Hmmm, I think I'm starting to stretch it slightly with my tenuous alphabetical links to the A-Z Challenge but it's my blog so I can pretty much do what I like 🙂 This is an amazing Rainbow Cake that my eldest daughter made for my youngest daughter's birthday. Not only did it look INCREDIBLE but… Continue reading H is for Happy Birthday (Cake)
Category: Cooking
F is for Foodies
Today's post subject is taken from my A-Z Challenge Suggestion Box: 'Why don’t you write more about Italy and its heavenly cuisine through the rest of the month? At least, that is what I want to know more about. A closeup of a gelato stall, tossing pasta, cooking seafood…. drooool! You get the picture right?' Good… Continue reading F is for Foodies
My favourite recipe: Banana and Chocolate Loaf
I'm back into baking in a big way at the moment. We had a Birthday Party for my daughter last week which needed a chocolate muffin birthday cake, an ice-cream cake, cheesy nibbles, lots of cupcakes for decorating and this loaf. I love this recipe because it's incredibly tasty and moist, quick and easy (not… Continue reading My favourite recipe: Banana and Chocolate Loaf
6 x (- bottle of beer) = 12 x (slice of cake)
As if January wasn't depressing enough, HWW and I are doing a Dryathlon this month. Apparently, by giving up alcohol for a month, we'll 'clear our heads, feel fitter and save money'. Hmmm. I can honestly say that my head feels exactly the same, I don't feel any fitter (replacing alcohol with chocolate didn't really… Continue reading 6 x (- bottle of beer) = 12 x (slice of cake)
Fat Bottomed Girls…Should Step Away From The Cookies
After a summer of visiting friends and family in England, where every social gathering involved cakes, wine, barbeques or three-course meals, my jeans are now refusing to zip up. Of course, I could have refused the gateaux, drunk Perrier instead of cider and eaten salad instead of chips. But I didn’t. The final straw was… Continue reading Fat Bottomed Girls…Should Step Away From The Cookies
Inside Italy: Mamma Mia
There must be some Italian mammas out there rustling up homemade tortellini and tiramisu but I haven’t met any of them. Most of my Italian friends are working mums who stop off on their way home to pick up a pasta pronto (ready meal) of lasagna or stuffed peppers. We were guests at a recent dinner… Continue reading Inside Italy: Mamma Mia
Chocolate Brownies speak louder than words
Last Italian lesson of the year. A quick recap of the basics: Teacher: “Come ti chiami?” What is your name? Easy. “Mi chiamo Barb.” “Quanti anni hai?” How many years do you have? “Ho ventuno anni.” I have 21 years (if only). “Di dove sei?” Ok, I know dove means where. So where are we? Aha: “A… Continue reading Chocolate Brownies speak louder than words
The Fair Weather Fair
The school Summer Fair was due to take place on the last Saturday in May. I’m always happy to donate something fatto in casa (homemade) to these things, so the day before I baked my favourite Banana & Chocolate loaf and rustled up 40 Marshmallow Rice Krispie cakes. An hour later, the Fair was postponed for… Continue reading The Fair Weather Fair
Arrabbiato Chilli Jam: Some Like it Hot
One of the things I really miss about England is the fantastic range of chutneys, pickles and relishes. I love them so much I even add pots of piccalilli and jars of pickled onions to my Christmas list. But it's often hard to find something spicy, tangy and tasty in Rome; Italians don't seem to go in… Continue reading Arrabbiato Chilli Jam: Some Like it Hot
Parmesan e Patate al forno (Good ol’ cheese and potato bake)
The weather was wet and windy here in Rome yesterday so comfort food was called for. This is a simple, yet very tasty, dish that can be prepared in advance and thrown in the oven at the last moment. Add some crusty bread, a green salad and, voila, Roberto's your uncle. Ingredients – serves four:… Continue reading Parmesan e Patate al forno (Good ol’ cheese and potato bake)
Lemon curd + Suffolk rusks = Delizioso
Ok, I admit that I may have become a bit obsessed with the limoncello lemon curd. As well as having it on toast for breakfast, I've also been using it as a topping for cheesecakes and 'desserts in a jar', swirling it into butter icing for cupcakes and, of course, eating it straight from the… Continue reading Lemon curd + Suffolk rusks = Delizioso
Reading Ban = Limoncello Curd
So I’m following The Artist’s Way: a 12-week course to discover and free your creativity. Obviously, that sounds like a right load of New Age tosh but it’s an interesting read and has lots of exercises to get you started on writing, painting or whatever floats your creative boat. But last… Continue reading Reading Ban = Limoncello Curd
Marmite Spaghetti – perfect comfort food
We had a huge thunderstorm here a couple of nights ago with the loudest thunder I’ve ever heard crashing over our heads for what felt like hours. I’ve been surprised at just how many thunderstorms we get in Rome – more in the last six months than I experienced in the last six years… Continue reading Marmite Spaghetti – perfect comfort food
Fragolo Cupcakes
I managed to lock myself out of the apartment yesterday, taking my carefully sorted recycling down to the bins. Major panic as I'd left a pan of home-made carrot soup bubbling on the hob. It was molto fun trying to ask for help from the old nonna downstairs, who doesn't speak a word of English… Continue reading Fragolo Cupcakes
