Hello Everybody and welcome to my historical, artistic and cooking blog,
I am Lilla-Silvia, a Hungarian born cosmo-girl, a writer, foodie and sport junky…and so on… however the list is not complete I wouldn’t add more facts because this blog is just about things I love and fascinate me.
A short resume
For the past 20 years, I have worked as a language teacher and journalist in different countries such as USA, Belgium, Japan and Germany. I lived the longest (15 years) in Belgium and there I grabbed the opportunity to work in an international women club, where I’d made many food presentations and interpreted every of my best recipes. In 2003 I decided to learn more about the Belgian chocolate and after two years studying at Syntra Leuven I obtained my diploma as a chocolatier. Since I like not just making chocolates but I also invent new dishes, study them and write about them.
I think my dreams will be fulfilled when I can bring together all of the things I love and are important for me in the life:-family, friends, great food, traveling, sport and music.
My cook book the Let’s eat something good was published in 2009.
Thanks for visiting my blog!
spajzgirl 
August 6, 2011 at 6:18 pm
Hi there, just came across your blog! I’m married to a Hungarian and would love to learn to cook more Hungarian food hehe, so far I can make gomboc and nokedli (doesn’t always turn out the best haha). Anyway great to discover your blog!
August 7, 2011 at 6:53 am
Hello Naz,
how fine and delicate blog you have! Congratulation! I like it very much! The photos are beautiful!
After reading your “datas” I discovered that we have lots of common things such as teaching (I am a trained language and literature teacher) psychology (I also studied psychology and wrote a book about Dangerous women -Black madonnas- who were murders or mentally ill, love and passion for food (I have a certificate from chocolate making and have written three cookbooks) and married to a Hungarian scientist and have moved (changed) countries at least three times (Belgium, San Francisco, Japan, Germany) …so far
I can send you more Hungarian classic recipes such as the Hungarian pancake classics: my fav is with quarkcream and lemon, and the chestnut filled one and of course the world famous Gundel with wallnut and chocolat fondant
August 7, 2011 at 4:08 pm
Oh wow that is amazing 🙂 We do have lots in common, that’s great 🙂 That is very kind of you about the recipes. I do love hungarian pancakes, I make french style crepes but maybe not the same thing? I do love the beigli dessert, is that how you say it? 🙂
August 7, 2011 at 6:25 pm
I like crepe Suzette as well with the nice Cointreau on the top..
Oh my God beigli..I haven’t eaten for ages!! By the way your spelling is correct! Actually I have to prepare beigli for a wedding which will be held in Belgium (in Bruxelles) in September and the Belgians don’t know the poppy at all they just use for feeding birds!!! But in my country (what I have left donkey ages ago) the poppy is very popular and here in Germany as well.
The newly wed couple is vegetarian so they are really looking forward to my desserts and other dishes I don’t know yet what else…if you have some good ideas I ‘d love to have them..
I liked very much your eggplant recipe (stuffed with couscous)…it was awesome!
August 7, 2011 at 8:22 pm
oh thanks for liking my recipe 🙂 yes my husbands mum and grandma make the beigli for christmas and sometimes birthdays, it’s very nice! Maybe some stuffed peppers would be good for you to make, do you have to make dessert and savory food? Well I have one Hungarian cookbook but to be honest I haven’t opened it up! I buy cookbooks but never use them haha.
August 8, 2011 at 6:57 am
Like your new pix! and your wedding’s as well. You looked really beautiful…
I realized that instead of the beigli I wanted to write gerbaud…that what I will make for the wedding!!! With walnut cream and poppy cream layers.. and covered with black choco fondant on the top. it’s heaven and a big Hungarian classic too..and the advantage of it you can prepare well ahead of time..
It was funny to check your blog about Heston Bluementhal…I also wrote a blog in February under title: The English chefs teach to world to cook…which is sooo non-sense..
Actually he is special and has a nice personality but I’d rather called him scientist or chemist. his programs are really interesting but..after his restaurant was closed because of some food poisoning….400 became sick..so I don’t trust him anymore..
