Mini chickpea muffins

Simply but impressive, healthy and tasty...these mini muffins are crispy outside and soft inside and match perfectly with a creamy topping like that. You can offer them whether as a main course or as a starter and you will make everyone happy: they're gluten free, low fat, low GI and - with a little variation for the topping - also vegan!

Smoked medallions

Are you looking for a time-saving dinner? Here you are a quick and super easy recipe for delicious high-protein burgers. If you like smoked aftertaste like I do, you will love them!

Apple and cinnamon's heart

There are those who hide broken hearts in a cursed treasure chest (Davy Jones docet)...and there is me, filling pastry crust with apple compote ahah

Heating soup

According to Yin and Yang principle applied to nutrition, buckwheat is the most heating among all grains (it's not a a grain actually, but we call it like that for convenience). Whether you believe in this theory or not, I can guarantee that - due to boiling water and chili pepper in addition - this soup is very hot anyway ahah

Chocolate passion

Who knows what's the must-have recipe in any food blog worthy of its name? I'm talking about chocolate cookies, of course! Fluffy inside and crispy outside...one leds to another! The good news is that this version is lighter than the original one and cholesterol free.

Mommy's pasta with guest of honor

"Home sweet home" was my first thought as soon as I tried this plate...well, the truth is that I learnt to cook this pasta sauce from my mommy ♥ it's easy and quick to prepare, with a fresh and savoury taste that will delight you. But today I decided to add a special ingredient created by my freaky mind...keep on reading to know how to make it!

"Iron Man" quinoa salad

After Spring quinoa salad, here you are the Iron man dedicated one:

• quinoa is a pseudocereal rich in minerals like calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium and iron (4.6 mg per 100 gr);
• cannellini beans, like other legumes, contain a good quantity of iron (4.5 mg per 100 gr);
• dried tomatoes are a considerable source of iron (9.1 per 100 gr);
• and, last but not least, vitamin C contained in bell peppers (166 mg per 100 gr) is really helpful to absorb all non-heme iron above mentioned.

Should I add something to explain the reason why I chose that name for this salad?

Stuffed halfmoons & homesick

These stuffed halfmoons reminds me of a typical street food of my native land, called crescione (same family as piadina, maybe you know that). Unfortunately, the traditional recipe is made with lard, even if more and more kiosks have started to offer also the version with olive oil. In the same way, the filling can be another problem in the pursuit of a vegan crescione, unless you go to an alternative place where you can find also tofu, seitan or simply mixed vegetables (e.g. this and this).
Today I show you my vegan version of one of the most famous and requested filling, that is: zucca, patate e salsiccia (meaning pumpkin, potatoes and sausage). Now guess, what have I replaced the sausage with?

Recycle: coffee grounds body scrub

Picture from web

If you like coffee but it never came to your mind how to re-use the scraps...well, now you have an advice! The only thing you have to do is to collect some coffee grounds, mix them with table salt and moisturizing oils of your choice (I suggest almond, rice and shea). Add also a few drops of essential oil if you wish...I didn't, because I love the scent of coffee ♥

Use this body scrub while taking a shower: rub it gently on clean and wet skin and rinse with water only (avoid shower gel or you will remove the oil protective layer). After the shower, you can use a little aloe gel and coconut oil to increase the soothing action. Repeat once a week, or every two if your skin is too sensitive. Do not use it on your face and breast.

Tips & Tricks:

• place some coffee powder in the sideboard or in the fridge to absorb bad smells
• use coffee grounds to fertilize the potting soil of your plants

And don't be afraid if you'll see a grim in the bottom of your cup, it might be Sirius Black coming to visit you (HP fans will understand me ahah)

When apple meets coconut

When apple meets coconut...the marriage is guaranteed!

Rainbow salad boats

Healthy, appetizing, nourishing: one of the best dinner I've ever had.

Creamy beetroot

If you like bright colours and delicate flavours, that's the right sauce for you. Use it to dress up your pasta, spread on a slice of bread or serve with seitan burgers and similar (muscolo di grano for instance).

