The last 2014 Post - Chocolate Vanilla Mousse

This year seems to have flown by! I still can not realise that I have to sleep only this one night until New Year's Eve! 

As a rule, ahead of the upcoming year we sum up everything about the previous one. I think I have accomplished even more resolutions than I had planed. Well, if I was told one year ago, that I would become a food blogger...hah..I really never would  have believed it! However, it was the best decision I have ever made! I have told you not even once what a big step it was. Usually my hobbies do not last long, but blogging  became a part of my life, like breathing or eating (naturally!)). This year was all about cooking and I couldn't be happier!  And I am also so much grateful to all of you for reading ! 

Peanut Butter & Date Creamy Hot Cocoa

Tomorrow I am having my last but one exam. But instead of reading up for examinations I am writing this post (it will be short today)). Everyone who celebrate today is busy with setting the table, cooking a Christmas meal and making the last preparations. So, I just want you to take a break for a few minutes and drink a cup of hot cocoa, because what is a winter holiday without a warming drink!)) Especially when it is sugar-free!

And of course I am writing today, because I want to wish you a very Merry Christmas! Let it be full of peace, happiness and love!

(recipe after the jump)

Ginger Molasses Cookies with Candied Orange Peels

Actually we celebrate Christmas on the 7 of January. But with all these crazy awesome Christmas preparations going on around, I've caught a Christmas spirit way earlier than I expected. Seriously, my Instagram feed is just screaming in  my face about gingerbread men, candy canes and gift wrapping ideas! Anyway, it is already a holiday time (even thought it feels like spring outdoors! and I still have examinations until December 27!) . So, I can plunge into it without any feeling of guilt!

Chocolate & Espresso B-Day Cake

Am I the only one so excited about every new cake I make?  I always say that exactly this particular cake is the best I have ever made! There is something magical about making a cake. First of all, cakes are beautiful. Secondly, you never know exactly whether it all will go right. Sometimes it just doesn't work (especially on the stage of making a frosting - I own that frostings are my weak point). But the most thrilling part is assembling. Actually, I never know how my cake will look like. I can picture every detail in my head and live with it for a week. But when the time comes and I begin layering the cake, usually I end up with something completely different. Isn't it magic? Magic of creation.

 

Lemon Cupcakes with Blueberry Buttercream

Chocolate Chip Cookies

I have to confess.
Never.
I have never in my life made chocolate chip cookies!!
The easiest recipe you could only imagine, chocolate chip cookies are something that even  child can make. I'd say that these cookies are what children learn to bake in the first place. And now it is my turn.

Pumpkin Cake with Mascarpone Frosting & Chocolate Ganache

Where are my 36 hours a day?! It is unfair! Because I am literally short of time. As were promised in my last post, this Sunday was devoted for pumpkin baking. But I just hadn't have any chance to make up a few sentences and to edit the photos. And right now instead of learning by heart the Universal declaration of human rights in both German and Ukrainian languages (can you only imagine that? crazy, right?!), I am writing about this cake. Pumpkin cake with Mascarpone frosting and Chocolate Ganache. And you know why am I so irresponsible? Because I can't wait any second longer to share the recipe for this cake with you, guys!!! When I told you that this cake was the best I ever made, I was so wrong! Without doubt Pumpkin cake steals the show.!

Whole Wheat Banana Chocolate Chip Muffins with Walnut Crumble Topping

I' ve been planing the whole week to bake some pumpkin pie, cheesecake, scones, bread...it is a pumpkin season still. I fell asleep and woke up with thousands ideas in my head. I even had some sketches of the future photos. But this weekend everything changed abruptly. My parents decided to visit grandparents. And since my granny has a rather impressive garden with a not less impressive butternut squash harvest, I thought it would be way better to use a homegrown pumpkin instead of a store-bought.... So, my excuses, but the pumpkin post is going to come into the world only in a week. Nevertheless, this week I have something really special.

Citrus Carrot Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting and Candied Oranges {the best ever cake}

I like to get presents. Who doesn't? But I like to give presents more. I think a gift can tell about the person even more that his/her deeds. Present is a mirror of  relationships, it shows the attitude and reveals the feelings. It doesn't matter what the price is. Some gifts are priceless and cost nothing, as much as there are costly and fancy presents, that do not mean anything and have no special significance. 

