Mother's Day comes in such a splendid time when Mother Earth gives new life to all living things and amazing colors showcase the beauty and wonder of the world around us. Shades of pink cover up the entire neighborhood overnight. Japanese cherry trees, wild apple blossoms, and magnolia leaves give the landscape the most spectacular spring makeover. Tulips, pink hyacinths, and tiny violets perfume the air... Everything seems beautiful and adds a special touch to the honor of the special woman who has made us who we are, to the celebration of the wonder of creation.
Uplifted by all this loveliness around me, I think some pink strawberry vanilla cupcakes would be perfect to spoil your mom this weekend. They would adorn the table at your afternoon tea gathering or the brunch you are hosting for family and friends. Especially if you decorate them with pink macaroons – a truly feminine touch, and handmade paper toppers. Furthermore, place the cupcakes in a festive paper box and they turn into the sweetest and cutest gift... in tune with Nature's colors...

Happy Mother's Day, loving, caring and beautiful woman! Whether or not you have given life to a child, there is no doubt in my mind, you have mothered someone. The cupcakes and the flowers are for you, wherever you are.

Strawberry Vanilla Cupcakes 

Ingredients:

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
1 cup of sugar
3 large eggs
1/4 cup half & half
1 tsp vanilla extract
3/4 cup fresh finely chopped strawberries

Frosting:

1/2 cup butter
1 3/4 cups confectioner's sugar
1 tbsp light cream or milk
1 tsp vanilla extract

Directions: 

Preheat oven to 350°C. Line standard muffin tins with paper liners. Mix together the dry ingredients - flour, baking powder, salt. In another bowl, mix together the half and half, vanilla, and diced strawberries. Cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add in eggs, 1 at a time, beating after each addition. Divide batter among muffin cups. Bake cupcakes until testers inserted into center come out clean, about 20 minutes. Let cool completely before icing.  

In a small bowl, beat butter until creamy. Gradually add confectioner's sugar and cream, beating until smooth and creamy. Add vanilla and beat until frosting is light and fluffy. 

                                                                              ***


Thank you to all of you, my darling readers, for your generous congratulations on my publication. Your kind words and support mean a lot to me! 



Home Sweet Home / Be Inspired / Pink Saturday/ SayGDaySaturday/ Seasonal Sundays

• May 09, 2013
• colors

For Mom

Mother's Day comes in such a splendid time when Mother Earth gives new life to all living things and amazing colors showcase the beauty and wonder of the world around us. Shades of pink cover up the entire neighborhood overnight. Japanese cherry trees, wild apple blossoms, and magnolia leaves give the landscape the most spectacular spring makeover. Tulips, pink hyacinths, and tiny violets perfume the air... Everything seems beautiful and adds a special touch to the honor of the special woman who has made us who we are, to the celebration of the wonder of creation.
Uplifted by all this loveliness around me, I think some pink strawberry vanilla cupcakes would be perfect to spoil your mom this weekend. They would adorn the table at your afternoon tea gathering or the brunch you are hosting for family and friends. Especially if you decorate them with pink macaroons – a truly feminine touch, and handmade paper toppers. Furthermore, place the cupcakes in a festive paper box and they turn into the sweetest and cutest gift... in tune with Nature's colors...

Happy Mother's Day, loving, caring and beautiful woman! Whether or not you have given life to a child, there is no doubt in my mind, you have mothered someone. The cupcakes and the flowers are for you, wherever you are.

Strawberry Vanilla Cupcakes 

Ingredients:

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
1 cup of sugar
3 large eggs
1/4 cup half & half
1 tsp vanilla extract
3/4 cup fresh finely chopped strawberries

Frosting:

1/2 cup butter
1 3/4 cups confectioner's sugar
1 tbsp light cream or milk
1 tsp vanilla extract

Directions: 

Preheat oven to 350°C. Line standard muffin tins with paper liners. Mix together the dry ingredients - flour, baking powder, salt. In another bowl, mix together the half and half, vanilla, and diced strawberries. Cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add in eggs, 1 at a time, beating after each addition. Divide batter among muffin cups. Bake cupcakes until testers inserted into center come out clean, about 20 minutes. Let cool completely before icing.  

In a small bowl, beat butter until creamy. Gradually add confectioner's sugar and cream, beating until smooth and creamy. Add vanilla and beat until frosting is light and fluffy. 

                                                                              ***


Thank you to all of you, my darling readers, for your generous congratulations on my publication. Your kind words and support mean a lot to me! 



Home Sweet Home / Be Inspired / Pink Saturday/ SayGDaySaturday/ Seasonal Sundays

Read more »

                             

An early Sunday morning in cold April. We find ourselves in the Old Town walking slowly toward St. Lawrence Market. The farmer's market is closed on Sunday, but we are heading to the Sunday Antique Market right across the street. Downtown is surprisingly empty, the morning air and light envelop the city and that's exactly how we love it. It is the only honest way one can meet Toronto's historic buildings and enjoy its vibrant architecture. And it doesn't happen very often, it is a megalopolis, after all. We are lucky today. Getting up early on Sunday it seems to pay off.

