No need for words...

I feel like a muffin baking in the oven

I had a great weekend out on the mountains, to cool down, considering the high temperature we're experiencing these days all over Italy...it's amazing how the mountains can give you that relax and can heal all your problems and troubles...
in such a quiet and fresh environment, a smell of spices teased me and pushed me to try this recipes, which combines spices, jam, nuts and dark sugar...
my kitchen was literally invaded by the perfume of nutmeg and cinnamon, butter&sugar...
unfortunately I didn't have the right jam, blueberry or blackberry, coz I quickly escaped from the city and forgot to take it with me...I fixed the problem using apricot jam, which works well, kinda neutral!
I preferred this time using a plumcake pan, coz it looked more "tea on the balcony overlooking the mountains" to me, don't ask me why!
anyway now I got back to work and to the oven, which is the city right now! all the soothing relax I got from the weekend is trying to fly away, but I'm stronger, I will keep it here with me!
enjoy the recipe and hope for me and for Italy all, that it will rain soon...

Jam and spices cake

180 g all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
a pinch of ground cloves
a pinch of cinnamon
a pinch nutmeg
50g butter
110 g brown sugar
1 egg
25 g sour cream(or yoghurt)
110g jam (the one you prefer…I suggest to use blueberry or blackberry or raspberry, because the colour is better when you cut the cake, but apricot works well as well…)
56 g chopped walnuts

Preheat oven to 180°C/350°F.

Sift together flour, baking powder, cloves, cinnamon, and nutmeg.
Cream butter and brown sugar. Add the egg. Add sour cream and then stir the flour mixture into the butter mixture until blended. Stir in jam and nuts. Pour into buttered pan or muffin molds.

Bake about 30 minutes.

enjoy...

And it was all yellow...

Do you know that song by Coldplay, "yellow"?
well I feel very yellow these days, probably because the rain has stopped to pour and the sun came back to remind us that we're in summer and we're supposed to enjoy the nature and the warmth...
When I was a child June was the best month ever, school was over, my holidays in the mountains started...it was also the most beautiful month in terms of weather, with the right temperature and the place where I went (and where I still go) was not very crowded, so you could enjoy the slow rhythms of the life in the mountains...
In Serina, near Bergamo and San Pellegrino, I have a piece of my heart, I have the "adopted" family, I have a lot of friends and there are a lot of people that truly love me and my mom...you know, that people you have chosen to be "your family", not those you find as part of your family!
Well, don't ask me why but there the holidays were real holidays, probably I was seeing the world through the eyes of obvious innocence and curiosity, that only a kid can have...
the sun was "more" yellow, the fields were "greener" and the life was way much happier and more relaxed...
actually I rather be there now!
anyway in this golden-yellow mood I was inspired to do this corn-flour muffin with lemon yogurt in...they smell great and look gorgeous!
if you are interested in Serina and the Valle Brembana you can find some information here and here!(and don't forget San Pellegrino!)

Corn-flour and Lemon Muffin

110g flour
110g corn-flour
50g sugar
1 teaspoon baking powder
a pinch of baking soda
a pinch of salt
a pinch of nutmeg
24g of melted and cooled butter
25g corn oil
110g Lemon Yogurt
1 egg
Puffed rice as much as you like (optional)

Preheat the oven to 200°C (400°F)

In a bowl mix together the flour, corn-flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, salt and nutmeg. In another bowl mix lemon yogurt, egg, butter, and oil until well blended. Pour the liquid over the dry and whisk until smooth. Now you can add, if you like, puffed rice, just to give a little crunchy texture in the batter…(it’s nice to have something crackling to nibble!).
Pour the batter in spoonfuls into the molds and bake 15-18 minutes until tops are golden and the usual toothpick test goes well!

better eat them sitting on the grass in a beautiful park, in a beautiful sunny day!(but actually they're good everyday!)

French Connection

On the 12th of June an exhibition devoted to Grace Kelly opens in Monaco, created by his son Alberto...I was thinking to go there for my birthday, on the 14th of July, which is also the day of the storming of the Bastille, France national celebration...Grace Kelly is such a worldwide icon and to see an exhibition designed by her own son, I think it is an unmissable opportunity!Who hasn't seen a movie of hers? Who hasn't dreamed watching her wedding with Prince Rainier? and who hasn't feel sad for such a miserable death...?
well if you have the chance you should go, also because is always a nice idea to spend a couple of days on the coast of France and maybe go shopping to Nice( a city I love!) or Cannes, or maybe make a trip to see the wonderful Perfume Factories in Grasse (especially Molinard...)
This is the right season to go there, thanks also to its mild temperature and sunny days!
And don't forget to fill your hungry bellies with tons of baguettes and pissaladières, croissant and pain au chocolate!

In such a French Mood I made a French-like recipe, that really reminds me of France, with its strong smell of Almonds and Vanilla,with a little touch of honey...

Almond-and-Honey Cupcakes

Ingredients:

140g all-purpose flour
85g powdered sugar
Pinch of salt
50 g chopped almonds
2 eggs
Half teaspoon of almond extract
Half teaspoon of vanilla extract
Half teaspoon of lemon zest
40g butter melted and cooled
1 tablespoon of Honey ( but you can also use Golden syrup…)

Sift the flour, sugar, and salt together into a bowl, then add the almonds chopped (not too fine, it’s better to have something crunchy in the batter!).In a separate bowl, whisk the eggs together with the almond and vanilla extracts(what a perfume, you will smell!) and the lemon zest. Add to the flour mixture. Mix until combined. Combine together the melted butter and honey. Then add the butter mixture to the other ingredients, making sure it gets completely incorporated into the batter. Let the batter sit for 1 hour in a cool place.
Preheat the oven to 200°C (400°F). Fill the molds 3/4 full with the batter, and bake for 8 to 10 minutes, or until light brown.

Bon Appetite!

Glasgow calling

I have a big and profound love for Glasgow...I worked on my dissertation there and it was also the first time for me away from home on my own. well I've been already away from home on my own, but always together with some friends, school mates...that time I was completely alone, and that's probably why I feel such a strong link to Glasgow.
anyway I think Glasgow doesn't receive the right attention it deserves, it' s all a matter of misconceptions and I think is so wrong...It has such a warm heart, the city centre, so naive and cosy, and what about Mackintosh? so great! well, I think I will dedicate many many words to Glasgow trying to give it something back!
In the meantime check out some good glaswegian sound with the band "the fratellis", who had a big success with their brilliant single Chelsea dagger!
bye for now