Hi, my name is Ineke and I always wait until last minute to do the things I´m supposed to do. Why do it today when you can wait until tomorrow was my motto basically since I was little, which of course gave me enough time to develop my procrastination skills to perfection. It makes everything so much more fun and stressful. Living life on the edge…kind of. What does any of this has to with today’s post you ask? Well ever since I started my cake-challenge in January, there hasn’t been one post that is as late as this one. But hey, it´s still September so everything is going perfect right?

Today´s recipe is sponsored by fall. It´s still rather warm and sunny out but you can´t deny that fall is coming. The days are getting shorter, the air is crispier and everywhere you go you see apples, plums and pumpkins. But before we get to the recipe I want to talk about something completely unrelated. I was nominated for the Liebster-Award some time ago. The Liebster-Award is something where (new) blogger connect, discover each other and learn more about one another. It´s really neat and I´ll gladly take part in it. So thanks to Anja, who nominated me.

The rules are very simple. There are 11 questions to answer. Afterwards, it is your turn to come up with 11 new questions and nominate 3 to 11 other bloggers. It´s kind of like a chain-letter but without the if-you-forward-this-your-true-love-will-kiss-you-at-midnight. Here we go.

1) How would you describe yourself in three words?

This is really hard. I guess, funny, driven and full of wanderlust.

2) What is your life motto?

Nap all day, sleep all night, party never? To be honest, I don’t really have a motto, I´ll just take life in whatever shape or form it might come and try to make the best of it.

3) Did you have a dream job as a child? If yes, which one?

Not only one. As a child I was convinced that some day I´ll be a singer, actress or author. Then I found out that all of those require way more talent that I possessed so that was that.

4) Who or what inspires you?

Depending on what I need the inspiration for. Regarding blogging I turn mostly to other bloggers that I admire, cookbooks and whatever is in season right now. Regarding life my biggest inspirations are my mom, Emma Watson and Jenna Marbles (or badass women in general).

5) How do you relax after a tough day?

The best way for me to relax is if I only have to listen. If I had a shitty day you´ll probably find me in bed, eyes closed and listening to an audio book or a podcast.

6) What makes you happy?

Having absolutely nothing to do, rainy days cuddled up inside, going for a perfect run, baking, Lord-of-the-Ring-marathon with friends, going out to eat and elephant babies.

7)  Sweet or savory?

Sweet. Always. Unless I´m hangover, in which case it´s savory or nothing.

8) What is your favorite book and why would you recommend it?

Oh God, only one? I love A thousand splendid suns by Khaled Hosseini. That book left me absolutely stunned. Also, Glennkill, if only for Mopple the Whale. And Harry Potter – Always!

9) Do you have a favorite place?

I do. It´s over the rooftops of Barcelona. I won´t say where exactly though, you´ll have to find it for yourself.

10) What changed positively for you with blogging?

The fact that blogging gave me more of an continuity in cooking and baking. I´ve always cooked a lot but now I am “forced” to experiment with food on a more regular basis and I love it. That, and the fact that I fell in love with Photography.

11) What is the best feedback you have ever gotten?

The best feedback I´ve ever gotten was the one my professor gave me after I handed in my Bachelor thesis. Apparently it was great, so I came home with top marks. After 4 not always very fun years of university, this was the best closure I could have gotten.

My nominees are:

OMG it´s a cake

The recipe suitcase

Transglobal Pan Party

Himbeermarmelade

And here are my questions:

1) Which recipe cheers you up on a bad day?

2) What movie/TV-series could you not live without?

3) Which is the best advice you have ever gotten?

4) Which is your go-to-cookbook?

5) Are there any other hobbies/ passions that you have besides blogging?

6) Is there anything you would like to learn (languages, sports, etc…)?

7) If you could eat only one thing for the rest of your life, what would it be?

8) Which three things are essential for your kitchen?

9) Is there anything you regret not having done?

10) Do you have a place or country that you always wanted to visit?

11) What do you like most about blogging?

Now to today´s recipe. Plundertaschen are a pastry that is made with yeast dough that is rolled out over and over again with butter, which gives it an almost puff-pastry-like consistency. They can be filled with pretty much everything. Apples, plums but also berries if you like. They taste best right out of the oven but they are still pretty great the next day for breakfast.

Makes about 20:

500 g all-purpose flour

250 ml milk

42 g fresh yeast

20 g sugar

1 pinch of salt

2 eggs

250 g butter

750 g pears

80 g sugar

1 stick of cinnamon

250 ml dry white wine

2 tbsp. corn starch

1 egg for brushing

1) It´s best to prepare the dough the night before, that way in can rise over night in the fridge. Sieve the flour into a large bowl. Heat milk until lukewarm. Crumble the yeast into the milk. Add a couple of teaspoons of flour and mix. Add a pinch of sugar and let the mixture rise for 30 minutes.

2) Mix flour, sugar and salt. Add eggs and 50 g butter in small cubes. Add the yeast-mixture and knead well until you have a firm dough. Cover the dough and let rise for 2-3 hours or overnight in the fridge.

3) For the filling, peel the pears and cut into little pieces. Place in a pot, together with sugar, cinnamon stick and white wine. Bring to boil and then let simmer for 10-15 minutes. Mix cornstarch with a couple of teaspoons of white wine and add to the pears. Bring to boil, then let cool.

4) Roll out the dough on a floured surface into a square. Flatten the butter a little, then place it in the middle of the square and fold over the dough, so that the butter is completely covered. Roll out again. Fold in the dough threefold, roll out again. Repeat. Cover the dough with a damp towel and let rise for another 30 minutes.

5) Roll out the dough to approximately 2 mm. Cut out squares. Place a little bit of the filling on the side of one square. Brush the sides with egg white, then fold over the dough, forming little pockets. Brush all of the pockets with egg yolk, then bake in the preheated oven at 200°C for 20-30 minutes.