Pear Bundt Cake with Caramel Glaze

Autumn is good. Especially in late September - early October. When you do not miss summer anymore and you are completely Ok with the fact, that it is actually autumn. I would even say, it is the time when you actually enjoy autumn. 'Cause it is just perfect now. 

I like crispy air in the morning. I like walking in the park, adoring the beauty of the trees. And after such a long walks you feel fresh and a little bit cold. So the best place to go afterwards is a lovely, cozy coffee house, where you can drink mugs of coffee, tea or cocoa (even better!!!) and get warm. Oh, Gosh! How could I forget about the dessert?! Inexcusable, to put it mildly! 

Fig, Caramelized Onion & Blue Cheese Microwave Tartines

I can't believe I am finally writing here. After two weeks!! It's been like for ages! It even feels so weird! Like thousands of thoughts in my head but I can catch barely one of them.

Tiramisu with Coffee Syrup & Raspberry Compote

Rustic Peach Galette

Local Food Kiev

Hi guys!

So, what can I say? Today is the last day of summer...and I am pretty happy about it. I like autumn, I like fresh and chilly air, rainy days, golden-yellow trees. I feel myself so comfortable wearing cozy and warm pullovers and soft to the touch scarfs. I like to drink hot coffee!)) I like to fall asleep listening to the sounds of  thunder and rain drops. And many of you would never ever get me on this (actually, I still can't believe myself I am writing this down!... ) but I have to admit -  AUTUMN, I love you! I love you more (What?!) than spring! But yes....

Frozen Banana Coffee Ice Cream {vegan, personal fav}

When it starts to rain cats and dogs everyday ice cream season is over. At least for me. But I just have to share this recipe with you. I've made it a couple weeks ago, when it was summer outside with its terrible heat, and the only thing I could make without turning the oven was this amazing, healthy, vegan, creamy coffee ice cream. Trust me, it is the most healthiest ice cream ever! Say NO to sugar, eggs, milk and heavy cream. Say YES to frozen bananas!

Lime Bars with Candied Pistachios

Hi, Friends!!! Did you miss me? Hope you did!  I had some sort of writer's block. But now I am back and ready to make you hungry!)) 

White Peach & Lime Sangria + Fruit Ice Cubes

It seems like the terrible heat decided that it is enough of mockery. At least it decided to take a timeout for a couple of days. Plus meteorologists forecast decrease of temperature to 20-25 degrees Celsius.  This is the most joyful news lately, really I haven't been so glad about anything during this week! And I  dunno if it was possible to survive without an air-conditioner. (thank you Willis Carrier for one of the most necessary inventions of the contemporary society!).

Flourless Swedish Chocolate Cake KLADDKAKA + gifs

So...today I won't be too much wordy. Because I fail words to express my feelings about this cake. The most rich flavored chocolate cake I ever had in my life. Sticky when warm, becomes dense when chilled. Accomplished with fresh berries and slightly powdered with confectioner's sugar. I'm irreversibly for good and all in love.

Be ready for your life to change. Really. I warned you.

Brown Rice Pudding with Roasted Plums

You already know that I am a breakfast geek? I strongly believe that in the morning you can eat whatever you want without any pricks of conscience (on conditions that you are doing sports, go to the gum or at least lead an active life). The more I have stinted myself in food,  the more hunger I had for junk food . 

It is in our nature - people always hanker after forbidden fruit. Everyone knows that itching feeling to break the rule. And when you do - you feel relief.... along with remorse. For myself I do not like to feel guilt. And it is not about the opinion of others, it is more about my conscience, that makes me spend too much time thinking of my "sins".

Orange Rosemary Pancakes w/ Lavender Honey Whipped Cream

Pancakes...Pancakes...Pancakes.  I love PANCAKES! And who doesn't? I really thought about any imperfections of these particular recipe, but...no...they are perfect to me. Fluffy, with nice smooth texture, not sweet too much, and lavender whipped cream immensely balance all the flavors. Neither more nor less.

Berry Summer Cake

Until I began cooking almost every day, I had no idea of failures on the kitchen. I often heard from others about overbeaten frosting, underbaked cake, overdone pancakes...and so many different things, but it had never happened to me until I decided to make this cake. I had a lot of berries, which I needed to use (I tried to eat them all...but it appeared to be pointless))). I found the recipe. It  seemed very easy to make, minimum ingredients - flour, butter, sugar, eggs . With absolute certainty that in an hour I will have a summer cake on my table, I went to the kitchen, turned on the music (as I usually do) and ....Oh, how wrong I was!

