These delicious shortbread striped cookies are created by alternating stripes of lemon and poppy pieces. For pinwheel variation, stack the two dough rectangles on top of each other, and roll up into a long cylinder as if you're making cinnamon rolls. They're buttery, melt-in-your-mouth, and fun to make.

Poppy Striped Cookies

adapted from Küchen Götter

150 g All purpose flour 100 g Cold butter, cut into small pieces 80 g White sugar 1 tsp Lemon extract 1 Egg 50 g Ground poppy seeds 1 Egg white

1. Place flour, cold butter, white sugar, lemon extract and egg onto a work surface. Using a large knife and finely chop everything together. Divide the mixture into two.
2. Quickly shape one half into the light-coloured dough. Mix another half with ground poppy seeds and press the mixture into the dark-coloured dough. Roll each dough into a 12-cm x 35-cm rectangle, about 3-mm thick.
3. Brush one rectangle evenly with egg white and top with another dough. Cut the stacked dough into four 3-cmx35-cm strips. Brush the strips with egg white and stack one rectangle on top of the other, alternating light and poppy doughs to form a striped pattern. Wrap in plastic film. Chill an hour or until very firm.
4. Preheat the oven to 200C/400F. Prepare two baking trays with parchment papers. Carefully cut the stack into 1/2-cm thick slices. Place them on the prepared baking trays and bake for about 10 minutes. Cool on trays 5 minutes. Remove and cool cookies completely on wire racks.

This bread tastes freaking GOOD fresh right out of the oven. Chocolate and dried cranberries.. a match made in heaven. The kitchen smelled heavenly while this was baking and tasted even better with spread with a little butter. A note on the chocolate, I used 50% dark chocolate flavoured with sea salt, but it doesn’t have to be dark, simply use your favourite chocolate and you will enjoy the bread even more.

Chocolate and Cranberry Bread

adapted from Azelia's Kitchen

400 g White bread flour 100 g Wholemeal flour 50 g Cocoa powder 10 g Salt 1 g Dried instant yeast 370 ml Lukewarm water 220 g Rye levain, 100% hydration 40 g Olive oil 100 g 50% Lindt dark chocolate with sea salt, chopped 100 g Dried cranberries

1. In the bowl of your stand mixer, add in the flours, cocoa powder, salt and dried yeast. Make a well in the center, add in water, rye levain, and olive oil. Stir together until you have a smooth dough. Cover and rest for 30 minutes at room temperature.
2. Turn out the dough onto a lightly floured work surface. Gently knead in the chopped chocolate and dried cranberries. Cover and rest at room temperature for 20 minutes. Lightly knead a few times and cover to rest for a further 20 minutes.
3. Shape the dough into an oval and place, seam side up, into a floured proofing basket. Cover tightly and proof the dough in the fridge overnight.
4. Preheat the oven to 220C/430F with an empty baking tray on the floor of your oven to heat up. Pour about 500 ml of hot water into the now hot baking tray. Invert the dough onto the baking tray lined with parchment paper. Score and bake for 45 minutes.

This is a quick and very easy vegetable curry with Brussels sprouts, Hokkaido pumpkin, flavourful, warming, and delicious served with some warm homemade bread or rice.

Brussels Sprouts Curry with Hokkaido Pumpkin and Pomegranate

-- essen und trinken

30 g Ginger 1 Onion 1 clove Garlic 350 g Brussels sprout 350 g Hokkaido Pumpkin 1 tbsp Olive oil 2 tsp Curry powder 200 ml Coconut milk 200 ml Vegetable stock Salt 1-2 tsp Lime juice 2 tbsp Cilantro or parsley, chopped Some pomegranate seeds

1. Finely dice the ginger, onion, and garlic. Rinse the Brussels sprouts and remove any wilted outer leaves. Trim the woody bottoms and cut in half. Cut the pumpkin into inch pieces.
2. Heat olive oil in a pan together with diced ginger, onion and garlic. Cook until aromatic, about 2 minutes. Add in Brussels sprouts and pumpkin. Cook for 5 minutes. Sprinkle the curry powder over and stir until well blended.
3. Pour in coconut milk and vegetable stock. Bring to a boil and cook, covered, over medium-heat for 15 minutes. Season with salt and lime juice. Garnish with cilantro leaves and pomegranate seeds.

