Strawberry-Orange Muffin

What better way to celebrate Spring (and to use some need-to-be-eaten-soon Strawberries)?

Ingredients

• 1 1/4  cups halved strawberries
• 
  
• 3  tablespoons margarine, melted
• 
  
• 2  teaspoons grated orange rind
• 
  
• 2  large eggs
• 
  
• 1 1/2 cups whole-wheat flour
• 
  
• 1 1/4 cups brown sugar
• 
  
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 
  
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 
  
• Cooking spray
• 
  
• 2  teaspoons sugar

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 400°.


2. Combine first 4 ingredients in a blender, and process just until blended. Lightly spoon flour into dry measuring cups; level with a knife. Combine flour, 1 1/4 cups sugar, baking powder, and salt. 

3. Add strawberry mixture to flour mixture, stirring just until moist. Spoon batter into 12 muffin cups coated with cooking spray. Sprinkle with 2 teaspoons sugar. Bake at 400° for 20 minutes or until muffins spring back when touched lightly in center. Remove from pan immediately.

Enjoy!


(recipe founded googling Strawberry Muffin)

***

Lately, my friends are loving me more and more since most of my bakery creations go directly into their tummies. Living alone, it's not safe for me stay at home with the company of twelve freshly baked muffins, ah ah!

Brownies

Quick brownies recipe adapted from Cooking Light


I also tried to make a vegan version of it but it was a huge FAIL, since they didn't cook well and were way too ooey gooey. I really appreciate if you could suggest me a good vegan brownies recipe!

Fudgy Brownies

Ingredients

1 cup Whole-Wheat Flour 

1/2 cup unsweetened Cocoa

1/4 teaspoon Salt

1/3 cup Butter

2 ounces dark Chocolate, chopped

(I used Chocolate-chips)

1 cup Brown Sugar

1/4 cup low-fat Milk

1 teaspoon Vanilla Extract

2 large Egg Yolks

1 large Egg

Cooking spray

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350°.

2. Lightly spoon flour into a dry measuring cup; level with a knife. Combine flour, cocoa, and

salt in a medium bowl; stir with a whisk.

3. Place butter and chocolate in a medium microwave-safe bowl, and microwave at high for 45

seconds, stirring every 15 seconds. Stir until smooth, and set aside. Cool slightly. Add 1 cup sugar,

milk, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract, egg yolks, and egg; stir with a whisk to combine. Add butter mixture

to flour mixture, stirring just until combined. 

4. Pour batter into an 8-inch square metal baking pan coated with cooking spray. Bake at 350° for 20 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out almost clean. 

Enjoy! I surely did =)

They were even better the day after...

***

If you have a yummy vegan recipe for brownies, I'd love to try to make this!

Brown Irish Soda Bread

I wanted to do something irish for St. Patrick's day this year (besides drinking waay too much cider, since I can't stomach bier). The recipe is easy, but since I replaced some ingredients (I couldn't find buttermilk anywhere here!), it came out a little too doughy, nothing too bad that a good splash of almond butter can't resolve, though! 

It's also quite fast and I literally made it while getting ready for going to a photography exposition. I photograph it in the morning though, to avoid that horrible yellow light; I know, I could have use my lightbox but I was running late =)

Brown Irish Soda Bread

Ingredients

• 2 1/2 cups whole-wheat flour 
• 
  
• 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
• 
  
• 1/2  cup  steel-cut oats (I used rolled oats)
• 
  
• 2  tablespoons  brown sugar
• 
  
• 1  tablespoon  wheat germ
• 
  
• 1  teaspoon  baking soda
• 
  
• 1  teaspoon  baking powder
• 
  
• 1/2  teaspoon  salt
• 
  
• 2  cups  low-fat buttermilk (I used soy milk, since I only had that)
• 
  
• 1  large egg, lightly beaten

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 325°.

2. Coat a 9 x 5–inch loaf pan with cooking spray. Line the pan with parchment paper, and coat with cooking spray.

3. Lightly spoon flours into dry measuring cups, and level with a knife. Combine flours and next 6 ingredients (through salt). Combine buttermilk and egg; add to flour mixture. Stir just until combined.

4. Spoon the mixture into prepared pan. Bake at 325° for 1 hour and 5 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Invert bread onto a wire rack; cool completely. 

Enjoy!

