Uta and Markus are more deevine family members on my husband’s side and we just love them. Markus is Joerg’s cousin and Uta is his wife. We were lucky enough to be able to spend a little time with them this summer and Uta made these deeelicious patties for us.

I do like food to look good as well as taste good and this one certainly hits the mark for me. Put easy to make into the equation and I am beside myself with joy. And some store cupboard staples too, sigh, I’m just jelly.

This is a Portuguese recipe (and we all know I love all things Portuguese), but I am embarrassed to say that the best Kale soup I have ever eaten was in America and not Portugal. Come on Portugal, you need to improve your national dish, hee hee!!

This is so good, it’s got to be a sin. These are one of my absolute favourite things to eat. We used to have them often in the States with our mates Lynn and Steve, but alas we only have them once a year in Germany now. Sigh, I think we should pop over to the States again…

I have wanted to make these for years and somehow never got round to it, which is a real shame as they are deeeelicious and easy to make to boot. There are many recipes out there for these delicious studded meatballs, but we are quite happy with my version. Try it and tell me what you think!

This makes a quick, easy and elegant starter or just a quick everyday salad. It’s deelicious and lovely to look at too! I served it in some lovely big shells our mate Micha collected for me in Pedras del Rei in Portugal, but you obviously aren't going to be able to do the same unless you too befriend Micha!

Now that’s what I call cooking. You take a heat resistant baking dish, pour in some local schnapps, set it alight, put in your cured chorizo sausage which you keep lifting with your fork and voila, you have dinner! I ain’t seen nothing like this before.

So now you have the bean clams and the heart shaped cockles, what do you do with them I hear you ask? Nemo problemo, I’ll get you a good dose of food poisoning…just kidding of course! They’re quick and easy to cook after prepping and you are going to love them.

The Husband and I are on a reduced calorie diet (a version of the 5:2 diet which I will tell you about soooon) and are eating a lot more vegetarian meals and we LOVE this salad. We have it for lunch and this is enough for 4 people (and we are big eaters).

'Tis the pumpkin season and if you are looking for things to do with your leftover Halloween pumpkins, then this is the recipe to make. Even people who aren't called Peter, Peter, The Pumpkin Eater, and who aren't that fond of pumpkin will love these deelicious little balls.