1. First, we’re making the blini batter. Mix all the ingredients together until smooth, then let it chill for like 5-10 minutes. Once the batter’s had its lil rest, heat up a pan with a bit of oil or butter and spoon in small circles of batter. I usually use 3/4 of a tablespoon. Here’s the pro tip: when you see those cute little holes popping up on the surface, it’s time to flip them. Cook each side for about 2-3 minutes until they’re golden and gorgeous. Boom, your blinis are born. Pop them on a cooling rack to chill out – no soggy bottoms here.
2. Grab a bowl and mix the ricotta cream. For this, stir together ricotta, olive oil, lemon juice, salt & pepper until it’s smooth and creamy. Then load it into a piping bag if you’re feeling fancy, or just keep a spoon handy for the easy aesthetic.
3. Once your blinis are cool, dollop or pipe some ricotta cream onto each one. Get creative – a little swirl, a casual blob, whatever your heart desires. Now they’re ready for toppings.
4. For Blini topping 1, toast the walnuts in a pan without adding additional fat. Take them out and let them cool. Thinly slice the shallots into delicate rings and fry them in a bit of oil until crispy. Set aside to cool. Add half a walnut onto the blini, as well as about 1 tsp of the crispy onions. Finish with a drizzle of honey and a sprinkle of pink peppercorns. Toss on a few fresh thyme leaves and finish with a few drops of chili oil for a spicy kick that ties it all together.
5. For Blini topping 2, slice fresh figs into eighths. Place one fig wedge on the ricotta cream, then crumble some blue cheese on the other side – as much or as little as your vibe calls for. Add a few drops of truffle oil, sprinkle with freshly ground pepper, and garnish with a touch of chopped chives to seal the deal.
6. For Blini topping 3, flake some cooked salmon into bite-sized pieces and nestle it onto the ricotta cream. Slice red onions into thin strips, then scatter a few pieces on top along with some capers. Add a few drops of olive oil, a grind of fresh black pepper, and finish with a couple of dill sprigs.
7. For Blini topping 4, tear thin slices of pastrami into strips, roll them into little spirals, and press them onto the ricotta. Diagonally halve some cornichons and place one half on the blini. Drizzle a few drops of walnut oil for a rich, nutty twist. Top it all off with a sprig of fresh parsley for a classy finishing touch.
8. For Blini topping 5, thinly slice radishes into delicate rounds and place two slices on one side of the blini. On the other side, gently press on a little bunch of radish cress for that pop of green. Finish with a few drops of basil oil for a fresh, herbaceous flair.
9. Serve these cute appetizers on a platter and watch them disappear in seconds.

1. Preheat the oven to 175°C / 350°F. Grab a baking dish, drop in the butter, and pop it into the oven for a few minutes and let it melt.
2. In a bowl, combine flour, sugar, baking powder, and a pinch of salt. Stir in milk and a splash of vanilla extract until it’s all smooth, creamy, and totally lump-free.
3. Carefully pull the now-buttery baking dish out of the oven. Pour the batter right over that melted butter. Trust the process – it looks weird now, but it’s all part of trust the process. Sprinkle pecans on top and follow up with a layer of brown sugar. Finally, add the caramel candies. Whole or crushed? Dealer’s choice.
4. Next, get that kettle boiling and slowly pour the hot water over everything in the dish. Yes, everything. No stirring allowed! Just trust me on this one.
5. Bake uncovered for 30–35 minutes or until the top is golden brown and smells like a caramel dream.
6. Take it out and let it cool for about 30 minutes. Patience is key – the caramel sauce underneath thickens and gets all creamy during this time.
7. Scoop it into bowls, drizzle with that caramel sauce hiding underneath, and top with a big ol’ scoop of vanilla ice cream.

1. Peel and dice the onion. Roughly chop the pre-cooked chestnuts and set both aside.
2. Heat a medium pot over medium heat with a bit of olive oil, then sauté the onions until translucent. Next, add the chestnuts and let them cook for 3-4 minutes.
3. Add the beef broth and cream to the pot, bring to a boil, then cover and let it simmer on low heat for about 20-30 minutes, until the chestnuts are soft.
4. While the soup is cooking, heat a large pan over medium heat and melt the butter. Meanwhile, cut the toast into cubes. Add cinnamon, dried chili flakes and salt to the butter, stirring well. Add the toast cubes and toss so they’re evenly coated in the spiced butter. Cook for a few minutes until the cubes are crispy. Set aside.
5. Add thyme to the soup and blend everything with an immersion blender until smooth. Season the soup with salt, pepper, nutmeg, and more thyme if needed.
6. Ladle the soup into bowls, garnish with cream and leek oil, and top with the toasted croutons. Optionally, sprinkle with a bit more ground pepper and enjoy!