***

Theoretically in Italy no one celebrate St Patrcik's day, especially this year that coincided with the 150 anniversary of the unification of Italy. But...

• One of my best friend is half-irish
• I couldn't care less about the anniversary

(recipe from cooking light)

Non-stop day

I just stopped for making this yummy lunch with the pecorino cheese I purchased a week ago at the farmer market but that I forgot at home, it was still fresh, though! 

Sometimes, ok many times, I wish I would already be graduated. Classes are hard but the thing that I'm sick of most it's the huge amount of time spent studying, writing essays and recopy notes... It's absorbing all my time, and this semester I don't have a single subject that I really like!

I'm curious...

What do you study? Or do you have a work?

I'd like to find some balance between school, life and blogging, so I'll appreciate if you'll share your experience!

Whole wheat Apple Cake

Studying or baking? That is the problem!


Monday evening I clearly chose the second option and baked a cinnamon-smelling Apple Cake (I absolutely love when my home smells like cakes and cookies, that's not so difficult since my home is very tiny =)


I also believe that baking is the perfect complement of a movie that you're not so interested in (I was watching The Queen that night)

Whole Wheat Apple Cake

Ingredients

2 big Apples, sliced

2 tbsp Raisin

175 gr whole wheat flour

125 ml Soy Milk

100 gr Brown Sugar

1 Egg

1 tbsp Pine Nuts

1/2 tbsp Lemon Juice

16 gr Baking Powder

Cinnamon to taste 

Directions

1. Soak the raisin in warm water to soften it.

2. In a large bowl, beat the egg and the sugar and then add the milk. Gradually add the flour and when well mixed add the pine nuts, the lemon juice, cinnamon and the drained raisin.

3. Mix the baking powder to the batter and, as last thing, add the apples.

4. Pour the batter in a baking tin (24-26 cm), lightly oiled and floured. Bake in the preheated oven at 180 grades for 35 minutes.

Serve and enjoy! It's amazing the day after as breakfast with warm milk.

This recipe could be easily made vegan, just replace the egg with an egg replacer (no pun intended!), as 1 tbsp of grounded flax seeds with warm water.

Certosa Cheese Tower for lunch

Coming home after classes and not eating the first thing that cross my eyes is a really hard challenge. I was glad I waited, since my lunch was so perfectly cheesy (and it's actually also really fast to assemble!)

Certosa Cheese and Zucchini Tower

Ingredients

1 Zucchina, sliced

60 gr Certosa Cheese

extra-virgin Olive Oil

60 gr Quinoa

Directions

1. Eat a grill. Brush the zucchina slices with olive oil and put them on the grill to cook (about 6-7 minutes) turning them from time to time.

2. Meanwhile, cook the quinoa in boiling salted water (15 minutes).

3. When the slices are done cooking, spread the cheese between the slices. Put in the pre-heated oven just to let the cheese melt (2-3 minutes).

4. Serve with quinoa and lamb's lettuce. Enjoy!

Attention cheese lovers, it's addicting!

Speaking of cheese...

What is your favorite?

Baked Egg and Spinach

Since I'm totally incapable of doing a poached egg, I've tried another way. No skills required!

Ingredients (for one)

1 Egg

frozen Spinach

(enough to fill the ramekin)

black Pepper, Salt

and Nutmeg to taste

1 small Garlic clove, minced

extra-virgin Olive Oil

skim Milk

2 slices of whole-wheat Bread

Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 350°. Oil the ramekin. Sauté the garlic in olive oil until lightly brown. Add the spinach and cook them for 2-3 minutes or until completely defrosted.

2. When wilted, spoon into a colander and press out any liquid. Then mix in a bowl with the milk, a good grating of nutmeg, salt and freshly ground black pepper. Put the spinach into the ramekin.

3. Crack the egg into the ramekin, and pour around a little of the extra milk. Sprinkle with salt and black pepper, then bake on a tray for about 20 minutes, until the whites are set and yolks are done. Meanwhile, toast the bread.

Enjoy!