Standing on the traffic island at the intersection of Front Street East and Church Street we are catching the 5-story red brick Flatiron Building's narrow end dead center standing proudly in front of two skyscrapers. What many do not realize is that Toronto's Flatiron actually preceded New York's famous Flatiron building by more than 10 years, though the one in NYC gets much more publicity.  

I left my camera home intentionally. My day is devoted to my family.

As avid lovers of antiques, three of us adore spending time at flea markets. They are, in fact, rare in urban cities, however, right in downtown, St. Lawrence indoor and outdoor antique market is the retro oasis we love visiting. While I am looking for old china, kitchen utensils, vintage textiles, and furniture, my son is browsing collectible comic books. When it comes to negotiating, bargaining and making a deal, it's my husband's job. He is good at that! I mean, really good! I, on the other hand, am probably the most desirable client for all vendors. Thanks to my man, I am leaving the antique market with a steal of a deal for an old English blue and white ironstone plate, two wonderful linen napkins, vintage photographs and books, and four French Limoges china saucers. I am more than happy; how little I need...

There is an even more overwhelming excitement when we pass by the spectacular Gothic Revival architecture of St. James Cathedral and the ringing bells fill the moment with joyous sound and a sacralized sense of time. It immediately brings me back to Italy where I spent one whole summer in my aunt's house waking up every morning to the reassuring, gentle, yet solemn bell of the local church. I stop. I breathe. I am present. The slow and steady ringing of the church bells awakens my spiritual pulse reminding me of the significance of every moment, of the marvels that surround me... The wonders of the world aren't far away.

We are rambling around the neighborhood, enjoying each other's company and immersing in the charm of our town; our son standing tall beside us, my husband making jokes, I, myself, trying to hold my dress to prevent a Marilyn Monroe moment when the air from the street vent shafts blows it up unexpectedly. Brunch at the restaurant gives us lasting energy for the day. We laugh, we share impressions, we agree "Toronto is one cool city!" The hesitant sun touches our faces as we make ourselves comfortable on the bench and watch people passing. We feel cozy in a very large place. We spot a friend...

Everything seems brighter, everything tastes better, everything is exciting and promising, everything has a pleasant smell, everything we do feels right this day.

"Normal day, let me be aware of the treasure you are. Let me learn from you, love you, bless you before you depart. Let me not pass you by in quest of some rare and perfect tomorrow. Let me hold you while I may, for it may not always be so. One day I shall dig my nails into the earth, or bury my face in the pillow, or stretch myself taut, or raise my hands to the sky and want, more than all the world, your return."                                                                                                                                                                                   ~ Mary Jean Irion, "Let Me Hold You While I May"

You can see more of my iPhone photos and Instagram gallery here or click on the button on the righthand side of the blog. 

What are your weekends looking like lately?

Oh, The Places I've Been

• April 15, 2013
• life and family

A Day in The Old Town

                             

An early Sunday morning in cold April. We find ourselves in the Old Town walking slowly toward St. Lawrence Market. The farmer's market is closed on Sunday, but we are heading to the Sunday Antique Market right across the street. Downtown is surprisingly empty, the morning air and light envelop the city and that's exactly how we love it. It is the only honest way one can meet Toronto's historic buildings and enjoy its vibrant architecture. And it doesn't happen very often, it is a megalopolis, after all. We are lucky today. Getting up early on Sunday it seems to pay off.

Standing on the traffic island at the intersection of Front Street East and Church Street we are catching the 5-story red brick Flatiron Building's narrow end dead center standing proudly in front of two skyscrapers. What many do not realize is that Toronto's Flatiron actually preceded New York's famous Flatiron building by more than 10 years, though the one in NYC gets much more publicity.  

I left my camera home intentionally. My day is devoted to my family.

As avid lovers of antiques, three of us adore spending time at flea markets. They are, in fact, rare in urban cities, however, right in downtown, St. Lawrence indoor and outdoor antique market is the retro oasis we love visiting. While I am looking for old china, kitchen utensils, vintage textiles, and furniture, my son is browsing collectible comic books. When it comes to negotiating, bargaining and making a deal, it's my husband's job. He is good at that! I mean, really good! I, on the other hand, am probably the most desirable client for all vendors. Thanks to my man, I am leaving the antique market with a steal of a deal for an old English blue and white ironstone plate, two wonderful linen napkins, vintage photographs and books, and four French Limoges china saucers. I am more than happy; how little I need...

There is an even more overwhelming excitement when we pass by the spectacular Gothic Revival architecture of St. James Cathedral and the ringing bells fill the moment with joyous sound and a sacralized sense of time. It immediately brings me back to Italy where I spent one whole summer in my aunt's house waking up every morning to the reassuring, gentle, yet solemn bell of the local church. I stop. I breathe. I am present. The slow and steady ringing of the church bells awakens my spiritual pulse reminding me of the significance of every moment, of the marvels that surround me... The wonders of the world aren't far away.

