breath

As I got down our laundry flapping away in the wind and drizzle I captured a view from the rooftop this morning.

Oh glorious rain (it seems to be sunny and bright 49 of 50 days here, so today I am loving the dark grey stormy sky today and the chance to have some cozy time with the kids (school holidays at the moment).  So it's potato stamps, playdough and some all together baking lined up (and maybe some sewing for me).

Must say we have had a great weekend here, largely filled with cooking, eating and socialising. Can say in all honesty we have been cooking up a storm in this little house, from five course dinners for a dinner party on Friday to six (each different, large French savoury tarts for a Sunday birthday gathering), and sweets wise a sour cream mace tort, a chocolate mousse with a fig and honey whip cream side, and a plum upside down cake. Some of the mains included pumpkin, feta, toasted walnut and mint fatyer, a greek cypriot beef stew and a roasted cumin and beetroot soup (looked nice with the intense red drizzle of yogurt and fresh parsley garnish but I had no clean hands to grab my camera).  I found the beets so striking (featured above) that I took this photo. Sadly that is the only food photo I had a moment to capture over the weekend. Juggling cooking and three smalls means you are on the move at all times.

It's been a feast of smells and colours here, always seems to bring my husband and I closer together, which is always nice,  we both love cooking.  The flip side of when the kitchen and food take up priority is the effect it has on the rest of the house.... the piles of laundry and scattering of toys, crayons and papers seemed to have gobbled up the rest of the house so we, ok 'I'  am digging my way out today. Strong cup of coffee at my side and the intention to blast some music. Am ready for the day.

Hope you are too.

Oh and guess who has joined our family!

Little Pepito the monkey (made by talented Elise over at My Funny Valentine).

Check out that cool tail!

Destructo is one lucky lady!

Not to be missed

Favourites of the week include finding out about this new campaign(photo above)  written about in the guardian. Listening to Friday's episode of Fresh Air - an interview with Charlie Kaufman (of Adaptation, Magnolia).  Lastly an interview with Michael Pollan, the author of the book  In Defense of Food and who also recently wrote an open letter to the next president which was featured in last weekends New York Times Magazine. In my opinion he has some very wise words.... worth listening to (esp. those in the U.S. as it gives a critical and historical look at our food-farming industry). 

Went a little wild

With the ice cream maker that is- was a little excited what with eggs, cream and dried figs in the house- made an ice cream with figs, walnuts and chocolate (note the figs were cooked down in orange juice with a wee bit of cinnamon till carmely). Yes, I strayed from the usual keep it simple approach so it is one rich desert. The chocolate was a nice very dark Italian sort- just some small shavings (love the choices at the stores here). A photo to follow once we serve it up tonight!  

--- texture and taste turned out really well- just in case anyone out there is into making ice cream will write down the recipe as I am sure by tomorrow I will forget what I did. 

Fig and Walnut Ice cream

2 eggs yokes

3 Tbs sugar

mix with a whisk

add 400 ml of single cream

200 ml whole milk

add pinch of cinnamon 

set in pan and let simmer 3-4 minutes

set aside to cool 

 chop 3-4 dried figs

add with 100 ml water

juice of half an orange

1 tbs sugar (could do without it but this is the version I made)

cook down till there is a syrup (15-20 min)

set aside

when milk mixture and fig mixture is cool start up the ice cream maker- add the cream mixture and the figs then a small handful of chopped walnuts and a small handful of finely chopped dark chocolate. 

Moved in!!!

Only taken us six weeks to get into the house.... at last it's ready enough for us to move in -so we have. It's day two and we have internet and a working computer!!!! Without the stern looks from in laws I broke from Maltese convention and took a morning walk with the children. Went to check out the local market, shops etc. here is a side street we went down. Needless to say the walk did us all good.  The kids survived the heat and wee bit of sun and thus are all sleeping soundly at nap time (something they rarely did at my in laws).  We bought fresh bread from the man in the van who goes around honking and sells it still hot from the oven out of the back of the van- yum. Also to my excitement found that the grocery stores here sell not only Maltese and British products but loads of French and Spanish brands too... you should see the selection of pasta choices and olive oils!!!!