Macarrons (no, it’s not a spelling mistake)

Hey pixels!! Yes, the post title is well written. This is not the French macaron recipe, it’s all about macarrons. It’s a recipe I’ve learned from my grandmother, they are yummy and easier to make than macarons. Actually it takes just 3 ingredients and 15′, including baking time!!

What do you think now?? This amazing anised flavoured sweets are wonderful. Flower shaped, they are so pretty. My  grandmother has the traditional flower shaped mold. You can  see in the pictures below.

But, of course, any mold it’s ok. I guess the taste is more important than the shape. 😉

Not many people outside my island know about this recipe. So I wanted to share it with you, my happy pixels. It’s an ancient recipe, I don’t know about its origin, but it has many years. It’s traditional to make macarrons this days, because of the Summer solstice.

Usually I buy some macarrons at a cake shop, but this year I’ve decided to learn the recipe. I can’t believe how easy it’s to make them. I’m never buying macarrons again, my happy pixels: I’m making them!!

Ingredients (makes about 25 medium units):

• 1 small egg white
• 400g powdered sugar
• 1-2 drops anise essence (don’t use more than 2 drops, this essence has a strong flavour)

Directions:

Just mix all the ingredients together in a bowl until incorporated. It should look like white fondant, but softer.

Roll out the dough. Cut into shapes with the cookie cutter of your choice. Place on the baking sheets 1cm apart. It’s better if you cover your baking sheets with parchment paper. Do this step as quick as you can, because dough hardens so fast, and it’s difficult to work with when it’s hard.

Preheat oven at 150ºC. After 10-12′, start baking. Macarrons are ready in just a few minutes, so don’t stop watching them. Don’t overcook. Mine were ready in just 3’48”.

It’s a crispy sweet, they are not tender. But the taste and scent are amazing. You won’t regret making them. I love macarrons!

Did you know about this sweet, my happy pixels? Are you going to make macarrons? Please, let me know if you do it!! Feel free to leave a comment if you know about any similar recipe! Thank you, my friends!

This should be my weekly schedule + 2 free printables

Hey pixels!! Sorry to not have posted in a few days… I was working hard making my new working schedule. I have some breaking news, my lovely friends. I’m thinking seriously to quit my job to start my own business. A crafty, creative business. I want to sell my art. I want to reopen my Etsy shop to sell it there. I want to improve this blog. I want to write a book. I want to live my life.

I don’t want a boring job anymore. Never. Please. I’ve worked for others all my life, and I know I don’t like it. I simply don’t enjoy it. Having a life that’s not yours, that’s not the life you want is terrible, my happy pixels. And I don’t want this feeling anymore.

I know I’ve mentioned tons of things I want to do, but the most important now is my Etsy shop, named after this blog, which is closed now because my lack of time and energy to paint and to run it. This is going to change, I promise, my happy pixels.

To start, and to encourage myself, I’ve spent the last few days thinking about what exactly I would make if I have enough time to do it. How I would manage my time.

I made a list of the basic things that I would have to do every week, and the best way to do them. I managed to include them all in a weekly schedule. I decided that every day I should do 2-3 important things that allow me to reach my goals. Because, you know, my happy pixels, big goals are easier if you break them into smaller steps. 

This is (more or less) the result, my happy pixels!!

 

Note: I should workout 3-4 times…

If you love this schedule and you want to have it to fill it with your own activities, you can download it for free. I did a daily one, too, to make easier the daily organization. Click here to have your own schedule / daily Planner

This has been just the first step in the right direction. More steps are coming. And more posts are coming, too!! I’m going to encourage myself and other people who are in the same situation by writing about the process: how to manage your shop, how to set a daily routine, how to motivate yourself…. I hope it will be useful, my happy pixels!!

Have you ever thought about changing your life? About working as a freelance? Are you interested in this kind of posts? If you would like to read a post about a particular subject, please, let me know, and if possible, I’ll write it.

Thanks for reading, my happy pixels! And sorry for the long post! You’re lovely!!

