December 1, 2014
Mondays We Cook: Spinach, Raisin, and Pine Nut Quiche

Mondays We Cook: Spinach, Raisin, and Pine Nut Quiche

December 1, 2014
Spinach raisin and pine nut quiche recipe

Happy Monday, dear readers! I hope everybody had a wonderful weekend. I was wondering earlier if it was a good idea to post a recipe today since some of you may still feel stuffed after the Thanksgiving feast. In the end I could not resist posting this savoury pie.
November 17, 2014
Mondays We Cook: Thanksgiving Pumpkin Pie

Mondays We Cook: Thanksgiving Pumpkin Pie

November 17, 2014
pumpkin pie recipe


Thanksgiving is around the corner, so today I want to share with you my pumpkin pie recipe. I had never tried this delicious dessert before I moved to the US. However, I quickly started falling in love with all things pumpkin: pumpkin cake, pumpkin pie and every year I can't wait for fall to drink pumpkin spice latte!
October 22, 2014
Carmel-by-the-Sea: A Fairy Tale City

Carmel-by-the-Sea: A Fairy Tale City

October 22, 2014

carmel downtown houses fairytale california seaside charming town vacation roadtrip
UPDATED AUGUST 2019
Carmel-by-the-Sea and Hearst Castle are two of my favorite places in California. Its cute little houses make you feel as if you were in a fairy tale. Carmel has inspired artists, sparked romances, and attracted celebrities for decades. Rated a top-10 destination in the U.S. year after year, Carmel is an amazing, European-style village nestled above a picturesque white-sand beach.

Carmel is a great place for a weekend getaway if you are in California or a must-stop on a road trip. Words like rest, relax, unwind and happiness come to mind when I think of this coastal town. Every time I've been to California, I have visited Carmel, I'll never be tired of it.

This guide to Carmel-by-the-Sea is perfect for first-time visitors. You can get an overall idea of what to find, things you have to do, trips to nearby cities, some hotels to stay and restaurants worth trying out.
carmel downtown houses fairytale california seaside charming townThere are some interesting facts that make this city unique:
  • There are no street addresses.
  • Selling and eating ice-cream in the streets is prohibited.
  • You need a permit to wear high heels.
  • There are no fast food or chain restaurants.
carmel downtown houses fairytale california seaside charming town
WHERE TO STAY
There are few places with more charming hotels than Carmel. Picture yourself staying in one of these fairytale houses, sounds wonderful, right? 


carmel downtown houses fairytale california seaside charming town
carmel downtown houses fairytale california seaside charming town
THINGS TO DO
Apart from wandering the streets of Carmel in search of the prettiest houses you can do the following:

  • In downtown Carmel you will find many local stores with treasures to take back home from your trip. 
  • Shop at Carmel Plaza and grab a bite at one of their restaurants.
  • Get some Vitamin Sea at Carmel beach.
  • Take a scenic drive down 17 Mile Drive and see mansions such as the ones on Big Little Lies or view points like Pebble Beach.
  • Visit the Carmel Mission to learn more about the town's history.

More charming towns:

  • Monterey city is nearby and well worth a visit. Stroll on Cannery Row to get a full experience of the city. I also recommend the Monterey Aquarium if you have time. 
  • Pacific Grove  has been called “Butterfly Town U.S.A.”, “The Most Romantic City in the U.S.”, “A Dreamy California Destination”. I think that sums up pretty well what this place is like.

carmel downtown houses fairytale california seaside charming town
carmel downtown houses fairytale california seaside charming town
RESTAURANTS
From 1986 to 1988 Clint Eastwood was the major of this town. He owns a restaurant called Hog's Breath Inn which is a must if you are visiting the city. If you are a fun of the actor you'll find tons of memorabilia decorating the walls. From the menu, I recommend you try the burgers, they are scrumptious.

Other restaurants and cafes worth trying:
Portabella: local fresh cuisine in a charming environment. 
Brophy's Tavern: one of Carmels’ iconic restaurants serves your all-America favorites.
La Bicyclette: features European Country Cuisine using local ingredients.
carmel downtown houses fairytale california seaside charming town
Need more? Read the following to help you plan your trip:
California 1
Christmas in San Francisco

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carmel downtown houses fairytale california seaside charming town pinterest pinneable

October 13, 2014
Mondays We Cook: Plum Cake

Mondays We Cook: Plum Cake

October 13, 2014

Happy Monday my dear readers! Here's a new recipe to start the week with a lot of energy. Today we are cooking a plum cake. It's basically a sponge cake with raisins and nuts.


Withouth further ado, here's the recipe.

