Biscuits (or scones for you British folk out there)

27 Apr


There is seriously nothing yummier than warm-out-of-the-oven biscuits with butter and homemade jam (Strawberry-lime-Vanilla or Blood Orange Marmalade are perfect).  As a child I spent many hours in my grandmother’s kitchen making these biscuits and I’d have to say it was through this recipe that my passion for baking was ignited.

This is such a simple recipe and really perfect for kids to learn to do on their own.  My grandmother’s version is always made with vegetable shortening (impossible to find in Italy) but I have made them with butter as well.  They aren’t quite as light and airy but tasty just the same.

Here is the step-by-step recipe for BISCUITS:

Enjoy!

Take a peek at my daughter’s little film (fast forward) of making these biscuts here.

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Elephant tin time of year

26 Apr

Finally after all these weeks of cold and rainy weather we had a lovely sunny day.  Well at least half the day was sunny and warm.  In any case there was enough time to dig out our elephant tin full of seeds to plant for our upcoming orto (vegetable garden).Full of seeds from years past and new seeds collected over the last months.  And a few pairs of miniature garden gloves for those little gardening assistants we couldn’t do without.Making decisions about what to plant and preparing our seed-starter mini-serres for indoors.One of this year’s orto projects is planting as many different kinds of heirloom tomato plants as we can find.

Pink Thai Egg Tomatoes, Striped Stuffer Tomatoes and Fargo Yellow Pear Tomatoes.Snow White Cherry tomatoes, Black Brandywine tomatoes and Purple Cherry Chocolate tomatoes.

Piselli (sweet pea) is also a must.A little bit of water and a lot of luck and hopefully some of these plants will start sprouting soon.My salad bed (5 different kinds).  Anyone know if I planted them too closely together?

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Japanese Fabrics

25 Apr

When we were on our recent trip to Japan a few weeks ago one of my goals was to find a fabric shop that carried the beautiful Echino Japanese linens.  I had a feeling it wasn’t going to happen due to the fact I wouldn’t know how to ask for a  material shop in Japanese and that Tokyo is such an enormous city that it could well take days and many trains to actually find an address.

So it must have been destiny that I just so happened to walk by a fabric shop in Kyoto with the exact Echino fabrics I have been eyeing for years hanging in the window.  I still can’t believe my luck.

Then to make the whole experience even more perfect my husband left me there alone with a wallet full of money for over 30 minutes.  Yes,  he is a saint.  And he did this not once but twice while we were in Kyoto.

The shop had everything on my wishlist for a Japanese fabric shop.  The Echino linens, pattern for Japanese-style apron and a huge selection of other Japanese and non-Japanese designer cottons.  And get this…the prices were even quite  reasonable.

The famous Echino fabrics.  The two rolls are a plasticized material which I’ll use to make toiletry bags.A few more purchased fabrics.  My good friend suggested I scour the local 2nd hand shops for a white chair like the one  in the red fabric and then make a pillow out of the fabric to put on it.  I love that idea.  Then I’ll also have to buy a little yellow bird as a pet to hang around on it.I’ve always wanted to make a little purse with one of these snap enclosures and I found a few different sizes in the fabric shop in Kyoto.  I assumed the directions would also be in English (because there is English on the front of the package).Guess what?  They’re not.  Any suggestions or advice out there?

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Salone del Mobile (Milano Design Fair)

23 Apr

Every year in April there is the world famous furniture design fair Salone Internazionale del Mobile in Milano.  It’s a fair that showcases the newest and coolest in furniture and houseware design from countries around the world.

The entire city is transformed into a design wonderland.  If you stroll around certain neighbourhoods (Brera, Tortona and Naviglio to name a few) you’ll find old factories converted into showrooms full of the world’s most innovative new designs.  You’ll also stumble upon smaller, more intimiate design spaces which are located in old stone houses with vaulted ceiling or even car garages that are completey made over to exhibit anything from carpets to garden furniture.

The streets are packed full of people and there’s a really amazing atmosphere everywhere you go.  If you pop by on the Friday or Saturday evening there are many VIP parties, impromptu music concerts in the streets and beautifully clothed people everywhere.  We take our kids every year and they really love it.  There is so much to see, sit on, play with and learn about.

