A crunchy cornmeal cookie recipe from Martha Stewart studded with dried apricots and fresh lemon-thyme. Lovely to go with a cup of tea or serve them with a scoop of vanilla ice cream as a light dessert.

Cornmeal Cookies with Apricots and Lemon Thyme

adapted from Martha Stewart

240 g All purpose flour 180 g Yellow cornmeal 1 tsp Baking soda 1/2 tsp Salt 220 g Unsalted butter, softened 160 g Sugar 2 Large eggs 100 g Dried apricots, diced 3 tbsp Fresh lemon thyme, finely chopped

1. Preheat oven to 180C/350F. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper. Set aside. Whisk together flour, cornmeal, baking soda, and salt in a medium bowl.
2. Put butter and sugar in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Cream on medium speed until pale and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Mix in eggs, one at a time. Add flour mixture and mix on low speed until just combined. Mix in dried apricots and lemon thyme.
3. Using a tablespoon or a 1 1/2-inch ice-cream scoop, drop rounded balls of dough onto lined sheets, spacing them 2 inches apart.
4. Bake, rotating and switching positions of sheets about halfway through, until pale golden, 10 to 12 minutes. Transfer cookies, on parchment, to a wire rack. Let cool completely.

Crispy savoury tart made with buttery spelt pate brisee, caramelized red onions, and a rich, creamy and velvety smooth béchamel sauce. They're delicious to snack on and also lovely as a first course at a dinner party.

Creamy Onion Tartlets

adapted from Leite's Culinaria

Pate Brisee	Filling
200 g Wholegrain spelt flour 120 g Butter, cut into small pieces and slightly softened 3 g Fine salt 1 Egg 1 tbsp Cold milk	2 Red onions, very thinly sliced 60 g Unsalted butter Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper 30 g All-purpose flour 180 ml Whole milk, warmed 80 ml Heavy cream, warmed 2 Large eggs, at room temperature, lightly beaten Freshly grated nutmeg

1. Heap the flour on a counter and make aw well. Put in butter, salt and egg. Using your fingertips, mix these ingredients together. Little by little, draw in the flour, working the dough delicately until it has a grainy texture.
2. Add in milk and incorporate gently with your fingertips until the dough begins to hold together. Using the palm of your hand, work the dough by pushing it away from you 4-5 times until smooth. Roll it into a ball, wrap in plastic wrap, and chill for an hour or until firm.
3. On a lightly floured surface with a lightly floured rolling pin, roll out the dough to a 3-mm thickness. Cut out three 16-cm and three 9-cm circles. Use them to line three 10-cm and three 6-cm tart pans. Prick the pastry shell bases and line with foil, then fill with dried beans or pie weights. Chill for 30 minutes.
4. Preheat the oven to 190C/375F. Bake the crusts blind for about 15 minutes. Lower the oven setting to 170C/340F. Remove the beans foil and return the pastry to te oven for 5 minutes. Leave in the pans and set aside while you prepare the filling.
5. In a large skillet, combine the onions, half of the butter, and a generous pinch of salt. Cover and cook, stirring occasionally, over medium-low heat until very tender and lovely golden brown, about 30 minutes.


6. In a large saucepan, melt the remaining butter over medium-low heat. Add the flour and cook, whisking constantly, until the mixture smells nutty, about 2 minutes. Whisk in the milk and cream in a slow, steady stream. Still whisking, bring to a boil and cook for 2 minutes. Remove from the heat and let cool slightly, whisking occasionally.

7. Pour a little of the cream mixture into the eggs, whisking until completely combined. Slowly whisk this mixture back into the cream mixture in the saucepan, a little at a time, until well incorporated and smooth. Stir in the caramelized onions, then season to taste with salt, pepper, and nutmeg. Spoon the mixture onto the pastry shells, spreading it evenly.


8. Bake the tarts at 165C/330F until golden brown and a knife inserted in the center comes out clean, about 20 minutes. Cool the tarts slightly on wire rack, then unmold. Serve warm.

The Canarian cuisine is a mixture of some native Guanche elements, as well as Spanish, African and Latin American foods. In the Canary Islands, "mojos" or sauces are made with vinegar and oil and served cold, as an accompaniment to potatoes, meat and fish.

Canarian Potato Salad aka Potato Salad with Mojo de Cilantro

adapted from essen und trinken

500 g New potatoes 1/2 bunch Cilantro, roughly chopped 1 clove Garlic, roughly chopped 1/4 tsp Cumin, ground 2-3 tbsp Lemon juice 5 tbsp Spanish olive oil 1 tbsp Almond, chopped Sea salt Black pepper

1. Thoroughly rinse potatoes and cook in salted, gently boiling water for about 20 minutes.
2. Roughly chop the cilantro and garlic clove. Place them in a blender with cumin, 1 teaspoon of salt, lemon juice and olive oil. Process to create a puree. Season with black pepper and salt to taste.
3. Drain the potatoes and cut into quarters. Place them in a large bowl, add in cilantro sauce, and chopped almonds. Gently toss them together. Serve, garnished with cilantro leaves and coarse sea salt.

