CHERRY TOMATO & FETA SPAGHETTI

It's sunny, hot and there's water everywhere, there's nothing better than summer in Amsterdam. Summer weekends here are spent lounging in the parks, fleeing to the ocean side or biking to one of the many lakes (meer) around the country. 

A friend and I weighed our options and decided to head to the beach so we needed a quick pre-beach lunch which was bikini friendly and easy to cook up in my un air-conditioned flat.

This pasta is light, easy and from start to finish takes under 30 minutes. With a couple of cubes of feta and some fresh oregano a wonderful summer meal is born.

KNOTTED CINNAMON BUNS

Knotted Swedish cinnamon buns, I really do make these more often than I should but cinnamon and sugar are one of life's sweet combinations and a sweet morsel always goes with an afternoon coffee or tea. The best part of these is that they are more of a brioche with cinnamon and sugar filling than a North American cinnamon bun. They're actually not that sweet and won't leave you feeling guilty or with a toothache if you happen to down 2 or 3 at a sitting. Something I wholly recommend. 

These take about 3 hours to make so if you start on a saturday morning you can have them baked up for your afternoon break, hopefully in the sun.

GREEN & BLACK WHEAT BERRY SALAD

Sometimes you need a whole grain/vegetable boost. I had a very indulgent weekend food and beverage wise so today needed something a bit healthier but still exciting enough to compete with the roast potatoes and pork of last night. So I thought what better way to make something exciting than to mix loads of stuff together and hope for the best!

My thought process for this salad was simple, incorporate colour and texture, two things I love in food, to make something yummy and exciting to eat. Bright green veg and seeds, flecked with very dark lentils and raisins all with lots of different textures; chewy, crunchy and soft. Mission accomplished!

BROCCOLI & LEEK SOUP

I was in Ghent over the weekend for a small adventure and stopped by a place which only served soups, 4 kinds which rotated daily and were served with 4 toppings; meatballs, cheese, herbs and chopped vegetables. For 4.50 EU you got a giant bowl of soup with the toppings of your choice, two rolls and an apple. A bit like a charming cafeteria or an old school diner, the perfect lunch while walking about.

ALMOST EASY BAGELS

Bread, bread, bread, somehow I don't feel as guilty when I eat the bread I make myself, (all the kneading has got to burn some calories!) I got the bread making bug about 2 years ago and I can't stop making and baking the stuff. It's very therapeutic and there's something very rewarding about how every time I make some it gets better and better. It takes time, yes, but it's worth every second when you take fresh bread from the oven to eat it.

SPANOKOPITA

Today something Greek. With all of the amazing food you can eat in Greece, tomatoes, fish, lamb! I have to say that I think spanokopita is truly an act of culinary genius and one of my favourite treats. There really is no better way to eat spinach.

What made me think of Greece was the sparkling and sunny weather in Amsterdam yesterday. Naturally my Greek daydreaming led me to something food related, and an overwhelming desire to make spanokopita, (sun + Martina's daydreaming = cooking). It all fit in perfectly as I was going to have guests over and thought, what could be a better way to greet them than with a salty, crunchy and creamy snack? A snack that was actually somewhat healthy with all the spinach stuffed inside, (delusion is a wonderful thing).