HOLIDAYS :)

Chef duties... hanging an octopus!
I know it may look disgusting, but I love it... pizza with sausage and chips!!! Blasphemy :D

Christmas table...

Paella :)

Panettone with Crema Lodigiana (eggs, mascarpone, sugar and brandy)

Ski!!!! Lots of fresh snow and not many people!

A truly beautiful day. It was -9C at 12pm

This first day of skiing has been really tiring...

I'll be back for more tomorrow! (What nasty fillings at the back...)

I have so much to study, but I'm falling asleep as we speak... Good night!

MCDONALD'S IN ITALY

I'm back home for the Christmas holidays.
Today we went to a big sopping centre just outside Milan for a bit of late Christmas shopping. We stoppoed at McDonald's for a quick lunch.
They have a new special: MOZZARILLO. I had to try it.
Just to clarify, I hardly ever eat at McDonald's, but when I travel I like trying what is not on the British menu... not sure why...

Mozzarillo is a burger in focaccia bread...

... some kind of basil and tomato mayo, lettuce and mozzarella. I thought it was nice. I liked the mozzarella. It could have done with a bit more flavour, but for McDonald's it wasn't bad ;)

These two didn't get Mozzarillo!

ANOTHER SONG I REALLY LIKE :)

SWEDISH CHRISTMAS FAIR

As Christmas approaches, it is time for fairs and markets!

Famous (?) Swedish hotdogs welcomed us at the entrance...

I must say that it was really good :)

There were many stalls selling Swedish products. All the staff were dressed in traditional clothes...

There were a lot of hand-made, cute Christmas decorations...

The butcher...

The church had been transformed into a tea hall!

Everyone sat on the church benches and enjoyed tea, coffee and home baked cakes...

The parish grannies prepared all kinds of traditional cakes and sandwiches...

It felt a bit strange to sit and eat in a church... a good idea, but a new experience for me. All around us reminders of where we were...

Candles and sacred hymns...

Below is my slice of Princess Cake. A piece of heaven in your mouth! Light sponge with cream and marzipan :)

Traditional prawns sandwich...

Commemorative canvas tote bag (I got one!)

The bread stall... a lot of gingerbread for sale!

Julbocks!

More decorations :)

Traditional Dala horses. I like them!

Unmissable glogg :)

Textiles...

More julbock... I've always found them a bit scary... they remind me of the wicker man somehow... Well, they are all of pagan origin, I suppose...

Walking sticks... I like the crow's head one.

Time to go! There is more glogg and pea soup (?) outside.

Better not, we had enough treats for today!

400 WOMEN

400 Women is a project driven by human rights artist Tamsyn Challenger. The exhibition commemorates the lives of more than 400 women brutally murdered and raped in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, in the past two decades. Over 200 international artists have taken part and have painted one of the murdered or missing women each.

The exhibition is on until 5th of December at the Shoreditch Townhall (in the Basement), 380 Old Street, London, EC1V 9LT. Entry is free.

I have seen a documentary and read a lot on line about Ciudad Juarez. I felt horrified, scared and angry. If you have never heard of it, this is a link to a quick sum up. This is by no means a cheerful exhibition, but an eye opener to a brutal reality. In Tamsyn Challenger's words " I see the project as a political statement against gender violence around the world. There's a bigger picture. Ciudad Juarez is like an open wound".

Life is good and the world is wonderful, but not for everyone. It is important to keep this in mind, not to forget and honour their memory.

Hope you can make it.

HAPPY HALLOWEEN :)

Spooky head to toe :D





Dinner at Eirik. Western Norway's traditional Christmas dinner. A bit early, but I'm not Norwegian, so I don't have to respect the tradition ;)

Swede mash...

Pinnekjøtt, dried and salted ribs of lamb. You need to reconstitute them by soaking them overnight and then steam cook them. Really tasty.

I like them just steamed, but some people put them in the oven for a few minutes to crisp them up a bit. We had both styles :)

My take on MJ's salted caramel cheese cake. I've changed some of the ingredients and added spooky sweets. Happy Halloween!