Baked rice pudding with stewed cape gooseberries

Has it been that long since I last posted here? One year flew in a blink of an eye...

It’s not like I have forgotten about my little space. Just life got so busy and I had to choose my priorities...

It certainly has been busy year. Many things happened. We had some wonderful moments and some I wish would have never happened.

After seven years of marriage I finally met my in-laws. I had unforgettable time with them and I will certainly share those moments with you but another time.

Scenes of Scotland and Pelmeni Recipe {Russian Meat Dumplings}

The coffee aroma spread through the whole apartment. I was sitting in the kitchen with a hot, freshly brewed coffee in my hands. 

I felt so calm. So blissful.

I always feel this way when my mom sits next to me. It doesn’t happen often enough so I try to soak up every moment of it.

Every time I visit her, I look forward to eat familiar meals from my childhood, the way only she can cook. One of the meals I request every single time is pelmeni- meat dumplings.

Meat dumplings have been one of our family favourite for a very long time. I still remember my mom and grandmother standing in the kitchen and making hundreds of them by hand. They would freeze them and when there was no time to cook, they would pull out the dumplings from the freezer and minutes later we had a dinner on our table.

And now I do the same. The only difference, I don’t make them by hand but use a mold.

That saves a lot of time for sure.

Saturday Favourites {14/01/12}

Welcome to Saturday Favourites, here I am going to share some of the things I came across the World Wide Web. It could be recipe, awesome product or simply photos I cannot stop staring at.

1. Sagaform Juicy Glasses @ Scandinavian Design Centre

2. Long Melamine Spoons @ Shirleyz

3. How to: Rainbow Cake @ Omnomicon

4. Colourful Mug Tree @ Ikea

5. Kitchen via House Beautiful

Hello New Year and Orange Marshmallow recipe

Good-bye 2011 and hello 2012!

For me New Year always means a new beginning. A blank page in my life that waits to be filled with hopes and dreams. Yes, these dreams might slightly change later in a year, but for me it’s important to have them.

Usually at the beginning of the year I sit down and write all my goals and wishes so after I can look over and cross out the ones are fulfilled. Or think how to accomplish ones that has not been yet    realized.                                                                                 

That list helps me to stay motivated and work harder towards my goals.

This year one of my main goals is to keep us healthy and happy. Although we do eat healthily, I still feel we could do better. And I am going to work as hard as I can to do that. 

But to make our life sweeter I am still going to make some treats for us. I do believe that there is no harm to have a treat now and again. Or that’s just my excuse...

Anyhow, I decided to start this year on The Coffee Break on the sweet note and share this orange marshmallow recipe I found couple of month ago. Very easy to make and are perfect with a hot chocolate cuppa to keep you warm in the dark and cold winter evenings. Enjoy!

Pumpkin and Sultanas Cookies

 I have a confession to make. I have never ever eaten or cooked pumpkin before. Ever.  

                        

Every autumn almost all stores packed full with pumpkins. Small and large, but always orange in colour would sit on the shelves. And every year I would slowly walk by them, hesitating to buy. 

I guess I was just afraid I won’t like how it tastes and not to disappoint myself I never bought one. Or maybe because I have never seen my mother cooking it. Either way, for the past seven years I avoided buying or tasting anything with pumpkin.

But every year seeing more and more scrumptious photos and recipes of pumpkin pies, cookies and soups, I finally decided to buy a pumpkin. 

Yes, I bought, cooked and ate it. And let me tell you, my oh my it was delicious! I only have one regret, and that is not buying one earlier!

First thing what I was eager to try were cookies. And you know what? They turned out better than I expected. Actually they were so good I made them twice since then. And I am sure there will be more pumpkin cookies in the future. Just maybe instead of sultanas there will be nuts or maybe chocolate.

Or both.