Some decisions and some actions affect your life for a long period of time. First time I signed a flat lease it was for 6 months only, however it felt like a lifelong commitment. I had just moved to London with my friend and we sat on a bench in a crowded park in Whitechapel. I remember I felt a pressure. A pressure that if I didn't sign I would fail myself, and even worse - my friend.

Today is different, this time I am not calling my dad to find the strength to put my signature on the contract. Five years later, me and my man are signing the contract for a cute little apartment here in Dublin. It will be ours in just a couple of days. Our arrival day was full of contrasts. Especially in terms of the architecture, the weather and the women. While the first two are pretty self-explanatory the last one deserves some closer attention. In France I am often the taller one and I often feel less girly than the women around me. I am aware there are many tall french ladies but maybe they are all full time models without any free evenings to spend out. Or more likely, it is just a random fact that the people we happen to know are not as tall. The first Irish lady that we met however, yes the taxidriver-with-an-uncomprehensible-accent was a man, was the woman renting the airbnb flat where we are staying. She was at least 180 cm, and with her big coat and darker voice, I felt more feminine and petite than ever before. I suspect this first impression of the ladies will prove itself wrong pretty soon and I need to get over the initial wow-the-way-I-speak-is-so-different kind of feeling.

Another impression I've had of Ireland so far is that while the Sunday mornings are spent in church, it seems like the next destination for the Dubliners is the pub. It was extremely busy on the Sunday afternoon. This is different from France, where the afternoon is traditionally spent at home to socialise with the family. Since Damien and I are neither frequent church visitors or beer drinkers I have suggested that we start an afternoon tea tradition. I do like the scones, and we do like tea - preferably in huge quantities.

It's time for another recipe. I've loved this simple dish for as long as I can remember. Probably ever since my first trip to Greece as a young child. Whenever an old memory from Greece pops up, there's something in me that calls out for this salad. 

A few years ago I went to Thessaloniki with my dad. We kept coming back to the same restaurant over and over again, only to enjoy this amazing salad. Or let me be honest, the waiters were quite funny too. Especially their faces of relief when they realized me and my dad were not a couple, just a normal dad and daughter traveling together. Anyway, we spent last week in Paris at Damien's sister's and I was asked to contribute a salad to the barbecue table. When cooking for other people it's always a wise decision to prepare a dish that you know. At least if you want to impress, with less stress, and who doesn't want that. 

Here is my best advise for how to prepare the perfect greek salad.

A little greek salad
Serves 4-6 people

5 tomatoes, nice and fresh, with a nice tomato-y fragrance
1 good quality cucumber
1/2 large red onion
100 g black olives
200 g feta cheese
1/2 lemon, juiced
10 tbsp quality extra virgin olive oil
black pepper and salt
pinch of oregano (optional)

Find a large beautiful bowl or plate where each ingredient can be placed when prepared. Begin by washing and slicing the tomatoes and removing the pulp. Wash and chop the cucumber into chunks of similar size. Peel the onion before slicing it into thin but-not-super-thin slices. Pit the olives and chop roughly. Cut the feta cheese into squares and crumble some of the squares with your fingers directly in the bowl.

Find a bowl where you can mix the oil, lemon juice, pepper, salt and oregano. Whisk with a fork before drizzling over the salad. Gently turn the salad.

The salad stays fresh a few hours so if you are prepping ahead for the party. Leave the dressing aside and pour on top one hour or so before served. It works as a main or a side, depending on the occasion and hunger levels.

This is one of my all time favourite side dishes. It's super easy to make which is a much in the tiny kitchen we have here in Madrid. It requires little washing up and only a few ingredients. First time that I was lucky enough to try it was in Brazil. We walked into one of the many pay-by-weight buffet restaurants and this turned out to be my favourite green option. In Brazil it is often made with Kale but here in Madrid I make it with chard (any collard green will work just fine). When massaged and fried in garlic and oil it becomes soft and sweet with just a a tiny touch of bitterness. Love it!

Kale Mineira
Serves 2-4

500 g of kale, chard or other bitter greens
1-2 garlic gloves
3 tbsp olive oil
salt and pepper

Begin with removing the stem from the leaves. If the greens are chopped, just remove the stems one by one.

If the greens come as whole leaves, grab the bottom of each stalk and pull upwards with the other hand. The whole leaf should come right off. Place the leaves on top of each other and chop quite finely.

Wash all the leaves in a strainer and let dry before placing in a bowl. Now massage the greens with your hands for 3-5 minutes. This breaks down the cell walls and bring out a brighter green color. The greens will reduce quite a lot in size as you massage them.

Chop two small or one large clove of garlic. Heat oil in a frying pan and add the garlic.

When golden fragrant, but not brown, add all the leafy greens to the pan. Grab a wooden spoon and stir the greens in the pan for 3 minutes so that the greens become wilted.

Add some salt and pepper to the pan. Take off the heat and ready to serve!