I love 9 December.

Yes, pretty obvious I love it, it's my birthday! I turn 21 today and I am having the best day. Just staying home, unwrapping wonderful gifts and baking (my parents gave me the cookbook I have been longing for months!) (I am a spoiled kid on my birthday, they always give me so many things!)


Today I am starting my 365 project, but I don't want to upload one photo a day on this blog. It would be too boring especially for you. I think I'll pick one day a week and on that day upload the photos of the week. So a sort of 52 weeks/365 day project. I'll upload the same pictures on flickr.

Well, the dough of a delicious Fougasse provenzale, found in the above mentioned cookbook is waiting for me. I am so happy.

21 before 22

Tomorrow I'll be 21.
This last year has been the worse year of my life, I don't want to talk much about it, I just want to use this fact to start this new year as positively as possible.
Next year will be a year of big changes. I'll probably graduate, I'll have to decide whether to continue my studies or not, what I want in my life (at least partially), where I want to live, and so many other things.
I don't want to bother you, but I just want to make the best of this year. That's all.
Here a list of 21 things I want to achieve (some partially too) in this year, some are superficial and other are very important to me. I'll keep you updated!

22. Learn to write correctly in English. -> Break not "Brake"

Juliette

Market

Every now and then there's a small lovely market on one of the main squares of Turin. You can find all sorts of local and handmade products there. There are some clothing stands and lots of cheese, bread, rice and vegetables stands. I love to see the passion of those people.

Juliette

Last Sinterklaas post - promise.

Here some peeks of our Sinterklaas evening. Now I have to say goodbye to Sinterklaas and welcome Christmas. With a short break to celebrate my birthday.

Sunday - Breakfast - Sinterklaas Edition

Yesterday Roberto and I celebrated Sinterklaas, which is to be celebrated this evening actually, but since we won't be together this evening and he will be 200 km away, we did it yesterday.
We had lots of fun in the afternoon baking Pepernoten and Taai taai. Those are two Sinterklaas treats. Since we live in Italy and it would be a miracle to find them in the store, we baked them.
It was an adventure because, they had to be like I have always had them, since I was a child. I am an expert ^^.
We spent wonderful moments together (I will post some photos in another post) and had much fun.



This morning we woke up hearing my neighbours quarelling as every day (it's getting annoying after two years), but we had a smile on our faces. There were some Pepernoten left so we ate some of them. I made fruit tea and a banana shake. Yesterday morning Roberto had surprised me with chocolate because it is a tradition having a chocolate letter (the initial of your name) for Sinterklaas, and I was a bit sad, because I love traditions, and I want to hold them tight. Obviously we hadn't got a chocolate letter, so he bought some chocolate for me. And he ate the last bit this morning =).

If you want to try this traditional Dutch recipe here you have the recipe of Pepernoten. If you like Gingerbread and spicy cookies I warmly suggest you to try them out. They're so yummy!


Pepernoten.

250 g (8,8 oz) flour
125 g (4,4 oz) brown sugar
100 g (3,5 oz) unsalted butter, softened
2 TBS Speculaas spices (*see ingredients below)
3 TBS milk
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
salt


Preheat the oven at 150 °C (300 F).
Mix all the dry ingredients (flour, sugar, spices, baking powder, salt)
Add softened butter (I used molted butter) and milk.
Knead until a soft ball is formed (it's quite a thick dough)
Form small balls and place them on parchment paper, press a little.
Bake for 20 minutes.
Allow to cool afterwards (unlike other cookies they're much better if tasted cold).
Oh, and try them with a glass of cold milk! =)

Speculaas spices
I went to a herbalist's shop for these, with my father. I suggest you to do the same because it's cheaper, it's better and you will remember the nice smell of the shop.

30 g (1,05 oz) cinnamon
10 g (0,35 oz) cloves
10 g (o,35 oz) nutmeg
5 g (0,17 oz) white pepper
5 g (o,17 oz) aniseed
5 g (0,17oz) coriander seeds

Mix all the spices together in a jar and close. You cak keep these spices for a long while.


I can tell we had the best weekend. It was so cold outside but we managed to do so many nice things.
In 4 days I'll be 21, I am thinking of making a "21 before 22 list" and I am pondering if starting a 365 project this year (tha last one is almost sure)

Thursday - Loves

Brrr it's getting cold outside. I am an active person, I like to walk, take the bus and the tram as little as possible, I like to go for a ride on the bike. But when it gets cold like this I am so happy when I close the door behind me, coming back from University.
Today I hadn't a special day, it was just a normal one, I am getting ready the last things for Sinterklaas.

Here are the things I loved this week.

[Things that make you feel that Christmas is getting nearer] (I haven't got the stress of the gifts, so I can enjoy Christmas even more)

(source)

[Warm, organised shelves]

(source)

[Romantic settings]

(source)

[Holland]

(source)

[Christmas treats]

(source)


(source)

[Real Mail]

(source)

Tomorrow I'll see Roberto, and I am so happy. We are going to celebrate Sinterklaas on Saturday and I feel like a little girl. I am so happy!!

Juliette

Sinterklaas is coming to town

Hello! December is here, Welcome!!

As I told you last week, this year I am going to celebrate Sinterklaas with Roberto for the first time. It has been a family tradition since I was born, and it will continue being it.
Although I have much to read and study I find the time to write the poems that will go with the presents, organize the treasure hunts and get every other thing done (making puzzles that R will have to do before opening his gift, looking for recipes of the traditional sweets, and so on).
I am so happy and I am feeling the day coming nearer almost as if I were a child.

This is the reason I didn't write yesterday. There was also another reason, a more important one. I attended a demonstration against the University Bill that parliament had to debate yesterday. It's a complete mess and Italian University is nearing its end. But I don't want to talk too much about this in my blog. You all live in other countries and this is a blog about my free time, my passions, so I won't bother you too much.

Here are a few photos of these days. Wrapping, writing, making bows..