My recipe for the contest Eggs in Smoking by Gustosamente


For further information:


Gustosa...mente
Scacco Alle Regine

Chana Masala for Dinner

Ingredients (for 4 person)

1 1/2  cups chickpeas

2  teaspoons olive oil

1  cup chopped onion

1  tablespoon minced peeled fresh ginger

1  garlic clove, minced

1/8  teaspoon salt

1/8  teaspoon ground cumin

1/8  teaspoon ground red pepper

3/4  cup organic vegetable broth

1/2  cup tomato salsa

2  tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro

1/8  teaspoon garam masala

Directions

1. Sort and wash the chickpeas, and place in a large saucepan. Cover with water to 2 inches above chickpeas; bring to a boil. Cook for 5 minutes or until tender. Drain.

2. Heat oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add onion, ginger, and garlic to pan; cook 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Stir in salt, cumin, and pepper; cook 1 minute. Add chickpeas, broth, and tomato; cook 5 minutes or until liquid almost evaporates. Remove from heat; stir in chopped cilantro and garam masala.

Recipe from cooking light

***

I also made Garam Masala from scratch, since I couldn't find it at the grocery store. It's actually kinda fun!

Easy Garam Masala

1 tablespoon ground cumin

1 1/2 teaspoons ground coriander

1 1/2 teaspoons ground cardamom

1 1/2 teaspoons ground pepper

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon ground cloves

1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg

Directions

1. Mix cumin, coriander, cardamom, pepper, cinnamon, cloves, and nutmeg in a bowl. Place mix in an airtight container, and store in a cool, dry place.

***

Lunch was yummy too

Inside-Out Tortellini

with Spinach,

Parmigiano,

Ricotta

and Cottage Cheese

***

Now I'm off to some yoga while watching a movie. Resolutions respected!

Banana Bread

When bananas are more brown than yellow, make banana bread!

Ingredients

2  cups  whole wheat flour
3/4  teaspoon  baking soda
1/2  teaspoon  salt
1  cup brown sugar
1/4  cup  butter, softened
2  large eggs
1 1/2  cups  mashed ripe banana (about 3 bananas)
1/3  cup  plain low-fat yogurt
1  teaspoon  vanilla extract

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350°. Lightly spoon flour into dry measuring cups; level with a knife. Combine the flour, baking soda, and salt, stirring with a whisk.



2. Place sugar and butter in a large bowl, and beat with a mixer at medium speed until well blended (about 1 minute). Add the eggs, 1 at a time, beating well after each addition. Add banana, yogurt, and vanilla; beat until blended. Add flour mixture; beat at low speed just until moist.



3. Spoon batter into an 8 1/2 x 4 1/2-inch loaf pan coated with cooking spray. Bake at 350° for 1 hour or until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool 10 minutes in pan on a wire rack; remove from pan. Cool completely on wire rack.

Enjoy!

Recipe adapted from Cooking Light

Getting ready for Paris

Prepping up dinner

Bonus:

Lunch picture!

Mixed veggies (Can you spot them all?)

Cottage cheese

Grilled whole wheat Bread

a Pear

***

Now I'm off to take my flight or tomorrow I'll be posting from here (ach!).

Playing with adjustments

Today is gone so fast! And I didn't even begin to pack for my trip to Paris; I'm kinda sick of the packing-unpacking routine, but I can't wait to be there tomorrow night!

I ate

• Breakfast (still in San Valentine spirit!)
• Lunch

Grilled Eggplant on grilled Bread

with Hummus

Green and Carrots salad

with mixed seeds and honey

Apple Pie filling

with vanilla Kefir

and Pomegranate seeds

• As snack I had some a lot of greek yogurt, along with two Cookies and Pomegranate seeds (again)

I played a little with the exposure/saturation and other random adjustments; not sure of the result... Do you like it?

• Dinner was meh... I made a kind of pasta salad that turned out more flavorless than I expected since I put a lot of chili pepper in it.

Whole wheat Pasta

with Brussels sprouts,

Broccoli,

1/2 potato

Chickpeas

Tomato salsa

***

I ran

3 miles as planned. I urgently need to change my playlist since it's becoming boring! I also did some yoga while studying.

After this really interesting post (AH!), I'm off to packing a little, at least!

Mmm I've just noticed that I never register my glass of milk before going to bed (I drink it since I was a child), so I was wondering:

Do you also eat/drink something before going to bed

just because it's an habit and somehow it feels so good?

Today's summary

I'll be brief since I have two new cooking magazines on which I need to droll, a serious session of blog reading and a "the biggest loser" episode to watch. Matter of life of death!

