Velvet

Hi everyone!It's been a while since I've posted, but it's the beginning of schools and days go by really quickly! My mum's birthday gave me the opportunity to make a birthday cake and join in with Belleau Kitchen Random Recipes Challenge.
For the challenge, I randomly chose one of my cookbooks (I own only a few) and then I randomly chose a page and executed the recipe on that page. The book I chose was Jamie in Italy, a gift I got from my girlfriends some years ago, which is an absolute hit- everything I've tried is really nice.

The recipe I made was tiramisu .It was so easy that I wondered why I had never made it before. It turned out to be my mum's birthday cake, which due to the excitement of the occassion I forgot to photograph with the candles on, instead I managed to take a photo of the last piece! It was the perfect dessert  after a heavy lunch- airy and light- and everyone loved it!

Il papiro

It was love at first sight. I had just walked through the Ponte Vecchio bridge hurrying my way to Pallazzo Strozzi, browsing to all the shops when this one caught my eye and delayed my visit to the palazzo. Not for long...only for and enjoyable 1 1/2 hour!

 Introducing one of my most favourite shops in Florence, Italy: Il papiro, a heaven for those who love stationary and classic style, specializing in marbleized papers, which is said to be one of the traditional crafts in Firenze.

I was overwhelmed by the colours of the marbleized paper with their endless variety of patterns, a wide range of notebooks, wax stamps, invitations and envelopes as I was wandering around the different rooms. 

Finally, I came across a series of woodblock print posters lying before me! I loved them! 

I was told by a most kind gentleman who worked there, that they were made by pressing wooden blocks on paper repeatedly so as to make a pattern. I was also told about how they try to track down reinassance wooden blocks in bazaars or at the most unexpected places in order to duplicate and use them to print paper.

I couldn't refuse his interesting stories or the posters, so I finally chose two for my walls.

It took me half an hour to decide, so I can only imagine how long it will take me to frame them! Nothing yet, let me tell you.

I was also lucky to see a demonstration of how marbleized paper is made.It's quite a simple yet impressive process that entails delicate moves by the craftman.I would love to mix colours and be able to make paper like that one day!

Slipping away

Days slip away so quickly lately...Correcting tests, marking, cleaning,organizing the house, crafting, visiting friends, planning...not a still moment. Not any. Still, if I close my eyes, I can freeze time and be there again. 

Where?

Here!

Wishing everyone a relaxing, warm & cozy weekend! 

Ccini, ccini,cantuccini!

A Tuscany delight...a crunchy treat, almondy and fragrant.

I was wandering through the streets of Firenze, when suddenly I was drawn by a smell. What a smell! A whole street was filled with that warm, cozy smell of baking. I immediately got into the bakery  (recommended on trip advisor, but didn't know at that time, now I know why) and saw that they only sold cantuccini. As it's customary in Italy- I guess because they're so proud and confident of their cuisine, who wouldn't be?-, they urged me to try one. Then came another...and another...and another dipped in a glass of vin santo...I ended up having tasted all their flavours and of course eaten a proper cantuccuni meal! I couldn't choose between the classic with the almond and the more modern versions of chocolate chips, chocolate and orange or with figs.

 I loved them all, and having tasted others during my staying I couldn't help but buy some, as they tasted the best.

Cantuccini are very common in Firenze, you can find them from bakeries to supermarkets, varying in quality and taste of course, and even though they're mentioned in travel guides -not always a good sign- I noticed that they're far from a tourist attraction, as Italians bought them a lot. 

Mine filled my bag with their sweet smell during the trip and brought me back there when I enjoyed them at home.  

Do you bring back tastes from your trips? Any special treat you brought back that you'll always remember?

The effect

The good effect trips have on me usually disappears the moment my daily routine begins.  In Italy's case it hasn't yet- fortunately. I still keep the feeling I had on that photo, on the highest spot in Florence, the Duomo, while taking in the colours of Firenze and the colours of dusk. Calmness and awe.

However, it quite contradicts my daily schedule, which includes making brooches and setting up a jewlery business (I'll let you know soon), correcting tests, preparing for my classes, organizing my home for winter, doing some gardening before the rains start, cleaning the house, decorating my classroom for Christmas, doing extra projects at school, cooking on a daily basis and...and...and...endless list!

Still, the feeling persists!

Hopefully, it will take me through the tiring weeks ahead of me until the Christmas holidays!

How about you? I really hope you have more time than me to enjoy fall!

Ciao!

Not much to say for now, except that the trip to Italy exceeded my expectations!

Lots of photos taken, actually, too many.

It's good to be back and share them with you, even if it takes me a month to do so!

David is looking towards Firenze, the city in blooms. How could he not?