Easy to make, a delicious peanut butter stamped cookie recipe , made with refined spelt flour, raw sugar, butter, egg, and peanut butter. They make the perfect homemade holiday gift for family and friends. And speaking of the gift, I was the very LUCKY winner of $40 Amazon gift card from Choc Chip Uru - Go Bake Yourself. Uru is a 17-year-old culinary genius and a serious chocolate fan. Please head over to her space and learn more her baking, her fun undercover stories. The cookie stamp and cupcake decorating set I have bought with the gift card have finally arrived this Saturday. Thank you once again, Uru!

110 g Butter, softened 150 g Raw sugar 1 Egg 1/2 tsp Vanilla 120 g Creamy peanut butter 220 g Refined spelt flour 1/4 tsp Baking soda 1/4 tsp Salt

1. Beat the butter and raw sugar until creamy, about 3 minutes. Beat in egg and peanut butter until blended. Sift spelt flour, baking soda, and salt into the cream mixture.
2. Wrap the cookie dough in a plastic film and chill for 2 hours. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
3. Roll the dough between two pieces of plastic film into 4-mm / 1/6-inch thickness. Dip the stamp into flour and tap off any excess, then stamp the cookie dough and cut out with a round wave cookie cutter. Transfer them to the prepared baking sheets. Cover with a plastic film and chill the cookies for an hour.
4. Preheat oven to 180C/350F. Bake cookies until light brown, about 10 minutes. Cool on baking sheets for a few minutes, then transfer to rack to cool completely.

Chunky cauliflower florets and salty, smoky black forest bacon meld together so well in this satisfying creamy cauliflower soup. Make this warming and comforting soup for lunch or supper that's sure to warm you up on the chilliest nights. The soup thickens as it stands, so if you make it ahead of time, thin as needed with extra stock.

600 g Cauliflower, stalks discarded and cut into smaller florets 1 Large potato, peeled and chopped into chunks 1 Leek, white part only, chopped 2-3 tbsp Olive oil 600 ml Vegetable stock 250 ml Soya milk Salt and pepper to taste Pinch of nutmeg 125 g Black forest bacon bits

1. Put the cauliflower, potato and leek in a large saucepan with olive oil. Gently heat the vegetables until they start to sizzle, then cover with a lid and sweat at low heat for 5-8 minutes, stirring occasionally. The vegetables should be softened but not coloured. Reserve a few florets to garnish finished soup.
2. Pour in the vegetable stock and soya milk. Bring to a simmer, then gently cook for 10-12 minutes until the cauliflower is tender. Purée until smooth either with a stick blender or in batches in a food processor. Add in the reserved cauliflower florets and nutmeg, reheat gently, and adjust seasoning if necessary.

A wholesome, hearty, nutty wholewheat bread that goes wonderfully with a cold meat platter, fruit or cheese plate. Perfect toasted for a nutritious and healthy breakfast too.

Wholewheat Bread with Walnuts

- adapted from Brote für Genießer

200 g Wholewheat flour 80 ml Lukewarm water 20 g Fresh yeast 1 tbsp Sugar 1 Apple, peeled, cored and grated 150 g Sourdough starter, 100% hydration 100 g Whole grain spelt flour 350 g Dark bread flour

10 g Salt 4 tbsp Walnut oil 205 ml Lukewarm water 50 g Honey 20 g Millet 20 g Sesame seeds 20 g Flaxseeds 100 g Walnuts, chopped

1. In a mixing bowl, add in wholewheat flour and make a well in the center. Crumble the fresh yeast into the well and add in 80 ml water and sugar. Stir together and leave it for 15 minutes.
2. Peel, core and grate the apple. Add in sourdough starter, grated apple, flours, salt, walnut oil, water, honey, millet, sesame seeds, flaxseeds and chopped walnuts. Stir everything together on low speed until incorporated, then increase the speed and stir until a smooth and soft dough forms. Cover and set aside to proof for an hour.
3. Gently knead the dough and divide into two portions. Shape one portion into a round and another into a log. Place the round dough, seam side up, into a well-floured proofing basket and another one into a parchment paper lined loaf pan. Dust the surface with flour and cover with a clean towel. Set aside to proof for a further 60 minutes.
4. Preheat the oven to 220C/430F. Turn the boule out onto a wooden peel dusted with cornmeal. Sprinkle some flour over dough and cut some decorative slashes on the top of bread. Make a long slash lengthwise down the center of top of the loaf in the loaf pan. Bake for about 45 minutes until nicely golden brown.

