Back in the garden...

This is impossible! Is it really more than two months ago that I was here? Time flies, that I know for sure!!

It was never the intention; it just happened. Spend some extra days in the office, dedicated time to some nice, new & challenging projects (will come back on that when the time is right!), holidays... Add the normal daily routine to it 'et volià', two months are gone before you know it!

 

But I hope to be back on a regular basis again.

 

Today I start with some garden pictures. Although it has been too cold lately, the last weeks there has been rain & sunshine... Perfect combination for the plants & flowers (and weeds!).

 

I actually only started working in the garden 2 weeks ago, before our holiday. Haven't been to the garden center nor any nursery yet... that is really exceptional! Never happened before :)

Last weekend I tried to clean the winter mess up... succeeded partly, still a lot of work to do.

But for now, I can show you some pictures:

 Tulips that I bought last year during my visit of the Keukenhof and
which I planted only end of January...

 

And what a coincidence... will be visiting the Keukenhof again this week. Very much looking forward to seeing all the beautiful flowers and colours.

 

Might be posting about it next week :)

 

Have a happy week & 'see' you soon again!

Berlin!

 

 As promised...

We decided to visit Berlin again.
My first (and last) time was in 1988.

So I had no idea of what to expect...

Look to the right and you see beautiful old buildings...

Look to the left and you see all kinds of new and very modern buildings!

 

'Checkpoint Charlie'

 

Unter den Linden in Christmas atmosphere!

Reminded me a bit of the Champs Elysées in Paris in winter time (like you can see here).

Brandenburger Tor... not to miss :)

Couldn't make proper pictures as a huge stage and lots of 'entourage' was built for the New Years Eve celebrations (apparently the biggest one in Europe).

More old and new...





 

Reichstag 

 And of course, we couldn't go home without having made our very own chocolate bar at Rittersport!

 

We had a great time in Berlin.

This was Thom's favorite:

A Bugatti Veyron!

Better start saving now... :)

 

We love to travel so we already planned our destination for the next holidays:

going back to...

... Paris!

 

Wishing you a nice weekend & see you next week!



 

Hello, I'm back!

 

Well, hello again! Welcome to 2013. Welcome to Abacaxi & Hortelã!

It's been a while!

 

Enjoyed a short break during the holiday season.

 

Of course I prepared a nice diner for my parents and some friends for Christmas Day.

I chose for a bit of an unusual combination of colours to decorate the table: aubergine (eggplant colour) and turquoise.

As I was the cook, I, unfortunately, didn't have time to take pictures of the food I prepared...

 

 

But this was on the menu:

 

Trio d'amuses: goat cheese/apricot bite, mascarpone/macadamia nut crème brulée & quick roasted scallop with sesame seeds and soy sauce

~

Beetroot soup with wodka, sour cream and mint

~

Filet of duck breast with roasted figs and a red wine - forest fruit syrup

~

Monk fish with mango salsa, mashed parsnip/potato, grilled green vegetables

~

Lemon cheesecake with speculoos and blue berries

~

Coffee/tea & some sweet little indulgences

~

 

Yes, it was pretty good if I may say so myself ;)

 

 

 

And between Christmas and new years Eve we visited Berlin...

But that story will have to wait till next time :)

 

Have a great new week in this New Year where everything is still possible!

 

 

 

 

Blondie

Another cold & rainy Sunday afternoon...

Reason enough to bake :)

This time I wanted to try something new:

 

How to:

* Preheat the oven to 175°C.

* Grease a square baking pan with butter & line with baking paper.

* Melt the butter slowly, take the butter of the heat and add 75 grams of the white chocolate

and let it melt. Stir.

* Mix sugar and eggs until thick & yellow. Add flour, butter with chocolate, salt and vanilla essence & mix until well-combined.

* Finish by adding the dried cranberries and mix them carefully with the batter.

* Add the batter in the baking pan and put the rest of the chocolate on top.

* Bake the blondies for about 35-40 minutes. Let cool down and cut in squares.

 

 

The taste was great, but next time I will add the chopped chocolate to the batter instead of putting it on top. And I will also use less heat on the upper side and let it bake a bit longer.

 

The rest of the family enjoyed it to the last crumb so there will definitely be a next time!

 

Bon appetit!

 

Rome

Mother's Day 2012, already some time ago... but...

The present I got from the boys: A city trip of my choice - in Europe, specifically added (they know me too well I'm afraid!)

And so, last Friday, after work, we left for...

ROME

The city of my choice - this time :)

We spent 4 full days in this beautiful city and had a great time.

Very busy, soo many tourists!

Luckily we bought our entrance tickets for the Colesseum and the Vatican Museum online

(make sure you do that too should you travel to Rome!), the lines were amazingly long.

 Quiet outside (rain!)...

 Busy inside!

Of course, I had to try my luck at the Trevi fountain
 

 

The next day the sun accompanied us at the Colosseum:

 

 Old & new (can you spot the heli?):

 

 Piazza Navona is also a must-see!

 

 

 Reminding me of Place du Tertre in Paris:

 

Many more pictures made of course, but this is the selection I chose!

 

And for now, I'm just wishing you a wonderful weekend!

Take care & enjoy!