Easter Bread

Easter bread, called Paska, is traditionally eaten in Ukraine during Easter holidays. Interesting that the recipe for it is similar to Italian Panettone, which is baked in Italy for Christmas. The tradition of eating Easter bread comes from religious reasons - Great Lent. Paska is made of all ingredients that are forbidden during the Lent and people break the fast by eating Easter bread loaded with butter, eggs, milk and sugar. Easter bread can be bought anywhere during the holidays, but there is something mysterious and magical in family tradition of baking Easter bread. The recipe goes from mother to daughter and each family has its own secrets.

I will be honest with you. In our family the right of baking Easter bread still belongs to my mother, because she is the one who keeps the family together. But all the fun belong to me, because I'm responsible for decorating part! Traditionally Paska is decorated with royal icing and sprinkles on the top. However lately in bakeries there are a lot of fancy variations which involve chocolate frosting, ganache, macaroons ans meringues, that I used last year. This time I went for less effortless, though not less beautiful dried fruits and nuts.

And to be totally honest, I wasn't planning to make a blog post out of it. Because I post only those recipes that I make by myself. But as long as I had brought home a huge bouquet of lilac the other day, I just couldn't resist not to use the opportunity.  

Gluten & Sugar - Free Healthy Orange Cheesecake

I have  made this cheesecake for the very first time in the beginning of May. Since than I've made it three more times, almost every weekend. And all this time I have been wanting to share the recipe with you so badly! 

The first time  I made this cheesecake, it was absolutely spontaneous. I happen to have 2 kg of the really good quality farmer cheese . Me + 2 kg of farmer cheese = baking.  I decided it must be a cheesecake, because actually I had been craving  after it for some time back than. So, when I had an opportunity to bake a lighter version, I didn't have to think twice. There was just a tiny problem - I was left without my camera for the whole week, so obviously no pictures - no post. However, it may have been even for the better, since I have improved the recipe afterwards.

I am not gonna lie, it was a wild month.  Every time I had made a cheesecake, there always were some obstacles in the way to hinder me from sharing the recipe. At first, I didn't have camera, then came an examination week, right after it - my birthday, the celebration of which have dragged on for the whole week! Yeah, now I am 20, by the way!

During all May this cheesecake has been my true saviour and a great friend. It is a perfect snack when I crave for something sweet, though it is flourless and sugar-free! I hope you will fall in love with it like I did. 

P.S. Do you also feel like a criminal when you pick the flowers in the public place?

Apple Cinnamon French Toast

I wasn't going to publish this recipe, because there is no actual recipe. The first time I made french toast I didn't follow any recipe, I just measured everything with my accurate eye. But, gosh! I didn't expect it to be so damn good! And this is the best part of it! It is ridiculously simple and quick in the making. You don't have to be a great cook to fry a slice of bread, after all! But you can and even have to experiment here. Replace cinnamon and sugar with shredded coconut or almond flakes. Use pears or peaches instead of apples. Serve your french toast with fresh berries or bananas and chocolate sauce. I gave you in this "recipe" just the approximate measurements and directions. But it lets you interpret and improvise. So, go ahead and make your perfect french toast for brunch.

Honey Cake

I can talk about cakes a lot. When it comes to baking, cakes are my favourite topic.  Cakes will always be on the top of the baking world (because they are simply  much higher than cookies, pies, scones and whatever else :). I love cakes in the winter, spring, summer and autumn. All the year round. And this cake (I mean this recipe) has seen all times of the year!.

As you know, I post only those recipes that have been approved by my family, especially by my father, who is the main critic to everything that is being made on the kitchen. So, only after his approval I can share the recipe here with a light heart.  If my memory doesn't fail me, Honey Cake was approved for the first time about 5 years ago. I have been making it for the most holidays ever since. It's a safe bet. It works all the time.

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.