Daily food

• Breakfast (totally random)
• Lunch. I munched on some cauliflower before lunch while trying to figure out what to do with them, I thought that maybe with the taste I would have discovered a brilliant and revolutionary recipe, this obviously didn't happen and I ended up cooking them in the oven with chickpeas and black olives, tossed with oil, white and chili pepper.

This was actually the side dish. The main dish was this

Veggie Burger

with mustard and cherry tomato

on whole wheat grilles Bread

plus an Orange

and a Caffèlatte (with soy milk)

• As snack, I had a almost burned grilled (I'm going a little grill-crazy here =) banana with vanilla Kefir (yum yum) and Pomegranate seeds
• Dinner was as easy as fabulous!

grilled spelt Flat bread

with cottage cheese

grilled (ah!) eggplants

mixed Greens

with Pomegranate seeds

oil and honey as dressing

along with a Pear

Daily Workout

I walked on the inclined treadmill for about one hour (3.5 km) while reading some school stuff, then I stretched a little bit. Nothing special, but I was too much concentrated on my reading for really caring about what was going on with my legs!

***

Just a question to finish:

Do you read cooking magazines?

I read them for the fab food, but mostly for the gorgeous photos. I would soo much being able to produce such beauties!

Tuesdays are boring

Am I the only one or do you also think that Tuesdays are worse than Mondays?

The fresh start feeling of Monday is gone and the weekend is so far away. Definitely the worst day of the week, in my opinion.

So, to just confirm what above said, today was totally meh

The eating

• Breakfast
• Lunch started following a recipe until I realize mid-way through that I didn't have almost half of the ingredients (this is what happens when you choose only looking at pictures and not reading the ingredients!). I ended up having a very nice meal, my cooking skills are finally improving!

Quinoa and Spinach Casserole

made with cooked quinoa,

frozen spinach,

sautes with oil, garlic, chili pepper and pepper

a spoonful of cottage cheese

1 egg white

and more oil for grease the ramekin

Brussels sprouts as side dish

and an Apple

• I had a super-early mid-afternoon snack before heading to the gym of coffee with almond milk and some too much mixed cereals
• Dinner

Dipping your hand in a sack of grains

Minestrone del Contadino

with Spinach, extra-virgin olive oil,

whole wheat Bread

and a Pear

***

The working-out

I ran 3 miles as planned, but it was much tougher than I thought, I totally blame my new shoes since after my huge snack I had all the necessary energy! Maybe I just need to get used to them.

***

Now I'm off to watch Gossip Girl.

Have a nice evening. Or day? Or whatever!

3-Tomatoes Puttanesca Pasta

It's Monday, the sun is shining and I don't have
too much
to study. What a perfect day for cooking a summerish and Mediterranean Pasta dish! The recipe is a totally personal adaptation from an italian classic and I also didn't measure precisely the ingredients since it depends a lot on tastes (more or less spicy and so on). But, you know, with Pasta dish is usually a win-win.

Ingredients (for one)

4 cherry tomatoes, sliced in quarter

4 sun-dried tomatoes

tomato sauce (approx. 5 spoons)

4 black olives, pitted and sliced

1 garlic clove

extra-virgin olive oil

salt and black pepper

chili pepper

3 leaves of fresh basil (plus more for garnish)

80 gr whole wheat Tortiglioni

Directions

1. Bring a pot of salted water to a boil. Meanwhile, heat the oil in a fry-pan and brown the garlic for 2-3 minutes. Add the tomato sauce, sun-dried tomatoes, black olives, after a while add also the cherry tomatoes and basil. Season to taste with black pepper and chili pepper and stir.

2. Add pasta in the large pot and cook until al dente. Drain.

3. Put the cooked pasta in the fry-pan and mix well for 1 minute. Garnish with basil and serve.

***

So far the food intake of the day was completed by a mid-morning snack of carrots, red bell pepper and home-made hummus with way too much tabasco

And a juicy Pear coated in vanilla Kefir and sliced almonds after lunch

I also ate some Granola cluster straight from the bag while waiting for my apple-cinnamon tea to get ready.

Do you also search for you fav pieces in Granola mixes or am I the only weirdie?

Now I'm off to some more snacks (yep, I'm still hungry ahah!) and to some strenghten & stretch workout as Hal say.