REturn & REflection

Lately, I found out a popular trend among beauty/fashion bloggers called "my favourite products of the month" which led me to a careful reflection regarding how much our daily life depends from market and advertising. This kind of trends, apparently harmless, are actually rich soil for the growth of destructive behaviours, first of all the production of massive pollution. We have created an unsustainable society based on consumerism, the biggest trap of modern times and poison for our souls, while we keep on poisoning our bodies with lots of chemicals we don't even know.

Instead of contibuting to all this, why don't we start to make by hand our own new favourite products of the month ever? If you pay attention to the list of ingredients in most of the commercial products you buy, you will start to look at them with different eyes.

Let's take a step back and join the wonderful world of diy! Once you try the fulfilling experience to see how a bunch of ingredients can turn into a beautiful creation, you will feel like a baby moving his/her first steps :)

Here you are two of my latest favourites which I'm really proud of, homemade by me following youtube tutorials:

WHIPPED BODY BUTTER by Lauren Singer - Trash is for Tossers (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KgORGHaPa9U)

      

POWDER FOUNDATION by Ela Gale (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o2yP2-lZ4zM)

Chestnut pancakes

What's a Sunday without pancakes? As I wrote here we really love this habit, but to not get bored with the same recipe every week, I started to think about new combinations to try. I also improved the leavening and the texture using a little trick and...definitely approved! Oh, they're also glutenfree.

Just a yellow lemon tree

Yesterday I went grocery shopping and what a surprise when I found on the shelf one of the best italian pasta brand! Usually I buy whole wheat pasta, preferably organic, but the list of shapes is very limited...therefore, this time I let myself be tempted by a package of delicious linguine and I eventually purchased one. Today, thanks to an unusual sunny morning and two lemons dropped off in the refrigerator since too long, I decided to make one of my favourite summer dish: pasta with lemon dressing.  Yes, I know it might sound weird, but give it a try and let me know.

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.