Lots of love,

Sílvia

First picture source: Unsplash

Mushroom & carrot nuggets

Hey pixels!! Do you like nuggets? And vegetarian nuggets? I love this recipe, this nuggets are so yummy!! The combination of carrot and mushroom flavours is amazing, and the texture is great.

We’ve made vegan burgers before, but this is our first nuggets recipe. I hope you’ll enjoy it!

Lots of meat recipes have their vegetarian alternatives: burgers, nuggets, meatballs… I like to try them, because I don’t like meat so much…  I don’t know your opinion about this subject, but even if you’re a meat lover, you can enjoy a dish full of veggies. Why not this one?

Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 cup mushrooms, sliced
• 1/2 cup carrots, peeled and sliced
• 2 garlic cloves, peeled
• 2 tablespoons tomato sauce
• 1 egg
• 1/2 tablespoon oregano
• breadcrumbs to coat
• vegetable oil for frying

Directions:

Using a food processor, mix all the ingredients (not breadcrumbs and oil). Roll into nuggets.

Coat your nuggests in breadcrumbs. Fry them in vegetable oil.

Serve with some tomato sauce or vegan maio.

Did you know about vegetarian nuggets, my happy pixels? Do you like them? Please, let me know if you try this recipe!! Thank you!!

 

Chocolate scones

Hey pixels!! Do you like scones? And chocolate? If the answer is yes, you’re going to love this recipe!! My first time making scones at home, and, of course, I had to add some dark chocolate!!

I think this recipe is awesome. I had to try it. Imagine to eat a couple of scones and some fruit… Yummy!! A perfect brunch. Everyone will love you.

You can even change the recipe using white chocolate or even fruit pieces. Strawberry scones? Why not? You can make them without adding anything, just the dough. Or change the glaze recipe. You can personalize this recipe the way you prefer. That’s another great point, I think, because you can try different versions and choose your favourite one. Just think about it, my happy pixels!! 🙂

Ingredients:

Dough:

• 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for hands and work surface
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 2 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup unsalted cold butter
• 1/2 cup heavy cream
• 1 large egg
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/2 cup dark chocolate chips

Glaze:

• 1/4 cup dark chocolate chips
• 2 tablespoons heavy cream

Directions:

Preheat the oven to 200ºC. Place a silicone baking mat/parchment paper onto a standard baking sheet and set aside.

Mix together the dry ingredients. Grate the butter into the bowl and mix together with your hands or a spatula until it has a course meal consistency. Set aside.

Whisk together the wet ingredients in a small bowl.

Pour half of the wet mixture into the dry ingredients and fold together. Once incorporated, mix in the rest of the wet mixture and mix together. Don’t overmix.

Fold in the chocolate chips.

Work the dough into a ball using floured hands and move to a floured surface. Pat into a disc. Cut into 8 pieces.

Place them onto the baking sheet, spacing them.

Bake for 20′.

While the scones are baking, make the glaze: melt chocolate chips using the microwave. Fold in the heavy cream and mix well.

After the scones are done baking, let them cool. Decorate using the chocolate sauce. Eat. Repeat.

Are you going to make chocolate scones, my happy pixels? They are yummy!! Please, let me know in the comments below.

 

June 2017 Share and Inspire Others! – Food/Ingredient starting with E

One of my first recipes has been featured in this nice post!! I hope you’ll enjoy this beautiful recipe list from my friend Esmé!! Thank you! 😉

The Recipe Hunter

I present you with the wonderful Exchange recipes received for the
June 2017 Share and Inspire Others! – Food/Ingredient starting with E

All participants, have time from now up untill midnight June 20th, to Promote and do a Press this/ share a link / or reblog on your own blog, by creating a link back to this post with a pingback.  “Sharing is Caring”  Thank you! 

Posted in order of emails received:

Espresso: Martini Espresso Cocktail and Banana Espresso Smoothie courtesy of Retired? No one told me!
The brownies are in the oven and I have done so much copy and pasting and removing of posts today that I am in need of a drink ..Oh Yes!