Or, as an alternative, use it to paint your children's bedroom walls ahah

Sunday pancakes

"It's Sunday! Pancakes for breakfast!"

Yes guys, it has become our tradition by now : italian couple living in Prague and having breakfast the American way. Aaaah, the power of globalization.

As you can imagine, this post is nothing new : web is full of recipes for pancakes in any version you wish...so why not to add mine too? I tried egg-free version as well, but it didn't satisfy me completely. This is my final recipe, positively tested(*) more than once.

One year in Prague

Stunning architecture, beauty on every corner, immense green spaces throughout the city and beyond.

In Prague there are a lot of things to do and places to go, it's rather cheap (no euro, yeah) and you can come back home alone in the night without fear.

It's a clean city, people-friendly and with efficient public transport (I come from a very small town and was afraid to get lost through metro lines and unnameable streets, but it never happened...so guys, if I made the grade, everybody can).

How not to love it?

"Whatever" soup

Oh my gosh, how could I have lived without miso for so long?

I will not go into the contents about this wonderful food and how to make the tradional Japanese soup (it would be like to discuss with an Italian about carbonara sauce) but I do really like this kind of lets-have-a-look-whats-in-the-fridge-and-try-to-make-something-edible soups. Anyway, may I call it miso soup? After all, there is miso inside...

Fast fruit

As someone said: "Fruit is the original fast food"...and this is one of my favourite afternoon snack in this period: persimmon and banana!

Welcome Autumn

I know Autumn is coming when I crave for hot soups and velvet sauces! My favourite foods during this season are pumpking and mushrooms (any kind) and then chestnuts, persimmon, baked apples with cinnamon, hot chocolate...along with some evergreen that never run out in my kitchen: leek and potatoes.

Millet & Beans

No, I'm not talking about a brand new group on the musical scene, even if the name might deceive you ahah

Millet balls are a recent discovery, very easy to prepare and super healthy, and the sauce is irresistible thanks to a secret ingredient...

Spring quinoa salad

Yeah, I know, it's November and I'm talking about SPRING...I wish it was! In the meantime, I can imagine to enjoy this simple and tasty quinoa salad laying on a blooming lawn under a lukewarm sun :) you should try as well!

Vegetable curry 2.0

It's official: I'm curry addicted!! I love the summertime version with eggplants and zucchini, but the winter one is very tasty as well. Enjoy the sun in your plate even when it's cold and grey outside :)

A picture is worth a thousand words

A beautiful dream to believe in...

Mediterranean pasta

What's your first thought if I say: broccoli, dried tomatoes and olives? For me it's only one: Mediterranean pasta!

Tomatoes are hidden inside but there are some, I swear ^_^

The secret

I believe the real secret to live your life to the fullest, is to see things from another point of view.

(Ph. by my sister w/ her Iphone - Prague, Mirror Maze in Petřin Hill, October 3rd 2014)

Muscolo di grano

Muscolo di grano is a product created by an italian man named Enzo Marascio in 1992, similar to seitan but more nourishing because it contains also legumes flour and - in my opinion - it's even tastier. I don't like to think about these kind of products as "meat alternatives" because this term keep on supporting the idea that meat is necessary to live...and we know this is not true. You can simply call them: "high-protein food to eat every now and then" ^_^

Halušky s zelím

Literally: "Dumplings with fermented cabbage". This is a Czech traditional dish which I revisited in a vegan version. Don't be afraid if you don't like very much onion or cabbage (me neither) because the combination of these ingredients suits perfectly and you won't taste any unlikable flavour. Success is guaranteed and you will gain health!

Friendship

"I’ve realized now that many of the friendships I made when I was young were a result of not really knowing myself. Likewise, I think my “friends” didn’t know themselves either. When we grew apart, it felt like a slap in the face, but really, we were just different people beginning to finally understand ourselves."

Very impressive quote from: 5 THINGS I'VE LEARNED ABOUT MAKING FRIENDS AS AN ADULT. Check this out!

