Yes.

I said yes

Three years ago,
When we first saw each other, July 20th in the late evening. Both with a glass of beer in our hands, surrounded by mutual friends who didn't yet meet. We laughed. We danced. We flirted. We slipped into the conversation like sliding into fresh apple crumble, right out of the oven. It felt gooey, warm and comforting.

When you asked me out. We skipped down the street. We sang the worst love songs aloud. We hugged like the world would end.

When we closed our eyes and our lips touched each other for the very first time.

I said yes.

Last month,
When we were sitting on the prettiest bench in Lille. Talking about the fancy dinner we just had, giggling about life.
When you dropped on one knee and pulled a small box out of your pocket. I cried a lot and stuttered. You cried a little and laughed.

Light Eton Mess

Nop. I haven't been eaten by wolves, I didn't bake myself to dead and I definitely don't suffer from a burnout.
In the contrary; I'm more alive than ever. Ready to kick some serious ass.
But boy, oh boy! How this was the craziest of months someone has ever dealt with.

Last month, I finished my master's thesis and graduated like a boss! This was celebrated with some bubbles and an indoor pick-nick.
I was also told I can start working in September as a kindergarten teacher. Hell yeah! We drank bubbles for realz and ate pie.
Finally; Mr. Boyfriend and I moved in together in our new cosy palace -I'll show you around later on-. We packed and unpacked like our lives depended on it. When all of this was done we drank a bottle of bubbles until we didn't feel our sour feet/hands anymore.

I really got slimmer and way fitter from all of these celebrating-dinners and events. Alcohol does wonders for my body.
- Has no one ever said.

Baked Ravioli Salad

Last time I told you I handed my master's thesis in. I made it sound all simple and joyful.

Real talk; things got ugly. The paper got stuck in the printer, I had to cut off the front page with a knife and I cried at the copy-shop. On the upside of all this: the nice lady at the counter gave me a pity-discount.
{Is that a real upside? I'm not sure...}

On days like this; the only thing that keeps me going is a pasta-heavy meal, shared with the people I love the most. So that's exactly what I did.

This is a recipe that you'll see me bringing along on the next pick-nick/barbecue/potluck for sure. It's so easy, great to make ahead and a creative turn on the casual everyday (mayonnaise loaded) pasta salad. It's also a great excuse for eating pasta everyday of the week: "but I'm eating a salad?!"

Spinach, mushroom and ricotta cannelloni

So... It finally happened. I submitted my Master's thesis!

It feels surreal, amazing and totally normal at the same time.

So now you know... the reason why this blog was on stand-by modus for the last couple of weeks was mostly because the amount of proof-reading, referencing and rewriting that was happening on this side of the screen. 

Not much fancy cuisine happened. Microwave and pizza happened. 

Lucky enough I could also count on both Marjan and mr. Boyfriend who prevented me from starving. 

Both of them did an awesome job at keeping a real foodie satisfied and happy.

Marjan made this super-tasty cannelloni with spinach, mushrooms and ricotta. It's an absolute classic for dinner parties at her place and always seems to blow away her guests. I also love the simplicity of the recipe; it's fairly straightforward and healthy.

Taco Salad (De)Light

This salad is fresh tasting, crispy, filling, and has that sweet-salty thing going on that I love.
The confusion while eating it is something extra; just to get you to start talking at the dinner-table.
Is this salad healthy or isn't it?

Well, it surely doesn't taste like something you'ld eat wearing a bikini.
It has a bunch of meat, chips and even a bit of cheese on top.

But by replacing the meat by ground turkey, the sour cream for fat-free yoghurt and by reducing the amount of cheese you healthied {shhht, totally a word} it completely up without any of the sacrifices.

The recipe is more of guidance or coach than an actual recipe. Use what you have in stock, feel free to change up the ingredients. Like with any (salad) recipe: Don’t like something? Don’t use it. Have another great idea?  Please,feel free to try it out.

Strawberries with mint, prosecco and yoghurt

Spring has finally arived! From memory, I think this winter was one of the hardest and coldest I've experienced. Slowly but surely those short dark days are being replaced with beautiful bright sunny days and this couldn't get me any happier. Along with the downside of shaving our legs and spring cleaning we get to rejoice on berries, ice cream and picknicks.

