Archive | March, 2012

Random

14 Mar

Quite often these days I find that my iphone goes missing for long periods of time.  After browsing through the photos on it I’ve discovered why…

I love kid’s perspective on life.

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Orange blossom cake with mandarine glaze

11 Mar

Today was a beautiful sunny day.  A bit on the chilly side but the smell of spring is definitely in the air.  And with that smell of spring comes the irresistable urge to clean and organise my house.

In between all this cleaning and organising I made some mini Orange Blossom Water Cakes with Mandarine Glaze.  A friend brought me the Orange Blossom Water a while ago and I’ve been really looking forward to baking with it.  I’ve never used it but have seen many Middle Eastern and Mediterrenean recipes which call for it.  It has such a pungent perfumy smell that becomes so mild when baked in these cakes.

Orange Blossom Water Cakes with Mandarine Glaze

1 1/2 cups All purpose flour
2 tsp baking powder
small pinch of salt
2 eggs
1 Tbsp grated orange zest
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup white sugar
1/2 cup buttermilk
1 tsp orange blossom water
1/2 cup melted butter (unsalted)

1.  Sift flour, baking powder and salt together.

2. Beat eggs, lemon zest, brown sugar and white sugar until light and frothy.

3. Add flour mixture to egg mixture and mix until just combined.  Add buttermilk mixed with orange blossom water and melted butter.  Mix until combined.

4. Pour into buttered cake pan (or mini cake pans).  Bake in 350 degree oven (35-45 minutes for one large cake or 20-25 minutes for small cakes.

5. For glaze mix 1/4 orange juice with 1 cup powdered sugar.  You can also add a little splash of the orange blossom water and some grated mandarine peel.  Pour over cakes.

Enjoy!

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Tree skirts

9 Mar

While my mom was visiting we got to do some really nice sewing projects together.  Aprons, zipper pouches and a few simple skirts for my daughters.  Every year in March I make each of my twin daughters a special skirt (and crown) for their birthday which is on March 28th.  This year I bought some really nice (I think) tree/bush patterned material in Canada.  I love the different greens in the print, the cotton is really nice and soft and it’s definitely not something you’ll find in a kid’s clothing store in Italy. 

I know the bright yellow isn’t the typical colour you’d pick to go with this material but I just love the combination together.   I had to take the skirt into a local fabric shop to buy the binding for the hem and when the salesgirl saw it she was horrified.  She looked at it and said “e molto….particulare”.  In other words it’s the ugliest thing she’s ever seen.  So it’s obviously not to everyone’s taste…

I used a thick elastic band for the waistline because it’s so comfortable for the kids to wear.  Plus, if they grow a bit then it still fits.  I’m thinking of making one for myself for when I eat one of those 4 hour Italian lunches and my pants always end up feeling a little too tight for comfort.

So 2 skirts with images of 2 different types of forests for 2 very sweet little girls who will be turning double digits in a few weeks (gulp).

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Attention catching

8 Mar

Some things that have caught my attention lately…

-This bizarre looking citrus plant that I came across at the local garden shop.  It scares me.

-How much 7 year old boys are impressed with swear words.  And considering the particular one that I know speaks 4 languages (more or less) the list of swear words is pretty long.  And his favourite thing to tell people now is the word for seal in French.  Go figure.

-My daughter telling me she can feel her heart beat in her knees sometimes.  Which reminds me that I have to google “is it normal to feel your heart beating in your knees?”.

-These old fridges in a mercatino usato.

-A man peeing on my front gate (right below my mailbox).  And not for the first time.  Let’s just say he got an earfull and the word “cretino” might have been uttered.

-M&M’s have come out with new designer coloured peanut m&m’s in dark chocolate.  Nice colours but not so tasty for this Belgian chocolate loving gal.

-This sign that I came across in Chinatown in Milan.  What in the world is a “cock fish ball”?

-My itchy watery eyes, sore throat and runny nose.  Yep…spring has arrived.  Crack open the box of antihistamines.

-My son’s new hip hop dance choreography.  While watching his class yesterday I noticed the dance starts out with all the kids pretending to light a cigarette, take a few deep drags and then throw it on the ground.  I think not.  The crotch grabbing I can (almost) handle but the fake smoking doesn’t stand a chance.

-The fact our neutered male cat has suddenly taken a liking to one of our beautiful knit blankets.  And by liking I mean loving.  And by loving I mean….well you get it.  Is this normal?

-And most importantly this video has caught my attention.  An amazing initiative that involves helping children.  Let’s all get involved.

Folkabilly Apron

7 Mar

A few weeks ago my mother gave me some old vintage apron patterns that used to belong to my grandmother.  I finally chose a model I wanted to sew and this is the result.

I was going for a little folkabilly look (cross between happy homemaker from the 50’s, a folksy peasant lady and rockabilly).

The pattern was really easy to follow and I love the fact that all the pieces were already cut out and ready to use.  Which means my grandmother probably made this exact same apron about 50 years ago.

I’m going through an apron phase at the moment and I’m really looking forward to going apron shopping in Japan next month.  Maybe I’ll even find an easy to follow pattern such as this.

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Moleto

4 Mar

This week-end we discovered an amazingly beautiful place that is only 1 hour and 15 minutes from our house.  Some good friends invited us to join them for a day of walks in the vineyards and lunch in the small antique town of Moleto (near Monferrato in Piemonte).  This area is referred to as the Tuscany of Piedmont due to it’s rolling hills, old farmhouses and wonderful landscapes.

After driving through fog as thick as pea soup for about an hour (on the autostrada) we made our way up the hill on narrow curvy roads.  As we approached the little borgo the sun broke through the haze and clouds and we enjoyed a day in the warm sun.

Moleto has a population of 18 and is in the process of being renovated and restored to it’s previous glory.  We visited some of the old houses and the stone floors and ceiling frescoes are absolutey stunning.  All of the houses have a maze of underground caves and grotte which were (and still are) used to age and store the wine produced in the area.

They have opened a great restaurant in Moleto which serves delicious local fare.  We lunched in their outdoor courtyard under a surprisingly hot sun for the 3rd of March (sun umbrellas were needed).  My mother, who is visiting from Canada, kept saying she felt like she was in the middle of a film set because everything was just so idealic.  The food, the weather, the surroundings – the perfect Italian dream image.

The kids loved running around exploring the area on their own.  The grownups loved the 3 hour lunch with delicious food and wine and great company.

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Vintage Aprons

2 Mar

I had to pass by the mercatino usato to pick up my prized table that I purchased the other day and it just so happened that there was a pile of never-used, linen grembiule (aprons) from the 60’s.  They are so beautiful and so well made.  And the patterns and colours are so gorgeous. I fell in love with all of them so I ended up buying….all of them.  They will make perfect aprons for all my baking (and my new goal to look prettier in the kitchen) and I’m sure more than a few will be gifted to fellow bakers who I know will appreciate them.

I’d like some of these as pretty little dresses for the summer.  Hmmm…is it possible to turn an apron into a dress?  Maybe with a few material insert pieces in the back?  Or maybe I can sew two together?  Ideas ideas…

The cut of the aprons is so flattering and the palette of colours so reminiscent of the 60’s and 70’s.

Flowers and apples!  Is there anything cheery-er?

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