We are rambling around the neighborhood, enjoying each other's company and immersing in the charm of our town; our son standing tall beside us, my husband making jokes, I, myself, trying to hold my dress to prevent a Marilyn Monroe moment when the air from the street vent shafts blows it up unexpectedly. Brunch at the restaurant gives us lasting energy for the day. We laugh, we share impressions, we agree "Toronto is one cool city!" The hesitant sun touches our faces as we make ourselves comfortable on the bench and watch people passing. We feel cozy in a very large place. We spot a friend...

Everything seems brighter, everything tastes better, everything is exciting and promising, everything has a pleasant smell, everything we do feels right this day.

"Normal day, let me be aware of the treasure you are. Let me learn from you, love you, bless you before you depart. Let me not pass you by in quest of some rare and perfect tomorrow. Let me hold you while I may, for it may not always be so. One day I shall dig my nails into the earth, or bury my face in the pillow, or stretch myself taut, or raise my hands to the sky and want, more than all the world, your return."                                                                                                                                                                                   ~ Mary Jean Irion, "Let Me Hold You While I May"

You can see more of my iPhone photos and Instagram gallery here or click on the button on the righthand side of the blog. 

What are your weekends looking like lately?

Oh, The Places I've Been

Read more »

Between the last freezing days of winter and the first warm days of spring, when the days get longer, the nights stay cold and the day temperature reaches a mild 5°C, sugar makers drill a small hole into the sugar-maple tree, place a tap onto the tree, hang a bucket on the tap so that the maple sap from the tree would drip into the bucket and wait for collection. The sap is basically the blood of the maple tree as it stocks sugar and nutrients for the tree to grow. Once the sap is collected, it is then boiled to evaporate water and become a syrup. The syrup is filtered, bottled and it is finally ready to be used over pancakes, French toast, popcorn, ice cream, in muffin recipes and salad dressings, or for execution of sophisticated culinary.

In fact, long before the Europeans arrived in North America, the Native people have been practicing the art of making this natural product referring to it as "drawn from the wood".

Since, I believe, there is nothing more Canadian than maple syrup (or, perhaps, hockey, according to my son), each year small towns, villages and conservation areas across Ontario host annual Sugarbush Maple Syrup Festivals.   

Last week we took part in one of these truly special events, where we started off the morning the only possible way – by overindulging ourselves on the biggest warm delicious pancakes.

Next, we took the horse-drawn wagon ride, walked through the woods to experience again the entire maple syrup process, enjoyed the wood carving, hugged the little goats, bought the purest maple syrup from the Sugar Shack, met the friendliest people in the area and headed back to the pancake house for more pancakes with more maple syrup. 

In other words, we simply did celebrate the first harvest of spring, the simple pleasures of the shortest season of "maple moon" which always comes as a sweet testimony of the arrival of the most promising time period of the year.

Pure Maple Syrup is one of life's simple pleasures and one of Nature's wonders. Moreover, the health benefits of real syrup are far more abundant that one might expect. Coming directly from a plant's sap, this natural sweetener features numbers of natural antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals.
However, in order to get real maple syrup, we have to be conscious and thoroughly check the labels when we buy it from grocery stores. Statistics show that very often leading pancake syrups contain zero pure maple syrup and rely on high fructose corn syrup and additives, such as artificial flavorings and coloring agents. Sometimes imitation syrups list maple syrup as an ingredient when it only contains as little as 5%.
Double-check the bottle to make sure you are getting pure maple syrup to enjoy all the simple pleasure this all-natural energy booster provides.



Hope your days are happy!

Thank you!


Seasonal Sundays

• March 22, 2013
• food

The Simple Pleasure of Maple Syrup

Between the last freezing days of winter and the first warm days of spring, when the days get longer, the nights stay cold and the day temperature reaches a mild 5°C, sugar makers drill a small hole into the sugar-maple tree, place a tap onto the tree, hang a bucket on the tap so that the maple sap from the tree would drip into the bucket and wait for collection. The sap is basically the blood of the maple tree as it stocks sugar and nutrients for the tree to grow. Once the sap is collected, it is then boiled to evaporate water and become a syrup. The syrup is filtered, bottled and it is finally ready to be used over pancakes, French toast, popcorn, ice cream, in muffin recipes and salad dressings, or for execution of sophisticated culinary.

In fact, long before the Europeans arrived in North America, the Native people have been practicing the art of making this natural product referring to it as "drawn from the wood".

Since, I believe, there is nothing more Canadian than maple syrup (or, perhaps, hockey, according to my son), each year small towns, villages and conservation areas across Ontario host annual Sugarbush Maple Syrup Festivals.   

Last week we took part in one of these truly special events, where we started off the morning the only possible way – by overindulging ourselves on the biggest warm delicious pancakes.

Next, we took the horse-drawn wagon ride, walked through the woods to experience again the entire maple syrup process, enjoyed the wood carving, hugged the little goats, bought the purest maple syrup from the Sugar Shack, met the friendliest people in the area and headed back to the pancake house for more pancakes with more maple syrup. 

In other words, we simply did celebrate the first harvest of spring, the simple pleasures of the shortest season of "maple moon" which always comes as a sweet testimony of the arrival of the most promising time period of the year.