1. First, we activate the fresh yeast. Heat 130ml full-fat milk to a temperature between 32°C and 38°C (90°F to 100°F). Add 1 tbsp white sugar and stir well. Crumble in 21g fresh yeast and whisk until fully dissolved. Let the mixture sit for 5 minutes. You should see small bubbles forming on the surface by then.
2. Meanwhile, in a large bowl, add 500g bread flour (Type 550 in Germany), 1/2 tsp salt, 170g yogurt, and 1 egg. Pour in the yeast mixture and stir everything together with a wooden spoon. Transfer the dough to a clean work surface and knead by hand for about 10–15 minutes. The goal is to get a smooth and elastic dough. Using an electric mixer will cut the time in half. The dough is ready when you can stretch a piece thin enough to let light through without tearing. Place the dough back in the bowl and cover it with plastic wrap to keep it from drying out. Let it rise in a warm, draft-free spot for about an hour until it doubles in size.
3. In the meantime, prepare the filling. Mix together 115g room-temperature butter, 150g brown sugar, 2 tbsp cinnamon, and 1/4 tsp salt into a creamy mixture. Set it aside at room temperature.
4. Next, prepare the frosting. Mix together 120g cream cheese, 120g powdered sugar, 50g room-temperature butter, 1 tsp vanilla extract, and 1 tsp lemon juice until smooth and creamy. Store in the fridge until ready to use.
5. After the dough has risen for an hour, it should have doubled in size and is ready to work with. Prepare a large baking dish. Transfer the dough to a lightly floured, clean surface and roll it out to a 50×30 cm (about 20×12 inch) rectangle. Spread the butter-sugar-cinnamon mixture evenly over the dough. Then, cut the dough lengthwise into 12 equal strips. Roll each strip into a spiral and place them in the baking dish, forming 3 rows of 4 rolls. Let the rolls rise again for another 30 minutes.
6. About 10 minutes before the rising time is up, preheat the oven to 190°C (375°F). Once the rolls have risen, pour 100ml heavy cream and, if you like, 50ml cinnamon oil in between the rolls. Bake for 20–25 minutes until the tops are golden brown. Be careful not to overbake them, as they may become dry.
7. Remove the rolls from the oven and let them cool for about 10 minutes. Take the frosting out of the fridge and spread it evenly over the warm rolls. Enjoy!

1. Peel the carrots and cut them into bite-sized pieces. Peel the onions and chop them into small pieces. Pat the beef dry, remove any silver skin if necessary, and cut it into roughly 4×4 cm pieces. Beef brisket or shoulder (also known as “falsches Filet” in Germany) works best. Cut the pancetta into strips. Peel the garlic cloves. They’ll be pressed into the pot later. Open the bottle of wine. Pick a Pinot Noir, Merlot, or Cabernet Sauvignon all work great. A bold, fruity red wine is ideal.
2. Place the pancetta in a cold Dutch oven. Slowly heat it over medium heat and fry until crispy, allowing the fat to render out. Remove the pancetta and set it aside, leaving the bacon fat in the Dutch oven. If the bacon fat isn’t enough, add 1 tbsp of clarified butter and let it melt. Sear the beef in batches on both sides over high heat to create a nice crust. Remove the beef from the pot. Add the carrots, onions, and tomato paste to the Dutch oven. Press the garlic through a garlic press into the pot and stir everything well. Sauté for about 5 minutes, then sprinkle 1 tbsp of flour over the vegetables and mix well.
3. Pour in about 1/4 of the red wine, stir, and let it reduce over medium heat without a lid until almost no liquid remains (about 5 minutes). The wine and flour should form a creamy texture with the veggies. Return the seared beef to the pot, pour in the remaining wine and the beef stock, and stir well. Place thyme sprigs and bay leaves on top, cover, and bring to a boil. Then reduce to low heat and simmer with the lid on for 2.5-3 hours.
4. Meanwhile, peel the pearl onions carefully without cutting through them. Set them aside in a bowl. Next brush the mushrooms clean with a pastry brush or peel them directly, then quarter them. Set them aside as well. Next to prepare the mashed potatoes peel and quarter them. Fill a large pot with water, add the potatoes and 1 tsp salt and boil until soft. Drain the water and keep the potatoes covered. Heat a small pan over medium heat, melt 1 tsp of clarified butter, and sauté the pearl onions for about 5 minutes, stirring frequently, until they turn golden brown. Deglaze with white wine, add thyme, parsley, and a bay leaf on top, cover, and simmer for about 25 minutes until the wine has mostly evaporated and the onions are soft. Remove the herbs before serving and keep the onions warm on the stove. Season with salt & pepper.
5. To thicken the Boeuf Bourguignon sauce, prepare a beurre manié. Mix 2 tbsp of softened butter with 2 tbsp of flour into a creamy paste. Add it gradually to the stew about 30 minutes before the end of the cooking time to thicken the sauce. Stir the beurre manié into the Dutch oven in portions and bring everything to a quick boil.
6. After about 1.5 hours of simmering, sauté the quartered mushrooms in a large pan with 1 tsp of clarified butter until golden brown. While they’re cooking, prepare an espresso. Add the mushrooms, pancetta, dark chocolate, and espresso to the Dutch oven. Stir well and let it simmer for at least another 30 minutes.
7. For the mashed potatoes, warm milk and butter in a small pot until the butter has melted. Add the mixture to the potatoes, grate in some nutmeg, and mash everything into a chunky texture. For a smoother mash, pass the potatoes through a sieve or food mill. Season with salt and pepper, then stir in crème fraîche. To serve, spoon the mashed potatoes onto plates, top with Boeuf Bourguignon, and add some pearl onions. Garnish with fresh chives.