One of the many warehouses that are transformed into an exhibition space.I really fell in love with this bird feeder by designer Frederik RoijeThe famous kitchen in a crate.  You can push all the pieces in and close the lid.  The epitome of space-saver furniture design.

I agree with Ron Arad.  We have to let our children get bored.  It almost always results in the most fabulous creations.  That dreaded “Mom, I’m bored” could actually be the start to something beautiful.The e-bay building.  Is there anything happier than a kitchen that is almost entirely yellow?

A hot tub that will heat your wok/frying pan for dinner then chop your wood?  Yes please.The new version of the exercise bike that you use for a few weeks then retire to the corner of your bedroom.Il Salone Internazionale del Mobile di Milano 2013 will be held from April 9-14th (according to several online sites…dates not guaranteed).

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Japanese Handicrafts

20 Apr

On our recent trip to Japan we noticed that gift giving is a very important part of Japanese culture.  The Japanese are very warm and friendly people who try to show their appreciation for you in such gentle and considerate ways.  We were really moved by their generosity during our recent trip.

When we went to visit a good friend from my university days we were so touched by the gifts she offered us.  Her mother had hand sewn and created some beautiful, perfectly crafted gifts.  I can’t even fathom the amount of  time that must have gone into these pieces!

These are called Temari balls.  It is a traditional embroidery technique and these balls are given as a gesture of good will, friendship and loyalty.  They have very intricate designs that are usually geometric and symmetrical with many of the design elements being based on nature.  The colours are vibrant and so beautiful.

I would have loved to spend some time with my friend’s mother and watched how she sews all these beautiful gifts.  Maybe a good reason to return to Japan one day?

We were also presented with this small hand sewn purse filled with tiny little juggling balls and a beautiful hand sewn flower.  In the silk flower there is a tiny little pouch  filled with scented cotton and place enough to store small pieces of jewellery.


I think the Japanese juggling balls are referred to as Otedama.  You can find these little silk purses with the balls in many of the tiny boutiques around Japan.  So many thanks to my dear friend and her very talented mother for such lovely and thoughtful gifts.

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Strawberry-lime vanilla jam

19 Apr

We’re heading into strawberry season here in Italy.  You can find big, ripe strawberries in all the supermarkets, outdoor markets and from produce trucks on the side of the roads.  Yesterday I bought a big boxful from the local Sicilian produce truck and was excited to get home and try them out.  They smelled so sweet and delicious.

There’s only one slight little problem.  I’m allergic to fresh strawberries.  But somehow every year when strawberry season comes around I convince myself that it’s a possibility that my strawberry allergy has miraculously been cured.  And every year I pop one lovlingly in my mouth, taste that divine sweet berry flavour then proceed to swell up.  My eyes get red and swollen, my lips puff up (think Angelina Jolie here) and my throat starts to itch so terribily I’ve been known to contemplate shoving a fork down to scratch it .  In other words I look frightening.  Scare-the-neighbourhood-kids sort of frightening.  But let me tell you…those 10 seconds of tasting fresh strawberries is almost worth the discomfort I feel from the allergic reaction.

So in order to use up some of the strawberries that I purchased I decided to give jam making a try again (I’m not allergic to cooked strawberries).  Last time it was actually a success (Blood Orange Marmalade).   And I’m proud to tell you this time was as well.

Today we gave this new batch of jam a try with fresh out of the oven homemade biscuits.  Delicious.  The sweetness of the berries with the addition of the tart lime juice and rind is really perfection.  And to round off all the flavours the vanilla gives it such a deep sweet richness.

Unfortunately only one of my three children likes jam (the other two run away in horror at the mere mention of spreading it on their bread).  So a nice thing about this recipe is the fact it makes quite a small batch.  I managed to get 3 normal sized jars of jam out of this recipe.

Recipe: Strawberry Lime Vanilla Jam

4 cups chopped strawberries
2 cups of sugar (divided in two)
1-2 vanilla bean (split and pulp scraped from the inside)
1 lime (zest and juice)

1. Place chopped strawberries in large bowl with 1 cup of the sugar and the vanilla bean and let marinate (some prefer the term macerate…not me) for 2-3 hours.

