what saved me..

a crock-pot, seriously the best!

It is still going today, and my husband has become the master of it, while he was taking care of me while I was on bed rest.. for the past month.

I was talking to my mom today and she has no clue what that pot can do. Of course I didn't know it existed until our first Christmas, 2 years ago, when my sister in law and fam. got us one.

It isn't common and well known in Switzerland yet.. I say yet, cause well everything soon or later gets there, taking its time, but it gets there. But once it gets there it is high tech :)

Anyways, I had to find a pot for my mom, of somewhat a reasonable price and well.. at first I just wondered if they even sell it there. It took me a while to realize that crock-pot and slow cooker is the same thing and how they call it in Switzerland anyways.

This is for my mom:

eccoti la pentola slow cooker mami. Come ti homandato via e-mail tutte le info, posso trovarti anche qualche ricetta.

{della MioStar lo trovi alla Migros per SFr. 49.90}

summer lasagne

I've been asked to make Lasagne since I've been back from Switzerland (2 weeks 1/2). Honestly who feels like lasagne with this heat? I really don't. So when I saw this I thought it might be a good version in this hot hot weather. 

Lasagnetta Fresca / Fresh Lasagne by Basilico & Pinoli

The recipe is in Italian, but I'm sure with a little bit of intuition you can guess it. In case I'm always here available for a good translation :)
p.s. oh and if you didn't know it's not called Lasagna but Lasagne. Yep!

Yogurt take out

Yessssssssssss!
Oh this is so for me. Finally someone has invented it!

I've been wanting to take my granola in plain yogurt with me since.. I've discovered that's all I need in the morning. Oh finally here is the solution. The Fresh Traveler ($45) by Arian Brevkled. Two separated container spaces as food storage and bowl at the same time. Genius! If I'll get this for Christmas I'll be more then happyyyy!!! Wait, I think Christmas is today! hahaha :)

{via the kitchn}

measuring cups

Two days ago my sis, brother in law, a friend and I were talking about the fact that United States still has this weird measuring system.. no offense to anyone please, it's just that the rest of the world uses something else, how in the heck can't we have one system everywhere? It would make things so much easier. I still have to get use to it now living in USA. But then you put your eyes on things like this, and you just can't help it to exclaim how beautiful and how you would like one of it.

Now am I happy I have to deal with measuring cups!! All I need to do is to get me some beautiful pieces like this. I love the flower theme oooh beautiful!  OH Anthropology you always amaze me :)

{all by Anthropology}

today

it is my birthday and all I feel like is Thai Peanut Curry

Even if I'd love to make my own, well.. not taday nop! My hubby is taking me to a nice Thai place, yuppyy!

There is tuns of recipes out there, and here is a few for you:

Peanut vegetable curry, Panang curry, Pumpkin and peanut curry, Panang Nuer, Thai green chicken curry.

Palate.. mind and soul

A new cook book from one of my favorite food stylist, photographer and writer.. coming out SOON!

Beatrice Peltre @ La Tartine Gourmand

Oh gosh I LOVE her work! I'm not gonna miss this one :)

millefeuille~millefoglie

I don't know what's wrong with me.. Although I'm sick, I still have the energy to think about.. pastries and baking and new recipes to make???? what?

I've had millefeuille (mille foglie) in my mind the past days, and exactly the one illustrated below. It has been one of my favorite pastries of all times since little girl, and I still l-l-love it!
Christian had his first few months ago, on our Christmas trip back home in Switzerland. Oh and he lOvEd it! In fact he has been trying all kind of desserts but always went back to millefeuille with creme patissiere (crema pasticciera)

Although it is not the time for me to start making stuff in the kitchen since I've almost packed everything for our move in few days, this is on my to do list for the next month, as long as Frittelle di Carnevale. I'm sure the list will get even longer before I'll actually be able to bake again. I guess next time I'll be able to make this delicious desserts I'll be in Portland. I'm sure I'll find some new people to serve my desserts since as you know.. I usually don't really eat them :)

{picts. via BettyBossi, Tongue in Cheek and Foodbeam}

{cucina} Persimmons/cachi & good old memories

It's time for another great recipe!

