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.

Nothing tastes fresher, happier and better than a spring salad just picked from your own garden or windowsill. Besides that, salad is a great way to increase your fruit and vegetable consumption.
Baby spinach is amazingly easy to grow, as seeds germinate in cool weather. I started mine outdoors in containers around the mid-April and 3-4 weeks later, they were ready for harvest.
The flavour of this salad sparkles with the subtle depth and bright note of acidity from Balsamic vinegar, its tartness tempered by the natural sweetness of tasty, low-calorie roasted orange sweet potatoes.

Salad	Dressing
700 g Orange sweet potatoes, peeled and cut into slices 2 tbsp Olive oil Salt and black pepper 100 g Baby spinach 1 handful Almonds, toasted and chopped 1 Small red onions, cut into thin wedges 100 g Feta, crumbled	3 tbsp Balsamic 1 tbsp Olive oil 2 tbsp Clear honey 1 tbsp Wholegrain mustard Salt and pepper

1. Preheat a grill or broiler to medium-high. Place the potato slices, 2 tbsp olive oil, salt and pepper in a bowl. Toss well. Place them in a single layer on a baking sheet, and broil until they are nicely caramelised, 5 minutes on each side. Adjust the oven to the bake setting at the temperature 180C/350F. Cook for 15 minutes until they are fork tender.
2. Toss baby spinach, toasted almonds, and red onions together and divide the mixture into two serving plates. Top with crumbled feta.
3. Whisk the balsamic, olive oil, honey and mustard together. Season well. Pile sweet potato slices on top of the salad and drizzle with the dressing.

These delicious crackers are indulgently buttery, cheesy, flaky and practically melt in your mouth. A mix of sharp Cheddar and Grana Padano was used here, but if you can't get enough sharp-tasting cheese, then substitute Grana Padano with vintage Cheddar.

Whole Wheat Cheese Crackers with Chives and Mustard

adapted from Taste

150 g Wholewheat flour 150 g All purpose flour 250 g Chilled butter, cut into smaller pieces 2 tsp Dijon mustard 60 g Sharp Cheddar, grated 60 g Grana Padano, grated 3 tbsp Fresh chives, chopped

1. Whisk and sift together the wholewheat flour and all purpose flour in a mixing bowl. Set aside. Line two baking trays with parchment papers.
2. Beat chopped butter and mustard in a bowl until combined and creamy. Stir in the flour mixture, grated Cheddar, Grana Padano, and chives. Turn onto a lightly floured work surface. Use your hands to bring the dough together.
3. Divide the dough into two equal portions. Roll out 1 portion onto a lightly floured work surface until about 5mm thick. Use a wave or flower 5cm-diamenter cookie cutter to cut cookies from the dough. Place on the prepared trays. Place them in the fridge for 15 minutes to chill.
4. Preheat the oven to 180C/350F. Bake the cookies, swapping trays halfway through cooking, for 18-20 minutes or until golden. Set aside on the trays for 5 minutes to cool before transferring to a wire rack. Repeat with the remaining dough portion. Store the crackers in an airtight container for up to 1 week.

These bread rolls are made with a mix of ground whole grain spelt and refined spelt flour. Spelt's nutty flavour doesn't just taste good, it has so many other nutritional benefits that are amazingly good for you.
Like wheat flour, it is sold as both refined / white or whole grain flour. Because it has an extremely fragile glutten content, so don’t expect bread that use spelt to rise high.
Spelt has the right combination of nutrients and can help you with Migraine Headaches, lower your risk of Type II Diabetes, Cardiovascular Disease, and help women avoid Gallstones and Breast Cancer. For an in-depth nutritional profile, please visit whfoods.

Wholegrain Spelt Bread Rolls

adapted from Dinkel-Vollkornbrötchen - brotbackforum

Starter	Dough
400 g Wholegrain spelt, finely ground 320 ml Warm water 1 g Fresh yeast	600 g Refined spelt flour 250 ml Warm water 10 g Sugar 4 g Fresh yeast 18 g Salt 20 ml Olive oil

1. Combine all the starter ingredients in a mixing bowl and leave it, covered with a plastic film, for 12 hours until bubbly.
2. Place all the starter, spelt pastry flour, water, sugar and yeast in the mixing bowl of your stand mixer. Mix at slow speed for 2 minutes. Add in salt and olive oil. Once the salt and oil are incorporated with the dough, increase the speed and knead for a 4 further minutes.
3. Shape the dough into a ball and proof, covered, for about 2 hours, stretching and folding the dough at 45 minutes and 90 minutes.Place the dough on a lightly floured work surface and knead lightly to release the air.
4. Divide the dough into 18 pieces, each weighs about 90 grams. Shape each portion of dough into an oval or round roll. Place them on the baking trays lined with parchment paper. Cover and and leave to proof for 45-60 minutes.
5. Brush the surface with water or egg white. Preheat the oven to
6. Place a roasting pan at the bottom shelf and preheat the oven to 250C/500F. Just before putting the bread into the hot oven, slash the tops in an asterisk with a sharp knife. Bake the bread for 10-13 minutes. Now turn down the oven temperature to 215C/420F and bake a further 12-15 minutes until nicely golden brown and crusty.

A sweet, salty, crunchy bar cookie topped with roasted peanuts. Honey and roasted peanuts, a decadent bliss and a bewitching flavour combination that brings out the best in one other. Irresistible and thoroughly satisfying!

Honey Peanut Spelt Bars

adapted from Fine Cooking

Crust	Topping
40 g Unsalted toasted peanuts 100 g Granulated sugar 320 g Spelt pastry flour 1/2 tsp Baking powder 1/2 tsp Table salt 150 g Cold butter, cut into 1/2-inch pieces 1 Large egg, lightly beaten	120 g Light brown sugar 80 g Unsalted butter 4 tbsp Honey 1/2 tsp Table salt 2 tbsp Evaporated milk, at room temperature 350 g Salted and roasted peanuts

1. Position a rack in the center of the oven and heat the oven to 350°F. Spray a 9x13-inch baking pan with cooking spray and line the bottom with parchment.
2. Finely grind peanuts and sugar. Place them in a large mixing bowl together spelt pastry flour, baking powder, and salt. Whisk to combine. Cut in the butter and rub with your fingertips until the mixture resembles breadcrumbs. Add the lightly beaten egg and mix just until the dough begins to gather into large clumps.
3. Using your fingertips, press the dough into the bottom of the prepared pan and about 1 inch up the sides to form a 1/4-inch-thick side crust. Using the tines of a fork, dock the crust evenly all over.
4. Bake until light golden brown on the edges and the center looks dry, 15 to 20 minutes. Cool the crust on a rack.
5. At the same time, bring the brown sugar, butter, honey, and salt to a boil in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat, stirring often. Slowly and carefully add the evaporated milk and return to a boil. Remove from the heat and carefully add the nuts, stirring to coat.
6. Pour the nut mixture over the crust and spread evenly with a spatula. Tilt the pan to help spread the liquid to the edges and corners. Bake until the topping has just started to bubble slowly in the center, about 20 minutes.
7. Let cool on a wire rack for 10 minutes and then run a knife around the inside edge of the pan to loosen the crust from the sides. Let the bars cool completely. Cut into 16 bars. The cookies will keep in an airtight container at room temperature for 3 to 5 days.