Covid-19, what is it?

Covid-19 is the name of the virus that has brought fear and darkness during this March 2020 in the Western world. Covid-19 s has come from China sometime in the Fall and slowly has spread across the whole continent. Today, March 11th all the regions have been declared red zone and every single person is expected to stay at home. We are allowed to go out only to take care of primary needs, like health issues, certain kinds of work, or grocery shopping.

Covid-19, and the world came to a halt.

For those of us, who are lucky enough to be healthy, this is a chance to reflect. It is a chance to bring consciousness to this current situation. Showing gratitude and appreciation, for those who are making a difference. Doctors and nurses, working night and day, saving lives. Garbage men, who keep our cities clean, grocery store clerks who allow us to go and buy food, and so many more.

Covid-19, and now what?

Covid-19 is responsible for slowing most of us down, for interrupting the hectic life that we live on a regular basis. This is very scary for most of us. What shall we do now? is the dreaded question. What if Nothing is the answer? Nothing sounds actually good, because nothing in this case contains everything.  Contains, rest, appreciation, togetherness, gratitude, and so much more.

Covid-19 is giving us the chance to do everything we like to do but we never have the time to do. This is the time to feel, which is very luxurious these days. This the time to listen, to sleep, rest, love, savor, meditate. Most of all, for all of us who are healthy, this is a time to appreciate and give thanks.

Covid-19, the chance to reach down deeper

Honestly, I would vote for one slow week every month. Obviously minus all the tragedy that we are facing in this very moment. I am trying to focus on the positive as much as possible and the beautiful words so well put by L.R. Knost come to my mind: “Do not be dismayed by the brokenness of the world. All things break. And all things can be mended. Not with time as they say, but with intention. So go. Love intentionally, extravagantly, unconditionally. The broken world waits in darkness for the light that is you”.

L.R. Knost is an amazing author for those of you who are interested in reading more about her, here is the linkhttps://www.littleheartsbooks.com/about-the-authorillustrator/ 

The job of spreading the light is so important in this day and age. We must grow ourselves into the best version of ourselves. Through reading and meditation, we shall get deep into ourselves to bring out the treasure that lies in each one of us. Reading is certainly something we should do more of.

Covid-19, what to do

Here we have the chance to get familiar with people who dedicate their lives to spreading the light and help us through our lives. An author, among many others, I am absolutely fond of is Gabby Bernstein. Her books have inspired me immensely. I talk about her and her work in several of my posts, like Love versus Fear: cooking for the love of the world and Empathy: the inner light that shines through

In these posts, I talk about a new way of thinking, a new way of relating to the other and to the world in general. A more elevated, a more caring and empathic way.  I just finished reading Gabby Bernstein’s last book: “Super Attractor”. I strongly recommend it, especially during this time of darkness and fear. This book will help you strengthen your trust in what tomorrow holds. I believe that this month of lock down will have enormous consequences on the human consciousness. Perhaps we will find a better way to go about life, a slower and more loving and caring way.

Things will change, not with time. Things will change upon intention, as we said. Let us take action intentionally and sprinkle some magic, love, and beauty over this time of fear. We must try to sublimate fear into trust. Let us stay centered with our hearts and learn to allow. All the beauty around us, will save us. Much love to all.

Apples inspire me. Apples cause butterflies in my stomach. I fall in love with Fall every year and since it has been a while since the last time I wrote, I thought that this would be the perfect time to pick back up my writing.

Apples are the subject of today’s article because since my last post so many incredible things happened. The Summer slipped by, and with it, many hot and beautiful days spent preparing my dream.

We all know about my passion, border line obsession, with making life delicious. Baking, cooking celebrating nature and beauty, raising children, nurturing animals, writing, singing and dancing. One day, I put all of these ingredients together, just like making a cake, and my little play school, Little Stars, was born. Just like that, just like magic.

We spend our days making life delicious, in our little corner of paradise, in the Tuscan hills. We sing, we bake, we play, we have fun and we learn about life and the beauty that surrounds us all around.

Apples, juicy red apples had been sitting on the fire place for a couple of days. We had picked them from the apple trees in the big field around our little house. The girls loved finding the red little precious balls on the ground and putting them in the basket. We had told many stories about apples and sang song about them. We were ready to enjoy their sweetness!

Apples are a magical fruit, so juicy, sweet and versatile. Friday morning, the girls, Tricia, and I, decided to roll up our sleeves, set out all the ingredients and, start making a cake!

