Wrapped up with a Bow 2024

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We are proudly closing in on the second year of the Parsley-Lane Blog.

It’s hard to believe, but that’s (almost) it for 2024. Except for the special treats coming your way on the Parsley-Lane Blog next Friday. And then, of course, there will be Christmas and New Year’s Eve. But for that I will be offline. The same procedure as last year, you might say.

Still, this year has been really great. Now that I have found the rhythm and rhyme, writing for the Parsley-Lane Blog has become something I would not want to miss. However, I have to admit that coming up with two new recipes every month is sometimes a bit of a challenge. My friend Dawn’s [‘Scramble, Scramble‘] and [‘Becka’s Cake‘], a co-production (over time) with my grand-aunt Becka, who left me her cookbook as an heirloom, were the only exceptions to my own recipe invention routine this year.

As for which recipe was the best , the choice is even harder than last year. I do know the one I made the most, and that was Phantom Bearlings, the recipe with the Ingredient Special on Bear’s Garlic [‘Who’s Seen the Bear’] in March. Easy to make, very tasty, and extremely versatile.

Perhaps two of the most challenging and amazing recipes were [‘Secret Mission Number Blue‘] (another recipe with an ingredient special, this time blueberries) and a fusion approach to typical Berlin food [‘Picalotta Fusion Salad’]. Not only are they delicious, but I learned a lot while developing them.

The main category ‘People & Places’ also gained some new lovely residents this year. As for ‘Places with a View’, I expanded the selection I started last year with [‘Vux’] (best vegan pastry place in Berlin-Rixdorf) by adding [‘Botanico Cafe’] (amazing garden forest food) and [‘Henrys Icecream’] (lovingly handmade ice cream from Steglitz). And the Table Talks this year (so far) have included a beautiful soup kitchen project from the UK – [‘Bold Kitchen’] with Sophie Tebbetts from FoodCycle, fascinating insights from an expert on mixed cultivation and organic gardening – [‘Best Beeties,Best Buddies’] with author Ortrud Grieb, and a nourishing journey into the world of organic baking – [‘brEAD!’] with Claudia Tyree-Francis from Märkisches Landbrot.

Of course, you got to know Salty and Cara a little better through their juicy encounters in the second and third stories ‘Silent Waters’ and ‘Purple Peak’. The fourth story, which begins at the end of January next year, leads straight into the next mystery. But you can read that for yourself in two of the packages I will leave under your tree next weekend, Friday, December 20th, 2024.

No, I’m not going to give you any more hints. You’ll have to unwrap the goodies yourself. Until then: Have a wonderful December. There is still plenty of time to prepare festive ways of mindful eating and good food.

Side Notes:

  • I have decided to change the usual order of posts for the end of the year, so you will have six gifts under the tree. There will be a Table Talk, three recipes for a festive menu, and a double feature about Salty and Cara on the last Friday of the Parsley-Lane Blog for this year. I hope you enjoy them.