustr. 8, 10961 Berlin 

Tips on how to get well soon :)

Yes, why? Because I was sick over the christmas holidays and I thought, why not give my get-well-soon tips to you? And here they are :)

1. Sleep and Rest
Nothing new, same story every time ;-) I think, whether or not you're a working bee, you just have to give in. At the latest when your body calls for it and says: STOP! Your body will force you to go to bed, to rest and to yes, stay there for a bit...  It's always hard for me to admit that I didn't get enough sleep the last few weeks and then, to really take my time to rest.

2. Hot Lemon/Ginger Water
This is my Go-To-Water whenever I feel sick or have a cold because lemon will detoxify your body and ginger will cure your illness. My mum always tells me to drink lots of hot ginger water and you can even eat a small piece of raw ginger to help your throat. Read more if you want to know why you should drink warm water with lemon.

3. Herbs, Greens, Vegetables and Fruits
As always, fuel yourself with lots of fresh vegetables and fruits. Especially right after the holidays when I ate heavy food, I'm longing for something light and fresh :) That's why I made myself a Green Juice yesterday. It's so fast to make your own, for instance this one consisted of a kiwi, half an avocado, some zucchini, a few slices of lemon, some ginger et voilá you'll have your dose of vitamins and essential nutrients :) Read more about Green Juices here.

4. Frozen Berries 
This is a tip for anyone who is suffering a sore throat: my friend's mum told me to buy frozen berries, to suck and to eat them. They will work better than any cough drops you have from the pharmacy. Try it :)

5. Fresh Air
Go out, have a walk, not a jog ;-) and let the sun shine in your face (if there's some), breathe in some fresh air and be out in the woods, your body and mind will thank you for!

I hope you're getting better with these tips and really stay at home when your body calls for it! The holidays are over, I'm almost fit again, but will take it slow the next few days :) 

Slow down and breathe,
xo Minh

Food Friday: Vegan Muesli Cookies

I guess it's that time of year again although the weather doesn't seem like it! It's raining here, and it's kind of warm, which reminds me of last year's christmas in Germany when I went for a jog with a friend. Weird, huh? Climate Change is showing its effects..

All my friends are into baking right now and what better to give your loved ones than homemade cookies? :) I've already showed you the Almond Biscotti and the Chocolate Chia Peanut Cookie Recipe in the last two weeks. So, if you mix up those with these Vegan Muesli Cookies you'll have some delicious christmas munchies to share with friends and family.

Ingredients:

250g whole grain flour,
1 package vanilla sugar,
1 pinch of salt,
150 to 200ml soy milk,
75 raw cane sugar,
200g mixed nuts with muesli,
1/2 package of baking powder
and 3 large spoons of powdered sugar (if preferred).

1. Just mix everything together until a nice dough comes out.

2. Shape cookies with a spoon and place on the baking sheet. Bake for about 15min. at 170°C (330°F).

After that, you're all set I would say ;-) Why are they so special? Because they aren't heavy on your stomach and the raisins and nuts do their best in this oatmixture, happy baking for christmas! xo

Food Friday: Vegan Banana x Chocolate Crumble Cake

For today's Food Friday recipe I'm showing you this wonderful Vegan Banana x Chocolate Crumble Cake I've made for my own birthday a few weeks ago ;-) Why vegan? Well, just because I love to experiment with different ingredients and since I don't drink milk at all, I also try to substitute eggs and so on :) So, this is a good recipe for any party, that's why I'll make it again for a friend's bday tonight ;-) have fun baking and share, share, share!

Ingredients:

For the dough:

100g Coconut Oil

120g raw cane sugar,

150g whole spelt flour

30g cocoa powder

1 teaspoon baking powder

75ml soymilk

5 spoons soy yogurt

Filling:

3 Bananas, 60g Chocolote Flakes,

2 Packages of Vegan Cream , 4 packages cream stabilizer.

1. Mix all ingredients for the dough together and put it on a pie pan, bake for 30min. at about 170°C (345°F). 

2. After that, carve out the upper part of the cake and leave the ground at the side. Crumble the rest for the topping.

3. Cut the 3 bananas into slices lengthwise and put them on the ground (look at pictures).

4. Whip the cream, you really have to stir and stir and stir, pour the stiffener in and it will work somehow, I promise. Vegan soy cream is just not as easy as the usual one, so don't give up ;-) Mix in the chocolate flakes. Pour the cream on top of the bananas until everything is covered, should look like a hill :)

5. Spread the crumbles on top of that hill of whipped cream and voilá, there you go :) You have your Vegan Banana x Chocolate Crumble Cake. Leave it in your refridgerator for about 2hours and then, serve friends and family :) 

My friends didn't realize that it was vegan, and it really doesn't taste different. The cake is not too sweet as well, depending on your sweet tooth: add or subtract sugar ;-)

Tip: Enjoy right away, it won't be as good the next days since you're using bananas ;-) and sorry for the blurred picture of the dough.

