let it fall, let it fall. { zwetschgendatschi: german streusel plum cake }

'Zwetschgen' (bavarian name, 'abrunhos' in portuguese) are a unique kind of plums, characterized by its elongated shape, dark amethyst peel and ideally golden flesh. For being seemingly less watery than other plums and for their deliciously intense flavour, they are perfect for baking. This cake is a German classic that combines several things that I personally adore, and that I guess are favourites for many of you as well: a buttery yeast dough, an awesome layer of juicy baked fruit, my own very favourite recipe of spiced crumble... plus it's easy to prepare and quicker than a normal bread! Made with seasonal fruits, this recipe couldn't be better suited for this well settled Fall.

tarte aux framboises { french raspberry tart }

When I was a toddler, and until I started elementary school, my then only brother and me had a very sweet french lady taking care of us and helping around the house. I have to admit that, besides her tanned face and her kind smile, which she managed to pull even when we young brothers had our share of fun plotting against her, I can't quite recall these days. They say we start collecting memories around that age, right? Well, I was a bit too young back then to remember everything clearly.

baked porridge or the ultimate comfort breakfast. { three baked porridge recipes }

A sweet comment from my friend Laura on my facebook page today got me to share these three baked porridge recipes with you!

By coincidence... it's her birthday!

to know your oats. { baked porridge with pear, nutmeg and maple syrup }

seems like I couldn't let you leave breakfast unfinished! you got the drinks, now here's the real deal meal. baked porridge, lending inspiration from Gordon Ramsay's recipe - after all, he is a Scot, he knows his oatmeal - with a slight twist. this meal is perfect for cold winter days, takes less than one our to put together and is an ultimate confort food for breakfast! huge plus side of its preparation: you can multiply the recipe several times without a pinch more fuss if you need to feed a crowd! just scroll down to get to the juicy details ;)

morning sips. { sparkling tangerine mash & lady grey chai }

I have been sharing a lot of misty morning pictures and posting a lot of breakfast and brunch suggestions lately. I have, however, noticed that, although there's always something to drink in the depicted scenarios - and to make it even more blatant, they often come in pairs - I've failed to highlight the topic of b&b beverages and to share some of my ideas when it comes to it with you.

Hence, today I decided that, before posting any other recipe, I would make up for it.

soothing my soul { spiced rum irish cream }

i find it utterly fascinating when things line up in life,
caughting me startled in an unexpected sequence of coincidences.

those times i feel that maybe my mind has the same beat as the universe.
it works on randomness and on chaotic thoughts
and it slightly shivers with excitement when it all lines up,
as when i am able to sum up my messy thoughts through precise words.

i'll admit i am a bit of a perfectionist, but i'm definitely not obsessed with order.
i have seen the way some people like to plan and control everything.
i cherish the happenstances of life and i like to wander through life with wide open eyes,
trying to unleash myself from the dogmatic and from soulless certainties.

i am extremely picky with words, those who have worked with me know it,
i spend quite a long time trying to find the perfect words
- and they must absolutely fit together too -
but i've learned to appreciate the purity of raw thoughts.

maybe this attempt to pick up the slightest connections, the smallest details,
makes me feel like i have the power to invent an alternative world,
or maybe it is just further proof that we live in a paradoxal world,
where randomness is the only possible state of order,
for it all fits like a puzzle in some sort of magical way.

maybe i do pick up fortuitous connections, or maybe i just make these things up in my mind,
but i've always been captivated by the allure of chance and happenstances.

oh those winter mornings... { orange infused scones }

... when the white sheer curtains filter the cold and dull wintry light, slowly allowing it to drench the entire room, only to dilute its already washed out whiteness: from the rough snow coloured walls, on which a few thoughtfully lined up postcards hang, down to the lazy messy bulk of soft white sheets and blankets, covered in faded pink and blue blossoms.

oh how easily my heart tunes with the slow pace of these cold mornings, and how suddenly my mind is in total synchrony with the world, as if the light had somehow managed to creep in and wipe away all thoughts; oh how naturally inspiration comes to me, my eyes trying to catch all these textures and wrinkles within the soothing white wash, while at the same time I know it is just time to lay back and simply purify my mind.

gimme my musli { traditional bircher muesli overnight oats }

Hi! ♥

How are you?