When I saw this at Cannelle et Vanille I gasped. Beside the beautiful food delights photography {have I told you I have a weakness for food photography? Yea a big one} Oh it does take me back in time. Growing up in the Italian part of Switzerland (the beautiful Lugano), there's plenty of persimmons trees all around. You see this great orange fruits decorating the landscape in harmony with the season. And not always because on trees let me tell you. Cause a lot of this fruit ends up on the floor and pretty well smashed on it.. yep. And that is a sad sad thing. But no matter what the color it brings is beautiful!

My dad is the biggest fan I know. When little I was a bigger fan myself and I've always been eating it the same way. Plain from the tree, with big bites! Oh and it is kinda messy hahahaha! The texture this fruit has is so unique. There's nothing like it. Goodness I can taste it right now just thinking about it.

I've never really thought I could make some creative recipe with it, and I've never took the time to think twice about it. For some reason I thought that cachi {persimmons} are one of those things you can't put in a cooked dish, just like.. mmm let's see, just like figs. Untill you end up knowing that you can actually do a lot with figs and persimmons.
And that goes along with the traditions I know.. There is no Swiss Italian traditional dish with cachi if not to be eaten fresh from trees, or ending up as jam.

Until today I didn't know it could be used as an ingredient of something special like this great recipes. And let me tell you, I'm on it! I'm going to try to make this very soon.

Poached Persimmon, Mascarpone and Marsala Sabayon and Pistachio Crumble Verrines

go here for this great recipe {by amazing Aran}

Persimmon Upside Down Yougurt and Olive Oil Cakes

go here for this great recipe {by amazing Aran}

{all images are courtesy and copyright of Aran Goyoaga at Cannelle et Vanille}

{cucina} Pumpkin Pie Bites

If you thought Pie in a Jar where a great idea, well I think you will love this one too.
Another "mini" great delight!

I know you have already fallen in love with it, and so get to work! It seems very simple after all, and can you emagine this delights at Thaksgiving or.. ok, you might not be able to wait that long, I know!

{Great idea and a full description with recipe by Bakerella}

Love it love it LOVE IT!

Let me know how yours came out!

{cucina} Pie in a Jar

I don't know how they came up with this idea, but can I tell you how much I loOove it..??

Brilliant idea and work from Our Best Bites

Where you can find not only the recipe but an accurate step-by-step explanation on how to prepare your own fantastic Pie in a Jar!

Then for an absolute adorable dress, go to LollyChops , where you can find the cutest design for this tags . You really don't want to miss instructions and details for a chance to download this beautiful tag set especially made for this recipe.

Oh what a perfect package! Thank you Our Best Bites ! This is adorable and yes I'll be making some very soon. Christmas Gifts included :)

.. mmM~eringue

an amazing design that let me with... some cravings!!! oh no!

Can you even tell at all??
On the top, some great French Meringue by Cafe Lynnylu .
On the bottom Meringue-Rings design by Tanja Hartman, via Cool Design . And when I mean rings, I mean that round shape thing you put on your fingers.
But be careful. If you think you can put this on and suck the delishes, soft,  tasty wipped egg whites and sugar mixture on the way to work, shopping or simple a walk, well.. you are wrong. This amazing rings are made out of industrial grade silicone. They are available in 3 different sizes and yes they look so dang delicius. Take a look, they are available at charles & marie .


mmm.. I'm not even hungry but well I guess that's what cravings are for. Some kind of palate torture??
Cause this left me with a big craving for one of my favorite desserts, la torta Meringata.

An Italian soft mixture of cream, egg whites, sugar and... more delicatesse all in a beautiful frame of meringues and stored in a freezer to become a delicius ice cream cake.

OOOOOh mmmmm it just won't get out of my head.. All I've got to do now is get over this dang flue and go back to bake for the love of beautiful cravings!!!

La Meringata recipe in Italian here and in English here

{pict. left by MeM Dessert,  right by Profiterol 2002}