Birthday Weekend ♥

Just wanted to give you guys a small impression of my birthday weekend :) Everything started on saturday when I was preparing for family and some friends, I've baked a bunch of cookies and also tried myself at baking a Vegan Banana Chocolate Cake - post is coming up ;-). Then, I've had a lovely dinner with the family and received some mail from England and Berlin :) Sunday morning, I met up with other friends for a nice breakfast with delicious food and got loads of tea for winter and study time ♥ Once again: Thank you so so much for all lovely wishes, words, gifts and time you've spent with me. Friends, You are the best :) xoxo 

And wuuhuuu, I cannot wait for the skydive next year ♥

Food Friday: Chocolate x Chia x Peanutbutter Cookies ♥

Inspired by this super-fast and super-easy recipe of 'a teeming mind', I just had to try these Chocolate-Chia-Seed Cookies! I adjusted it to my preferences and the ingredients I've got at hand, so this turned out as some super-chocolaty Chocolate-Chia-Seed Cookies with a Peanutbutter swirl!!! :) I really like this recipe because you can have four big cookies right away, try it and let me know how you like it ;-)

Ingredients for 4 bigger cookies:

- 4 tablespoons whole spelt flour

- 3 tablespoons cocoa powder

- 2 tablespoons raw Chia seeds

- half a teaspoon baking powder

- 4 to 5 tbspoons honey (instead of agave syrup)

- a handful of almonds

- 3 tbspoons coconut oil

- 1 tspoon cinnamon

- 4 tbspoons soymilk 

- some creamy peanutbutter

Mix all ingredients together (except of the peanut butter) until you've got a nice dough, put four equal parts on the baking sheet and swirl some peanut butter on top of the doughs. I hope you know what I mean =D Well, look at the pictures ;-)

Bake at 200°C (395°F) for about 10-15min. and then you'll have some delicious chocolate-cookies with a peanut-twist :) Perfect for christmas-time, so have fun baking and enjoy ♥

Food Friday: Almond Biscottis ♥

I remember making these the first time for Mother's Day in 2012. At that time, I was in the U.S., living at a hostfamily and the kids and I wanted to surprise my hostmum with some delicious cookies :) So we've made Almond Cantuccinis since these are not too sugary and sweet. 

The other day I was also lusting for these cookies and additionally was really into Italian food :) I've looked up this recipe in my U.S. diary and here it is:

 Oh and be careful, these are SUPERDUPER addictive!!!

Ingredients:

- 250g whole spelt flour

- one teaspoon baking powder

- 150g to 180g raw cane sugar (more/less, if preferred)

- two teaspoons of vanilla sugar

- one pinch salt

- 25g butter

- two to three eggs (depends on consistency)

- 200g almonds, chopped.

1. Prepare everything and mix them altogether except of the almonds, knead with your hands and try to get a nice dough, shouldn't be wet, more sticky. 

2. Add the almonds, shape the dough into a ball and leave it in the refridgerator for about 30minutes. 

3. Preheat the oven at about 200°C (390°F), prepare the baking sheet on the tray and lay out the dough into two wide (not in length, but in width) rolls. Bake for about 10 two 12 minutes.

4. Take out the rolls and cut them into 1cm slices, like cutting bread. Put them back in the oven and bake for another 10 minutes until they are golden-brown. 

You're all set :) Enjoy these cookies with a cup of coffee, tea or just plain. It's super delicious and I can warmly recommend it to you! Need to make more now, they are gone already =D

Tip for all Chocolate-Lovers: Heat up some dark chocolate, spread it on one half of the cookies and let it dry (Picture 1) :) You will love it, I promise! 

Mindful Monday: Vision Board

 

I remember that one of my American friends from college suggested me to do a Vision Board. She said that she did one in class and told me how amazing it was to pull out this piece of paper after several years, and then realizing that most of the things have happened to her. This motivated me to make one as well. At the beginning of this year I sat down and pulled out all my fashion magazines to create a Vision Board. A collage of all things I've wanted to do or to achieve this year and as you can see I haven't finished since then. 

My thought was: Often you have ideas, dreams and goals, but you never write them down and then these ideas will pass away. This little thought or dream is then not real anymore, well, was it ever? Besides putting in words, it's far more easier to put your thoughts into pictures, actual visualizations. So, sit down, think of what you really want in life or for the next year and cut up bits and pieces which equal your dreams. Put your Vision Board away and maybe pull it out half a year later, it's super interesting to see whether or not these special events or 'dreams' occurred :)

My goals for this year 2013 were: 

Enjoying: Yes, I still try not to overwork myself and take time to really slow down and enjoy life. Beach: For now, the Baltic Seas it was. Still thinking of vacation though-Tenerife? :) Dancing until the rising of the sun: Check @Cookies Berlin during Fashion Week this summer. Eating healthy food: It's a process :) but doing good, I guess. Fit like never before (muscles instead of fat): Not the case, but won't give up on that aspect. My fittest year ever was the year in the US :)

Soul: Slow down, sit back, meditate. Working in Berlin turned out as an internship! Taking care of myself and drinking lots of water: still doing so. Having a romantic relationship: What a coincidence, but yes, indeed ♥ Yoga: Trying to incorporate as much as possible, but looking for a class to get deeper into it. 