This is what you will need:
250 gr. of butter
4 eggs
2 teaspoons of baking powder
250 gr. of sugar
2 teaspoons of rum
1/2 lemon juice
a pinch of salt
150 gr. of raisins
375 gr. of flour

Directions:
  • Melt butter together with the raisins in a pan. Let cool down.
  • Mix all in ingredients in a bowl.
  • Pre-heat oven at 180ºC for 10 minutes.
  • Pour mixture into a mold.
  • Bake in the oven for 1 hour at 180ºC.
Voilà!
You can find other cake recipes here.
Enjoy,
Cristina xo

September 29, 2014
Mondays We Cook: Ricotta and Apple Cake

Mondays We Cook: Ricotta and Apple Cake

September 29, 2014

Happy Monday, everyone! Today I want to share with you one of my favorite recipes, a cake whose main ingredients are ricotta, raisins and apple. It's perfect either for breakfast or to surprise your guests if you are hosting a tea party.

August 14, 2014
Meeting Kristina Bazan

Meeting Kristina Bazan

August 14, 2014
famous blogger Kristina Bazan

Have you ever had the chance to meet someone you look up to or that you are inspired by? If you are a perfectionist like me, you will want to make a good impression. However, for some reason instead of acting normal your brain decides to block and you get butterflies in your stomach just like when you wanted to talk to your high school crush. This is how I felt when I met Kristina and James the incredibly talented and beautiful couple behind the blog Kayture.

I've been following Kayture for years, I always marvel at their flawless and breathtaking photos. She shows so much passion, dedication and enthusiasm on her posts, it's contagious! I love people like that. Kristina became my favorite blogger as soon as I discovered her blog. I instantly fell in love with her feminine and classy style. 

These days bloggers have pretty much reached the status of celebrities. So you can imagine how excited I was when I saw her while strolling around Zurich last week. She was so sweet, down-to-earth and attentive. She asked if we were having a good time in Switzerland and even suggested places to see and things to do. I was so nervous I barely knew what to say, I'd have loved to ask her so many things!

Have a great Thursday and thanks for reading,
Cristina xo
August 11, 2014
Mondays We Cook: Carrot Cake

Mondays We Cook: Carrot Cake

August 11, 2014

Hey guys! Long time, no see! I've really missed blogging during my trip to Switzerland. Now I'm back and I can't wait to show you the pictures from the trip. I've visited beautiful places and guess what! I even got to meet my favorite blogger, Kristina Bazan of Kayture in Zurich. Stay tuned because I'll be posting the whole story soon :)


If that wasn't enough news....A few weeks ago I was approached by the L.A.-based website CgC Daily and they asked me to be one of their contributors. Last week, they posted my first article which you can read here. It's so exciting to see how the blog is growing little by little.


Without further ado, let's talk about today's recipe. Carrot cake. If you haven't tried it yet, do me a favor: don't understimate it because the main ingredient is a vegetable. That's not fair. This cake is delicious, trust me. It's like a giant cupcake and the best part is the cream cheese frosting. Yum!
This is what you'll need:
Ingredients:
100 gr. of walnuts
340 gr. of raw carrots finely grated
260 gr. of all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon of baking soda
1 1/2 teaspoons of baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 teaspoons of ground cinnamon
4 large eggs
300 gr. of white sugar
240 ml. of flavorless oil
2 teaspoons of pure vanilla extract

Cream cheese frosting
Ingredients:
57gr. of unsalted butter
227 gr. of cream cheese
230 go. of confectioners sugar
4 gr. of pure vanilla extract
1 teaspoon of finely grated lemon zest

Carrot Cake: Preheat oven to 350ºF (180ºC). Toast the walnuts until lightly browned and fragrant. Let cool. Peel and finely grate the carrots.

In a separate bowl whisk together the flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, and ground cinnamon.

In bowl beat the eggs until frothy. Gradually add the sugar and beat until the batter is thick and light colored. Add the oil in a steady stream and then beat in the vanilla extract. Add the flour mixture and beat just until incorporated. Evenly divide the batter between the two prepared pans and bake 25 to 30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.  

Remove from oven and let cool on a wire rack. After about 10 minutes invert the cakes onto the wire rack, remove the pans and parchment paper, and then cool completely before frosting. 

To assemble: place one cake layer onto your serving plate. Spread with about half the frosting. Gently place the other cake onto the frosting and spread the rest of the frosting over the top of the cake. If desired, garnish with toasted nuts on the top of the cake. 

Serves 10 - 12.

Frosting: beat the cream cheese and butter, on low speed, just until blended. Gradually add the sifted powdered sugar and beat, on low speed, until fully incorporated and smooth. Beat in the vanilla extract, and lemon zest.  

As you can see in the picture, mine has only one layer. If you want to make a small one too, you only have to divide the quatities by two.


Have a great week and thanks for reading.
Cristina xo

Adapted from Joy of Baking 
July 28, 2014
Mondays We Cook: Sponge Cake

Mondays We Cook: Sponge Cake

July 28, 2014

This sponge cake is quite popular around my place. So popular that my family ate almost half of it before I could do this photoshoot. The secret lies in how delicious it is apart from the fact that it is super easy and quick to make.


