December 31, 2010

Pear Trilogy - Part II - Pear Espresso Trifles

14 comments


I wish I had better pictures of these trifles. I wish I could show you wonderful layers of goodness. I wish I could show you the happy faces of those who were lucky enough to eat them. But I can’t.



December 27, 2010

100 French macarons for 100 posts

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Yes, this is the 100th post by CaffeIna! Can you believe it? Well, I still can’t!

To celebrate this big event, and not having to host any big event for Christmas, I embarked in a big adventure: a three-day French macarons marathon. Yeah, you’ve heard me! Now, before you start uuuuuuhing and wowing at the wonderful and absolutely perfect macarons I made (sigh), I want to make a couple of things clear.

December 23, 2010

Would you like to know where I’m going for Christmas?

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Do you know where I’m going for Christmas? I’m going to a super cool place. It’s warm, it’s fun, it’s full of friends, old and new. In that place, you feel beloved and listened to (or read!). And, yes, there is always good food there. Well, you know what the secret is? The head chef over there is really….THE Chef, as I call him.

Did you guess yet? Yes, correct. I’m going Chez Chef Dennis @ More than a Mount Full. Well, I’m not going there in person (although, I will ask Santa for such a present for next year!). But virtually, and in spirit, I will be there for the Christmas Eve’s Friday guest post. Hurray!



And do you want to know what the heck is this weird looking thingy that I made for the guest post? I’ll give you only one piece of information. It’s called Nadalin and….oh wait…stop talking, silly me! You really should head over at More than a Mount Full to read the whole post.

Ho ho ho Buon Natale a tutti!

December 19, 2010

Pear Trilogy – Part I – Dorie Greenspan’s French Pear Tart

26 comments


I had a lot of fun with the Nutella Trilogy. It satisfied my endless Nutella cravings and it brought me back to earlier years of my life, with desserts and snacks that I used to have very often (at least much more often than now) when I was still living in Italy.


December 15, 2010

Thank you cookies, neighbor exchange cookies and just cookies

24 comments

I fully recovered from my rough week, finally! I’m going through the last week of teaching of the year, which, as always, is a nightmare but still I’m in great mood in expectation of the holidays! I have also received two awards.



December 11, 2010

Veneziane alla crema paradiso

35 comments


It’s been quite a challenging week for me, as many of you know. And to be honest I have not completely recovered from my fever/cold/cough/any other thing that kids have passed on me this time. It’s very rare for me to get really sick, and even more rare are the times I get high fever. But when I do, I become unbearable. It really bothers me not to be able to function normally, to go around constantly with a tissue in my hand to blow my nose, to not feel like or have the strength to do things as usual. When I’m sick I’m miserable (and a big pain in the butt!).


December 07, 2010

Healthy Muffins with Carla

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Yesterday was quiet a different Monday. I was home sick, which meant I did not go in for work but also that, sadly, I did not go baking with Carla.

Baking with Carla does not really feel like a job. I always have so much fun and while she learns, I learn. The reason why I love working with kids (I should say “hang out” with kids) is that, despite the fact that sometimes they can REALLY be stressful, demanding, a pain in the …  (oh yeah, let’s say it! but who’s not?! Grown ups are too! I am, for sure!), at the end of the day I always learn from them.


December 05, 2010

How to wow people without much effort: Pumpkin Roll with Cream Cheese Filling

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Booo, I'm home with fever on a Sunday! To cheer myself up, I thought I'd share my Thanksgiving dessert.


December 03, 2010

Nutella Trilogy – Part III – Nutella Roll

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Are you ready to drool??

Yes, it’s time for our third and last part of the Nutella Trilogy and I could not think of a better recipe than a Nutella roll!