cinnamon
34 but still fine
So yeah, I turned 34 recently. No big deal. No shock, no wrinkles (so far), no anxiety.
As usual, I spent a few days abroad, just to make that day a special one.
Berlin has proved itself the place to be, once again. There’s something magical in those streets constantly swept by chilly winds, leaves swirling on the walkside, history pouring over every proud building staring ahead, uncaring of those tiny dots moving frantic all around.
It can be overwhelming, packed with tragic events as it is, but little by little I have found it can be warm and welcoming too. It just asks for some time and a chance to show its potential. Once left behind the most touristic destinations like Alexander Platz, Brandeburger Tor, Checkpoint Charlie and the Wall, take your time to walk aimlessly along its avenues and live the city as a Berliner, instead of a tourist craving for a few pictures to show once home.
You won’t be disappointed.
Once back in Venice, I got ready for the birthday party. I know, I’m old enough to have a toast with my besties and move to more important stuff, but I love to see all my friends in my place so much. I find it an amzing way to make home warmer, building sweet and funny memories with people I care about the most.
This year I decided to go simple. No fancy cakes or endless preparation.
Just a few tasty, original things.
So this is what we had
Cinnamon Swirls (try them still hot… they’re addictive!)
Thumbprint almond cookies with homemade homegrown figs jam, Nutella and homemade cinnamon & apple jam
Gluten- free Chocolate Cake (moist, extra decadent, adorable) and peanut butter cookies my friends loved (even though I wasn’t particularly satisfied with)
And a carrot cake I forgot to take a picture of, my bad. This, by the way.
Missing recipes in a couple of days!
A sweet summer cake
Another weekend has passed and here I am, sitting at the desk on a rainy Monday morning.
Monday, already.
I can’t complain, though. I feel relaxed and looking back I can see how many things I managed to stuff on my weekend: a birthday party, a quiet drink with a couple of friends I hadn’t seen in weeks, a bike riding through the city for my Saturday errands, a dinner with some friends an their newborn babies, a shopping afternoon (well, more windows shopping!) and still, I had time to clean my whole place, bake a cake and a batch of cookies. Plus, despite the bad weather forecast, it rained just on Saturday night. Yeah!
Real Summer hasn’t arrived yet, with its damp, sunny, hot and sticky days and long, oppressive and mosquito-packed nights, but I am trying to make the best of the not-rainy days.
The cake, I was saying. A simple, plain and delicate carrot one. With no frosting, no decorations, nothing at all. I wanted its taste to speak for it, nothing else.
So, as usual, I turned to Pinterest. It never lets me down. Neither does Sally.
Her blog is packed with amazing recipes that never fail and I am a big fan of hers. You can feel the happiness and love for baking and good ingredients behind every post of hers.
This her recipe for this amazing Carrot Cake.
I used 2 egg whites and 2 whole eggs and left out the nuts, a friend is allergic. Apart from that, I didn’t change anything.
The cake is moist and tender as she promises, you can count on it. The cinnamon adds a surprising aftertaste that really takes the cake to another level and the brown sugar matches perfectly with the carrot sweetness.
So, I prepared the cake and no frosting, but yesterday wanted to add something special on a side while enoying a slice on the couch, so I added some vegan icecream I made in seconds: just blend a frozen banana (I have a couple of them in my freezer all the time) with a handful of nuts,1/4 teaspoon cinnamon and some agave syrup. I love how good it tastes. It’s totally guilt free and fat free. It’s my usual Sunday treat, with chocolate chips or (homemade and natural) peanut butter and really satisfies my sweet tooth.
Here my pictures (no filter used)
Enjoy!
A special day
*I ran out of birthday candles so I had to use a toothpick. Sorry Stevie. I couldn’t stop laughing though. All alone. Like a crazy, drunk old man.
Yesterday, May 26th, Stevie Nicks turned 66. To me she is such an inspiration; a strong, rocking woman who happens to be one of the best songwriter and performer ever (my opinion, obviously).
Though her past is kind of heavy (drug abuse and a tainted love life), I see her as a positive model for a nowaday girl. She admits making mistakes and taking a wrong turn in her life and I feel like she made up for everything bad she may have done to herself. She pours all her feeling in some heartbreaking songs like Landslide, Silver Springs, Beautiful Child, that really talk to my soul.
I just can’t help weeping a little when she is involved. Don’t even make me start on her relationship with Lindsey Buckingham, such both a question mark and an exclamation point stitched together.
Last October I spent the whole concert singing and sobbing, feeling blessed to be in the same building with her and the Macs. It may seem a bit too much, but we all have those people we love unconditionally, no matter what.
A good witch, though she just plays with that fairy image she found herself into.
Happy birthday, dear Stevie. I so wish I could meet you, one day.
To celebrate this special day, I baked a few Coffee, Cinnamon and Walnut Muffins.
Actually I had printed the recipes a couple of weeks ago and it was on the to bake list.
As usual, I found the recipe on Pinterest (I mean, why even repeat myself?). Credits: The Organized Housewife. Here her recipe.
I scrupolously followed all her indications but one: instead of olive oil I used rice milk.
These my results. I had one of them for breakfast this morning.. another way to take in my daily amount of coffee 😉
On the inside: soft and moist
Pumpkin time
There’s no Starbucks in Italy. Not that we miss it, I’m quite satisfied with our coffee qualities and drinks and, generally speaking, Italian people do not trust big American brands.
Are we snobbish and kind of afraid of changes? Sure we are.
So I was saying, no Starbucks or Costa Coffee or anything.
Thus, when abroad,I love to indulge in a tall cup of sugary, spiced drinks. To me it’s part of the travelling experience.
Last year, during my American wanderings, I tried the Pumpkin Spice Latte. Oh. My. God. (Friends‘ Janice style 😉 ). It was ultragood! The cinnamon and nutmeg, pumpkin and cream. I saw loads of people ordering the biggest cup of that and honestly, can you blame them?
I can’t.
This year I had a few cups of it: in Paris, in Dublin and in Berlin.
But when home, since it’s all about pumpkin this time of year, why not baking something similar? I know, it’s not the same, but I find it satisfying in any case.
My dad has a small kitchen garden in the back of their yard, this means I have biological, seasonal, tasty and free vegetables whenever I want. Fresh, beautiful pumpkins as well. Yeah! 🙂
I’m addicted to the pumpkin soup: just boil it until you can smash it, then mix it with a pinch of salt, pepper and nutmeg (I add chili dust as well). It’s part of my idea of couchy, relaxing, pyjama-y and happy winter nights.
Last Friday I had a friend coming over for dinner. He had already expressed a few times how much he loved my pumpkin and cinnamon cake, but then pointed he wanted to try a lemony and creamy dessert as well. He knows me and was sure I would bake them both. Indeed.
I had no time to take pictures of the two desserts, but on Saturday I made cake pops out of the cake that remained. If you haven’t already, try. They are so easy and everybody loves them.
I started baking this cake: http://www.thenovicechefblog.com/2012/10/pumpkin-dream-cake/
I actually baked just a big layer and then cut it to get a few mini-cakes that I frosted.
I blended the rest of the layer adding cinnamon, peanut butter and cream cheese. Scooped the mixture and made the balls, then cooled and coated with chocolate.
This the result, verrry appreciated by the guys on Saturday night! (I tried to improve the pictures changing lights and shadows with a software.. please don’t say anything, I know.)
arytee 