The girls were so excited, to use a knife, a dull one, but still a knife, to cut up the apples in little cubes. They were so happy to mix the ingredients, measure them and stir the batter. They were patient at taking turns and thrilled to lick the pans!

We had some great time, the smell coming out of the kitchen tickled our hearts. The smell of cinnamon mixed with the sweetness of the apples and the sugar over the butter. Absolutely heavenly!

Here is the recipe below for all of you to enjoy. Singing during baking makes the experience of the baking therapy complete. Us, from the Little Stars Nest Play School, warmly recommend it.

Little Stars Apple Cake

200 g flour

5 Tbsp of milk

1 lemon zest

1 Tbsp baking powder

80 ml seed oil

150 g sugar

3 apples

2 big eggs at room temperature

1/2 stick of butter

brown sugar to sprinkle on the apples during cooking

cinnamon

Cut up all the apples into cubes and set in a pan. Add butter, sugar, lemon zest, and cinnamon. Let cook for 15 minutes.

Meanwhile mix all the other ingredients in a bowl. When the batter is mixed and smooth add the cooked apples. Pour content into a buttered baking pan and cook at 350F for 30 to 40 minutes.

We hope you will it enjoy as much as we did. For more inspiring reading on cooking with children click here!

Much love from Barbara, Tricia and the girls of the Little Stars Nest Play School!

Savoring is the better version of eating, dancing is the better version of walking and singing the better version of talking. Savoring means eating slowly, enjoying the moment and in the process using all the senses to better remember the experience. Savoring is the art of eating.

“Eating is a necessity, but eating well is an art”, I remember reading somewhere once, and I couldn’t agree more. The way I see it, is that life in itself is our chance to master the art of living. In other words, how  to find joy and beauty all around us. Cooking is certainly an art and a vehicle to discover many of the wonders that life has to offer. I like to cook slowly, smelling, feeling , touching all there is to smell, touch and feel. I open my senses to the pleasure  of preparing food.

I often light a candle when I cook, not only because this helps to alleviate the crying effect that onions can cause, but because the gently burning flame reminds me to be present in the moment, in my kitchen, in front of my stove in the company of my pots and wooden spoons . Before the house gets filled with the fresh smells of all the cooking food, I usually burn some essential oils, my favorite two are rosemary and sage.   The healing effect of aromatherapy has been known for centuries. The scent produced by the burning oils, inhaled through the nose, stimulates the senses and unlocks the emotions, and there I am ready to enjoy the ride!

Nutrition is a very important subject in our day and age, we  are gaining so much awareness about what we choose or not choose to eat.This is an important matter because what we eat and how we eat it will effect our health, mood, and overall being. In so saying we should never forget, that the food that will truly nourish us, is the food that we enjoy. Sitting at a beautifully set table, perhaps in the company of loved ones, allowing ourselves enough time to be present in the moment is the perfect condition to show our appreciation and gratitude  and at the same time the best way to nourish and replenish our bodies.

Food is not an equation or a math problem, counting the carbohydrates and the proteins is something we can leave for the scientists and for those who write food labels. Instead, what it is really wonderful is to  basque in the flavors, aromas, textures, and smells of our dishes.

Cut open a red cabbage and let ourselves be captured by the beauty of the intricacy of its patterns. Create favorite dishes, travel in time remembering smells from childhood, have fun cutting up a lush fresh peach.

The way we look at food varies from person to person, from culture to culture. In Italy old traditions are kept alive by the strong love that people there have for eating. Traditional dishes like the cannellini bean soup with spelt, is still one of the favorite dishes for the people of my hometown. Grains like barley, corn,and oats are used on a daily base.

Nowadays so many people suffer from allergies and it is troubling that too many of us have to look at food as a threat to their health. Science has discovered that  many people have a hard time digesting some of the proteins (gluten in particular) in grains. It was shown how this problem can be alleviated by  a soaking process.

Some of the most insightful cookbooks recently have started reintroducing the idea of soaking the grains overnight before using them. This is not a new tendency, but a rediscovery of an ancient wisdom which has been confirmed by modern science. As Sally Fallon points out in her book Nourishing Traditions, science has found phytic acid in the outer layer of all grains. Once ingested phytic acid combines with essential minerals such as zinc, copper, magnesium, iron, and calcium it blocks the body from absorbing them.