I just moved (yet again...)!

The new place is really cool and we have a nice kitchen,

so I hope you'll be seeing some more innovative ideas soon ;)

I'm completely overwhelmed with work by now...

and as you've noticed, I have been baking a lot less...

but I realized I still had some recipes on hold that I hadn't shared with you!

As for tomorrow is Monday, I decided it was the perfect timing to bring this original musli recipe to you.

oh-mon-dieu french toast { lighter yet delicious french toast }

(sunday morning... or is it?

oh my. it's midday and i'm still in bed.

no wonder why... blame those dark skies out there

and the pouring rain.

...feels like eight in the morning!)

overnight oats ♥ dessert { tiramisu overnight oats }

Is it breakfast? ...afternoon snack? ...is it dessert?

I don't care, it's awesome ♥

Start improving your breakfast today! And tomorrow is saturday... what better day to have dessert for breakfast?

(For dessert, maybe add some coffee licquor ;) )

overnight oats #2 | the arroz doce { cinnamon-orange spiced overnight oats }

How I hate when blogger messes up with the pictures' colours! Why are they turning red today!?...

Bringing you a new overnight oats jar ;) I'll keep them coming if you'ld like!

Overnight Oats #2
The Arroz Doce. Cinnamon, Orange and Ginger Infusion
- 1/2 cup oatmeal
- 1/2 cup 0.8% milk
- 1 tbsp orange marmalade with ginger
- 1/4 tsp cinnamon

1) Mix everything well in a jar, close and refrigerate overnight (around 4-8 hours will do),
2) When serving, shake well before opening. If desired, warm up in the microwave. Sprinkle with cinnamon and, if desired, some chopped banana for a fruity touch.

overnight oats... oh, whatever, overafternoon too. { chocolate, coconut and blueberry overnight oats }

This kitchen will be moving soon... so the aim now is to get rid of as much stuff as I can from my pantry.

This also means that I have to get crazy creative in the kitchen.
Which is challenging and, hence, good.

Running out of my favourite daily-consumption stuff, I remembered I had a practically full bag of oatmeal - that I can't even remember why I bought! Plus, I remembered how much I treasure these muslis they make at fancy-brunch-places around here. Well... look no further, here they are!
So I'm in a oatmeal haze these days: breakfast, afternoon snack and, who knows..., dinner?

I guess I'll be posting further ideas soon ;)

Overnight Oats #1
The Dreamer. Chocolate, Coconut and Blueberry Blend
- 1/2 cup oatmeal
- 1/2 cup 0.8% milk
- 2 tsp cocoa powder
- 2 tsp light muscovado sugar
- 1 tbsp maple syrup
- 2 tbsp blueberries
- 1 tsp shredded coconut

1) Mix everything well in a jar, close and refrigerate overnight (around 4-8 hours will do),
2) When serving, shake well before opening. If desired, warm up in the microwave. Sprinkle with extra shredded coconut and/or chocolate chips or shavings.

Silk. { pannacotta with balsamic strawberry sauce and blueberries }

Still on Italian dinners done by a portuguese for italians...

Pannacotta com Coulis de Morango Balsâmico e Mirtillos

- 500ml de natas frescas (30-35% gordura)

- 100ml de leite

- 4-5 colheres de sopa de açúcar

- baunilha

- 9g de gelatina em pó

- 300g de morangos, partidos em pedaços

- 1 colher de sobremesa de vinagre balsâmico

- 4-5 colheres de sopa de açúcar

- 1 colher de sobremesa de sumo de limão

Dissolver a gelatina em quatro colheres de sopa de água quente, reservar,

Misturar as natas, o leite, o açúcar e a baunilha numa caçarola,

Levar ao lume a espessar, sem deixar ferver,

Quando as natas estiverem mais espessas, juntar e dissolver completamente a gelatina,

Verter num pyrex,

Deixar arrefecer e levar ao frigorífico durante, pelo menos, três horas,

Deitar todos os ingredientes do coulis numa caçarola e levar ao lume a espessar até atingir a consistência desejada,

Guarnecer com o coulis e com os mirtilhos.

