Samsa is a traditional Central Asian pastry, often baked in a tandoor. Its triangular shape seals in juicy fillings like lamb or chicken, making it a popular, travel-friendly food along the ancient Silk Road.

"Only the pure in heart can make a good soup." - Ludwig van Beethove

Potatoes, carrots and eggs can be cooked ahead of time.

You can use any meat for these patties. I prefer a mixture of beef, pork and veal in a 1:1:1 ratio.

Croissants, though famously French, actually trace their roots to Vienna, Austria! Their ancestor is the kipferl, a crescent-shaped pastry that dates back to at least the 13th century. Legend says Viennese bakers created it to celebrate the defeat of the Ottoman Turks — the crescent shape imitating the symbol on the Ottoman flag.