Le Croissant

Bonjour a tous le monde!!! Comme on ca va? Are you ready to start a new week? Some of you are (holidays!), some of you aren't (working or studying), still a good breakfast can help you begin in the right way. And which better way than treating yourself with homemade French croissants? I made these filled with Nutella and strawberry jam. Tres bon!

Wish you all a successful week!!! Wish me luck for my last exams before the summer ;)

Enjoy ♥

Martina 

 

Focaccia doesn't mean ugly seal!

Have you ever heard of focaccia? It's an Italian type of bread which translated literally means ugly seal, but it actually doesn't have anything to do with this funny animal. 

Focaccia is very popular in Italy as its dough is very similar to the one of pizza. Since it's usually topped with "dry" ingredients such as herbs, olives, or onions, instead of with tomato sauce and mozzarella, olive oil is generously spread over the dough to preserve the moisture. Also a common thing to do is to dot it, either with a fork or with fingers, in order for the dough to soak the oil. 

I made this week the version with herbs and salt and want to share the recipe with you.

Ingredients

400 ml. water

15 gr. salt

12 gr. yeast

2 spoons of sugar 

600 gr. flour

100 ml. olive oil

mixed herbs: sage, rosemarin, basil, oregano, etc.

Procedure

Put in a bowl the yeast and the sugar and stir with 20 ml. of water until melted. In the remaining water melt the salt and add the oil. Put the flour in your mixer and add the fluid mixtures. Mix for about 5 minutes or until you have a homogeneous but sticky dough (if you prefer you can work with your hands). On an oven tray pour some oil and place your dough ball in the middle. Put the tray in the oven without turning it on (this is very important!) and let the dough rise for about an hour. As soon as it has doubled its size you can start giving it the right shape by spreading it with your hands and some oil. Make sure to leave fingerprints or to dot it with a fork. Then let it rise for 10 more minutes. Now heat your oven at 200• C and in the mean time add the herbs, salt, and oil that is left over. Spray over your focaccia some water; it's important to crate a humid environment to keep the dough soft. If necessary spread more water whilst the focaccia bakes for 15 minutes. When golden-brown it is ready. Let it cool down and then enjoy a bite of Italy!

Enjoy ♥

Martina

OTR: Sri Lanka 2011

Today, while I was looking at some old pictures I had posted on my Facebook page, I came across these entries about my trip to Sri Lanka in the Summer of 2011. Since I released the blog just after that experience I had never written about it here. So I decided to repropose to you these pictures and my personal thoughts about that amazing holiday. 

On the 8th of Semptember 2011 I wrote:

Hello all!

So I think it's time for me to tell you where I've been and to show you the sweet things I've seen and tasted for you, of course (or maybe for me... I have such a sweet tooth hehehe!) I was in sunny, friendly, colourful, spicy and exotic Sri Lanka. I have never seen so much fruit as in this country and have tasted almost all of it: mango, pineapple, guava, rabutan, dragon fruit, coconut, papaya, passion fruit, red and YELLOW watermelon (I had no idea it existed), and bananas. 

This picture is of my breakfast on the wonderful beach of Tangalla (@ Mangrove Cabanas). Sun, sea, sand, an old tree trunk as a table, and banana pancakes with banana milksake. Simply delicious!

Still in Sri Lanka, as we where driving from Koggala to Unawatuna with a rented scooter, I just had to stop this guy and ask him to take a picture. I simply love this three wheeler bakery... I am considering of buying one too and wander around the city: the Tuc-tuc sweet Bakery! The most hilarious thing about the whole scene was a Per Elisa jingle the owner played to catch the attention of the people walking by. So out of place, hahaha!

Last but not least, I'm sharing a picture of the sweetest but tiniest bakery in Galle Fort. I assure you it is as small as you see it, inside it there is barely space for two people, and the tables are taken out by the owners depending on the number of guests. The atmosphere is so delightful and family like, a sweet little girl prepared the chocolate sundae we ordered and had quite a struggle with it since the ice cream was so hard that the scoops kept on flying around :D

It was such a refreshing treat! Although everything else looked delicious as well.

Enjoy ♥

Martina

P.S.: here is a series of greedy monkeys we met on the way!

P.P.S.: the pictures were taken by Michael Ritter.