Granted that soaking food requires planning ahead and that is not always possible, but what a relief to know that we are regaining precious ancient knowledge in the light of modern consciousness and that through understanding our body and what it needs we can aspire to heal ourselves in a way that is most beneficial to us.

Having a balanced diet is probably the base of healthy nutrition. All traditional cuisines such as Italian, French, Chinese, Middle Eastern are based on ways of combining food that is the result of ancient knowledge passed down from generation to generation. This knowledge was based on observation and a true and deep understanding of the food in relation to the human body.   Balance is a great condition to achieve in all sphere of our lives and the kitchen is a great place to start.

In these last years research has shown that even though French cuisine is rich in animal fats (butter, cream, milk, cheese), French people do not suffer from obesity. Italian cuisine is very rich in carbohydrates and yet Italian women are proven to be among the most long -lived people in the world. The explanation that researchers have been giving is that the secret lies in the combination of the food. In Italy, even though people consume a lot of pasta and bread, fruit and vegetables are also an important part of the diet and of course the generous use of olive oil, rich in non saturated fats. The lifestyle also plays a fundamental role in how our bodies receive, digest, and absorb what we eat. Sitting down, relaxing and putting our minds to the act of eating is essential for a good digestion. Too often in our modern life food is viewed as fuel, a chance to charge up quickly and run to our next task, somewhat similar to gassing up a car, and while you are at it ,might as well fill it up all the way. Well, our bodies don’t work quite in the same way. Eating a lot of heavy food on the run is a great cocktail for poor nutrition and poor health.

As an Italian, I have the idea of sitting around the table in loving company, savoring delicious food and sipping great tasting wine, ingrained in me but at the same time I understand the convenience of at times being able to “not make such a big fuss about eating” and just “get it over with” sometimes it is necessary, and that is okay, especially if food preparation and consumption becomes another source of stress. Sometimes, we just simply  don’t have a choice. Most of the times though, when I sit around a table that radiates love, and I open myself to the gift of food and companionship what I feel when I stand up is satisfaction and a sense of accomplishment. What a comforting thought that around this table, with my family, in our dining room, is the place where we meet again and again, and is the place where we invite others to join us. Precious just like a shared loaf of homemade bread, a bouquet of flowers, what this gesture means and how it makes us feel.

During this Spring season I invite all of you to celebrate any chance you get. Get a big board, put some sort of legs under it and throw a pretty table cloth over it. Set flowers on the table and invite people over. Tell everyone to bring some food to share and all together savor the flavor of joy. The joy of the here and now. The joy of companionship. The joy of a happy and slow life. Happy Spring Everyone!    

Detox yourself in any way you can.

Detox your body from toxins and detox your mind from toxic thoughts. Purge yourself from anything that does not give peace, serenity, and balance. Detox. At least on Sundays.

This in another beautiful Sunday morning. What a sweet feeling I had this morning when I just barely woke up from my deep sleep and in a semi-awake state I realized it was Sunday. No rush, no hurry, no stress, no frustrations. Today is the day to sleep, relax, be, and enjoy.

My life has been quite miraculous lately. I have been meeting, in this last 6 months, really great human fellows. I feel like a chrysalis, at times, as if my old life was slowly shading, fading away, bit by bit, uncovering parts of me that I didn’t even know it existed.

I feel like I am detoxifying from a chapter of my life that was gruesome, dark, and at times painful, towards a life that much more resonates with my soul.  A new life, a time of light, and joy, filled with like minded people.

I know that many of us are undergoing a phase of transformation. That’s because of the historical era we live in. Books have been my saviors, my bridge that led me from darkness to light. Books helped me detoxify.

I, just like most of us, needed to get rid of old dead weight, which was anchoring me down, not letting me see things necessary to my natural growth. First step, take ownership of yourself. You make the rules over your life, not anyone else, but YOU. Read a great book. “The Universe has your back” is a great example. Check out the author’s web site: https://www.gabbybernstein.com and begin your journey towards finding the real, authentic you!

I talk about this book in my post Transformation: changing my life one dish at the time. and also in Life unfolding: transform your life into a success. Reading these two books has open the door for me towards my miraculous journey, which I want to share with you all. Wishing you the same miraculous success.

Since my kitchen is my sanctuary, and the place where I create and where my catharsis takes place, I will share with you my super-delicious Sunday morning detox juice.