And as of now, almost at the end of this year I'm thinking: Yes, this is still such a great year and I've almost achieved everything I've wanted to :) The idea of a Vision Board works wonder, don't know how but I believe that once you write or sketch it down, you visualize yourself doing something, and then it becomes reality! Next year is coming up, so sit down and make your next Vision Board ;-)

Movie Review: Let it ride with Craig Kelly

The German all Girls Boarding Magazine Golden Ride had a raffle these days for the Heroes by Nature series by Red Bull, in which they show extreme sports movies (once a month in more than 40 cinemas throughout Europe). This month it was all about Snowboarding and yes, I was lucky enough to win some tickets :) 

Never heard of Craig Kelly and the movie 'Let it ride' before, I was really curious about it. It's a 90min. movie, in which they display the history of snowboarding and how the ProSnowboarder has shaped this sport. The producer Jacques Russo combined film materials with interviews from Kelly and his friends and family, so this movie is really personal and makes you think about this sport with its risks and competitions. It was released in 2006 and since then has influenced many snowboarders and leaders to come.

In this movie you'll also get an insight of how the industry has changed: the rivalry between Burton Snowboards and Sims Snowboards, from Slalom riding to Halfpipes (Contests) and back to Freeriding in the Backcountry. Furthermore you'll see what snowboarding is actually about. 

The pure fun of powder and the journey to freedom.            

                                                                                                                                             

The 2nd movie that night was 'Peace Park' by Burton with the present Team Riders. After Peace Pipe in 2012, they created a Peace Park in Lake Tahoe between Nevada and California and wanted the riders to be creative. It was just fun watching them and omg, there was a 13-year old in between!!! Check out the trailers and get inspired! 
Cannot wait until my very first snow-experience :)

Food Friday: Yellow Sunshine Berlin

Although I'm really not into burgers THAT much, my dear friend told me that I really have to try out the vegetarian and vegan fast food restaurant Yellow Sunshine in Berlin. It's also the very first Organic one in Germany. So, there I was, standing in a fast food restaurant, not really knowing what to do in there but after the first sight into their menu I became curious.

I went for the Spinach x Cheese Burger and my friend had the vegan 'Double-sChicken' Burger and I have to say: How good was that? =D Yes, I have to admit, these burgers were really delicious and I will go back if I'm lusting for some ;-) The fact that they have vegetarian, vegan AND organic food to offer is tempting. And I think that once in a while comfy food like burgers are fine ;-) So, dig into a supergood burger without guilt!

Yellow Sunshine, Wienerstr. 19, 10999 Berlin

Food Friday: Bejte Ethiopia Berlin

How do I get to all these restaurants? Well, friends recommend me a bunch of things whenever I'm in Berlin and then I really want to try out by myself, especially when it comes to unusual food. This weekend we went for some Ethiopian food and tried out Bejte Ethipioa-a café and restaurant in Schöneberg.

The interior is very traditional like, colourful and it took us time to get used to. Still, it was warm and cozy in there and the waiters were really friendly, trying to suggest us dishes and showed us how to actually EAT their food =D For the ones who never had Ethiopian food before, you'll eat with your fingers and hands, no utensils, only flat bread and napkins :)  

Our curiosity was satisfied by the taste of these different sauces on this huge flat bread. So, we've ordered a combination out of two (meat x vegetarian) and my other friend ordered a single plate with vegetarian sauces and the small salad. Yeah, I know it doesn't really look appealing, but taste matters more, right? ;-) 

How was it? Well, very very interesting, different tastes, different sauces, from sweet to hot it was like a small adventure :) My other friends liked it, too but I wouldn't go there again. I mean, I would go there and recommend anyone to really try out since this is a REAL food experience but not if you're expecting a taste explosion of excellence =P 

For 22€ serving two you will get this huge plate full of colourful sauces and several more flat breads which will fill you up in seconds :) Prices are very good, I can say and the Ethiopian beer was nice, too. Go, check out and see yourself :) 

Bejte Ethiopia, Zietenstraße 8, 10783 Berlin

Mindful Monday: Earthlings

This ongoing topic which concerns everyone of us is still on my mind. Yes! It concerns YOU, ME and anyone of your friends and family. A friend of mine recommended me this documentary called Earthlings which shows in full length how dependent we actually ARE on animals. Be it pets, food, clothing, entertainment or scientific research, this movie really goes deep and let us rethink our consumption and being on earth. 

With hidden cameras the producers go into large factories, they illustrate how people 'treat' animals for mass production, entertainment and scientific purposes. While the movie was on, I sometimes had to look away since the pictures are really horrible! But honestly do not hesitate to watch it, in my opinion everyone who is on this planet should know what is actually going on behind closed and unknown doors.

There are many food and meat documentaries, but this one is highly worth-watching! It lays out different aspects and sums it all up in one and a half hours. After that I rethink if I really need meat for dinner tonight, as well as leather products and fur materials on clothing. Think about it and make the connection!