Pure Maple Syrup is one of life's simple pleasures and one of Nature's wonders. Moreover, the health benefits of real syrup are far more abundant that one might expect. Coming directly from a plant's sap, this natural sweetener features numbers of natural antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals.
However, in order to get real maple syrup, we have to be conscious and thoroughly check the labels when we buy it from grocery stores. Statistics show that very often leading pancake syrups contain zero pure maple syrup and rely on high fructose corn syrup and additives, such as artificial flavorings and coloring agents. Sometimes imitation syrups list maple syrup as an ingredient when it only contains as little as 5%.
Double-check the bottle to make sure you are getting pure maple syrup to enjoy all the simple pleasure this all-natural energy booster provides.



Hope your days are happy!

Thank you!


Seasonal Sundays

Read more »

There is something magical when the sun is shining on the snow after a heavy snowfall. I want to see my footprint on the freshly glowing snow and listen to the sound of silence... Brilliant sunlight makes the Earth glistening, the air is crisp cool and a white peaceful serenity wards off my worries and calms my mind... It seems like everything in the world is in perfect balance and nothing can destroy this moment... Rejoicing in the morning sunlight, I feel empowered to confidently take the next step in the brightest day... Mark Oliver Everett's thought (from Things The Grandchildren Should Know) comes to mind simply to give a poetic shape of my experience "Life is so full of unpredictable beauty and strange surprises. Sometimes that beauty is too much for me to handle. Do you know that feeling? When something is just too beautiful?... When someone says something that moves you..." 

That is exactly how I feel on this wonderful February Monday. It is Family Day and I am in the woods with my family, hardly walking on a narrow almost invisible path while my son is following me with the dog and my husband is holding a basket full with everything we need for a sweet winter picnic. I had prepared the melted chocolate, minutes before we left home, made from this recipe. My husband suggested using the burner from the fondue set to roast the Tahitian vanilla marshmallows. Hot coffee and hot cocoa in a thermos are keeping us warm. We haven't made S'mores since our son left his Scouts group more than two years ago...

It is a comfort to know that all it takes to make me happy is a handsome group of loved people and a dog to laugh with, untouched snow and fresh air to breathe in and a roasted marshmallow and a layer of chocolate sandwiched between two pieces of graham cracker to indulge in ...

At this moment I can't think of a better way to enjoy a simple winter afternoon together in nature... 

   

S'mores

You will need:
graham crackers
pieces of chocolate or melted chocolate
large marshmallows

Directions: 
Take one graham cracker and spread it with melted chocolate.
Put a marshmallow on a stick and hold it over the flame until roasted. Turn the stick until the outside of the marshmallow is golden brown. It tastes better caramelized.
Take the toasted marshmallow while on the stick, and lay it on the side of the graham cracker with the chocolate. Take another graham cracker and cover the hot marshmallow.
When the S'more is fully assembled, let it cool for a few seconds. Squish the S'more between your fingers and ... enjoy it!

                                                                               I hope you have a happy happy week ahead!

a FB post of a friend of mine

Savvy Southern Style, Be Inspired Friday, Home Sweet Home

• February 18, 2013
• food

Family Day & S'mores

There is something magical when the sun is shining on the snow after a heavy snowfall. I want to see my footprint on the freshly glowing snow and listen to the sound of silence... Brilliant sunlight makes the Earth glistening, the air is crisp cool and a white peaceful serenity wards off my worries and calms my mind... It seems like everything in the world is in perfect balance and nothing can destroy this moment... Rejoicing in the morning sunlight, I feel empowered to confidently take the next step in the brightest day... Mark Oliver Everett's thought (from Things The Grandchildren Should Know) comes to mind simply to give a poetic shape of my experience "Life is so full of unpredictable beauty and strange surprises. Sometimes that beauty is too much for me to handle. Do you know that feeling? When something is just too beautiful?... When someone says something that moves you..." 

That is exactly how I feel on this wonderful February Monday. It is Family Day and I am in the woods with my family, hardly walking on a narrow almost invisible path while my son is following me with the dog and my husband is holding a basket full with everything we need for a sweet winter picnic. I had prepared the melted chocolate, minutes before we left home, made from this recipe. My husband suggested using the burner from the fondue set to roast the Tahitian vanilla marshmallows. Hot coffee and hot cocoa in a thermos are keeping us warm. We haven't made S'mores since our son left his Scouts group more than two years ago...

It is a comfort to know that all it takes to make me happy is a handsome group of loved people and a dog to laugh with, untouched snow and fresh air to breathe in and a roasted marshmallow and a layer of chocolate sandwiched between two pieces of graham cracker to indulge in ...

At this moment I can't think of a better way to enjoy a simple winter afternoon together in nature... 

   

S'mores

You will need:
graham crackers
pieces of chocolate or melted chocolate
large marshmallows

Directions: 
Take one graham cracker and spread it with melted chocolate.
Put a marshmallow on a stick and hold it over the flame until roasted. Turn the stick until the outside of the marshmallow is golden brown. It tastes better caramelized.
Take the toasted marshmallow while on the stick, and lay it on the side of the graham cracker with the chocolate. Take another graham cracker and cover the hot marshmallow.
When the S'more is fully assembled, let it cool for a few seconds. Squish the S'more between your fingers and ... enjoy it!