Eggs: Egg bhurji – Scrambled egg Indian Style courtesy of Flavours2017
This egg dish is popular in north and western indian, it is effectively a  dry and  spicy version of scrambled eggs.

Espresso:  Prince Igor Says,”Not…

View original post 770 more words

A picture tag

Hey pixels!!  Blonde’s Tea has gone out of her way and created her very own tag! How impressive?!

A MESSAGE FROM THE CREATOR:

“Blonde’s Tea, creator this tag, got tired of seeing the same tags all around and decided to create a simple tag where you just have to post one picture of five different themes (e.g. your favourite picture of yourself, the best picture you have ever taken, a picture with your sibling, etc.) that will be given by your nominator. You don’t have to have photography skills or anything, it is just to spread lovely pictures on your blog and bring back lovely memories.”

RULES:

• Paste the text about the creator and the tag (the text above).
• Post the 5 pictures that stick to the themes given.
• Nominate 5 people (or just as much as you want).
• Give 5 themes for your nominees pictures.
• Notify your nominees about their nomination.

MY PICTURES:

Favourite photo of myself

I don’t know if it’s my favourite photo, but actually I don’t like how I look on pictures, and this was a good day, so I’ve chosen it….

A photo of my favourite vacation

I went to Portugal a couple of years ago, and I loved it!! Oh, and the next Eurovision song contest will take place there, my happy pixels!!

A photo of my funniest day

Last Sunday I went to the swimming pool. I had this view while sunbathing.

A photo of my pet

I’m not allowed to have pets where I live now, but I would like to have a pet bunny. As cute as this one. Picture from Unsplash

A photo that makes me happy

This photo reminds me of Christmas, my favourite holiday, and this cake was amazing. And funny to decorate!!

MY THEMES TO YOU:

It would be nice if you choose pictures based on the same themes as me.

• Favorite photo of yourself
• A photo of your favorite vacation
• A photo of your funniest day
• A photo of your pet
• A photo that makes you happy

NOMINEES:

1. The Geckoonline
2. Snapshots in cursive
3. Pia
4. Simply Reach
5. Lathiya

Congrats, my happy pixels!! Please, tag me, so I can see your pictures!!

Thanks for reading,

Sílvia

One pot garlic butter parmesan pasta

Hey pixels!! Here is a perfect recipe for a Meatless Monday!! Easy and quick to make, and yummy!! Meat free! Perfect. You’ll have your lunch ready in 15′. And you’ll love it!

Pasta is a favourite food for many, at least for me. I couldn’t live without it. But sometimes I think making a sauce and cooking the pasta is too much work… For this reason, one pot recipes are so helpful. You just need one pot and a few ingredients to make an awesome dish.

I’m not sure if it’s so healthy: cheese, butter…. But if you want a lighter version, or if you’re vegan, you can change this ingredients for vegan versions. I was making food for one person, but I’m so bad adjusting the pasta amount I need, so I made a little too much. Let’s say it’s a big individual ration, or a side dish for two… I just took pictures of the pasta I ate, I had a bit more…

Ingredients:

• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1-2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1/2 teaspoon fresh parlsey, minced
• 1 cup water
• 1 cup + 2 tablespoons milk
•  pasta, uncooked (the amount you use for 1, I used too much)
• 1 tablespoon butter
• 1 tablespoon cream cheese
• 2-3 tablespoons finely grated parmesan

Directions:

Cook garlic in olive oil for 2-3′. Add water, milk and pasta. Bring to a boil, then simmer until the pasta is done.

 

Stir in the butter, cream cheese and parmesan. Serve immediately. Garnish with fresh parsley.

Note: If the pasta looks too dry, add more liquid. How much liquid you need really depends on the kind of pasta you use and how you like your sauce!

That’s all, my happy pixels!! So easy!

Do you make this kind of recipes, my happy pixels? Are you going to try this one? Please, let me know in the comments below.