Bite the bullet or take the risk?

It's a matter of priority.

Graffiti eggplants

Look, how beautiful they are! This nature's masterpiece deserved a special recipe...

...millefoglie with tofu cream!

The beauty of the little things

(Ph. by Cloudheaven w/ EOS 600D - Rome, on the way to Pincio terrace, June 17th 2014)

Risotto time

I ❤ risotto!

Actually, the traditional recipe is full of fatty and unealthy ingredients (butter, parmesan and refined rice just to start) so I created my own version which is no less enviable than the original one, trust me!

I suggest you this combination that I really like, but of course you can use any other kind of vegetables of your choice.

Homemade granola

Good morning, everybody! Question of the day: what do you people have for breakfast, usually?

Personally, during summer I love fresh fruit at any time...but when weather gets colder and my favourite fruits - such as watermelon, peaches, apricots and cherries - start to disappear (fortunately I still have got mango, bananas and pineapple, but every year is a big tragedy anyway, poor me!), than I cannot do without my warm cup of rice milk and coffee and some good homemade stuff like biscuits, cakes or...granola! I like to try different mix, this is one of our favourites:

Multicolor potato croquettes

Hands up who doesn't know any person that hates vegetables?!

Don't worry, with this recipe all your problems are gone: I swear, the fussy people you're surrounded by will love that! And if you don't say them, they will never find out what kind of "horrible" vegetables are hidden inside ahah

New start(er)

This recipe is a little tribute to a vegetarian restaurant here in Prague that I really suggest you (Restaurace Maitrea) where my boyfriend and I tasted this lovely starter for the first time...and it represents also the changes I've been facing lately in my lifestyle. The point is that I realized we were eating too much soy products and, since my choice is not only ethical but also about health, I decided to reintroduce some cheese in our diet. To be more precise, I'm talking about organic goat cheese, which is more digestible and it doesn't involve so much exploitation as dairy industry. Actually, we also eat dairy ricotta, mozzarella and yogurt, but very seldom and organic if possible (it happens mostly when we eat out or when I cannot find or cook a vegan substitute). I'm perfectly aware of the power of the food (both positively and negatively) but eating is not only a matter of head and studies about this and that, eating is involving heart and physical sensations as well. I think sometimes we should reach a compromise in order to find a balance and, at this time, that's my choice. Perhaps I will change my mind again during time, but since then I keep following my path depending on what I'm feeling is the best for me.

Vegetable Thai curry & Wanderlust

Sometimes, cooking is like travel. You can close your eyes and imagine the stunning atmosphere coming from far away countries...you can smell their fragrances, admire their colours, delve into their cultures. You know, I often use youtube to listen to traditional music while cooking, so that I can also ear the sound of these places and feel closer. Unfortunately, so far in my life I didn't have the opportunity to travel a lot and I still have got a long wishlist of places to visit. But until I won't have enough money and time to rove about, I will keep using my imagination and my kitchen to pretend being over there.

Red dressed eggplants

After blue and green, red is my third favourite colour...so, why don't use it  in the kitchen as well? I believe that food should be attractive also for the eyes, don't you? Here you are another gluten free recipe for all quinoa lovers! And if you're not, nevermind...you will be!

Green pasta

Hey there! Did I mention where do I come from? Well, you'll see in a few seconds, as soon as you realize what's the main star of this dish...I mean, PASTA! And were you thinking avocado was good only for exotic recipes, maybe? Try it like that and you won't regret!

Re-interpreted Japanese maki

Let's start with one of my favourite recipes: VEGAN MAKI.

In case you're wondering: yes, I'm veg(etari)an and proud to be. Anyway, I hate labels and I think sometimes these kind of specifications are unnecessary and counter-productive. That's the way I like to eat and, if you want to discover what I actually mean, just keep following me!

I really like this flavour-matching, hope you do as well.

Step by step

" A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step "

(Ph. by Cloudheaven w/ EOS 600D - Prague,
Havlíčkovy Sady, August 2nd 2014)