                                                                               I hope you have a happy happy week ahead!

a FB post of a friend of mine

Savvy Southern Style, Be Inspired Friday, Home Sweet Home

Read more »

The sun was mischievously staring through the window fooling around that the cold too had its day off... Only after a morning walk with the dog one can become fully aware of the chill winter coldness ruling outside. 

No plans for the weekend!
Not so long ago, I would be frustrated by the absence of a vision for the end of the week - exhibitions, friends gatherings, events, private lessons, antiquing, community courses, movies, sports, short trips - I usually have had the list ready since Monday... But not anymore. I have been learning to allow myself to be bored; something that my man had acquired long ago and my son is on his way to enjoy occasional boredom. Yes, boredom! I think I was first exposed to the "art of relaxing" not as hours of laziness, but rather as hours of just being, not doing while I was reading Richard Carlson's books. He explains that if you allow yourself to be bored, even for an hour, or less and don't fight it, the feeling of boredom will be replaced with a feeling of peace. It works!
So, the three members of our family decided unanimously that this weekend we will stay home, read, play games, drink coffee, cook, drink tea, bake, drink cocoa, bake, and bake again... Sounded like the best plan ever (if it was a plan at all) even to my teenage son.
Somehow along the way, for us as a family and for every one of us as an individual, it became almost impossible to sit still and do nothing, much less truly relax – even on the weekends. I often feel guilty when I find myself doing nothing. While sitting on the sofa or simply wandering through the clouds, my busy mind would not forget to remind me that there are millions of things waiting to be done. Overwhelmed by the pressure of performing and doing something important every second, we easily overlook the wonder of life, the beauty of the present moment, the simple pleasure of the ordinary activity. 

The extremely cold weather this winter helps us to replace busyness, plans, and getaways with home, cuddling, warmth, togetherness, and peace. On days like these, an aching urge makes me want to bake. While my boys were playing chess and the dog was snoring in their feet, I tried the simplest and quickest tortelli-cookies that I have ever made (the recipe and photos you can find here). Then, on Sunday, I woke up with happy thoughts about the winters in my childhood. Images of sliding on the hill, drying soaked mittens on the fire, my mom baking her ultimate winter tea cake made me call her and talk for hours. I wrote down the recipe and put my fancy apron once again. This time I baked this easy apricot cake and made fruit tea. During summer, my grandma with the help of my mom would gather fruits from the garden, or the farmer's market, or the neighbor's trees and will make compote (French for "mixture", it is a recipe consisting of whole or pieces of fruit that have been stewed in a sugar syrup and other flavorings). Then in winter, we would have compote as a dessert at the end of the dinner, or for breakfast with yogurt, and mom would bake with it, and dad will drink the fruit juice with delight... I cannot make the compote, but when a couple of days ago, on the store shelf I saw a jar of apricots, I knew immediately, one day I will bake my mom's winter apricot upside-down cake.
The tea cake turned out really great, moist and light. The cheerful orange-ish color of the sun-like dessert, compensated for the grayness and gloominess outside.
On this "empty, bored" weekend, while I was not baking in the kitchen, I was quietly reading Katrina Kenison's book "Magical Journey" snuggling up in a cozy wool blanket. If you haven't read it yet, please, put it on your list. This is a beautifully and eloquently written memoir about soul-searching, self-acceptance, and personal growth. I relate to her story and experience. The voyage she illustrates in the book is LIFE itself, filled with searching, loss, suffering, love, healing, vulnerability, forgiveness and divine awakening. If you see my copy, it is full of underlined thoughts, passages, exclamation marks, words, because her heartwarming insight into life has come to me in the absolute right personal moment and has touched me in a really profound and emotional way. Once again, the author proved that the only journey we, humans, have is the journey within and
it is a magical journey, indeed. 

"Recognizing that life is a moment-to-moment gift meant acknowledging not only friend's mortality but my own as well. The realization that in fact, we all dying, all the time, to something, nearly broke my heart, but it also opened it, helped me begin to recognize the fleeting beauty of all of life. We mourn summer's passing, but winter comes nonetheless, revealing a different landscape altogether, equally lovely in its own way. The sweetest day draws to close, night settles in, and we turn our bodies to one another for comfort..."      

                                                                    Mom's Winter Apricot Upside-Down Tea Cake 


Ingredients:

1 cup of sugar
1 cup plain flour
4 eggs
1 tsp baking powder
1 jar of apricot compote
vanilla
icing sugar (optional)


Directions:

Preheat the oven to 350F. Grease a circular springform cake tin. Arrange the apricot halves from the compote, cut side down in the tin.
Stir together eggs and sugar into a bowl until pale and fluffy. Add flour and vanilla and stir until mixture is creamy and double in volume. Gently spoon batter over apricots and spread evenly. Bake cake until golden brown or a wooden pick inserted in the center comes out clean.
Invert a large plate over the top of the tin and quickly turn it out. While still warm, moisten the cake with cold apricot syrup. Drizzle with icing sugar if you wish. Serve cold or slightly warm.



