Monday, September 8

rich chocolate cupcakes with lemon frosting


these cupcakes are my absolute favorite kind of company for a night of lounging with my best of tv show buddies - that is, Phil Dunphy and Jessa Johansson. I'll quote Phil to introduce you to the magic of the lemony chocolatey goodness below: "When life gives you lemonade, make lemons. Life will be all like 'Whaaat?!"

10 cupcakes

cupcakes:
40 g soft butter
100 g flour
20 g unsweetened cocoa powder
140 g sugar
1 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
pinch of salt
1,2 dl of whole milk
1 egg
1 teaspoon of vanilla sugar
50 g chopped dark chocolate 70%

frosting:
300 g icing sugar
100 g soft butter
0.25 dl whole milk
0.25 dl lemon juice

Preheat oven to 170C
Whish butter, flour, cocoa, sugar, baking powder and salt with a whisk or mixer until everything is mixed.
Whisk milk, egg and vanilla sugar in another bowl or tall glass, and mix the contents of the two bowls together. Whisk until the mixture is smooth. Add the chopped chocolate.
Half fill 10 silikone muffin cups. Bake for 18-20 minutes and patiently let the cupcakes cool to room temperature. Otherwise the frosting will melt, when applied.
Whisk together icing sugar, butter, whole milk and lemon juice for the frosting. The more you whisk, the whiter the frosting will get, but a few minutes should be more than enough. Remember to gently mix everything with a spoon before whisking, to avoid inhaling an icing sugar cloud.
Apply the frosting to the cupcakes by cutting a little hole in a clean kitchen plastic bag and squeezing a twirl of frosting through the hole. Enjoy this part, particularly the moment when you realise that pastry chefs are pretty damn talented :)




Sunday, August 17

travel diary: the stockholm archipelago




































soo, lost natural paradise, anyone? We lived cheap and insanely comfortably with this awesome guy and two cats, here. We hung around reading books, eating simply, swimming from the little dock and looking at the forest. We went biking to the beach, Lille Sand on Ingarö, where we chose to camp on the rocks and swim from there, instead of sharing the beach with all the little families. It is easier to swim from rocks, than you would think. We took a ferry to Sandhamn, where we found a time pocket of Sweden as it used to be. Walking through the forest to the little beach community of Trouville. Swimming from the cliffs on the very outer part of Skärgården right on the Eastern Sea. Strawberries sold by girls in the street. Red and white houses in the hills with swing sets and views of the ocean. Sailing home in the sunset, I recognised the feeling of home that Sweden leaves on me. And then of course, on the last morning, we woke up to a visit from a family of deer. Hanging in our forest backyard, nibbling on moss. Most definitely going back to bliss.




Saturday, August 9

one of those people, who...


do you know the feeling of wanting to be one of those people, who do this and that awesome thing? I have that. I am pretty sure that my choice to give attention to this superficial outer perspective on myself brings me out of the moment, but I also have that joyful rush when I suddenly realise that I am one of those people, who... You can call it a guilty pleasure.

I am one of those people, who
...get manic, childish highs from swimming at sunset.
...go to summer houses with friends.
...dance improvised ballet, when my boyfriend isn't home.

I want to be one of those people, who
...go on spontaneous road trips into nature.
...take evening walks.
...write
...sing.
...paint.





Friday, July 4

birthday trip through Copenhagen


celebrating the birthday of my guy today with a visit from his teenage nephew, a trip to Christiania with a picnic and a climb up into the Our Saviour Church golden tower - and hopefully a swim at Bryggen this afternoon and an outdoor jazz concert on Balder's Plads this evening with great friends and red wine! Not bad, huh?

these cinnamon swirly buns - kanelsnurrer in Danish - are my newest, lasting guilty pleasure. Recently learned that the baker, which I bike past on my way home from work, have the cinnamon buns freshly baked, warm and ready (for me) at the exact moment that I pass by ...on a 15 minute detour... yeah.

finally, I would like to note that the Danish flags are a Danish birthday tradition. Like presents. Or decorations. Or... I don't know, don't you do strange things for the sake of tradition?


 

Sunday, June 8

the insect forest


significantly creepy-crawly name for little magic spot on Kalvebod Fælled on the south of Amager in Copenhagen. Close to this otherworldly green oasis among charred tree trunks are three more little special spots, among others a stranded ark. Yep. Bring kids or playfulness. Do not let that towel confuse you with the promise of a beach close by - I was simply cold and expecting a swim at my kayaking club on Holmen in central Copenhagen later that day. Also worth a visit, though :)




Tuesday, May 6

travel diary: London
























getting out of central London - except for a trip to The Hummingbird Bakery and The Topshop fast leaving us feeling like retail zombies - is a treat for those of us needing a vacation from our rolling thoughts.

on this trip, I was lucky enough to be introduced to and fall in absolute love with the northeast neighborhood, Stoke Newington. Do not in any way miss the ancient and magic Abney Park Cemetery... greenness defined! Or the people watching on the grass along with something incredibly tasty from the Broadway Market, which is open on Saturdays and so so delicious to be a part of. Not to mention bringing a bottle of self-tapped wine from the sweet guys at Borough Wines to graze around in the sun and appreciate the view out of London at the Hackney Marshes.

speaking of delicious, we were indescribably lucky to plonk ourselves exhausted onto those BEAUtiful chairs at south american café and restaurant and home-of-incredibly-nice-people-and-guitar-music-and-salsa-dancing Candela Clapton! Ceviche and nachos and fresh salmon and inspiringly crafted cocktails and deserts and... damn. I get exhausted and hungry just considering getting started on describing the everchanging brunch menu at 3Course to you.

Oh, and finally for a dose of free culture, visit The Photographers' Gallery in Soho for impressively well curated small exhibitions.

Any questions, let me know and I will ask my local consultant :)