Baked doughnuts with raspberry and coconut glaze

I’ve been wanting to experiment with making homemade donuts for a while now but its kind of hard without owning a donut pan or candy thermometer.

Luckily, my sassy, sweet toothed friend Marjan, was all over the idea, and together we decided that something must be done about this situation.

So we set out on our own pink donut -making adventure!

These puppies took us about 3 hours and 10 minutes from start to finish.
But how they're worth every minute...

If you’ve never made doughnuts before, here is my advice to you: Take the afternoon off! Go home and preheat the oven. Double the batch and invite some friends. Eat five to eight donuts and fall asleep as a happy girl.

Marjan mixing the icing, drinking frozen mimosas

For this particular recipe you won't need a donutpan, frying pan or candy thermometer. All you need is an oven, a pretty friend with good kneading hands and some spare time.

Frozen mimosa | Liebster award

Well, this is something that caught me completely off guard.

Thank you so much, Mowdjo's Kitchen, for nominating me for this pretty Liebster Award.

I am deeply humbled by this. 

So apparently the rules for this beautiful award are:

1. Thank the blogger who nominated you.
2. Attach the award icon to your site.
3. Answer questions from the previous blogger and choose new ones for your nominees. 
4. Nominate other bloggers for the award and let them know. 

Potato, pea and mint salad with feta

Mr Boyfriend and me are on a salad kick.
Not because we gained a huge amount of weight since we started to hang out on a more regular base at the stove.
{wich we did}

Not because the weather is inviting us to get away from the oven and into the greens 

{wich it doesn't}
And definitely not because I don't have any time to spare on frying donuts or baking pie

{wich I do}

No, it's more of a craving that we're currently sharing.

A craving that doesn't feel like any other craving I've had before
A craving that's getting away from anything rational
{donuts, taco's, burgers are the usual suspects}

We're sharing a craving for greens, light lunches and the Oh!I'mfeelinghealthy...

Spicy white bean - couscous burger

One of the nicest things about cooking in these modern times {do I sound like an old fart now?} is how it’s no longer a necessity to survive. Cooking is no longer simply the fulfillment of bodily need and in this line: it's no longer a chore or hassle you need to do to. 

You can now easily order in, take away or go out without wasting too much money or ruining your taste buds.

While only touching two buttons on your oven and a small time waiting, you can have a lasagna, mousaka or [fill in the blank]. 

beetroot- feta salad

This makes the way we cook feel less like a chore or routine and more like an art of personal (and social) pleasure.

The moment I start to chop vegetables, it feels like buying a new dress or holding hands with someone you love.
It isn’t necessary, but it surely does feel all kinds of awesome.

So yes; you can easily buy hundreds of premade vegetarian burgers in the supermarket. 

Yes, most of them taste pretty good. 

Yes, you can spend your time on watching stupid cat video’s instead of kneading white bean mash with garlic and lots of herbs. 

The question is now; do you want to buy ‘em premade? 

Or do you want to get your hands all dirty and spend some quality time with the veg’s/ yourself/ your sous-chef?

For me, the answer depends on my mood, the weather and the sous-chef.
How about you?

carrot cake

Dudes,

Let us sit down for a moment and talk about totally important unimportant stuff.

NYMD recently turned one year!

My little girl is growing up so quickly.

Today, exactly one year ago I posted this post in wich I challenged myself to go about and have one crazy year.

 I wanted to run through a list of 24 tasks before I turned 24 years old.

I haven’t given you an update on my list because well… I’ve turned 24 and well, yeah... I’m no where near done with my list.

So let's just go with it and call this a list in progress; 

a list of things which lead us to a better life; 

a life with more cartwheels, more books and way more fancy dinners.

Baked eggs

So, it's finally the last week of my exams... 

 Are you also rocking on the concentration department? 

Yeeaah, me neither.

In case you're in need of some further distraction, here's a list of 15 13 things that are way more fun than studying.

