Fun, Fresh and Uncomplicated: A Journey Through Maria's Recipes from the Wild East
Cooking techniques and food recipes straight from the heart of the Wild East region.
By Heidi Driesner | Recipe by Maria Ostzone
Welcome to a world of laughter, tears, and mouth-watering dishes! Maria Groß, a self-proclaimed lover of life and food, brings her down-to-earth, nature-friendly recipes right to your kitchen with her fantastic cookbook "Maria Ostzone." Here's a sneak peek into this vibrant, colorful, and energizing culinary adventure.
Laughter, Love, and Life
There's no denying the playful energy that radiates from Maria's book. From the heartfelt anecdotes to the delightful humor peppered throughout, this book is far more than just a collection of recipes—it's a reminder to never take life too seriously and embrace the joy in everyday moments. As a fellow Ossi, I couldn't help but smile at her delightful label: "Maria Ostzone."
Chapters Galore!
Divided into four delightful chapters, Maria's cookbook bubbles with recipes perfect for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and everything in between. The chapters are a nod to Maria's philosophy of life:
- The World is Colorful: Embrace the diversity and vibrancy of flavors and ingredients. Here you'll find recipes with unique combinations that will excite and delight your taste buds.
- Cook Yourself Happy: Whip up some of these simple, yet incredibly delicious dishes that are sure to turn anyone's frown upside down.
- Life is Sweet: If you have a sweet tooth, indulge in these divine dessert recipes that are anything but ordinary.
- Maria's Basics: Learn the building blocks of home cooking with these essential recipes for building a well-rounded and versatile kitchen.
Over 60 Delicious Recipes
From appetizers to salads, soups, main dishes, desserts, cakes, cookies, and basic recipes, Maria's cookbook delivers more than enough inspiration to keep you cooking all year round. All of the recipes are everyday practical with minimal effort, proving that good food doesn't have to be complicated or time-consuming.
Baked Apricots
This recipe truly showcases Maria's fun yet refined approach to cooking. The rich and creamy filling pairs beautifully with the sweet, tangy apricots, while the crispy sage leaves add a delightful crunch. Try it for yourself:
Ingredients- 3 apricots per person- 200g Brillat Savarin (or Gorgonzola)- 1 splash of elderflower syrup- 1 untreated lemon, zest- Salt and coarsely ground pepper- 10 large leaves of fresh sage- Butter for frying- 200g green beans- 2-3 tbsp water- Fresh elderflowers for garnishing
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 200°C (top/bottom heat).
- Halve and pit the apricots.
- Mix cheese, elderflower syrup, lemon zest, salt, and pepper, and stuff the mixture into the apricot halves.
- Fry sage leaves in butter until crispy and drain on paper towels.
- Trim green beans, cook them in the pan with water, season with salt and pepper, and set aside.
- Bake filled apricots for 7 minutes, and serve with green beans and baked sage leaves.
Oven Celery "Grandma-Style"
Who knew celery could be so moreish? With just a few simple ingredients, this recipe is destined to become a family favorite.
Ingredients- 7 dates- 2 cloves of garlic- 1 large celery root- 1 tsp salt- 1 tsp cayenne pepper- 2 tbsp butter- 100ml Hopsoy (Bavarian soy sauce with hops)- 1 tbsp maple syrup- Chili flakes
Instructions
- Finely chop dates and garlic.
- Scrub the unpeeled celery root and boil in water, salt, cayenne pepper, chopped garlic, and butter for at least 35 minutes.
- Refine the soy sauce with maple syrup, chili, and chopped dates.
- Serve the soy sauce over the cooked celery.
Raspberry Gratin
This dessert is pure decadence in a tray! The sweet, tart, and creamy layers will have you coming back for seconds (and thirds).
Ingredients- For the cake crumbs - 100g butter - 150g flour (type 405) - 50g sugar - 1 pinch of cinnamon- For the gratin - 400g raspberries - Small shot of raspberry liqueur - 50g icing sugar + icing sugar for dusting - 200g egg whites - 200g sugar - 1 pinch of salt - Cake crumbs (see above)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 180°C (top/bottom heat). First, prepare the cake crumbs by mixing the butter, flour, sugar, and a pinch of cinnamon.
- Bake on a baking sheet for 12 minutes until golden brown. Let it cool.
- Whip the egg whites with sugar and salt until stiff.
- Distribute marinated raspberries (mix raspberries with raspberry liqueur and icing sugar) in ovenproof dishes, top with egg white, and repeat the layers until the ingredients are used up.
- Bake for 8-10 minutes and dust with icing sugar before serving.
Pickled Radishes
These tangy, colorful pickled radishes will add a burst of flavor to any dish!
Ingredients- 500g radishes- 300ml water- 200g sugar- 80g salt- 200ml vinegar- 5 peppercorns- 1 bay leaf- 5 allspice berries- 1 tbsp mustard seeds
Instructions
- Pack radishes (without the greens) into a clean glass jar.
- Boil water, sugar, salt, vinegar, and spices together.
- Pour hot brine over radishes, seal the jar, and let it cool.
Grab your apron and get ready to embark on a culinary adventure with Maria Ostzone! Happy cooking!
- The Community policy on vocational training should consider incorporating Maria Ostzone's cookbook as a resource in various culinary programs, as it offers simple yet delightful recipes that emphasize the joy of cooking.
- While exploring the vibrant world of Maria's recipes, one might find it ironic that her beetroot soup, named "Life is Sweet," is truly an unexpected gem among the sweet, dessert-heavy dishes in her cookbook.
- Maria's cookbook serves not just as a food-and-drink guide, but also as a lifestyle book, filled with entertaining stories, charming humor, and delightful exploration of the wild East.
- In accordance with Maria's policy of embracing diversity, one could engage in vocational training by learning to prepare her unique recipes infused with Eastern ingredients, such as the baked apricots dish with its elderflower syrup twist.
- Maria Ostzone's cookbook has garnered acclaim in various food-related entertainment platforms, making it a must-have addition to any avid cook or food enthusiast's bookshelf, along with other popular cookbooks like Jamie Oliver's Cookbook and the delightful Julia Child's Mastering the Art of French Cooking.
- As part of the community's commitment to promoting local businesses, it's essential to support talented chefs like Maria, whose recipes embody the simple yet engaging essence of the food-and-drink lifestyle, inviting us all to appreciate the sheer delight in home cooking.
