Tea Cup Tuesday

I’ve been reading my friend Becky’s blog for a long time now, and have always adored her tea cup collection. So today, inspired by Becky, I’m very pleased to join Terri of Artful Affirmations, and Martha of Martha’s Favorites for Tea Cup Tuesday!

I received this tea set for my birthday yesterday, from my boyfriend. He really nailed it in regards of birthday presents – I’ve had my eye on similar tea sets, but have always talked myself out of buying one. Truth be told, I managed to, because the ones I’ve seen were smaller than this one and I love my tea way too much to drink only two sips of it.

The above set it the Katie Alice English Garden Tea For One. I love that it’s a great size, the teapot holding two servings of yumminess for the teacup under it. That equals to one good-sized cup of tea; plus, it keeps the tea hot for a long time!

Its teapot section is decorated in a pretty floral motif and other elements from the English garden, such as bees, birds and butterflies woven into this classical design. The cup and lid are simply adorned in delicate white spots on a pale blue background.

Happy tea partying

Dear Monday, 20.May.2013

I won’t wish for much at 26 years old, but if the coming years are as sunny as this morning – it’s enough to make me wake up with a smile

~K.

Recipe of the Month: Versatile, Two-Ingredient Banana Ice Cream

Last month, when my friend Trisha visited me (best. play-week. ever!), the whole experience gave me a new appreciation for food. Trisha has more than a few food allergies, and so it was a challenge and really interesting to cook and find food on our travels that she could eat. Luckily, it went from a matter of “boy, I have no idea what to prepare”, to then getting the hang of it and we were checking ingredients for me to translate on the items purchased in stores before I knew it. I liked learning a new way of eating!

Aside from traveling, we’ve resolved to cook something together which I could share here on my blog. And what better than desserts? Not just any kind of dessert, mind you, but: ice cream!

You can use the original recipe from Eat Clean Diet, or adapt it, like we do with ours. Trisha usually makes this ice cream with peanut butter and cocoa. But when she visited, we’ve made it with chestnut puree instead, as I don’t like peanut butter. It was heavenly! (And you’ve actually seen a sneak peek of it, here.)

Then, only two days later, I made it again, using the following:

Versatile, Two-Ingredient Banana Ice Cream

Ingredients:

• 3 bananas, peeled and sliced into coins
• 1/4 to 1/3 cup chestnut puree

As it’s so versatile, I also added:

• 1 tbsp cocoa powder
• 2 tsp honey
• 1/2 tsp cinnamon
• 1 tbsp Nutella

Instructions:

1. Place bananas in a single layer on a freezer-safe baking dish or cookie sheet and freeze for several hours or overnight.
2. Remove from freezer and let soften for about 15 minutes and then place in food processor or blender. Puree the bananas while adding chestnut puree slowly as needed to keep the mixture flowing. This should take about 2 minutes.
3. Moving quickly, scrape into bowls and serve immediately with your favorite toppings.

VARIATIONS:
Try adding any combination of these:
3-4 tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder
1 scoop protein powder
3-4 tbsp all-natural nut butter
2-3 tsp honey
Cinnamon

TOPPING IDEAS:
Dark chocolate (you can use a vegetable peeler to get shavings)
Shredded unsweetened coconut
Maple syrup
Honey
Nut pieces

Bon appétit!

A couple of Blog Awards floated my way

Work is pretty demanding of my time, attention and… well, life, lately, but I finally made enough time (instead of going to bed early), to properly thank and acknowledge the following blog awards which floated my way through the blogosphere.

Thanks a million to everyone!

Given how wonderful the lovely people who awarded me are, it makes me feel especially honored that they felt I deserved the:

Liebster Award  from Catherine Russell of Ganymeder, and Franny Stevenson of dr.franny and mrs.myself.

The rules for passing on the award are quite simple:

• Thank the person who nominated me,
• post 11 facts about myself,
• nominate 11 bloggers + notify them of their award,
• and pose 11 new random questions for them.

So… 11 facts about me, in no particular order.

1. Today, the Chef and I exchanged presents, just because we found two cute (highly perfect for each other!) magnets. Mine says “Keep calm and drink tea”, his says “Keep calm and drink coffee”.
2. I’d like to be able to move to Brasov and live in the “Writer’s Quarter”, right where it borders with “Flowers Quarter”.
3. Usually, clothes shopping for myself happens when/if my mom brings something cute home from the clothes shop she works in and I like said item. I dislike shopping for myself that much.
4. My tea supply currently holds 8 different flavors. The current favorite is Vanilla Caramel. (And I’ll have to try Dandelion tea, since Cathy says it’s sweet!)
5. The best latte I had, while out and about, was at Bibliotheque Pub with my friend Trisha, in Brasov. Crème Brûlé flavor.
6. Love having met one of my online friends in real life in April! She’s an absolute delight <3
7. I still am not rested enough since the beginning of April, since the shop merger thing at work.
8. Melon is my favorite ice cream flavor. And melon-chocolate, my favorite combo.
9. 1 and 8 are numbers which repeat themselves so much in my life. Won’t even go into it
10. This particular green I saw in the shop was never a shade I would’ve consciously chosen for drapes, but seeing it in my room, I just love it! Even upholstered my computer chair and had a decorative pillow made from the remaining fabric.
11. I simply don’t have the energy to reply to Franny’s questions, nor to form new ones myself…