Hope your days are happy!

Sharing with Savvy Southern Style, HOME, What's It Wed, Home Sweet Home, Be Inspired

• January 28, 2013
• books

A Winter Weekend of Simple Pleasures

The sun was mischievously staring through the window fooling around that the cold too had its day off... Only after a morning walk with the dog one can become fully aware of the chill winter coldness ruling outside. 

No plans for the weekend!
Not so long ago, I would be frustrated by the absence of a vision for the end of the week - exhibitions, friends gatherings, events, private lessons, antiquing, community courses, movies, sports, short trips - I usually have had the list ready since Monday... But not anymore. I have been learning to allow myself to be bored; something that my man had acquired long ago and my son is on his way to enjoy occasional boredom. Yes, boredom! I think I was first exposed to the "art of relaxing" not as hours of laziness, but rather as hours of just being, not doing while I was reading Richard Carlson's books. He explains that if you allow yourself to be bored, even for an hour, or less and don't fight it, the feeling of boredom will be replaced with a feeling of peace. It works!
So, the three members of our family decided unanimously that this weekend we will stay home, read, play games, drink coffee, cook, drink tea, bake, drink cocoa, bake, and bake again... Sounded like the best plan ever (if it was a plan at all) even to my teenage son.
Somehow along the way, for us as a family and for every one of us as an individual, it became almost impossible to sit still and do nothing, much less truly relax – even on the weekends. I often feel guilty when I find myself doing nothing. While sitting on the sofa or simply wandering through the clouds, my busy mind would not forget to remind me that there are millions of things waiting to be done. Overwhelmed by the pressure of performing and doing something important every second, we easily overlook the wonder of life, the beauty of the present moment, the simple pleasure of the ordinary activity. 

The extremely cold weather this winter helps us to replace busyness, plans, and getaways with home, cuddling, warmth, togetherness, and peace. On days like these, an aching urge makes me want to bake. While my boys were playing chess and the dog was snoring in their feet, I tried the simplest and quickest tortelli-cookies that I have ever made (the recipe and photos you can find here). Then, on Sunday, I woke up with happy thoughts about the winters in my childhood. Images of sliding on the hill, drying soaked mittens on the fire, my mom baking her ultimate winter tea cake made me call her and talk for hours. I wrote down the recipe and put my fancy apron once again. This time I baked this easy apricot cake and made fruit tea. During summer, my grandma with the help of my mom would gather fruits from the garden, or the farmer's market, or the neighbor's trees and will make compote (French for "mixture", it is a recipe consisting of whole or pieces of fruit that have been stewed in a sugar syrup and other flavorings). Then in winter, we would have compote as a dessert at the end of the dinner, or for breakfast with yogurt, and mom would bake with it, and dad will drink the fruit juice with delight... I cannot make the compote, but when a couple of days ago, on the store shelf I saw a jar of apricots, I knew immediately, one day I will bake my mom's winter apricot upside-down cake.
The tea cake turned out really great, moist and light. The cheerful orange-ish color of the sun-like dessert, compensated for the grayness and gloominess outside.
On this "empty, bored" weekend, while I was not baking in the kitchen, I was quietly reading Katrina Kenison's book "Magical Journey" snuggling up in a cozy wool blanket. If you haven't read it yet, please, put it on your list. This is a beautifully and eloquently written memoir about soul-searching, self-acceptance, and personal growth. I relate to her story and experience. The voyage she illustrates in the book is LIFE itself, filled with searching, loss, suffering, love, healing, vulnerability, forgiveness and divine awakening. If you see my copy, it is full of underlined thoughts, passages, exclamation marks, words, because her heartwarming insight into life has come to me in the absolute right personal moment and has touched me in a really profound and emotional way. Once again, the author proved that the only journey we, humans, have is the journey within and
it is a magical journey, indeed. 

"Recognizing that life is a moment-to-moment gift meant acknowledging not only friend's mortality but my own as well. The realization that in fact, we all dying, all the time, to something, nearly broke my heart, but it also opened it, helped me begin to recognize the fleeting beauty of all of life. We mourn summer's passing, but winter comes nonetheless, revealing a different landscape altogether, equally lovely in its own way. The sweetest day draws to close, night settles in, and we turn our bodies to one another for comfort..."      

                                                                    Mom's Winter Apricot Upside-Down Tea Cake 


Ingredients:

1 cup of sugar
1 cup plain flour
4 eggs
1 tsp baking powder
1 jar of apricot compote
vanilla
icing sugar (optional)


Directions:

Preheat the oven to 350F. Grease a circular springform cake tin. Arrange the apricot halves from the compote, cut side down in the tin.
Stir together eggs and sugar into a bowl until pale and fluffy. Add flour and vanilla and stir until mixture is creamy and double in volume. Gently spoon batter over apricots and spread evenly. Bake cake until golden brown or a wooden pick inserted in the center comes out clean.
Invert a large plate over the top of the tin and quickly turn it out. While still warm, moisten the cake with cold apricot syrup. Drizzle with icing sugar if you wish. Serve cold or slightly warm.