Eggplant & Mushroom Spread

I have always been quite indifferent to bread. You know, there are people who can live no day without slice of bread. I am definitely not one of them. Choosing between salad + a piece of bread / salad + a joint of meat or fish, I will mostly always choose the second variant. 

But there is always a but....

Doughnut Peach Cheesecake Popsicles

YAY! My first popsicles! Look pretty, don't they? 

And taste even better! 

To all cheesecake lovers devoted).

Roasted Honey Apricots

Summer is a fruit and berry season. The variety of these gifts of nature makes every day of summer even more bright and colorful. In June - lots of red and blue colored berries - strawberries, red and black currants, blueberries, blackberries, raspberries. In July stone fruits - apricots, plums, peaches - are in season.

Cherry & Almond Frangipane Tartelettes

Believe  it or not, but only today I have realized, that half of the summer is already left behind. On the one hand it makes me sad, especially because we have only two months of summer holidays at the university (NOT enough!!).

Plus I'm a little bit disappointed, because all my plans for summer vacation went wrong.

Croissants with Frangipane and Peaches + Puff Pastry recipe

To tell the truth, I didn't even think about making croissants until my Lviv weekend. 

First of all I'm not a huge fan of puff pastry. This kind of pastry seemed for me too boring (if I can use this word)....I mean I don't like the ratio of pastry to the filling, cos the amount of the last one is always much less than my expectations...so what's the point in eating "bread"..?

Secondly, I always thought they are very difficult in the making. It is so much easier to use bought from the store puff pastry (actually, I've been doing just so up to this day=). 

So, back to Lviv...

Banana Tropicana Peanut Butter Granola

Oh, well...It's a shame that I still haven't shown you the recipe of this mega awesome Banana Granola! Granola is that kind of thing I can't live without. I can have it for breakfast only 1 or 2 times a week, sometimes I don't eat it for weeks at all. But you will always  find a jar of granola on my kitchen.)

Hot Chocolate with Salted Whipped Cream & Lviv

It's been a while...a week to be exact, but it seems like a month! 

Those of you who follow me on Instagram know that I've spent the last weekend in Lviv. Yep...that is why I haven't updated blog. Actually I could (uh-huh...I have some recipes in reserve for a rainy day) but I wanted at first to write a post about trip to Lviv.

Village life & Ukrainian national dish VARENYKY with Cherries (step-by-step recipe with gifs)

Born in big cities, growing up in the age of globalization, most of us forget about our roots, some unique customs and traditions, without which only half a century ago our grandparents couldn't imagine their lives. This rule does not always apply, nevertheless more and more people do not pay attention to their nationality in everyday life.

The flag of Ukraine) Blue sky above, wheat field below))

I am Ukrainian and I am proud of it!

If you are interested in learning something new about Ukraine, please, go on reading) A lot of pictures!)

Papaya Salad

A week ago my parents returned from Israel. They went there on a vacation to visit our close friends. I wish I also could go with them, but I was in the middle of passing my exams. Besides, once (2 years ago, I think) I have already payed a visit there.
Actually, this country surprised me very much, in a good way.  I mean I was amazed that such an oasis could be created in a desert. Their land was build of nothing...no water, poor soil, arid climate. The moment you step from  the plane on the ground, you see so much verdure around, blooming verdure.! It is hard to believe that you are actually in a desert!
However behind this beauty is concealed a hard work. Only imagine that under each bush is placed a tubule, which supplies the plant with water.
And only thanks to this irrigation system it became possible to cultivate various plants.

So now we are getting closer to the topic (yep...no post without food!)

The only thing I wanted my parents to bring home was food. A lot of exotic food.!!
Fruits. Papaya...Litchi...Mango.

Dried fruits...dates, coconut, pineapple.

Berry Tart (sugar free!)

This day has finally come! I've finished all of my exams. And it means that I am totally free till the end of summer. Two. TWo. TWO!!! months of long wished holiday!

The past two months were crazy. Sleepless nights, exhausting days. I felt that I could no more distinguish them.  I lived 24/7. So yeah...I can not describe you with the words my feelings right now. You just had to see me a few hours ago. You know, when neurosis is replaced by laughter, then access of tenderness....and laughter again...