Sweet morning

It's a gray morning, but I made pancakes for breakfast to get into a sunny mood. With bananas and maple syrup. I'd love to share (I made too many..).

How do you start your day when it's sulky outside?

Weekend Treasures

I've enjoyed the beautiful sunday outside in the autumn sun, brunching, drinking spritzer, and chatting the day away. I've also started on some Christmas presents, unusually early. But it's the same traditional toil every year; come the week before Christmas I am stressing out like nuts and can't find anything appropriate for the ones I love. Because I want gifts to be special, thoughtful and suiting. Perfectionism always breaks my legs.

Well, but I started. And I would love to post the result right now, but the lady it's for stumbles upon this site every now and then, so I will have to keep it a secret. Oh, the tensionnnn...

Grandma sent me some recipes from my childhood (with the most awesome vintage illustrations). She used to make this unbelievably rich and luscious chocolate cake. And even though she says the recipe is nothing special at all (my grandma isn't exactly of the cheerful kind, as you might remember from the conversation at my grandparent's diamond wedding about her lovely hairstyle), it brings back memories from good old times. Like doing crossword puzzles together. Feeding the chicken. Spending half the day in that old tree, playing with my cousin. And 4 o'clock sharply we had to come in for tea. There it was, that juicy chocolate indulgence. Even though I've got a ton of new recipes for chocolate cakes, none of them will mentally send me back into that old tree - big-eyed and red cheeked.

And some more music is on the way. I'll see these talented guys in concert this weekend. Here's a little video of one of their rehearsals.

Preserving summer

Spent the morning on my little balcony garden and planted a few more flowers, trying to preserve a bit of summer before it slips through our hands. Mada has been chewing on all my plants constantly, so I assumed it was time to get her her very own cat grass. Looks like she's rather fond of the idea!

I was in a bit of a spring cleaning/renovating mood and painted one of my bedroom walls blue. I had bought this paint ages ago, and when my friend spotted it (back then), she asked: "Oh? Baby blue? In a baby mood?", so I refrained from using it. She was quite right. I initially wanted it to be more matte and slightly smokey or slate, a bit colonial-style (if that makes any sense). I even bought some extra paint to tone it down a bit. 

But it's still blue. Baby blue. Very much so.

Day 3, 4, 5 and 6 - The healthy week project

So you might be wondering how my healthy week project went ahead?

Of course it was interrupted by a slightly unhealthy weekend. I went to see old friends in the north where I used to live before, and there's nothing I enjoy more than a good old chat over some delicious food.

I was still very determined and motivated on Saturday and started the day with a mouthwatering fruit salad after I went running in the park at 7:30(!). The day is still so young and undisturbed at that time, and it feels like as if there's nothing that could bring you down.

We went to the flea market, but found nothing in particular. Maybe because we weren't really looking for anything in particular, and preferred staring at our shoes in the mirror, toecaps turned inwards of course. 

It felt nice to be back there. Few things have changed since I had left. Which was reassuring, too. Like those tasty croissants at the Portuguese. You'll have to queue up for them, but they are ever so worth the wait.

The late afternoon was for baking (the slightly unhealthy part). But I'll tell you all about the mishaps and pet peeves tomorrow. With pretty pics that definitely look better than the baked goods tasted. Unfortunately.

Thoughts on a perfect breakfast

No breakfast is complete without a dish of eggs.

I didn't always think that way, and toast, bread, butter, jam and a certain chocolate spread have always been sufficient and satisfying for a long time. Not anymore though. Now the first thing that pops in my head as soon as the stomach complains is "What's it gonna be? Scrambled, fried, or omelette?" (Yes, I admit, I have not tried "poached" yet, but I hear that's quite difficult, and I doubt I could be up for these challenges early in the morning with a grumbling stomach). 

Someone told me our taste changes every 7 years. So this is the year for me! I have never liked onions much, and even garlic took a long time to grow on me. Now I find myself in the kitchen, willingly chopping shallots, consequently breaking out in tears, and fixing up a roux (is this the proper term?) as a base for pretty much any sauce I fancy lately.

Just the same with my breakfast. I wrinkled my nose at fans of a proper english breakfast, even when I lived in London for a while ("How can you eat warm food in the morning?"). Now I really can't think of a better start into the day.

What you see above is a spanish tortilla without the potato.. which makes it more into a well intended (and therefor rather thick) omelette. I chop tomatoes, peppers and mushrooms (you can also add zucchini etc.), whisk three eggs in a bowl, add the vegetables, salt and pepper and fry it all in a buttered small pan with garlic. The garlic is really essential, you'll love it! Try frying the omelette with a lid on it. And turning it is a lot easier with a flat plate pulled over the pan. Sprinkle some parmesan on top for extra indulgence.

Hope you're enjoying your breakfast this morning!