PREPARATIONS

• Weigh out all the ingredients beforehand and have them ready. Make sure you have the right amount of nuts to hand, as you need to prepare the caramel quickly.

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Place butter, sugar, all-purpose flour, vanilla sugar, a pinch of salt and an egg in a medium-sized bowl. Knead into a shortcrust pastry. Wrap the ball of dough in cling film and place in the fridge for 30 minutes.
2. After 30 minutes, preheat the oven to 200°C / 390°F and spread a layer of baking paper on a work surface. Sprinkle with a little flour and roll out the dough ball from the fridge to a size of about 31×24 cm (approximately 12×9 inches). Now place the baking paper with the dough on a baking tray and bake in the oven for around 12-13 minutes. The dough should be light in color when it comes out of the oven and at most slightly brown at the edges. Then remove the dough from the oven and leave to cool.
3. Meanwhile make the caramel in a small pot. To do this, melt sugar over a low to medium heat, stirring constantly. As soon as the sugar has completely melted and turned amber, remove from the heat and stir in butter and heavy cream, one at a time. Don’t panic it’s normal that it gets bubbly just keep stirring, but be careful not to burn yourself. While stirring let it simmer for a minute or so on a low heat.
4. Once the mixture has become a smooth caramel, stir in whole macadamia nuts and peanuts. Now quickly spread the nut-caramel mixture evenly over the cooled dough and press lightly onto the dough so that the caramel and the dough can combine, and leave to stand for around 45-60 minutes so that the caramel can harden.
5. In the meantime, place the chocolate and coconut oil in a small heatproof glass or stainless steel bowl and fill the pot in which you prepared the caramel with water and bring to the boil over a medium heat on the stove. This not only makes it very easy to remove the caramel residue but also melts the chocolate for the next step. Do not pour the water away, but hang the bowl with the chocolate in the pot. But it shouldn’t touch the water. White chocolate is a little diva and only needs the steam to melt. Leave it to stand for approx. 10-15 minutes. Stir the chocolate from time to time and make sure no water gets in the bowl.
6. As soon as the caramel hardened, use a sharp knife to cut the nut caramel sheet as desired. I opted for squares. Now hold the squares by the nut-caramel layer and dip them with the dough layer into the melted chocolate and allow to drip off well. Leave the squares to dry on the nut-caramel layer. For quicker drying, place the squares in the fridge.
7. Enjoy 🙂

1. Thoroughly wash and dry the lemon and orange. Peel 3–4 strips from each using a peeler, then slice the peels into fine julienne strips. Juice the orange, aiming for about 100 ml (3 fl. oz.) of juice.
2. In a small saucepan, bring water to a boil and simmer the julienne strips for 5 minutes to soften and reduce their bitterness. Drain and set aside.
3. Finely dice the shallot and grate the ginger directly into the saucepan. Add the port wine, orange juice, mustard, and cranberries. Bring everything to a boil over medium heat. Once boiling, lower the heat and simmer for about 15 minutes, until the cranberries soften and the liquid reduces.
4. Next, stir in the redcurrant jelly and continue simmering for another 6–7 minutes, or until the sauce thickens. Season with salt and finely ground pepper to taste.
5. Finally, fold the julienne strips into the sauce and let it cool. The sauce will thicken further as it cools and can be reheated anytime for serving.