2 Pink Lady Apples

5 Tangerines

1 kiwi

1 lemon

1 bergamot

Blend all the fruits together in a juicer and enjoy immediately after, since we want to take the maximum benefit out of all the fresh vitamins. This is the perfect way to start off on a Sunday morning! Feel the detox going through your body!

Eggs are a real blessing.

Eggs are such a nutritious and versatile food. I always make sure to have eggs handy in my home. So much so that I have chickens in my garden to make sure I never run out. December is a month when the chickens start getting tired and cold and they prepare for their Winter rest, starting right after Christmas. In this time I’ll celebrate  with sharing the two recipes below. I just love this time of the year. This time of anticipation and light.

December is the month when everything starts to sparkle. Everything gets decorated with bright lights and Christmas music starts playing everywhere you are. People put on a cheerful mood and everything screams of Christmas. What a jolly time! We all become excited and happy about the anticipation of the festive time ahead of us!

I start busily thinking about all the yummy things I can bake and all the crafts I can make with the kids. Today I am going to share with you all a smart Italian style combo you can prepare  for your family and friends. A pasta dish that most people love, the famous Pasta alla Carbonara and some delicious hazelnut and walnut cookies.

The reason why I prepare these two dishes together is because in order to  make an excellent Carbonara you need to use many eggs. So?! You may wonder…Yes, because you need only the egg yolks for the past, and you are left with all these delightful egg whites, looking for a purpose.

What is better than a nourishing dish of past and some nutty exquisite cookies?

Let’s start with Spaghetti alla carbonara. This creamy, smoky, and indulgent pasta dish is a full meal, very tasty and quick to prepare. It’s a win win.

Love your eggs

Pasta alla Carbonara

Ingredients (for four people):

200 g spaghetti

4 free range egg yolks

150/200 g lightly smocked pancetta or guanciale, cut into cubes

1 clove of garlic

20 g pecorino cheese

30 g Parmesan cheese

Cold Pressed Extra Virgin Olive oil.

Set your eggs out of the refrigerator. Always let your eggs warm up to room temperature before starting to cook.

In a big pot heat up a good amount of water and let it boil. Once it stars simmering add 2/3 of a cup of salt. Add the pasta and cook until “al dente”. Please, do not overcook the pasta.

While waiting for the pasta break up the eggs and divide the yolks from the whites. Store the whites in a container. Keep the yolks separately and add some pepper. Take the pancetta out of the wrapper and place it in a skillet and cook until nice and crispy. Do not add oli of butter since the heat will melt the fat of the pancetta and that will be just the right amount of grease. Once ready set aside.

When the pasta is nicely al dente and ready strain the water and place the pasta directly in the skillet where you cooked the pancetta. Gently stir. Keep stirring to let some of heat release. After half a minute of stirring, slowly add the egg yolks. Add some pepper on top. Most likely you will not need to add salt since the pancetta is usually quite tasty and salty. Stir and SERVE IMMEDIATELY!

Spaghetti alla Carbonara

After this delicious pasta I suggest some easy soft nutty cookies. They call for just a few ingredients among which egg whites!

Yummy-Quicky Cookies 

I like to call these “Quicky Cookies” because they really are fast to make, and the good news is: you do not even need to whip up the whites! You just mix together the ground up nuts, the egg whites, the sugar e some orange zest. In just a few minutes you’ll have these amazing treats that your children will love!

Ingredients:

1 Egg white

100 g mixture of pecans, walnut and hazelnuts, light toasted and ground

100 g Sugar

Confectioners sugar

Orange rind

In case the batter turns out too sticky, just add more ground nuts. I advice to add the egg white to the nuts gradually. Add the orange zest. In a grinder, grind together the nuts, the sugar, and some orange zest. Add to the egg. When ready the batter should feel soft but not excessively wet. With your hands make a tube shape end with a knife cut up small pieces every 2 cm. Place every piece in your hands and form a ball and roll it in confectioners sugar. When ready place one of your fingers in the middle of the every cookie, to make sure the middle cooks properly. Place in the oven and bake for 15 minutes at 180C.

I can guarantee that you will make your family and friends absolutely giddy about this meal. The children will scarf down the cookies and ask you for more. Wishing you “Buon Appetito” I am eagerly waiting for your feedback on this quick and delicious recipes! Have a beautiful day!

From my Heart to Yours.