Everyone has their favourite type of chocolate cookies and If you like them soft, moist and cakey, then these are perfect for you. I have replace the wheat flour with spelt, and also reduced the original called for amount of sugar by two-thirds and added two tablespoons of coffee liqueur to batter. To keep these cookies soft and chewy for longer, store them in an airtight container. They freeze exceptionally well-layer them in a freezer-safe container between sheets of wax paper. Thaw 15 minutes at room temperature before serving.

Cakey Chocolate Splet Cookies

adapted from Family

100 g Spelt pastry flour 110 g Wholegrain spelt flour 20 g Unsweetened cocoa powder 1/2 tsp Baking soda 1/2 tsp Salt 6 Large egg whites, at room temperature 150 g Dark brown sugar 2 tbsp Coffee liqueur 100 g 70% Dark chocolate, chopped and melted

1. Preheat to 180C/350F. Line 3 baking trays with parchment paper. Whisk spelt pastry flour, wholewheat spelt flour, cocoa powder, baking soda and salt in a medium bowl.
   
2. Roughly chop the chocolate and place them in a heatproof bowl set over a pot of barely simmering water. When melted, remove from the heat, and gently stir until smooth.
   
3. Beat egg whites in a large mixing bowl with an electric mixer until foamy, about 1 minute. Beat in dark brown sugar in a few additions until smooth. Now beat in coffee liqueur and melted chocolate. Stir in the dry ingredients with a wooden spoon until just incorporated.
   
4. Drop the batter by tablespoonfuls onto the prepared baking sheets, 1 inch apart. Bake the cookies 10-12 minutes. Cookies will be soft. Cool on the pan for 5 minutes, then remove from trays to a wire rack to cool completely.

An incredibly easy spring salad, which is quick to prepare, frersh and versatile. Toss with your favourite dressing and enjoy the very best of the season.

Carrot, Fennel and Strawberry Salad

- inspired by Patty's Food

1/2 Fennel, thinly shredded 1 Carrot, shredded 1/2 Red onion, cut into thin half moon slices 150 g Strawberries, cut into smaller pieces Mint leave, shredded 2 tbsp Raspberry vinegar 1 tbsp Argan oil Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper

1. Clean and dry the vegetables and strawberries. Thinly slice the fennel and carrot. Cut the red onion into thin half moon slices. Cut the large strawberries into 2-3 chunks. Place the cut vegetables on a large serving plate. Add in strawberries and shredded mint leaves.
2. Whisk raspberry vinegar and argan oil in a small bowl. Season to taste. Drizzle the dressing over the salad.

This is a slow 3-day bread to make, but definitely worth the time and patience. You just cannot rush a good loaf of bread. If you don't have a sourdough starter you might just have to make one from scratch or buy one from stores.

Sourdough Olive Bread

inspired by myitaliansmorgasbord and sourdough

Starter
35 g Rye sourdough, 100% hydration 205 ml Water, lukewarm 170 g Bread flour	All the starter 380 ml Water 440 g Bread flour 275 g Wholewheat flour 14 g Sea salt 1 tbsp Olive oil 2 tsp Chilli pepper flakes 250 g Olives, pitted and well-drained

1. Combine all the starter ingredients in a large bowl. Cover and set aside for 12-16 hours.
2. Stir together the starter and water in a mixing bow. Add in flours and mix at low speed. Cover the dough with a plastic wrap and let sit for 15 minutes.
3. Add in salt, olive oil and stir well on low speed for 2 minutes. Increase the speed and mix 6-8 minutes more until dough is smooth and pliable.
4. Turn the dough onto a lightly floured work surface. Knead the drained olives and chilli pepper flakes into the dough.
5. Cover the dough and let proof at room temperature for 2 and 1/2 hours, folding and stretching the dough at 45 minutes and 90 minutes.
6. Divide the dough into two portions and shape them into two balls. Cover and let rest for 10 minutes. Form into rounds or batons. Dust the proofing baskets with wholewheat flour and place inn the shaped dough. Dust the tops with wholewheat flour and cover with plastic bag. Place them in the refrigerator and chill 12-18 hours.
7. Place a roasting tray with water at the bottom of your oven and preheat to 230C/450F. Turn the dough onto the baking trays. Cut some decorative slashes on the top of bread if desired.
8. Bake for 20 minutes, remove the roasting tray with water, then lower the temperature to 190C/370F and continue to bake for a further 30 minutes until the loaves are golden brown.

A quick, tasty everyday pasta made with green asparagus, tomatoes, and olives for a stress-free supper.

120 g Pasta 300 g Green asparagus, trimmed and cut into chunks 2 tbsp Olive oil 1 Large clove of garlic, crushed Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste 200 g Chopped can tomatoes 2 tbsp Black olives, pitted Parmesan for dusting Cilantro leaves for garnishing

1. Cook pasta in a pot of salted boiling water for about 8 minutes or according to package instructions until al dente.
2. Trim, rinse and cut the green asparagus into 2-inch chunks. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add in green asparagus chunks and crushed garlic, stirring occasionally, cook for 2-3 minutes.
3. Pour in chopped can tomatoes and pitted black olives. Stir to combine all the ingredients until incorporated and asparagus chunks are tender.
4. Drain the pasta and mix with sauce. Serve with chopped coriander leaves and grated Parmesan.

