Summer burger with strawberries and bacon | in my Red Kitchen

Summer burger with strawberries

Summer burger with strawberries and bacon | in my Red Kitchen – Click here for this recipe in Dutch -> Zomer hamburger met aardbeien

The sentence that goes through my head right now is: ‘if a burger with strawberries is wrong, then I don’t want to be right. ”
A terrible cliche but so tremendously true.

Because my oh my… this burger with strawberries is só tasty, even though it sounds like a crazy combination.

Miso roasted cauliflower, you have to serve this at your next grilling party! | in my Red Kitchen

Miso roasted cauliflower

Miso roasted cauliflower, you have to serve this at your next grilling party! | in my Red Kitchen – Click here for this recipe in Dutch -> Geroosterde bloemkool met miso

Sometimes you have those days when there is not much coming out of your hands. I’m writing this at 17:09 on Monday and I have only one thing crossed off of my to-do list for today. And there are only four things on my list: doing laundy, buying groceries, buying new plants, writing blog posts.

Doing laundry: I wanted to do this half an hour ago, but all three washing machines in the laundry room were occupied. So I left my laundry basket there, like: ‘I’m next!’, and I went home to lie down on the couch because I was so tired. Now I might or might not have an imprint of my wedding ring on my cheek… But by now my laundry is in the machine though! Up next is the dryer and once I folded it I can cross that off of my list.

Almond date shake, my favorite dairy free milkshake! | in my Red Kitchen

Almond date shake

Almond date shake, my favorite dairy free milkshake! | in my Red Kitchen – Click here for this recipe in Dutch -> Amandel & dadel milkshake

Eating paleo for a month, yes or no? That is the big question that keeps me busy right now. If you don’t know anything about paleo (or ‘the cavemen diet’) then you should read the explaination on my favorite paleo blog, Nom Nom Paleo: What’s The Paleo Diet?

Why would I eat paleo for a month according to the Whole30 principle? Because I feel like I need a break again, a break from bad food, just to take time re-think my eating habits. I have a busy half year behind me, filled with visiting family members and of course our own trip to Amsterdam. I’ve been eating out a lot and I didn’t always go on my weekly hike, I ignored my fitness exercises on YouTube and didn’t got my juices every week.

I gained a little weight again, I’m tired and feel

Dan dan noodles, you had me a spicy peanut sauce! | in my Red Kitchen

Dan dan noodles

Dan dan noodles, you had me at spicy peanut sauce! | in my Red Kitchen

– Click here for this recipe in Dutch -> Dan dan noodles in een pittige pindasaus

You will probably not believe me but I had my first driving lesson when I was 28 years old; and 6 months and 26 lessons later I got my driver’s license. In the Netherlands this is quite fast, but when I tell this to my American friends they are all surprised. In America (or at least in LA), you need 6 hours of driving lessons to do the driving test. In the Netherlands I “only” had to spent €1.500 on my driving lessons, written test and behind the wheel test. In LA the costs are much lower, we only had to pay $33 for our Californian license. That includes 3 times a written test (if you fail, you can do it 2x on the same day to succeed) and 1 behind the wheel test. If you fail the second behind the wheel test costs… hold on… $6!

If you are over 18 then you basically don’t need driving lessons to complete the tests and from 16 you can drive with a temporary license (then you’re under the supervision of your parents). If that’s the case, you need 30 hours of theory lessons and you have to spent 6 hours of driving lessons behind the wheel.

Iced vanilla latte, the best iced coffee and easy to make at home! | in my Red Kitchen

Iced vanilla latte

Iced vanilla latte, the best iced coffee and easy to make at home! | in my Red Kitchen – Click here for this recipe in Dutch -> Snelle ijskoffie – Iced vanilla latte

I wasn’t planning to share this ‘recipe’ with you at all, but somehow I suddenly had the feeling I hád to do it.

Recently I turned into an addict. A junkie. Addicted to iced coffee. That makes me an iced coffee junkie.

Addicted to cold coffee, a few weeks ago that grossed me out but now I drink it daily. Send help!

Fresh pea soup with mint, the best soup for Spring! | in my Red Kitchen

Fresh pea soup with mint

Fresh pea soup with mint, the best soup for Spring! | in my Red Kitchen

– Click here for this recipe in Dutch -> Doperwtensoep met munt

Growing up at the east side of the Netherlands, my aunt and uncle had a huge farm, not too far from our house.

I can recall many happy moments there; playing with my cousins at the hayloft and finding a dead mouse, seeing a cow giving birth to a calf at night while we are watching through the video system how my uncle was assisting, camping in a little tent in the front yard, drinking really fresh

Cherry and almond scones - a perfect summer breakfast! | in my Red Kitchen

Cherry and almond scones

Cherry and almond scones - a perfect summer breakfast! | in my Red Kitchen – Click here for this recipe in Dutch -> Scones met kersen en amandelen

Last Sunday we took the Pacific Coast Highway to drive to Malibu, so we could have lunch at our favorite fish restaurant. Not just fish; no we had lobster with butter sauce, delicious grilled shrimp and a clam chowder bread bowl. The weather was lovely and sunny so we hád to go outside and enjoy it. June is in fact called “June Gloom” so in the morning you can expect gray, cloudy and chilly weather. In the afternoon, the sun comes out and it’s warm until the end of the afternoon, when the fog from the sea rolls back into the city, gray clouds are gathering and the temperature drops rapidly.

I don’t like the gray weather, it feels like the Netherlands! ;-)

Dragon colada - it's a cocktail with dragon fruit! #FearNoFruit | in my Red Kitchen

Dragon colada – dragon fruit cocktail

Dragon colada - it's a cocktail with dragon fruit! #FearNoFruit | in my Red Kitchen

My first introduction to dragon fruit was at college and it came in the form of a processed drink, the ones that come in those little bags. Those little bags of juice that are so hard to put the straw in.

I can’t remember when I had my first real dragon fruit but I do remember eating it in China. I love the flavor, it isn’t too sweet and it has a smooth texture.

When Frieda’s sent me a big box of fruit for their ‘Fear No Fruit’ campaign it made me think about myself. I grew up with ‘normal’ fruits like apples, pears, bananas and strawberries. But nonetheles I’m willing to try ‘weird’ or ‘tropical’ fruits now. Because the only way to know that I don’t like it, is to try it first!