Claudia&Julia's Blog

When this time of year comes around I switch into "dinners on the terrace" mode, with friends, in a lively setting and with cool recipes that take very little effort. Without a doubt the one that never fails is steamed mussels, which is one of the easiest dishes you can make. It's an economical dish that everyone usually likes, and paired with a good Ribeiro... What can I tell you that you don't already know!

At home my mother always made the hamburgers; she preferred to choose the meat and have it ground on the spot and then season it with garlic, parsley, and onion. Those things are not forgotten and I have been unable to buy ready-made hamburgers.

A week ago we were in Madrid. We went to none other than the Miele facilities in Alcobendas, with the WMF team and two collaborators I greatly appreciate, Miriam and Carmen, to enjoy a fabulous afternoon.

Did you know that we spend between 30-50% of our time daydreaming? That without realizing it we get distracted and are absorbed in a stream of internal thought unrelated to external stimuli? We spend so much time like this that it has even been said to be the default state of our brain.

They say this burger isn’t just any burger... It’s the deluxe edition! A vegetarian burger with marinated mushrooms, grilled on the grill. Honestly, if you’re tired of the original version or simply want to try a new recipe, this one is well worth it.

Portuguese cuisine boasts so many cod recipes that we could make a different one every day of the year without repeating. This is one of the most popular, both inside and outside the neighboring country. At home it’s much loved, even by those who aren’t big fans of fish, which is a welcome thing. Likewise, it’s a very simple dish to prepare and doesn’t require unusual ingredients or odd gadgets.

I have always enjoyed making desserts, desserts with history like these traditional frisuelos that are made in Asturias and whose recipe has been passed down from parents to children time and time again.

One of the great classics of our cuisine, and that of many other countries, is the empanadilla. Versatile to say the least, both in the dough—which can be made in many ways depending on the liquid and fat chosen—and in the filling, which admits countless variations and can be adapted to each person’s taste... or to whatever is in the fridge (it’s a great recipe for using leftovers).

It's hard to find someone who doesn't like pasta, right? I'd say it's almost impossible, since there are countless varieties and it would be very rare not to find one that suits your tastes. The same goes for ravioli: this pasta can be filled with anything you can imagine, and there's even a sweet ravioli version.

I'm a total fan of the Le Creuset tajine. Even more so when you can make such great recipes with this vegetable tajine I'm bringing you today. This dish revives the soul and takes your breath away! Don't be put off by the number of spices I've used, because the combination is absolutely delicious and irresistible.

Pierogi are one of the most typical dishes of Polish cuisine. Basically, they consist of dough filled with various fillings. You could say they are quite similar to ravioli.

These turkey and zucchini burgers are healthier than what we're used to in a burger. The recipe is from the famous chef Ottolenghi and follows his line of simple combinations with wonderful spices, in this case with cumin and cayenne, two spices that make a phenomenal combo.