Sunday 11 January 2015

Comforting "Kipferl"


Happy Sunday afternoon lovelies!!!

I had planned a little trip in the mountain not far from home for this afternoon, but my friend wasn't feeling very well today and the weather was cold, foggy and grey, so unfortunately I spent the all Sunday at home!
I must say I was a little sad about that because I have always great expectations for the weekends so, in order to defeat the bad mood, I decided to make some special biscuits called " Kipferl" for the first time.
They are fragrant and savory little delicacies of the Austrian tradition, which are usually prepared during Christmas time. I've found their recipe in a novel and, according to the author, they must be shared with people who need to be comforted and encouraged. 
Even if the holidays are over I thought a sweet pleasure was exactly what I needed to feel better and enjoy my day off, filling my kitchen with the delicious smell of vanilla! 


RECIPE
200 gr of margarine
100 gr of sugar
1 vanilla bean
100 gr of ground almonds
250 gr of flour 00
powdered sugar 

Mix the butter and sugar until creamy, then cut in half the vanilla bean, scrape the inside and add it to the mixture.
Add the sifted flour and the ground almonds and mix thoroughly.
Work the dough until you get a roll and cut it  into sticks about 2 cm long. 
Give everyone a curved shape and place them on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
Bake for about 10 minutes at 190 degrees until golden brown.
Sprinkle the powdered sugar on the biscuits when they are still warm and leave them to cool.



They were so yummy that even little Cloe wanted to join us for a tea break!
Monday 5 January 2015

Under The Christmas Tree I've found...


1. A soft wool sweater with owls on the neck. I had seen it on Pinterest and I had loved it so much, so my mother has found a way to get it done for me by a seamstress.
2. Many cosy soxs and a pair of super confortable red wolly slippers, which are perfect to warm my cold feet in these freezing days.
3. A tiny beautiful clutch, with a quote that means a lot to me: " To be beautiful you have to laugh"
4. Some fragrant chalks to put in my drawers in order to let them have a lovely scent.


5. A 2015 calendar with gorgeous pictures of tulips which, as you know, are by far my favourite flowers.
6. A lovely pink clutch in grey dots created by my dear friend Emily (the "Little Black Sheep"). 
An handmade gift has always a special value for me!
7. Some " Yves Rocher" body products ( a liquid hand soap, an hand cream, an exfoliating shower gel and a nourishing lip balm) that smell of red berries and I can't wait to try!




8. Some books which are on the top of my 2015 reading list: " Dusty answers" by Rosamond Lehman and "Us" by David Nicholls and a special bookmark with a quote about friendship that really moved me: " A friend is someone who knows all about you and still likes you".


I think the great thing of gifts made with love is their ability to raise these kind of emotions and make you feel loved and essential to the lives of the people who are closest to you.

Love
Martina
Thursday 1 January 2015

New Year's Resolutions !!!


Happy New Year lovely ladies !!!

Today I've spent some hours walking in the woods with my family and some friends, so I've had the time to thinking about my resolutions for this brand new year...
1. Graduate and pass the state certification exam for social workers.
2. Move more, doing an hour walk at least two times a week and going regularly to my zumba lessons.
3. Try to find a way to do a working experience abroad, in England or in the north of Europe.
4. Improve my english.
5. Learn to be less touchy and impulsive and to become more patient.
6. Find more time for my blog and my passions.
7. Learn to enjoy the little daily pleasures, rejoicing of what I have instead of regretting what I miss.
8. Save more money.
9. Dedicate more time to my closest friends, letting them know how much I love them and how precious they are for me.
10. Spend more quality time with my sister.
11. Grow my hair and keep them in my natural color.
12. Learn to be more self-confident and to think positive.

Love
Martina