2.  Add marinated strawberries into large pot with the remaining cup of sugar and bring to a boil and simmer until it reaches 220 degrees (I use a candy thermometre).

3.  Add the lime juice and zest and boil for additional 5-8 minutes or until the jam is at the correct consistency.

4.  Remove vanilla bean and pour jam into prepared and sterilized jars.

Enjoy! (I found this recipe here)

This jam brings back warm and fuzzy memories of one of my favourite childhood books “Bread and Jam for Frances” by Russel Hoban.  I so related to Francis and her love of bread and jam.  Still do.

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Chewy Oatmeal Cookies

17 Apr

After two weeks of various Japanese desserts which included lots of white and red bean paste, flavoured fruit jellies and matcha tea cookies and ice cream the kids were craving some home baked cookies from La Mama.

So in between all the unpacking and cleaning I managed to whip up some chewy oatmeal cookies.  The perfect afternoon snack for a cold and  rainy spring day.I always slightly underbake oatmeal cookies to give them that soft and chewy texture.  These are great just out of the oven or several days later.  Not that they’ll last that long…

Chewy Oatmeal Cookies

1 cup butter
1 cup packed brown sugar
1/3 cup white sugar
2 eggs (preferably organic)
1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract (good quality makes a huge difference).
1 1/2 cup flour
Pinch of cinnamon (optional)
1/2 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt (essential for that sweet/salty taste we all love)
3 cups quick cooking oats

1.  Cream butter and sugars until light and fluffy.

2.  Add in eggs one at a time, then stir in vanilla.

3.  Combine flour, baking soda, salt and cinnamon (if using) together.  Slowly add to butter mixture.

4.  Mix in the oats (and any nuts or chocolate chips if desired).

5.   Drop onto baking sheet (do not flatten).  Bake for 12 minutes at 350 C (180F).

6.  Let cookies cool for a few minutes before transferring to cooling rack.

Enjoy!

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Casa

16 Apr

Back in rainy Italy and happy to be home.  We’re all suffering from some pretty serious jet-lag though (everyone up and ready for breakfast at 3:30am).

We spent the day unpacking, sorting through our Japanese souvenirs, doing laundry and talking a lot about our Japan adventures.

After two weeks of delicious Japanese food we had a typical Italian lunch of mozzarella and tomato salad, prosciutto, assorted cheeses and bread.  It was delicious.

It’s always great to travel and see the world but it’s also great to come back home.

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Japan with kids #10

15 Apr

We loved trying all the various street foods.  The “patat-tornado” was one of the favourites.Dragon, cherry tree and temple all in one photo.  Heian Shrine.  Looks very peaceful in this photo.  But there were about 10,000 people next to me taking pictures and admiring the view.Girls purchased Made in Kyoto purses.  Amazing how a new purse can put a little hop in your step.Every morning the kids walked over to the local playground to mingle with the local children.  They drew together, played football and exchanged chewing gum.  It was a highlight of their day.Preserved veggies in the Nishiki Market in Kyoto.  They look like they’re buried in sand but one man told me it was a sort of rice flour.Kids favorite snack in Japan.  Pickled cucumber on a stick.Babies love Tom.  This one spent half an hour showing him places on the map.These flowers smelled heavenly.Cherry blossom blizzard.Now back to Italy.  We’ll miss Japan and the lovely people who live there.

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Japan with kids #9

13 Apr

Geisha sighting in Gion district in Kyoto.Thousand paper cranes at Shinto Shrine.
Let’s hope whoever needed it got better.Designer Japanese shrimp crackers.  The packaging of all these products is so beautiful.  I wanted to buy one of every kind ( but it would have cost a fortune)Zen version of a sand castle.  Very impressive.Nico disappeared with my camera and came back with this amazing shot of a parasol.One of Japan’s most famous images.  Unfortunately it was closed off to tourists.  I was tempted to jump the rope though.  Very tempted.Not just another cherry blossom.  But a weeping cherry blossom…Fortunes tied on temple trees.First a samurai sword.  Now a ninja star.  Seriously…we’re usually quite a calm and peaceful family.Miss Coco contemplating life on the Philosopher’s Path.Department store melons for the bargain price of 150 euro ($185).

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