1. Chewing a pencil

2. Looking at pictures of food in space

3. Getting really fascinated by the wonders of gifs

4. (Re)pinning a loooot of shit on pinterest

5. Writing a best-selling (to be) novel

6. Watching 435.558.434 TED-talks

7. Planning the post-exams party

8. Yodeling

9. Getting bit by an alligator

9. Planning summer vacation
{Morocco, here we come!)

10. Doctor Who marathon, anyone?

11. Windowshopping through the internet

12. Doing push-ups

13. Doing the dishes

13. Cooking 

If you're to busy practicing your yodeling to even start cooking {really, who could blame you?} I sincerely recommend you to try this pretty baked egg for breakfast, lunch and/ or dinner.

It's the easiest, yummiest treat that's ever been made in 20 minutes tops.

Haaaajajajaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaajajajave fun!

{that's me yodeling, folks}

Aubergine parmigiana

For recipe: scroll down

Dear 2013,

how you smell like fresh linnen & unpooped babies.

You're just so young and new and all different kinds of innocent...

Boy, how I have the highest expectations of you!

You and I, we're going to be besties.

Not sure? To much pressure?
Let me give you 5 reasons why you'll be the awesomest of years: 

Seafood pasta

I aim to be a focused, well organised shopper. In this scenario; I make pretty lists with little boxes on the side to check off, I don't have to run twice a day to the supermarket and my fridge isn't a total mess.

As you could've guessed by now, I'm not quite as efficient as I would want to be in the kitchen. I'm glad to tell you I'm seldomly out of wine or butter. Nevertheless, I never seem to have a sufficient amount of plain flour in the pantry.

So last week I didn't have the right kind of cheese at home. That happened. 

I threw in some creamy ricotta to make up for it. And it tasted divine.

Yolo!

Baked apples with red wine and a sweet bèchamel sauce

Autumn to-do list

Buy an oversized jacket. Wear it every. single. day.

Have a picknick in the park. read: pumpkin soup, hot cocoa, fresh bread, cinnamon sticks and cheese.
{Yes, you're invited too}

Snuggle away while reading a good book. {Any suggestions?}

Don't get the flu. Getting ill is super lame.

Dress up for halloween in a DIY costume.

Nap!

Jump in a big pile of leaves.

Carve a pumpkin. Try to avoid the emergency room in the same time.

Eat loads of baked apples... and apple pie... and actually everything involving cinnamon and apples.

Messy apple pear tart

You and I, we should have a heart to heart.

Don't worry; I won't talk about the amount of calories in this pie.

I'm also not about to tell you that you should really do your dishes. 

{This ain't your mothers blog, girl...}

{Lame pun intented}

sweet pretzels are used as tart crust

Seriously though, we should talk about the season aproaching.

That's right; party-season is aproaching. 

This season is also known as awesome-season. Put-on-your boots-and-dance-season. Or my favorite: this-girl-can-boogie-and-I'm-about-to-show-you-so-season.

Because we girls should stick together, I made a small list of advice you should consider deeply.

crêpes for one

Holy heck! When did fall sneak up on us? 

Wasn't it just yesterday we celebrated the start of my beloved peach-season and we toasted on the best of summer?

Now, the smell of apple pie already surrounds me and today, I even had to wear my jacket outside.

ps. I don't like jackets. They hide my dresses.

pps. Apple pie is awesome. word.

Mussels with sun-dried tomatoes and garlic

Stuff I'm totally excited about:

- Unicorns

- Mussels

- Girls
- My recipe featured on this pretty awesome blog

- Polka dots

- Sprinkles on my ice cream

- Shiny stuff

- This song

- Berlin festival {!}

- My new little home

- Rainbows

- Shoes that feel comfy

- Really long words

- Frozen yoghurt with Marjan

- Dancing on bare feet

- Getting to know all of you

Strawberry balsamic rice pudding | Never have I ever

Never have I ever watched every single episode of New Girl, twice.

Never have I ever ate two cheeseburgers in a row, without the shame.

Never have I ever aplauded myself after burping like a bear.

Never have I ever dreamed about rice pudding.

Never have I ever forgot to shave my legs... for like, forever.

Never did I ever take a look at your facebook profile.

Never have I ever danced like a ninja while finishing my exam.

Never have I ever put balsamic vinegar in a dessert.