Eating, drinking, living. That’s what my blog is about. And it provides lots of answers to the question: what should I cook today?
I am Michaelle (Elle) and my love of fresh, wholesome and delicious home cooked meals led me here. I have been living in Germany for the last 10 years and love every bit of it. I was raised in Vancouver, Canada and as a hopeless travel addict with an incurable curiosity, my travels finally brought me to the life I enjoy in Hamburg. Healthy living is important to me and I enjoy exploring what is good for my body and soul. This all starts with what I eat, but is so much more than that. The things I value most are: healthy living, exploring, experiencing new things, my friends and family, and a good laugh!
- I love music. I could not live without music. I find it eerily quiet without it. I love all types of music, mostly Indie Alternative and the fact that Hamburg has a pretty decent music scene, means I am quite often checking out live acts.
- Regular exercise is an important part of my life, whether it’s yoga, biking, running or swimming. I go stir crazy without it. And the best part is, it allows me to indulge in foods I love.
- I love spring, summer and fall. Winter? Ahem…pass. Yes, coming from a Canadian girl. Okay, Hamburg isn’t much better than Vancouver weatherwise…but I am working on that. The South has been calling for me for years now.
- I love coffee & tea, dogs & cats, wine & um…wine. Red wine. That itty-bitty 1/8 French in me prevails.
- Dinner is served pretty late; anytime between 8pm and 9pm. Though, being a night person, there is plenty of time to digest before going to bed. Plus, I usually cook a one course dinner with a salad or vegetables. I love the Mediterranean food culture.
- I don’t have any children of my own but my boyfriend has three boys, so things are pretty busy around our place keeping everyone fed, entertained and happy.
So that’s what led me to starting this blog. I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I enjoy writing it and I also look forward to receiving tips from my readers. With any luck, I’ll be able to put a smile on your face and butterflies in your stomach! But for now, enjoy..!
My food philosophy
Real food is what matters. I steer clear of processed foods. I believe you really are what you eat. Home cooked, healthy and balanced meals are something each one of us can incorporate into our lives. To one degree or another.
Sweets aren’t my thing. Some say I am lucky. I’m convinced that the less you eat, then less you want to eat. No refined sugars, means I really notice it when I stumble upon some in a pasta sauce or some other unexpected place. Tastes horrible. Though, I do like my occasional square of dark chocolate…but there I am pretty picky too.
I drink a lot of water and can’t imagine ever sipping back a soda, or a glass of milk for that matter. I like wine with my dinner; it opens up the appetite, complements the meal, and lets me savor what I am eating. I say, skip the bread and take the wine. It’s healthier.
Inspired by whole organic foods, I believe that good food is simple, fresh, seasonal and delicious….and without being fanatical about anything, the more colorful, the better. You will see I am a big fan of vegetables, particularly salads, which I eat practically every single day.
Eating lots of fresh foods, is what I believe to be the key to keeping looking young, energetic and maintaining a healthy waistline. I love food and I love to eat, but I am a firm believer in moderation and balance. Even with the modern, busy lives we lead, local foods and wholesome meals are something we can all enjoy and still have quality time with friends and family. And what could be better than spending time with the people you care about enjoying life and good times over good, delicious food?
The most profound impact on my eating habits comes from within. As corny as that sounds. But, truthfully, the thing I have always craved the most was simply: FRESH. Good, simple, fresh foods. For the most part, grown from the earth. I have never been a big meat eater, and in fact was vegetarian for the greater part of a decade. I would say that even today, I am 90% vegetarian and, as much as possible, buy organic. I try to reduce my carbon footprint by trying to eat as much local and seasonal produce as possible without completely sacrificing and cutting out foods I absolutely love. Every bit counts.
All my recipes use whole ingredients and I’m not a professional photographer by any means – okay, I think that one was obvious. As a busy person myself, all my photos have been taken with a standard Sony A65 DSLR Canon EOS 6D Mark II or in some cases my iPhone. Sometimes I use natural light, sometimes a simply diffuser – always on the fly, trying to get a meal on the table, while it’s still warm, after a busy day in the office.
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