I’ll go to gym now I love pilates and yoga but today is zumba..
heaps of happy faces
Lilla
August 8, 2011 at 2:59 pm
Thanks! Yes the other picture was a few years old so I thought I should put up a recent picture 🙂 Oh yes I think I’ve had gerbaud before as well, very yum! I didn’t realise that about his restaurant hmmm, you’re right there is definitely science behind his work. I love pilates also but yoga I just can’t seem to get into, I’ve tried but not for me I guess. I showed my husband your blog yesterday and he just kept saying mmmm that looks so good to the food 🙂 Look forward to more of your recipes!
August 8, 2011 at 5:05 pm
I also like your kitchen utensils…the pale pink and blue pots or bowls..after your recipe pics I can imagine the merge of the Iranian and Hungarian cuisines make a luscious indulgment every day
Why I am saying that because once I met a couple in Belgium, the husband was Belgian, the wife was from Tehran and it was about in January when we were invited for a dinner. I can tell you everything was just perfect, the food was such a culture shock a perfect infusion of the two cuisines. Then a year after I came accross an article in my then fav Martha Stewart Living magazin…and guess what? it was about that very couple…I learned from the article that they moved to USA and started some business…..
return to the reality: I plan to make a cake because here in Germany people celebrate their name’s day and mine was just recently and I promised to make a cake and bring to the university..
I like very much macha-greentea cake and icecream since I ate in Japan…but I have an other idea because the Germans love plums very much and they have tonnes of recipes.with it…I will see or you will see till
heaps of happy faces..and looking forwardt to your next blog..
cheers
August 8, 2011 at 8:57 pm
Oh wow that is very interesting regarding the couple! Well Iranian and Hungarian foods are TOTALLY different! Especially regarding the spices that we use and just everything in general hehe. I just try to do my own thing with cooking and try and incorporate bits of the two together, unfortunately though my skills in both cuisines is not that great, so I have to work on that 🙂
Happy name day! The plums sound nice and yes you can make a great cake with it. The colourful pots are my measuring cups, I have different colours for different measurements hehe. I do love my kitchen utensils and gadgets! Are you on facebook by any chance?
August 9, 2011 at 7:43 am
I saw you were very active yesterday! Nice. I like your sophisticated writing style.
I totally agree with you about the policy of eating home-made food or being lazy and eating junk food. Once a week we also go out and eat in some local restaurant partly because it is comfortable partly because we would like to discover new flavors but I prefered the French kitchen in Belgium to the German starchy food…here there is a great beergarden culture ..which makes you really fat..but I like the cakes they are the best in Bavaria..
have a nice blogging day!
cheers
August 9, 2011 at 1:55 pm
Thanks! I agree, going out to eat is nice, and often you can find good places with decent food not crappy junk food! So it all depends, but yes definitely home-made is the best, doesn’t matter who makes it, whether it is you or someone else making it for you, but it just tastes better. I don’t know much about German food, but from what I have had it is mainly very carb loaded. Thanks, you have a good day too!
August 10, 2011 at 1:02 am
Yes, back home in Australia they were even selling diet pills called ‘The Mediterranean diet’ which were later banned because of some banned ingredients. Of course eating pasta and pizza all the time is no good! I have been reading and watching about the news in London today, so horrible and sad what is happening! Great, looking forward to see your cake! What is the perfect dinner? is it cooking show? Btw do you have a good recipe and tricks on how to make nokedli, I tried once or twice but failed! I couldn’t find if you have a recipe here already for it? Btw which city in Germany are you in?
August 10, 2011 at 6:43 am
Oh my God! I would rather torture myself being on a diet than taking any drugs!
