Don't you just love unexpected adventures? When something just spontaneously comes up and makes your day?
Hugo and I went for a quick walk on the beach, as it was, finally, a nice, sunny day. I was in
Hugo's uncle's slippers, which was not very convenient when we decided to go near the rocks to see if there were any mussels around. We'd had lunch already and dinner was on its way, but we decided to have quite a fancy snack - mussels in garlicky white wine sauce. I have to admit, I'm happy such luxurious snacks do not appear on my plate every day, otherwise I wouldn't be able to enjoy them as much (and I'd be very fat)!
1. An unexpected dinner party fell upon us recently.
2. The budget was exceptionally tight due to recent events (me falling asleep in the airport in Istambul and missing my flight, how charming).
3. Fancy, quick and impressive dinner on a low budget?
Lasagna!!!!
Holidays... To most women (and men?) who cook at home holidays are a divine space of time where you can finally get away from the kitchen and have a rest while having your food served to you. I am, however, not in that category. I cannot say that I don't like to have food cooked for me, especially by my mum or my almost-a-professional-chef boyfriend Hugo, but when it comes to holidays, I am terribly sad to have to leave my kitchen. I miss cooking, I miss realising my inspirations, I miss the excitement I get when something turns out unexpectedly delicious.
I just got back from a holiday in Israel, where the only cooking I got to do was getting together a few salads. I have to say, I will really miss all the fresh food you get in a country where the fresh produce is top quality all throughout the year, but there is something very special about living in cold and snowy (!!!!!) England, where cooking food takes a while, warms up the kitchen and slowly makes all the eaters more and more excited as the scents spread. I think it is fascinating, how food here earns such a comforting role.
I am terribly sorry for my absence.
Uni got in my way and it just got terribly hectic! But I proudly announce that I have officially finished my dissertation and now I can finally tell you what's been going on in the kitchen.
If you think that all this workload has kept me away from the oven, you are wrong, ladies and gentlemen. I've tried a few new things, have been procrastinating by fishing for inspiration, bought a new desserts book...
I'll tell you a secret: if I could, I would eat sweet things every day. I am fussy about my desserts but I would be quite happy if my body had some magical power to turn sugar into vitamins or something. But the thing is, I'm not a fan of cooking sweet things. I like to be creative in the kitchen and often I feel that sweet recipes do not give you that creative space, as you need to follow a really strict recipe. Of course, when it works out right it's really rewarding. How do you feel about these things?
Don't you just love soups?
I do. That lovely broth, that lovely texture, that lovely warmth when you're cold and the refreshing feeling when you're hot. But most importantly - that pleasant feeling that you've just eaten something good for you and it was so yummy!
My friend Meg and I had a little afternoon together the other day and I was telling her about my recent Pinterest obsession and the inspiration I get there. So we decided to make a love soup - one that your eyes love and one that loves you - your taste buds and your health.
I love thinking of treats to have when some friends come around. I usually have too many ideas, whether it's just a little gathering or a dinner party, and then I need someone to help me narrow it down, because I just get too excited.
But recently we planned to have some tea with my friend Anika. And Anika is no ordinary girl!! She has got a fabulously fit body, but she likes to be tough with herself and keeps to a really strict diet. No cheat days, no Christmas treats, no sweeties handmade by grandma.. And the died is: no chocolate, no sweeties and no biscuits. (I could do it. For a day. Ok, maybe two.) These can't be an ingredient either. And had a plan to make something nice and not too naughty to have with tea.. A tough one.
It started snowing today. HEAVILY.
It is one of the funniest experiences while living in the UK. In my home country Lithuania it snows every winter, a White Christmas is something we do not fear to miss. Lithuania is white and fluffy for about half a year. Recently the snow went above one's knees and when the special machines would shift it to the side of the road, the pedestrians were not able to see the other side of the street. For about a week during the winter the temperature falls below -30C. That is COLD. But it's so much fun!! You can hear the cold, the weather is so clear!! The fuel in the cars freezes, children don't have to go to school.. These are proper problems.
Now the whole of England stops when there is a snowfall of 1 centimeter. I do not kid you. The public transport doesn't operate for a week, university shuts down... One thing is really enjoyable though - people here get really excited and the whole country turns into this happy child that is overjoyed with the snow. But when the winter comes all one wants to do is snuggle up in a cosy blanket and sip a hot drink. This year, I suggest to try more herbal teas!!
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