Hope your days are happy!

Sharing with Savvy Southern Style, HOME, What's It Wed, Home Sweet Home, Be Inspired

Read more »

  

There is just something remarkable about homemade Christmas cookies. They are no ordinary cookies; they can be only found the days before Christmas and on Christmas Day. Baked together by the whole family, they make your granny's recipe come to life. No matter how perfect we make chocolate chips or maple cookies during the year, they never quite possess the magic of these special holidays treats. They are even more significant if they are snowball cookies made especially to conquer a yearning for a white Christmas. Oh! No sign of snow in our hemisphere ...
But our house is transformed into the Land of Sweets where powdered sugar is falling instead of snowflakes and the Sugar Plum Fairy invites us to dance to Bing Crosby's "White Christmas" just like the ones we used to know... We are a little sad because of the missing snow (my son: "Green Christmas sucks"), yet HAPPY. Our hearts are open to receive the abundance of love and grace at this time of year.
From our content hearts to yours, we are wishing you beautiful moments and happy memories of love, joy, laughter and lots of cookies this Christmas.
And You, my friend, wherever you are, if you feel alone for some reason this holiday season wanting not to be, please, know that my little family is thinking of you!

Help yourself with some snowball cookies! 
    

                                                  Snowball Christmas Cookies
                                                                                      ( about dozen and a half )


1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, softened

1/4 cup powdered sugar

1 cup all-purpose flour

1 cup pecans (nuts), chopped fine

1 teaspoon vanilla 

Powdered sugar for rolling



Preheat oven to 300F. Beat softened butter, 1/4 cup sugar, and vanilla together. Stir in flour and pecans. Roll dough into one-inch balls. Place dough balls on a non-greasy cookie sheet and bake for 9 to 10 minutes until set but not brown. While snowballs are still warm, roll in confectioners sugar. Cool completely and roll in powdered sugar again until coated white. 



Could anything be better than baking these cute little snowball cookies with your kids and then reading Christmas stories aloud by the Christmas tree while waiting for the Christmas miracle to happen!? Over the years we have collected wonderful editions of some of the most inspirational Christmas reads. The illustrations of these books are amazing and they also make great Christmas gifts. I would like to share a list of my 11 favorite Yuletide books. Every holiday season these stories warm our hearts and remind us of the true Christmas spirit.

It has truly been a joy connecting with each and every one of you this blogging year. Thank you for your heartwarming words and support.




I am sharing the recipe with 
StoneGable
Savvy Southern Style

• December 23, 2012
• books

From Our Hearts to Yours

  

There is just something remarkable about homemade Christmas cookies. They are no ordinary cookies; they can be only found the days before Christmas and on Christmas Day. Baked together by the whole family, they make your granny's recipe come to life. No matter how perfect we make chocolate chips or maple cookies during the year, they never quite possess the magic of these special holidays treats. They are even more significant if they are snowball cookies made especially to conquer a yearning for a white Christmas. Oh! No sign of snow in our hemisphere ...
But our house is transformed into the Land of Sweets where powdered sugar is falling instead of snowflakes and the Sugar Plum Fairy invites us to dance to Bing Crosby's "White Christmas" just like the ones we used to know... We are a little sad because of the missing snow (my son: "Green Christmas sucks"), yet HAPPY. Our hearts are open to receive the abundance of love and grace at this time of year.
From our content hearts to yours, we are wishing you beautiful moments and happy memories of love, joy, laughter and lots of cookies this Christmas.
And You, my friend, wherever you are, if you feel alone for some reason this holiday season wanting not to be, please, know that my little family is thinking of you!

Help yourself with some snowball cookies! 
    

                                                  Snowball Christmas Cookies
                                                                                      ( about dozen and a half )


1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, softened

1/4 cup powdered sugar

1 cup all-purpose flour

1 cup pecans (nuts), chopped fine

1 teaspoon vanilla 

Powdered sugar for rolling



Preheat oven to 300F. Beat softened butter, 1/4 cup sugar, and vanilla together. Stir in flour and pecans. Roll dough into one-inch balls. Place dough balls on a non-greasy cookie sheet and bake for 9 to 10 minutes until set but not brown. While snowballs are still warm, roll in confectioners sugar. Cool completely and roll in powdered sugar again until coated white. 



Could anything be better than baking these cute little snowball cookies with your kids and then reading Christmas stories aloud by the Christmas tree while waiting for the Christmas miracle to happen!? Over the years we have collected wonderful editions of some of the most inspirational Christmas reads. The illustrations of these books are amazing and they also make great Christmas gifts. I would like to share a list of my 11 favorite Yuletide books. Every holiday season these stories warm our hearts and remind us of the true Christmas spirit.

It has truly been a joy connecting with each and every one of you this blogging year. Thank you for your heartwarming words and support.




I am sharing the recipe with 
StoneGable
Savvy Southern Style

Read more »

" It feels so Christmasy here, mom!" would say, my son. "Does someone else feel it? I really love it!"

" I want to live in your house during the holidays...", my friend would be kidding.

" Through your photos, I can catch the magic ", another friend of mine would try to convince me.