Pannacotta with Balsamic Strawberry Sauce and Blueberries

- 500ml heavy cream (30-35% fat)

- 100ml milk

- 4-5 tbsp sugar

- vanilla

- 9g powder gelatin

- 300g strawberries, chopped

- 1 tbsp balsamic vinegar

- 4-5 tbsp sugar

- 1 tbsp lemon juice

Melt gelatin in 4 tbsp warm water, set aside,

Combine cream, milk, sugar and vanilla in a saucepan,

Take to medium heat to thicken, stirring and not boiling,

When cream becomes thicker mix in the gelatin,

Pour in a pyrex,

Let cool and place in the refrigerator for at least 3 hours,

Cook all the ingredients of the sauce over medium heat until thick, let cool,

Pour over the pannacotta and sprinkle with strawberries.

The texture, that's the matter. { soft and tender heavy cream buttermilk waffles }

We shouldn't have forced this batter into the waffle machine.

I just decided, while cracking eggs open, that I wanted to skip my usual batter, and mess things up a bit!

I knew since the beggining that this would probably metamorphise better into lovely pancakes, but we wanted to have that uneven shape, so what could we do...

My "little" brother is the machine operator here. The "older" brother measured the flour and sugar at the beginning. I did what was missing in between :) Recipe follows. I advise you to use it for pancakes, and maybe even add some blueberries!

Waffles de Nata e Buttermilk
Ingredientes:

- 250g de farinha normal

- 50g de farinha maizena

- 1 colher de chá de fermento

- 2 colheres de sopa de açúcar

- 2 ovos

- 200 ml de natas frescas

- 1,5 dl de buttermilk

- 1,5 dl de leite

- 1 colher de chá de aroma de baunilha

- sal q.b.

Preparação:

1) Numa taça grande, misturar bem todos os ingredientes sólidos,

2) Bater as claras em castelo com uma pitada de sal,

3) Bater as gemas separadamente,

4) Acrescentar as gemas, as natas e a baunilha aos ingredientes sólidos e bater,

5) Acrescentar o leite, metade de cada vez, e bater bem,

6) Incorporar as claras,

7) Aquecer a máquina, untar as pás com óleo e fazer as waffles.

Heavy Cream and Buttermilk Waffles

Ingredients: 

- 250g white flour

- 50g cornstarch

- 1 tsp dried yeast

- 2 tbsp sugar

- 2 eggs

- 200 ml heavy cream

- 1,5 dl buttermilk

- 1,5 dl milk

- 1 tsp vanilla

- salt

Preparation:

1) In a big bowl, mix well all dry ingredients,

2) Beat egg whites with a pinch of salt, untill soft peaks form,

3) Beat egg yolks,

4) Add the yolks, cream and vanilla to the solid ingredients and beat,

5) Add milk, half at a time, beat,

6) Fold in egg whites,

7) Heat the machine, grease the plates and make the waffles.

Creamy Pasta for Dinner { a lighter take on spaghetti carbonara }

This healthier take on the traditional pasta carbonara uses ham instead of bacon and is packed with mushrooms. An easy and quick recipe for a mid-week dinner!

A Golden Ring { golden vanilla flan pudding }

Bringing back the flavour our childwood, this golden flan - with its tender melt-in-your-mouth texture, topped with homemade caramel sauce and infused with real vanilla - is far from falling into the dull or outdated, plus is a dessert that mostly everybody will love.

Coffee & Milk { cafe latte cake }

This cake makes the perfect mid-afternoon snack to go with a cup of tea... or coffee - since you're already preparing it for baking! It's simple, easy and comforting.