Chocolate muffins with light ricotta topping

Where has the time gone?? I can’t believe it is February already. With January out of the way and Valentine approaching a chocolate fix would do us good Here you have a simple chocolate muffin recipe. Inside each muffin I have put a candied cherry but I think the best cherries (as fresh ones are…

Black Forest Dessert in a glass

Black Forest is a classic cake which I had many times when I lived in Germany and Austria as a youngster. The flavour of the cherries mixed with chocolate sponge and whipped cream makes this cake really moreish and delicious. My sister made a Black Forest dessert-version in a glass for us which we enjoyed…

Peach and cherry clafouti recipe

The weather is getting hotter in Italy with peaks of 100F. Maybe a little too hot but this is fabulous beach weather. I love wearing summer clothes and eating lots of fruit and vegetables, it seems such an easy and carefree life! I have been using lots of fruit in my baking and this quick…

Cherry and yogurt loaf cake

Recently I received a gift by a friend. A newly published cookery book:  “The five o’clock apron”. I have been reading it in bed every night before going to sleep. I have found many nice and easy recipes and among them there was one that really inspired me. I love natural yogurt ( I have…

Beef Straccetti with arugola and cherry tomatoes

Whenever I visit my Italian butcher, my gaze falls on those inviting “Straccetti di manzo” or “beef rags” which he nicely prepares ready for you to cook at home. In Italy there are not so many ready meals available like in the UK.  You are more likely to find freshly prepared “almost ready meals” at…

Delicious patisserie chocolate biscuits

Who says you need to go to a patisserie for the finest biscuits or pastries? There are many things you can make in your own home without too much difficulty. Anything can be learned with patience and practice. Those lovely and cute little biscuits you often see in patisserie windows (very popular in Italy too)…

Spaghetti with Tuna stuffed cherry tomatoes and courgettes

Summer is going so quickly! I want to make the most of all the vegetables I can get hold of! It is so much easier to be creative in the kitchen at this time of year. Today I must share this recipe of spaghetti with stuffed tomatoes. I stuffed them well with tuna and parsley…

A cherry clafoutis to celebrate!

I am so excited to be one of the 3 finalists of the Uniform Foodies challenge. The recipe I created for this challenge was a Mediterranean lemon chicken with rosemary potatoes. This means that next week I will be in London cooking along with Michael Caines! I feel so honoured and so happy to be…

Chocolate Florentines for your lover

I love Valentine and to me it is another opportunity to be creative in the kitchen and to eat something new. And could you actually ever have enough of that?! I chose to make Florentines on this occasion as they seem to make the perfect gift for a lover especially if wrapped up with a…

Stuffed cherry tomatoes

It’s Friday! What will you be doing this weekend? Cooking new things + eating is always a great way to relax I made these stuffed cherry tomatoes last night. They are cute and they can be served in parties as finger food but they also make a nice change to the usual vegetables. You can…