Sweet Potato Scones with Hints of Cheddar
If you follow me on Instagram, I posted a few days ago one of the reason from my quiet around here - not having a kitchen! These scones were one of the few things I actually thought about and baked in my kitchen. And, then, actually shot. So, here we are, as the festive season comes running up to us..
A Frontyard Picnic
So, I had this all planned out. I was going to make this awesome picnic spread with the products the lovely folks at Trois Petit Cochon sent across. Their picnic basket makes for a fantastic board as is but I decided to dare it up further. Then, me and partner were going to carry it to Astoria park, sit amidst the trees with a view of the bridge. I was going to uncork a nice bottle of chilled Rosé, pour into proper flutes (we don't do paper cups in our thirties.. we buy hampers with checkered cloth liners and leather straps to hold things together... #noirony), lean back and enjoy the afternoon. It was the pre-Memorial day picnic just right to ease into the Summer groove.
Torta di Farro
Spring has burst through here - in colors and warmth! The leaves are no longer shyly peeking out but bursting through with full vigor and a spirit to make a statement. And, then the flowers, gently lifting their faces and emboldening in vibrance and aroma. Running past a wall of violets in full bloom and inhaling deeply their fragrance gives me momentum and deeper spring to my step. I want to go out; I want to commune with nature; I want to find excuses to stay in the positivity of this season.
Yesterday, I was suddenly come upon an urge to bake. Perhaps, something within me wanted bursting out too. Since I am on the elimination diet, I cannot eat wheat and I do not have the access (and budget) for the other gluten free flours i typically use, like almond and oats.
I made a simple cake with farro, dates and nutmeg and topped with some seeds.
Winter Break
I am going to unplug for the rest of 2016. To reflect on the many amazing, insightful, mind-opening, trying, strengthening experiences I have had this year. A year in which, I lived in so many places, so many different lives, reinventing myself literally every 2 months. A year when I pushed myself beyond my comfort zone, but, yet to understand where that has taken me because I have not had the time to process. So, I am going away from the internet world for the last week of 2016... To bury myself in books and thoughts and come out refreshed in 2017!
But, I will leave you something to munch on of course... :)
Amazing gluten free seeded almond flour waffles!
From Within A State of Confusion
Life in Italy has been interesting! Last night, we had a small dinner gathering; four of us, from Istanbul, New York, London and Paris, who have been living here in Italy for different periods. Inevitably the conversation turned to a discussion of the very different outlooks here compared to where we all come from respectively. While many things may be ambiguous, one thing is very certain - food here is ah-mazing!!! It rocks my socks off everyday and I feel blessed to have the opportunity to experience the richness and diversity of the regional Italian food.
And, in that spirit, today's recipe is one of my favorites. One I remembered today because today is market day and this was made on the last weekend market day I spent in NYC in September! :)