Happy New Year 2019 | Pandoro Cake | Book of Elsa

This started life as a Galette des Rois that flopped quite literally because I cannot make very thick custard (no matter the recipe I always end up with a puddle of loose yellow cream). I wanted to try again making the puddle work for me so to speak. So here is a part cake, part trifle but wholly delicious dessert.

A Christmas Grinch | Book of Elsa

The forced cheerfulness, the crowds, the inevitable rain and anxiety about ones’ whole family gathering in one place can bring me out in hives if I’m perfectly honest. But I do love food and this year I’ve decided NOT to be a Grinch and it’s about time I try to embrace the Christmas spirit or just settle for finding it.
Right, so as I type it’s the 11th December and the shopping for presents is done, tick. The (real) tree is lit up, decorated and smelling lovely, tick. Oversized red stockings are on order and Amazon assures me they’re coming, tick. So far so good. However, the Christmas cheer isn’t spreading through me so much as I’m going through the motions… So last Sunday I went shopping in Manchester city centre. I wish I hadn’t, I thought the high street was dying, that no one shopped in stores anymore, that the consumer had moved online! Who were all these people?! Breathing became a challenge in one retailer such were the swarms, there was no stopping to enjoy beautiful lights; it was all elbows and rush, rush, rush. My friends and I managed a couple of hours before giving up and going home.
Which leads me nicely to this recipe: more tinkering per se rather than cooking. Please feel free to use shop bought puff or even shortcrust pastry if you’re not inclined to bring out the heavy machinery. Making mince pies is as close as I get to the spirit of the holidays and that is quite alright.

Week In Pictures - Montage Edition

Hi!
Welcome back to my blog!
This week is a bit different because it's in video form. Hope you enjoy it, comment if you like and would like to see more. As always
Thanks for watching....
XXO

Edinburgh Travel

Hi!
Welcome back,
I've only just got back from my trip to Edinburgh and may I just tell you: The pictures will not do it justice. It is one of the most beautiful cities I've ever visited combining old and new parts of town seemingly. The Scots are so warm and friendly I cannot wait to show you guys... I'm making/editing as I type. The excitement was killing me so I'd thought I'd share a little now.
ENJOY XXO :)

Valentines' Day

Today is a day for love so I wrote a love poem:

Contrary to popular belief, Love isn't a feeling
It is not blind emotion occurring whenever it pleases
Love doesn't strike at random touching only people in proximity of each other
It can conquer oceans, time, money and everything in between.
Love isn't the colour of lovers cheeks or the prettiness in their eyes
Love endures it all
Love says: I will stay with you. Always and Forever.
Love shows up with banners, bunting, whistles, fanfare.
Love is not a feeling. It doesn't disappear if lovers quarrel or one hurts the other.
Love hurts BECAUSE it cannot be helped or switched off
What is Love then, I hear you ask
I don't know.... If you figure it out, Let me know.

Elsa
XXO

The Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics

I am slightly ashamed to say that I love the Winter Olympics. A lot. Maybe more than the Summer ones if am honest really. I think it's because the athletes either defy gravity or challenge it in every event. For example, Luge: whose idea was it to slide a man/woman down a mountain at top speed with nothing between the ice and the athlete but a thin board? You'd have to be a crazy genius to think one would not only survive but thrive in that environment. That is probably why I love these games so much. The fact that some people are always trying to push personal boundaries both physical and mental reminds me why I love humanity.
Thus I come to the spirit of the games: Hot, Cool, Yours. To have the world compete to be the best in peaceful friendly ways in my opinion should happen every day. Until then however... These games shall represent the will of not only peace but collaboration, partnership and camaraderie between the participating countries and the watching public.
Ok, that's me done. I was working during the opening ceremony and first day of the games so I recorded everything and now have a ton of television to watch. Ice cream, blankets and pillows await.
XXO
PS: please, please visit the official Sochi 2014 site here:
 

Happy New Year!!

Chinese New Year is upon us and the year of the Horse is my birth year sooo to celebrate I am getting Chinese food and having an old style Jet Li marathon starting with Once Upon a Time in China and Martial Arts of Shaolin. Can't Wait!
Also I've found a recipe for my favourite dim sum of all time: Pork and Prawn Dumplings, from the BBC Food website to try later...
Any recommendations??

Happy Year of the Horse!
Enjoy, XXO