And it feels so good! 
Because

what I want for Christmas is the magic of a simple Christmas:

- time spent with my son decorating together our evergreen tree with cookie cutters, linen bows and ball ornaments that our hands had covered with vintage paper;

- gathering nature's treasures while walking with our dog and decorating the house with them;

- my son writing with his hands a Christmas message to the family and hanging it on the Christmas tree. No peeking until Christmas Day;
- winding evergreen branches into a Christmas wreath and adorning it with fresh limes, pines, walnuts and cinnamon stick to fill the room with fragrance; 

- cozy socks knitted by my mom and a blanket on my shoulders while reading out loud "The Gift of The Magi", "Great Joy", "The Legend Of The Christmas Tree", "The Little Match Girl" and other heartwarming Christmas stories;

- baking shortbread cookies, maple tea cake, cranberry bars and other favorite recipes from my mom and grandma's recipe journals;
- eating a delicious meal cooked by my personal chef (my husband :)
- a cup of coffee in the morning with a Christmas tree or a snowman drown in the foam for me by his hands;
- wrapping presents for the extended family, especially, for my one-year-old nephew and sending them to Europe, hoping that the post service will deliver them before Christmas Day;    

- my son making presents for mom and dad (our small family has a tradition which we established since our son was a little boy and wanted to give us presents. We came up with the idea that he would create two handmade gifts. As a result of that, over the years I have collected an adorable tissue paper angel, a handsome Nutcracker, a family of skiers from pine cones, a wonderful winter landscape piece of art... I can't wait to find the next lovely surprise under the tree made by my son's skillful hands);

- setting the holiday table with candles, vintage plates, greens and food with history;
- handwriting the Christmas cards and sending wishes to friends and family all over the globe;
- enjoying the lights that make the world sparkle.......

"Christmas magic is silent. You don't heart it - you feel it, you know it, you believe it."

 In other words, to me, the magic of Christmas lies in the present of a happy family, 

              in the creating of unforgettable childhood memories for our children,

in the uplifting laughter of good friends,

in the giving with an open heart and receiving with gratitude,
in the gift of faith, 

the peace of our minds, 

the goodness of our human being,

and love in our hearts.

                                                       

 I am blessed and I am thankful! 

            Wishing you and yours a magical Christmas!

Joining 

Savvy Southern Style
Tutorial Tips and Tidbits
Vintage Inspiration
Country Whites Weekend

• December 18, 2012
• Christmas

Christmas Magic in Your Hands

" It feels so Christmasy here, mom!" would say, my son. "Does someone else feel it? I really love it!"

" I want to live in your house during the holidays...", my friend would be kidding.

" Through your photos, I can catch the magic ", another friend of mine would try to convince me.

And it feels so good! 
Because

what I want for Christmas is the magic of a simple Christmas:

- time spent with my son decorating together our evergreen tree with cookie cutters, linen bows and ball ornaments that our hands had covered with vintage paper;

- gathering nature's treasures while walking with our dog and decorating the house with them;

- my son writing with his hands a Christmas message to the family and hanging it on the Christmas tree. No peeking until Christmas Day;
- winding evergreen branches into a Christmas wreath and adorning it with fresh limes, pines, walnuts and cinnamon stick to fill the room with fragrance; 

- cozy socks knitted by my mom and a blanket on my shoulders while reading out loud "The Gift of The Magi", "Great Joy", "The Legend Of The Christmas Tree", "The Little Match Girl" and other heartwarming Christmas stories;

- baking shortbread cookies, maple tea cake, cranberry bars and other favorite recipes from my mom and grandma's recipe journals;
- eating a delicious meal cooked by my personal chef (my husband :)
- a cup of coffee in the morning with a Christmas tree or a snowman drown in the foam for me by his hands;
- wrapping presents for the extended family, especially, for my one-year-old nephew and sending them to Europe, hoping that the post service will deliver them before Christmas Day;    

- my son making presents for mom and dad (our small family has a tradition which we established since our son was a little boy and wanted to give us presents. We came up with the idea that he would create two handmade gifts. As a result of that, over the years I have collected an adorable tissue paper angel, a handsome Nutcracker, a family of skiers from pine cones, a wonderful winter landscape piece of art... I can't wait to find the next lovely surprise under the tree made by my son's skillful hands);

- setting the holiday table with candles, vintage plates, greens and food with history;
- handwriting the Christmas cards and sending wishes to friends and family all over the globe;
- enjoying the lights that make the world sparkle.......

"Christmas magic is silent. You don't heart it - you feel it, you know it, you believe it."

 In other words, to me, the magic of Christmas lies in the present of a happy family, 

              in the creating of unforgettable childhood memories for our children,

in the uplifting laughter of good friends,

in the giving with an open heart and receiving with gratitude,
in the gift of faith, 

the peace of our minds, 

the goodness of our human being,

and love in our hearts.

                                                       

 I am blessed and I am thankful! 

            Wishing you and yours a magical Christmas!

Joining 

Savvy Southern Style
Tutorial Tips and Tidbits
Vintage Inspiration
Country Whites Weekend

Read more »