Nature is so generous with us during the warm months, giving us rich variety of ideas to turn into culinary wonders. Just a short walk outside, in fresh air, and some of the products are already collected. The rest of the products were provided by a local lady who was happy to show us how to make a typical Bulgarian dish, from which every bite tastes like childhood.

The seasons change and summer is coming. The weather is good, the sun is shining generously, inviting everyone to to enjoy life to the fullest. It is time for something fresh, sweet and cheerful.

Lemon is known for its rich amount of vitamin C, but if you are tired of putting it only into your tea, you can try this recipe of lemon cream. In this creative way, you will make every child like it and ask for more. And adults too, although they may not want to confess.

In Spring we like to "Go green" with our food. Some greens are grown in the garden, such as lettuce, spinach, fresh onions, fresh garlic. Others, such as the popular nettle, are picked in forests and meadows. There are some less familiar "green treasures". Such is the wild garlic (Allium ursinum), also called bear leek or ramsons, which can be found in meadows in deciduous forests. In order not to confuse its leaves with those of other similar-looking plants, rub the leaves in your palm and you will sense the familiar smell of garlic. It is said to be more beneficial than its cultivated counterpart, and here is an idea ​​how to consume it.

We have already published a recipe for phyllo pastry pie (banitsa). The most common way of cooking it is to bake it in the oven. But did you know that it can also be prepared in a pan (with a lid)? In this way, the pie is not only baked, but also stewed, which gives it extra tenderness, and thus can deservedly be called a "delicacy".

The word "boza" is derived from the Persian word "buuze dar." Historians suggest that the Cumans* brought the boza to the Balkan Peninsula from Central Asia in the 11th century.

Boza can be easily prepared at home and its natural probiotic ingredients have a positive impact on the entire body systems.

Let us present you this innovative recipe from our chef de cuisine Kiril Georgiev.

Sour cabbage (or pickled cabbage) is a natural probiotic and favorite food of the Bulgarians for centuries. Red hot peppers (chilli peppers) contain vitamin C, Boletes (boletus edulis) are rich in vitamin B. What will happen if we combine these 3 products together? The answer is: a distinct, extremely tasty and healthy combination which touches all your senses.

Let us share with you another memorable recipe from Kiril Georgiev - our chef de cuisine.

Banitsa is a traditional Balkan pastry dish, prepared by our ancestors. It consists of rolled or layered phyllo dough sheets with different types of stuffing in-between. The most popular banitsa in Bulgaria is made with cheese, eggs and yogurt, but vegetables can be added as well.

In the following recipe we present you a seasonal dish with broccoli and cauliflower - some of the vegetables we grow in the gardens of Botanica Life Foundation.

Antioxidants and fibers in broccoli are helping control the level of blood sugar.The sulforaphane, which is contained in cauliflower, helps the detoxification of the body and aids digestion. A unique combination which is not only delicious but also extremely healthy.

Along with the popular "heroes" in carrots - carotene (provitamin A), vitamins B1, B2, PP, C and a number of minerals, they also contain sugars. For this reason, in the Middle Ages, when sweeteners were a rare and expensive product, carrot cake gained great popularity. Carrot cake is well known today with different variations in recipes. We offer you a very easy to prepare option, which will be appreciated by both passionate cooks and beginner enthusiasts.

The courgette is a vegetable with a variety of uses. It can be used for soups, dishes, salads and even desserts. But did you know that courgettes can be used to make incredible oven-baked ‘vegetable balls’ - a recipe particularly intriguing in autumn.

One of the interesting combinations, diversifying the recipes for baked beans in the summer is to add okra. Not only that, but also, let’s bake it in the oven! Of course, you get a delicious dish that would surprise even the most sceptical. Coupled with the fact that okra is a vegetable with a high content of magnesium and vitamins K and C, which are well preserved in this gentle method of okra preparation, the dish becomes not only delicious but also very nutritious.

Indeed, it is Summer – this period of the year during which we can enjoy an abundance of fresh vegetables and herbs. A gesture of this excitement is our recipe for Summer moussaka which we share with you. It is light, diverse and colourful.