A pilaf or pilau is a Middle Eastern rice dish that is cooked in broth and spices. It may contain a variety of vegetables and meat. This is a delicious recipe for using up leftover roasted chicken or turkey, and works well with seafood too.

1 tbsp Butter 1 Shallot, diced 1/3 tsp Allspice, ground 1 clove Garlic, crushed 180 g Long-grain brown rice Sea salt and freshly ground pepper 550-600 ml Vegetable broth or water, warmed 100 g Dried figs, diced 200 g Leftover roasted chicken breast Some leftover roasted Brussels sprouts, cut into wedges 1 tbsp Chopped parsley 1 handful Pomegranate seeds

1. Melt the butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Add the shallot and saute until tender. Add in allspice and crushed garlic and stir briefly.
2. Add in brown rice and stir until the rice is coated with the butter. Pour in vegetable broth. Bring to the boil then immediately turn down to a simmer. Cover and cook for 30 minutes. Turn off the heat. Add in dried figs and let sit, covered, for 10 minutes.
3. Season with salt and pepper and gently fork through the roasted chicken, Brussels sprouts and chopped parsley. Shower with pomegranate seeds at the last minute.

A soft,tender, lightly sweetened two-toned yeast chocolate bread swirled with a layer of orange chiffon cake. Not only is it DELICIOUS, it looks quite pretty when you serve it. They are excellent when toasted and spread with butter or jam for a satisfying breakfast or afternoon snack.
Alternatively, you can replace the cocoa powder with milk powder (or just flour) to prepare a sweet bread dough, then topped with a disc of chocolate flavoured foam cake.

In October, I was the very LUCKY winner of $40 Amazon gift card from Choc Chip Uru - Go Bake Yourself. Uru is a 17-year-old culinary genius and a serious chocolate fan. Please head over to her space and learn more her baking, her fun undercover stories. The cookie stamp and cupcake decorating set I have bought with the gift card have finally arrived this Saturday. Thank you once again, Uru!

200 g Refined spelt flour 160 All purpose flour 40 g Dutch-Processed cocoa powder 7 g Salt 90 g Brown sugar 8 g Instant dried yeast 190 ml Milk, lukewarm 50 g Butter, cut into pieces 1 Large egg, lightly beaten 1 tsp Vanilla extract 1 disc 10-inch Chiffon cake

1. In a large mixing bowl, combine spelt flour, bread flour, cocoa, salt, brown sugar and the instant dried yeast. Blend well.
2. Warm the milk and butter in a saucepan to about 40C/100F. Lightly beaten the egg and add warm milk mixture and vanilla extract. Whisk together.
3. Make a well in the center of flour mixture, pour in the liquid mixture. Stir with a dough hook at slow speed for 1 minute. Increase the speed to the medium and continue to knead until smooth, and the dough leaves from sides of the mixing bowl. Add more flour if necessary.
4. Turn out the dough and shape into a ball. Lightly grease the mixing bowl and return the dough ball into the bowl, turning to grease all sides. Cover and proof the dough in a warm place for about two hours until it doubles in volume.
5. Knead the dough a few times on a lightly floured work surface, cover and let rest for 5 minutes. Roll out the dough into a large oval shape and top with the chiffon cake. Roll up like a jelly roll, placing the seam side down into a 33-cm loaf pan.
6. Butter a piece of plastic wrap and place loosely over the dough. Let rise again until doubled in size, about 1 hour. Preheat oven to 180C/350F and place bread in the center of the oven. Bake for about 40 minutes. Let cool for 10 minutes, then remove from pan and cool on wire rack.

I'm submitting this to We Should Cocoa - Bread this month, hosted on Chocolate Log Blog and Chocolate Teapot.