These delicious scones are made with nutty wholegrain spelt flour, juicy rhubarb and homemade yogurt. They have buttery flavour with moist and soft texture. Perfect for breakfast or as a snack with rhubarb sauce.　
Probiotic yogurt is essentially any yogurt with live culture bacteria like lactobacilus, which means that most natural or regular yogurt is a probiotic food. Besides yogurt, kefir, sauerkraut, dark chocolate, tempeh, miso, etc. are all probiotic food, that are believed to improve our mood, to help maintain healthy digestion and to be beneficial to our overall health.

What Are Probiotics?

You may have heard about probiotics in the news or seen probiotic products at your local grocery store, but what exactly are they? And, more importantly, why should you care?

First of all, your digestive system is home to more than 500 different species of bacterium. These help you to digest food and keep your intestines healthy. It’s also believed by many in the scientific community that these bacteria in your gut help to maintain a healthy immune system.

These probiotics reside in some of the natural foods that you likely already eat, such as yogurt and cheese. Understandably, the thought of eating live bacteria may be a little odd, but this practice can be quite healthy. Think of it as taking an antibiotic, which are essentially good bacteria designed to fight off bad bacteria. The consuming of probiotics, on the other hand, whether in supplements or the foods you eat, helps to replenish the balance of good bacteria in your body.

So, why the necessity to take probiotic supplements or eat probiotic rich food? After a case of diarrhea or a round of strong antibiotics to fight an infection, for example, the good bacteria in your gut can be flushed out or killed off. As mentioned earlier, this good bacterium helps with digestion and assists to maintain a strong immune system. If they are not present, you may suffer from more digestive or intestinal problems, such as constipation or upset stomach. Also, you will be more susceptible to colds and flues. So, that’s why it’s important to maintain the good bacteria that already reside in your body.

Rhubarb Wholegrain Spelt Scones

inspired by Kuechengoetter

220 g Rhubarb, trimmed and cut into 1cm pieces 110 g Sugar 2 Eggs 60 g Probiotic yogurt or Homemade yogurt, plain 300 g Wholegrain spelt flour 2 tsp Baking powder 1/5 tsp Salt 1 tsp Lemon zest 100 g Butter, cut into smaller pieces 1 tbsp Sugar crystals

1. Rinse, peel rhubarb and slice into 1cm pieces. Place them in a large bowl together with 30 grams of sugar. Set aside for 10 minutes. Preheat the oven to 200C/400F.
2. Stir together the eggs and yogurt. Whisk together 80 grams of sugar, spelt flour, baking powder, salt and lemon zest in a large mixing bowl.
3. Add in butter pieces and rub into the flour mixture until it resembles coarse crumbs. Now add in egg-yogurt mixture and mix until just incorporated. Add in rhubarb mixture.
4. On a lightly floured work surface, shape the dough into a 20cm round. Cut it into 8-12 wedges and place them onto a baking tray lined with parchment paper. Sprinkle the tops with the sugar crystals and bake in the center of oven for 15 -20 minutes until beautifully golden brown. Serve warm with rhubarb sauce.

The earthy flavour of dark rye, nuttiness of rolled oats, offsetting sweetness of dried longan flesh combine to make a dark brown bread that has rich hearty flavour and a dense chewy texture. Serve, lightly buttered, as a breakfast or as after-school snack.
Dried longans (“dragon eyes”) are high in iron, fiber, and considered to help with insomnia, stomach ache and to improve memory. Many Chinese believe longans can be used as an antidote for poison, and as a blood tonic, to nurture the heart and to add luster and beauty to the skin. You can purchase dried longans in most Asian supermarkets.

Dark Rye Bread with Oats and Longans

adapted from Brot backen - Köstliche Rezepte aus der guten alten Zeit

500 g Dark rye flour (German #1150) 40 g Fresh yeast 1/2 tsp Sugar 500 ml Water, lukewarm 1 tbsp Sea salt 350 g Dried longan flesh 250 g Rolled oats

1. Place dark rye flour in a large mixing bowl and make a well in the center. Crumble the fresh yeast and place them in a bowl together with sugar. Dissolve with 100 ml lukewarm water. Now put the yeast mixture into the flour well. Mix in some flour until it resembles thick porridge. Cover this starter and leave it aside for 30 minutes.
2. Add in sea salt and the rest of the water. Stir until a pliable dough forms. Turn it out onto a floured work surface. Knead firmly, with floured hands, for 5 minutes. Shape the dough into a ball, covered, and proof at room temperature for about 60 minutes.
3. Knead the dried longan flesh and rolled oats into the dough. Divide the dough into two portions. Shape them into a baton and boule. Place them on the baking tray lined with parchment paper. Cover and proof for 30 minutes at room temperature.
4. Place a tray of water at the bottom of oven. Preheat the oven to 180C/350F. Bake the bread for 1 hour at the lower rack. Cool the bread on a rack.