Spiked: The way to the heart is through the stomach

Christmas is coming soon - in case you haven't noticed by the spring flower bulbs and chocolate Easter bunnies on the supermarket shelves. Time to come up with a few quick presents for your oh-so-loved ones. The best ideas come at the last minute and under pressure anyway. At least that's what most of my colleagues, the majority of whom are men, say. My opinion on this male pressure theory is that the men are always so relieved about the last-minute Christmas haul that they actually believe they've bought a really great present in their "I'm so happy" frenzy. The recipients usually see things very differently. And then the festival of love is once again very special.
 
Well. For all those who are in a hurry again just before Christmas, because between year-end closings and Christmas parties, reflection (and thinking about Christmas presents in good time) falls by the wayside, the consumer industry has once again come up with some great devotional items this year. Today we take a look at the latest cookbooks, because Christmas is the festival of love. And the way to a man's heart is through his stomach. What it does afterwards is unknown.

Fast Food

Why not whip up a few "express chocolates" for your best and second-best colleagues? Or even quicker: give away the book that tells you how to do it. It is currently on sale from Südwest Verlag. You used to think that chocolates were the epitome of indulgence and that indulgence was something that took time? Nonsense! It's only delicious when it's really quick, when costs and benefits are balanced, when you don't spend longer in the kitchen than you do sitting at the table afterwards. Stir at the highest level. That leaves time for more important things. Blitz cookies are also a great idea. They don't taste hot, but are conjured up quickly on the table. All those in a hurry can thank the pudding doctor Oetker, who baked his tips in his own publishing house. It's even easier with the ready-made dough packs from Migros: they don't taste good either, but at least you get cookies on the table. Jamie Oliver is also under pressure just before Christmas and serves up a "lightning-fast, healthy and super-delicious 15-minute meal". There was no more time for correct spelling at the publishing house. And Annemarie Wildeisen cooks ahead for her guests. Then everything goes more quickly on day X and the guests can leave again quickly. This idea has a certain charm, especially when all the damned - er, relatives - gather around the table on Christmas Day.

Slow Motion

Why, in God's name, does everything always have to happen so quickly these days? Especially when the "contemplative", "peaceful" and "quiet" days are approaching. Perhaps we can no longer do anything with peace and quiet - because when it's quiet, the silence is always so loud. For those who are constantly stressed out, I can recommend borrowing a child for a day. These little people take all the time in the world for the really important things in life: scratching for stones in the dirt, watching the snow react to footprints, walking around the house with a golden star in their hand and cheering. Just cheer ... while the stressed mother thinks about where she read about that book with the 15-minute recipes again - because, after all, lunch still has to be put on the table. And, yes, eating always takes a loooong time with the little fleas. What do you actually want for Christmas? Time?