As that last one states, I’d like to ask those I nominate, to please go read and reply to Franny’s questions if you want to; or see the questions she or Cathy had to answer. If not, I’ll happily read the 11 random facts about yourself even without extra questions!

 

The Sunshine Award from Kira Lyn Blue

Here are the rules:

• Include the award’s logo in a post or on your blog.
• Link to the person who nominated you.
• Answer 10 questions about yourself.
• Nominate 10 bloggers.
• Link your nominees to the post and comment on their blogs, letting them know they have been nominated.

And now for the 10 questions:

1. Favorite color – blue.
2. Favorite animal – cat.
3. Favorite number – 81.
4. Favorite non-alcoholic drink – Lime & Mint Lemonade.
5. Favorite alcoholic drink – Coconut Mojito or Piña Colada.
6. Facebook or Twitter? – I would’ve answered differently a year ago, but right now it’s Facebook. I like Twitter nearly as much though.
7. Passions – Reading, writing, photography, creating anything handmade.
8. Prefer getting or giving presents? – Giving. I can get really awkward when receiving them…
9. Favorite City – Siracusa in Sicilia, Italia.
10. Favorite TV Shows – The Big Bang Theory, Pretty Little Liars, The Good Wife, The Flintstones (cartoon), etc.

My nominations for both of these, or the one they haven’t yet received:

Catherine Russell
Franny Stevenson
Kira Lyn Blue 
Tabula Rasa
Mark Koning 
Nessa 
Kenneth Hopkins 
Bellanda Inparis 
Becky Povich 
Janel Gradowski 
Deanna Schrayer 
Rukmini Roy
Laura Besley

Hope everyone has fun with these! Looking forward to your facts and answers

 

PS: I’m generally awful at the whole remembering who awarded me with what around the blogosphere, so I hope I haven’t forgotten about someone/something! Please remind me if so.

Dear Monday, 29.April.2013

today was just the right amount of fun and work, of anticipation, daydreaming and reality. Let’s try and keep it up all week!

(Even More) Book Spine Poetry

Today is my last stop on the Savvy Verse & Wit National Poetry Month Blog Tour.

~

How is your National Poetry Month going? Read anything you think I’d like? Do share!

Like I said at the beginning of this month, and then last week, messing up my beautifully organized shelves was worth it Here is another book spine poetry I managed to arrange from the titles I own.

 
The railway children,
Little women;
Roommates –
Looking for Alaska,
Through the looking glass,
in Paper towns.

 

 

Want to play? Go arrange some of your books into pretty book spine poetry and then leave me a link so I can check it out

Recipe of the Month: Chicken Stir-Fry with Broccoli, Tomatoes and Creamy Feta Dressing

Just when I was thinking salads, filling stir-fries, and creamy dressings, my mom made this stir-fry from a recipe on a cooking show she watched. I really like chicken. And Broccoli. And tomatoes. And Feta!

This was the perfect dish to come home to after a tough day at work! 

Chicken Breast Stir-Fry with Broccoli and Tomatoes

120 g chicken breast
200 g broccoli florets
100 g tomatoes
1 teaspoon oil
salt and white pepper to taste

Peel and chop the chicken breasts, season with salt and white pepper.

Pour oil in a small saucepan, warm the chicken breasts and fry until the meat turns white. Throw in the broccoli, cover and let simmer at a lower temperature.

When almost done add the tomatoes, cover, and allow to soften with the chicken and broccoli for a few minutes.

Take the lid off and fry for a few more minutes, then serve as is, or with a creamy Feta dressing.

 

Creamy Feta Dressing

200 g Feta cheese
70-100 g yogurt
lemon juice
white pepper
garlic
balsamic Vinegar

Mix all the ingredients together, until light and creamy. I used only about 70 g yogurt. Start with 50 g and work up from there, depending how creamy or flat you like your dressing to be.

Serve with the Chicken Stir-Fry, or with any type of fresh salad.

Bon appétit!

PS: stay tuned for next month’s recipe, as I’ll be sharing a recipe my friend Trisha and I made when she visited Romania this April!