All posts by Helle Møller

Retired from a long working life as secretary/assistant in UN and EU institutions. Freelance stress counsellor and proofreader/copyeditor. Now living in Berlin.

Crispy Honey Sriracha Tofu

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IN PROGRESS

  • 14 ounce block medium firm tofu
  • 1 clove garlic (minced)
  • 2 tablespoons sriracha sauce
  • 1 tablespoon soy sauce
  • 1 1/2 tablespoon honey
  • 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
  • 2 tablespoons potato starch or corn starch (for dusting)
  • 3 tablespoons vegetable oil (or other neutral oil)
  • 1 teaspoon sesame oil
  • 1 tablespoon sesame seeds
  • 1 scallion, finely chopped (optional)

INSTRUCTIONS

  1. Drain the tofu from the package and place on a plate. Let sit for 15-20 to remove excess water. Alternatively, wrap the tofu in paper towel or tea towel to remove excess water. Repeat 3 to 4 times until the tofu is dryer.
  2. Whisk garlic, sriracha, soy sauce, honey and rice vinegar in a bowl and set aside.
  3. Dust tofu with cornstarch until all sides are coated.
  4. Use a medium large pan and turn the heat to high. Add oil and when the oil is hot, almost smoking, add tofu cubes. Be careful of oil spits! Fry on each side for 2-3 minutes without touching or tossing too much, until golden brown.
  5. Add sauce and gently coat tofu cubes. Cook for 3 minutes.
  6. Turn the heat off and add sesame oil and sesame seeds.
  7. Stir once more to evenly coat tofu cubes and serve topped with scallions.

A handful of photos from my windows and from a walk on Tempelhofer Feld 20 October

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Sunday Brunch: Gram (Chickpea flour) waffles

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IN PROGRESS

Vegan and gluten free. Can be frozen and reheated in the toaster.

Ingredients

  • 60 g sweet potato, grated
  • 60 g finely chopped bell pepper
  • 40 g finely chopped onion
  • 1 hot green chili finely chopped
  • 1 knob fresh ginger, grated
  •  Pinch carom (ajwain) seeds or cumin seeds
  • ½ tsp turmeric
  • ½ tsp salt
  • 2 Tbsp rice flour
  • 130 g chickpea flour
  • 1/8 tsp baking soda
  •  2,5 dl water
  • oil as needed
  • Finely chopped red onion, and chopped fresh coriander to garnish

Instructions

  • Mix all the wet ingredients except the water well, then mix the dry ingredients separately, and finally mix the two together, before adding the water. Mix well and add more water if needed.
  • Let this mixture sit for 5 minutes before starting to make your waffles.
  • Cook in the oiled waffle iron until golden brown and crisp, to preference.

Impressions from a walkabout in the area, including my local cemetery, 13 October 2022

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I also decided to play around with polyptychs before I completely forgot how to do that :-):

Sunset, sunrise, and moonset

Rangsdorf Airfield 9 October 2022

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Most of the time, the airfield is closed to the public. I had booked a photo tour with go2know.

I have no idea how the first photo happened, but I wish I knew. I like the way it symbolises how nature is taking over the entire area:

Of course this would not be me if I did not also check out downtown Rangsdorf for possible pitstops. Not much luck. Google claimed that these two were open: Café Hennig (fourth photo below) and Konditorei Wahl, but they were both closed. An Italian restaurant right next to the station was open and quite busy on this early Sunday afternoon.

Spectacular sky around sunset on 8 October

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Fundraiser for breast cancer awareness

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I just started this fundraiser: https://www.facebook.com/donate/1385067465353748/10225009149950643.

Butternut squash and chickpea curry

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  • 2 onions, chopped 
  • 2 small or one very large head of garlic, peeled and coarsely chopped
  • 1 large know of ginger, peeled and finely chopped 
  • 2 red chilies, diced
  • 1 tblsp avocado oil
  • 1 tsp ground turmeric
  • 2 tsp ground coriander
  • 2 tsp ground cumin
  • Freshly ground black pepper
  • 1 medium butternut squash, diced 
  • 700 g cooked chickpeas
  • 1 tin coconut milk
  • 1 tin tomato
  • Water as needed

  • Sauté onion, ginger and garlic in the oil for a few minutes with a pinch of salt, then add the spices and fry for another minute before adding the squash and chickpeas.
  • Mix well, then add the coconut milk and tomato. Bring to a simmer and cook until the squash softens and the sauce thickens.

A handful of exhibitions visited during the long weekend 1 to 3 October

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Rohkunstbau in Schloß Altdöbern and Magnum 70 Years in Reinbeckhallen.

Recommended pitstops: Orangerie am Schloß Altdöbern; and there is a tiny café with great coffee right next to Reinbekhallen.

Das Kleine Grosz Museum – a relatively new museum in a former petrol station, and street photography by Holger Biermann in Willy-Brandt-Haus

If you are looking for a pitstop, the café has what looked like a pretty standard selection of quiches and cakes.

Graduates from Ostkreuzschule für Fotografie in Kunstraum Kreuzberg/Bethanien (first two photos taken on the way there)

From a lake in Wannsee

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I visited two galleries in Wannsee: Gallerie Mutter Fourage (with a lovely café and garden, showing works by female artists from Ukraine, and Wannsee Contemporary, showing works by Philipp Kremer. On the way back to the station, I just took these photos from a lake (Kleiner Wannsee).