I am scarred about the London happenings…
The perfect dinner is an awesome show -has either four or five amateur chefs such as you and me and each week from different town competing against each other hosting a dinner party for the other 4 contestants. Each competitor then rates the host’s performance with the winner winning a 1,500 Euros cash prize. An element of comedy is added to the show through a German comedian who provides a dry and “bitingly sarcastic” narration
The format has already been taken up by many other broadcasters throughout the world. In Great Britain it is called Come dine with me! In Hungary Vacsoracsata (meaning dinner fight) in Belgium Komen eten-Come to eat etc…(I also watch the Belgian program because we have the channel) but the German TV was the initiative..actually we have on Sunday evening a special Celebrity dinner show with world famous celebs such singers, writers actresses, princesses etc Lou Bega, Tony Curtis’s daughter who has a house here in Germany or..sometimes they broadcast from USA, Paris, Mallorca because the contestants have a house there such as David Hasselhof, Heidi Klum, Schwarzenegger…but it is not only a cooking show because meanwhile the host is busy with preparing stuffs the guests investigate, discover the house of the host. You can got a picture about lifestyle, hobbys, literature. One of a best one was among when a famous Italian architect was in turn and he turned a swimming pool into his art atelier..his house was wow..the statues, the designs and he won with his Italian dinner (you see here we are again) but he was very fat…so on Sundays my eyes adhere on the screen….you can make consequenties about nations, people etc…the English are kinda weirds, the Belgians always critizise each other with sometimes mean remarks etc.. but it is a perfect program for psychologist as well!!!
About the nokedli I will send to you the “perfect” recipe because first time I also had difficulty with it…I followed the cook book and added milk to the dough and it turned out a disaster..but my recipe:you need 2 eggs, 300 ml water a pinch of salt, wisk well then add flour at least 100 gr or more but your dough has to be like a tick cream or when you prepare the pancake ..then boil the water and start to crick (I don’t know the right word) but I am sure you know what I mean and meanwhile you finish the procedure your nokedli will be ready. Sieve and convert into pot add some butter salt and it is a perfect sidedish to the stew with cucumber salad..enjoy!
now I have to go to down town..I translate to a psychoterapist, articles about panic attacks
have a wonderful day
bye
August 10, 2011 at 2:15 pm
Ahhh ok yes I got you about the show! They also had an Australian version with the name of Come dine with me. I didn’t know that it originated in Germany! In Australia we also have a show called My Kitchen Rules, which starts off with 2 groups competing against each other, so in each group there are 5 teams and they are coupled up, for example a husband and wife team, a mother and daughter team, a sister and sister team etc, so the first part Group A, each of the couples takes a turn to turn their house into a mini restaurant type style, and serve their best 3 course meal, after each meal they will be scored by the other teams and 2 judges (2 chefs), after they have all had their turn the team with the lowest score is sent home, then they do the same with Group B. After that they all join up together and are now all sent to Sydney (originally they have to travel to each other’s cities of course to visit their homes), when they are in Sydney they compete in different challenges mainly in a industrial kitchen and at the end one couple wins some money and a chance to start their own business. Very interesting show 🙂
Ok is it possible if I give you my email address and you can email me the recipe step by step for nokedli there? Is it possible to make it without the sieve? I don’t have that nokedli maker…
Have a great day!
October 30, 2011 at 5:16 pm
Lilla I have nominated you for the Versatile Blogger Award – Go to my post ‘Versatile Blogger Award’ to see what to do 🙂
October 30, 2011 at 8:15 pm
Dear Naz,
thank you very much!! And congratulation!!
Sorry for not replying earlier but I was on holiday at lake Constance because in Europa the following week is autumn holiday….
you deserved it because your blogs inspire me and fascinating..
have a nice Halloween!!!
October 30, 2011 at 10:17 pm
You’re welcome! I love reading your blog 🙂 How was your holiday?
Thanks, I don’t celebrate Halloween but of course the Americans love it and their are decorations everywhere! Do you celebrate?
