Archives for 2016

Flaky Strawberry & Rice Milk Scones (Vegan, Sugar-Free, with Spelt)

August 2, 2016 by Deniz 6 Comments

The average German citizen consumes a roughly 35 kilograms of sugar each year and I used to be pretty good at boosting that average with my own excessive consumption. There was a reason the “sweets drawer” in our home had a classwide reputation. Ah, home sweet home!

But let’s take a moment to think about this number: It’s been six years now since I quit sugar for good. Six years, which amounts to a total of 195 kilos of sugar that never got pumped through my body. Sadly this also made me realize that, during the other ⅘ of my life, I already consumed four times the amount without even blinking an eye. Holy caramel!

But hey, at least I’m on the right track, don’t you think?

Actually, being aware of your own sugar consumption or even making an effort to reduce it, is further down the road than most of the people around you will ever get. No matter if you are quitting sugar by choice or for health reasons, it’s time to give yourself a proud pat on the shoulder here, because you’re doing a pretty awesome job! …

Superfood Kumpir: Turkish Baked Potato with Avocado, Salmon and Turmeric Yogurt Sauce

July 27, 2016 by Deniz 3 Comments

Don’t be fooled. This is not your ordinary baked potato. Just speaking of ‘Kumpir’ (pronounced koompeer) is like diving deep into the sunday-cravings of just about every Turk living close to the Bosphorus. Heading out to grab a Kumpir on any given weekend is the equivalent of Berliners going out to a club on Sundays. It’s just something you do. No questions asked. What’s more, a week without just doesn’t feel right. Especially now with all the political turmoil going on, grabbing a Kumpir feels like taking one last bite of normality.

For those of you who haven’t heard of Kumpir yet, it is a massive baked potato drowned in sauces, overflowing with all kinds of processed salads, sausages and cheese. Yes another one of those bummers for us FODMAPers. The good news, it couldn’t be easier to turn this dish into some full-blown, low FODMAP deliciousness. You can top it off with everything that makes you purr with delight. Following a first ‘healthy’ kumpir recipe in my cookbook, I thought I’d share another winning combo with you today!…

Sugar-Free Pistachio Cheesecake Brownies

May 31, 2016 by Deniz 16 Comments

For the past months, life has been a rollercoaster ride. It feels like someone took all my experiences and thoughts from the past 3 years, put them in a jar, closed the lid and shook it like mad. And so, I’ve been trying to figure out, which of these ideas and values are still valid and which should be thrown overboard again for our new chapter in Berlin.

We are currently trying to make ourselves feel home in our new flat. The bad news, the kitchen still looks like this. …

Weekday Breakfast Fix: Sugar Free Millet Porridge With Turmeric and Almond Milk

January 20, 2016 by Deniz 16 Comments

Weekday Breakfast Fix: Sugar-Free Millet Porridge With Turmeric and Almond Milk #sugarfree #fructosefriendly // fructopia.de/en
I don’t need to open my eyes to know it’s still dark outside. I wrap the blanket a little tighter around my body while trying to hit the “snooze” button as quickly as possible. But before the alarm hits off again, I already slip out of bed to make my way into the kitchen. I’ve come to learn that there is nothing worse then getting up at a cold and dark winter night, than being stressed out on a cold and dark winter night. I usually trick myself into getting up on time by treating myself to a piping bowl of porridge. Right now I’m back at millet, one of my favorites ever since turning my back on wheat. I always add coconut oil and turmeric to it. The base itself provides me with just enough of the nutritional goods to keep me going until lunch. To make it more fund I add some crunch and mix the bitter from the raw cocoa nibs with the mild sweetness of the rice mal syrup.

And boy, isn’t it really beautiful to look at too? It looks like the whole universe unfolding right in front of me.
What’s your secret to getting up on time these days?…

My new favorite kitchen gadget: FlicFloc aka The Grain Flaker

January 10, 2016 by Deniz 4 Comments

Damn it! One by one my kitchen appliances were starting to bite the dust. I’ve come to ask myself if this is me or some universal force trying to tell me that I should step away from gadgets all together. Two broken blenders were more than enough to push me over the edge. I was convinced that I wouldn’t get myself another blender, ever. Of course, this and other New Year’s resolutions ultimately failed. The homemade pesto, bulletproof coffee and warm soup fanatic in me wouldn’t overcome this loss. Or to put it differently, without a blender I’d need to retire from blogging all together.

I still doubt the necessity of most other gadgets though. Let’s consider the exemplary ice-cream machine. The idea to make our own sugar-free ice cream whenever we want sounds fantastic at first. But then winter kicks in early and the tool disappears somewhere in storage for some 9 months or more. Not the kind of tool I like to spend my money on to be honest.

But what if the object of desire is no ordinary gadget after all? What if it has the potential to be a companion for life? A tool made from elegant wood, with an indestructible stainless-steel roller. A gadget propelled by your own body power rather than nuclear power from the socket. A helper for your everyday needs and beautiful to look at!

“And then she jumps to her feet to dance her little happy dance!” – This is me, everytime I look at this little fellow. It was love at first sight! This buddy here is definitely still an insider’s tip, on it’s way to becoming a mandatory household item everywhere. …