Christmas 2014

Christmas is a great time of the year. It is time to relax and celebrate with families and friends. I have had a great Christmas this year, flood with food, parties, and a quiet time of my own too. Wish you a merry Christmas and happy new year!

HM & ONLY shops in CPH

macarons: white chocolate & blueberry

My journey to make macarons is funny because I succeeded and failed many times. Guess because I don’t understand them thoroughly, I’m not professional. Last week, I tried to make macarons au cassis but in the end I found out that I don’t have blackcurrant anymore. Instead I use blueberry to make berry filling. My macarons shells had purple tint which I experienced by mixing food coloring. In case you don’t know how the colors work, you can see from here. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IUc31f0A7CQ&feature=youtu.be 



                                                   Macarons: white chocolate& blueberry

The macarons shell recipes I used from the cookbook Gifts from the Kitchen: 100 Irresistible Homemade Presents for Every Occasion by Annie Rigg. http://www.fromvalskitchen.com/2011/holiday-gift-idea-gifts-from-the-kitchen/ The recipe is very simple and easy to follow. For the filling (my own way). Mix about 2 handful of frozen blueberry; boil them with a bit of water to give it liquid. Then strain through a fine sieve to get the condense juice of berries and mix it with 100g melted white chocolate. It may be runny in the beginning, but cool it down by put the mixture in the fridge or let cool at room temperature until it become thicker but pourable filling.

Though it is not as I planned but the macarons turn out beautiful this time, the pastel purple shell combine with the violet ganache from the berry filling make it a beautiful pair.

Simple sweet potatoes soup

This a a warm soup for the turning of autumn. Raining outside, would it be nice to enjoy a warm soup at your dinner while looking at the rain falling on the window?

                  

Ingredients

600 g sweet potatoes
1 rubagata
2 potatoes
1/2 onion
70 g butter
400 ml water
1 cup cream
1 tsp salt according to taste

Directions

1. Chop the onion into chunks.
2. Peel and cut the sweet potatoes, potatoes, rubataga into 3 cm pieces.
3. In a large saucepan, melt the butter in high heat, add the onion, soften about 2 minutes.
4. Add the root vegetables, and stir fry until fragrant but not burn. Pour the water, bring to boil and reduce to medium-low heat. Simmer until all the vegetables become soft and cooked through. Add the cream and salt.
5. Set aside to cool about 5 minutes and blend the soup until smooth with emersion blender. Serve with baked bacon.

Food art

                                             From Rasmus Kofoed and his team

Food art never caught my attention until one day I watched Bocuse d’Or show 2011 in which Denmark had won the competition. Saw how the chef did, his effort, talent, and his burst with joy went the judge announced his team won. The sense of accomplishment. Those things have really inspired me. These foods are brilliantly awesome; I found myself staring hours and hours at those similar pics. They really take my eyes to the next levels.


                                             From Noma

Pictures are taken from various sources from the Internet.

Tallinn, part 3

                
               

Tallinn is a small town but it is very lovely and romantic. For many people who live in Finland, they can access to Tallinn easily, from Helsinki just more than 2 hours by boat and you will be there. I live there for 6 years but never set a foot to Tallinn until one day my friend called me and asked if I would like to join her on the trip.

The ticket is very cheap, last time I bought it 10 Euros for two ways and people come there not just to travel but also to buy alcohol products because they got "super price": beer, breezer, wines... is ridiculous low compare to Finland's with the same products, almost two third cheaper. I didn't think I would buy it but I bought it, lots of breezer, and beer. I don't drink beer, so they are for friends. It was an enjoyable trip, very easy, and relaxed. We walked, explored the city, eat the street foods, the roasted almonds with fine sugar and delicious spices which I don't know. But the spicy sugared almonds from Olde Hansa, that flavor just came back to me now, oh I really want to eat it again!


                     

                   
               

The oldest cafe in Tallinn

              

My cappuccino with the lovely hearted shape, make me remember when I did practical training in Fazer Cafe in Helsinki, I could make the leaves too, beautiful leaves. On those first days, I watched a lot of youtube videos on how to make it. And every morning, every evening in my shift I always ask if I could do cappuccino or cafe latte for customers. Little by little, they become more beautiful. But for a longtime without practice, I wonder if I could do it again!

             
              

The post office and inside
 
                   
                   

This is the view from the tower of St. Olav church which has 258 steps. Because of lacking exercises, I gasped for breath along the way and constantly asked when will be the last step. But the view is, you see, isn't it wonderful?

Tallinn, part 2

Tallinn, the way to the old town I don't remember the name of the shop, but I like it very much. It has a lot of pretty cute things                                         First time I saw macarons decorated with a little flowers on top, lovely idea!

Tallinn, Estonia 2014

Tallinn via iPhone