October 31, 2011 at 7:36 am
Hello Nazan,
It was super!!! We went back to lake-island Constance the so called the land of four regions (Switzerland, Austria, Germany and Italy) and visited many reservation parks the monkey rock for instance where you made the monkeys eaten from your hand with popcorn they were running freely and there was an amasing mediterranean island which was once a property of a Hungarian noble man duke Eszterhazy (Joe Esterhazy’s great grandpa’s) later the Swedish queen Victoria’s..an arboretum etc..We saw many castles and we crossed the lake by ferry
and how was your weekend?
we have a day off tomorrow due to All Saints but we don’t celebrate Halloween..at all..
I will check your new adventures now
CU in the cyber world in no time
bye..
Lilla
July 31, 2014 at 6:45 am
So finally you are happy to return to USA? I fully understand your frustration since my life is the same like yours! I always had to follow my husband which meant I had to start everything from zero…social contacts work etc…therefore I have had ups and downs…because it is a nasty word but I had to sacrifice myself…for my girls sakes and for my hubby’s…I wish good luck and lots of happiness to you
xoxo
Lilla
March 21, 2015 at 9:13 pm
Interesting recipes. I like them because it’s a blend of old and with some new twists –either in presentation or ingredients.
Since you have been a food writer and have a feel for culinary things/trends, could you recommend a decent cookbook in English that covers German/Austrian traditional recipes with/without modern flair? My partner is German-CAnadian and was raised by a mother who has since died @93 yrs. She was an excellent cook and baker with roots in Southern German cooking. She baked fine multi-layered tortes every Sunday for her family …with hazelnut crumb, different butter creams, etc., kugelhof, plum cakes, etc. It has been very difficult to find English language cookbooks that cover fine gourmet German baking (not just applestrudel..).
Here are some reviews and memories: https://cyclewriteblog.wordpress.com/2010/08/02/tour-de-gateau-torte-and-kugelhopf/
https://cyclewriteblog.wordpress.com/2010/06/12/cycling-for-spargel-kirsch-and-blue-painted-bikes-black-forest-region-germany-june-3-11-2010/
There’s more in blog, but anyway…
My partner’s son is a chef and it would make a great gift. He current runs his own butcher and sandwich shop in Toronto, Canada.
Any recommendations appreciated!
March 24, 2015 at 2:03 pm
Dear Cycle blogger,
First of all thanks for stopping by and what a surprise I am also fond of biking! So I’ve read all your blog which were related to cycling..
this year I plan with my hubby to make a round tour at Lake Constance…280 kmrs…
The other issue: I will search for you some good cook book in English about German baking, I promise there are plenty!!
I hope it’s not urgent…
Actually I can send to you some original second hand German recipe books because I’ve just got from my nice old German neighbour, Sefa or if you don’t speak the language I can pick up some good old recipes and translate to you
But I understand you want to give a gift to your partner’s son so it’s better to buy a brand new one…
have a nice day or night and I1ll stay in touch
Cheers
March 24, 2015 at 2:23 pm
Recommendations for brand new title(s) would be desirable. Then we can look it up on google, etc.
March 24, 2015 at 2:25 pm
And no it’s not a rush. Good luck on your cycling trip!
September 26, 2016 at 2:30 am
Let me know. We will be Germany in 2 wks. Just for a few days, etc. Sorry, to me as an Canadian, Europe seems more compact. Canada is huge!
September 26, 2016 at 5:47 am
Great$ I wish a good round trip
August 1, 2019 at 11:12 pm
Wow, what a fascinating Vita you have! I came across your blog. Great work! Interesting content and nice pictures. I followed your blog. I enjoy to read blogs from people around the world and get inspired by other blogger’s recipes. I am a food blogger from Canada, and I invite you to visit/follow my blog at: https://zest4foodblog.wordpress.com. Cheers, Angelika
August 2, 2019 at 12:28 pm
Thanks for liking my blog! I’ll certainly take a look at yours asap…I’m curious. Actually I have relative and many friends in Canada so I’m super happy you stopped by here…all the best
August 2, 2019 at 3:08 pm
Thanks for your reply. I’m glad we ‘met’ here through our blogs.