This is my fifth year of sharing the foods of the year. It’s beyond my memory why and how I came up with the idea initially. But it is fun to see what meals I ate and if I do it long enough I might see changes? Who knows how foods of the years will look in 5 years.
A little note up front. I usually don’t eat in the morning however that has changed a bit this year with my exercising. I had to realize that my workout goals and my migraine didn’t go hand in hand with intermitted fasting. So I have integrated my breakfast meals this year. When the husband is around in the home office we usually have lunch together around 1pm. And on days he is home I cook dinner for us. When I am alone (he is in the office) my dinner is mainly things he doesn’t eat. Or very quick meals I through together because I am tired.
Breakfast Options
This year I really dove deep into breakfast. I have focused a lot on more proteins and for that I integrated Skyr into my diet. Adding a spoon of almond butter on top it looks like desert. Ice cream with chocolate?
During summer I tend to eat more Skyr with fruits and in winter I lean towards porridge with fruit. My skyr bowls always have some oats and often linseed, chia and some cashews and of course the almond butter. Once I got fancy and splurged on a pomegranate ad added that. So good. As for the porridge ones I often added a spoon of protein powder which made it much creamier.
Learning about nutrition while starting to work out more I often realize I needed more cars or fat or micros. So during summer I often made myself a little plate with lots of different things. Cheese, egg, veggies, herbs, fermented onions. Very yummy and very filling, Of course as a German my bread is whole grain mainly
Occasionally I needed some soul food. Many years back I found this recipe of cookie bake for breakfast (top left and middle) and I do that if I need a warm version that tastes like cake. I mostly leave off the chocolate chips but not always. I made a version of the recipe adding grated carrots that made me believe I had carrot cake for breakfast. Trusted semolina with plums from the garden (top right). Or blueberry pancakes. Always a win if made at home our out. Also the Finnish oven pancakes (bottom right) are a welcome sight for the husband. I rarely them.
Dinner Options
Home cooked meals
Most days I cook. Do I like it? Not so much. It is more a chore than a time to relaxe and enjoy it to be honest. But at least the days I am on my own I can eat things the husband would not. I tried a few new recipes and also throw together things I am not sure went in as of today.
Lentil Curry (top left) was new to me and I loved it. This could become a staple. Salmon with cucumber salad (top middle) and mashed potatoes, asparagus with Schnitzel and potatoes (top right) and Quark with linseed oil and potatoes (not pictures) as well as my gavotte meal Schmorgurken (bottom left) here added with trout for extra protein are staples I make multiple times. And then the off bowls main salads, grains, rice and chicken. Not pictured this year are staples like chili con carne and enchiladas.
Also a lot of salads made it on the table this year. Often with chicken (top right) or tofu (bottom middle) or grilled cheese (bottom left). Once I got fancy and made eggs sunny side up added salmon and rolled it up (bottom right)
Another staple in my home is pasta. How can it not be. This year I dabbled a bit more in casserole (bottom left) substituted parts of the spaghetti with zucchini noodles (bottom right). Also tried a tunafish pasta (top right) inspired by Julie maybe? And I made a Creamy Chicken Alfredo pasta just yesterday (top left) which I loved and could become a new favorite. Not pictured the endless dishes of pasta with pesto and mozzarella cheese, Käsespätzle (cheese spaetzle) or a traditional Pasta Bolognese.
But let’s not forget the soups. Because you know soup love is real love. There is nothing better than a good soup. I haven’t taken a photo of some of my better creations this year but oh well. My standard tomato soup was Asianized this year with tofu and soy sauce (top right), I tried a lentil version (top middle) which was ok I think. Of course asparagus soup (top right) here with fresh Sorel from the terrace garden. The broccoli soup (bottom left) was a bit underwhelming but the chicken coconut (bottom middle) soup I made up with now recipe was so so good. I just can’t remember how I did it. And then I tried a Radish soup (bottom right) using the leaves when I snatched a harvest fresh bundle on the farmers market. So good.
Ordering In & Eating Out
This year we have been eating out a bit more. Or I just took more pictures. I am not sure. anyways eating out meaning in a restaurant and not take out we ordered. I like this development. And I had some really amazing picks this year.
Apparently I had a craving for liver. A traditional style with apples and onions (top left) maybe the best liver I ever had and an Italian version (bottom middle). Liver needs to be cooked right and both of them were amazing. I don’t cook meat at home much (besides chicken and ground beef) so meat dishes are usually what I order. A hacienda style steak plate (top middle) or a Greek Gyros (bottom left). The gyros was just too heavy and fatty and I had a stomach ache for days. I am cured of Greek food for a few years. A favorite of mine I rarely eat is Kohlrouladen (bottom left). It is ground beef wrapped in a cabbage. I always enjoy the cabbage more than the meat.
And the lots of food during travel. Since I have been in Poland twice this year for of the below dishes are polish. The Szegedin Goulash (top right) in a bread bun is actually more Hungarian. Of course Pierogi when we went to Gdanks and they were amazing. Than I had a traditional Zurek soup (bottom middle) and maybe the best dish this year (with the liver) was this amazing cold buttermilk cucumber soup (top middle). I forgot the name for the polish version but the Russian Okroshka is similar.
Dessert
While I cut back big time on my cake, chocolate and candy consumption this year I did treat myself to some nice things. Nothing better than ice cream. While I made healthier versions with fruits and skyr I loved this matcha (top left) during a hike. And I couldn’t pass up the polish cakes (top right) in Gdanks and had to get a sample. So so good. One day we had an unofficial half date night and splurged on waffles (bottom left) that were delivered. Dangerous! And after consulting my personal trainer Chat GPT I learned that Carrot Cake (bottom right) is often the best choice in a see of cakes. Good think I love it so much so I have eaten a few this year.
This was my culinary adventure in 2025.
Alright you turn: What is the most delicious looking dish you can find in the images? Is there something you would never touch? Are you a fan of liver? One dish you would love to try? Do you eat a dish every week? What was the best meal of 2025 for you?
