I'm going to Italy!

Soon, that is...

Ok, so I'm not going right this minute…. or even this month… but I am going this year! I need help from my readers! Who has been to Italy before and has pastry and/or cafe suggestions?! Go ahead and make me an offer…. your recommendation could appear on a future post!

I will be traveling on a budget, but I don't mind the occasional splurge (I think you all know that by now) so I am open to all possibilities in pastry venture! I plan to hit the "biggies" in Italy, that being: Rome, Florence, and Venice. I know these cities are visited by about a zillion tourists a year so if you know anywhere off the beaten path, even better! I appreciate any suggestions you'd like to share and am open to advice beyond cafes as well for someone visiting Italy for the first time!

Oh, and of course, don't forget any gelato suggestions!

Ciao and Chow!

Dreams of Spanish Sunshine on a Dreary "Sunday"

I'm not sure how the weather is where you are, but it's been raining here ALL Day! So it got me dreaming and remembering of a warm August day a few years back when I visited Barcelona. A beautiful sunny day with an hour or so spent having patatas bravas, jamon, and drinking some cava. I was thinking about it so much, I started looking at hotel websites to go back! Here's to hoping I get out of the house soon! Until then, I've some chocolate mousse chilling in the fridge!

Have A Hot Cocoa And A Cookie

Happy Holidays to all the readers of this blog! Hope you have a merry and bright holiday season and look forward to more cafe posts and pictures in 2014! I'll be on the road and in the air to places I've never been! I'll be trying new foods in new places and I hope you will be too! Until then, eat some cookies and cake and just say that you'll work out more after January 1st! Cheers!

Create Your Own Cafe At Home When It's Cold Outside

It's that time of year, when the house is warm and cosy and the idea of bundling up to go outside seems like a chore. Some days it just doesn't seem worth the hassle of putting on all those layers if it's not completely necessary. Then again sometimes you want to get out of the house to avoid going stir crazy, so by all means head out to the nearest coffee shop! Today however, I'm focusing on the first situation, staying home and warm and avoiding the outside world, with a pastry in hand or on plate of course! During the holidays there is a tendency for us to make and bake those old family recipes that we forget about until this one time of year. While that is a shame in a way, let's make the most of it!

I tend to get a little over zealous and try to bake three recipes in one day or over a particularly chilly weekend which will leave weeknights free for coming home from work and having a slice of something delicious. Try to find a time that works for you, get out some of those handwritten and stained recipes and pre heat the oven. It will make your home even cozier and warmer during some of those long dark winter nights, or overcrowded shopping mall days. Another plus is you'll be able to go back for seconds!

My "go to" December recipe is one that my mom and I have been making over and over for many years. I have a copy of a xeroxed page from McCalls that is covered in cocoa powder and other miscellaneous kitchen items. I admit that when I make it the first time, it disappears so fast I often have to make it again quickly so I try to buy enough ingredients at the store the first time around. The recipe is for a Holiday Chocolate Log. While it may not be your traditional "Buche de Noel" that's what we like to call it anyway so that we feel fancy and somewhat French. I made one yesterday, along with some gingerbread dough that I need to go roll out, cut, and bake! Here are some pictures from during the process.

Ready to slice into and have a nice coffee with!

So go find one of your favorite family or traditional recipes and get creative! Let me know what you make or share a recipe and maybe I'll feature it in a future post.

Of course, after the creative process, be sure to give yourself some time to sit down and relax and enjoy! Make a little spot for yourself (maybe by a window watching the snow that you'll have to shovel later..) to savor being at home and not out amongst the crowds or cold.

Here's an online link for the not so secret family recipe since it was published in a magazine! P.S. I'm not connected to this link or website below, it just had the most information from the original recipe that I could find online. 

http://www.food.com/recipe/yule-log-buche-de-noel-mccalls-cooking-school-114726