Recipe:
4 eggs
2 spoonfuls of brown sugar
lemon zest
1 teaspoon of baking powder
1 plain yogurt (125gr)
Don't throw away the yogurt container. You have to use it to measure the rest of the ingredients.
White sugar: 2 measures of yogurt
Virgin extra olive oil: 1 measure of yogurt
Flour: 3 measures of yogurt (or 250gr)


Preheat oven 10 minutes at 180ºC/350ºF. Mix all ingredients in a bowl and pour them in the mould. Bake for one hour.


Have a great week,
Cristina xo

July 14, 2014
Mondays We Cook: Oatmeal, Apple & Cinnamon Cookies

Mondays We Cook: Oatmeal, Apple & Cinnamon Cookies

July 14, 2014

The best part of this recipe is that your house will smell of cinnamon for a whole day.



These (humongous) cookies are delicious, trust me. Even if you don't have a sweet tooth you are gonne love them. Plus, they are super easy to make.

I love how big and "imperfect" they are. Each with their own shape.



Together with my photography skills, I'm testing my cooking skills on the blog. I'm hoping to help out those cooking beginners out there like me by posting easy and quick recipes. The outcoming dishes will make you look like a pro among your family and friends. I'm hoping you'll enjoy cooking as much as I do. For now let's stick to baking and preparing healthy summer salads.

Without further ado, here's the recipe.

Ingredients:
1/2 cup of unsalted butter (110 gr)
1/2 cup of sugar (100 gr)
1/2 cup of brown sugar (100 gr)
1 large egg
1 teaspoon of vanilla extract
1 cup of flour (125 gr)
1 1/4 cup of oats (110 gr)
1/2 teaspoon of baking powder
1/2 teaspoon of baking soda
1/2 teaspoon of salt
1 teaspoon of ground cinnamon
3/4 cup of chopped walnuts
1 medium apple, peeled, diced small
1 teaspoon of fresh lemon juice


Remove tray from the oven and place parchment paper and the moulds you are going to use on it. Preheat oven 10 minutes at 350ºF/180ºC.

Peel and dice apple, toss with lemon juice and set aside.
Beat the sugar and butter until creamy (3-4 min). Add the egg, beating for 1 minute. Add vanilla and beat until blended.
Whisk together oats, flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon and salt. Add to previous mixture beating on low speed. Stir in walnuts and apple chunks.

Fill the moulds with the mixture. Bake in the oven for 30-45 minutes -if you make them as big as mine. I used tall round steel moulds. I like this size because it's perfect for breakfast since you only need to eat one. This way I control portions. If you make more and smaller 15 minutes in the oven would be enough.

If you get the chance to make them, let me know how they turn out.
Enjoy!
Cristina xo

Adapted from Joy the Baker
June 16, 2014
Hearst Castle

Hearst Castle

June 16, 2014









Hearst Castle is my favorite place in California and one of my favorite places in the world. It's how I've always imagined paradise to be like. Resting on a hilltop of California's Santa Lucia Mountains, Hearst Castle commands a breathtaking view of the Pacific Ocean and San Simeon Bay. It is half-way between San Francisco and Los Angeles (about a 4h drive from either city). Casa Grande features 165 rooms and 127 acres of gardens, terraces, pools, walkways surrounded by beautiful flowers and the world's largest private zoo. Most rooms are furnished with an impressive collection of Spanish and Italian antiques and art. The outdoor pool is called the Neptune Pool and the indoor one is the Roman Pool. I could hardly keep myself from jumping in the pool during the tour!

Most of the buildings were designed by San Francisco architect Julia Morgan for newspaper magnate William Randolph Hearst, who died in 1951. The Hearst Corporation donated the property to the state of California in 1957. Since that time it has been maintained as a state historic park where the estate, and its considerable collection of art and antiques, is open for public tours.

If you are in California, visit the castle if you get the chance, I assure you it's totally worth it.
Have a great Monday and thanks for reading,
Cristina xo
May 12, 2014
Photo Diary: Aranjuez Palace & Gardens

Photo Diary: Aranjuez Palace & Gardens

May 12, 2014





































Aranjuez is a magical and majestic place. It is a real pleasure to walk through its huge and beautiful gardens during the spring which make you believe you have gone back in time to the 18th century.

Its Royal Palace was commisioned by Philip II and designed by Juan Bautista de Toledo and Juan de Herrera, who also designed El Escorial. It was completed during the reign of Ferdinand VI by the mid-18th century.

Inspired by the palace gardens, Spanish composer Joaquín Rodrigo wrote the Concierto de Aranjuez. Listen to it if you get the chance, it's magnificent! The music attempts to take the listener through sounds of nature in and around the gardens during the period in which it was written.

The last two photos are my favorite rooms from the Palace. Unfortunately, we were not allowed to take pictures inside, so those photos are not mine. However, I thought it was essential to share with you their extraordinary beauty.

The town of Aranjuez is located 42km south of Madrid. Next time you are there make sure you take a tour around it. It's definitely worth it.

Have a lovely week everyone. Thanks for reading : )
Cristina xo