Pages

28 April 2011

Captures from my walk yesterday

I was out walking all day long yesterday and saw so many lovely things to capture with my camera, here are a few for you. I hope spring has arrived at your place by now and that you are enjoying every moment :)


And yaay - by the way, I have a free shipping worldwide coupon code for my etsy shop (valid until the end of May) - just use the code YAYSHIPPING when checking out.


Rhododendron Mucronulatum


Sakura


Primula Marginata


Spring Meadow


Philadelphus Sericanthus


Prunus Sargentii


Prunus Sargentii


Isn't spring so beautiful? I just LOVE it so much.


Have a wonderful day!
xoxo,
Maria

14 April 2011

Spring happenings

There is a lot going on outside right now, it is spring happening :)
The snow is gone, the birds sing and build nests, the ants are repairing their anthills, the earliest flowers are in bloom and I even saw two butterflies today.


Glory Of The Snow
Glory of the snow (Chiondoxa forbesii baker)


Spring happening: Glory of the snow and Hoverfly :)
Glory of the snow and Hoverfly


Ahh finally some grass showing up :)
Fresh green grass


European Peacock Butterfly
European Peacock Butterfly (*yaay* my first one this year :))


Ant with Isopod
Ant with Isopod


Wood Pigeon Nesting
Wood Pigeon building nest


Oh, how I love this, everything is awakening. And it all happens so fast. It is hard to understand that there where a lot of snow just two weeks ago.


Happy spring to all of you!


xoxo,
Maria

07 April 2011

Chocolate Butter Cream Macaroons

ChokladbiskvierDippy

Chokladbiskvier03

Recipe (about 30 cookies)

CRUST
400 g of Almond paste
2,5 deciliter of sugar
3 egg whites


BUTTER CREAM (FILLING)
300 g unsalted butter or margarine
2,25 deciliter of icing sugar
3 teaspoons of vanilla sugar
3 egg yolks
1,5 tablespoons of coffee (instant coffee is fine)
2 tablespoons of cocoa


GARNISH
225 g of chocolate (I used dark 70% but you can pick which one you like the most)
30 g coconut butter


CRUST

  1. Grate almond paste on a grater. Mix it with sugar and egg whites. Whisk until creamy, preferably with an electric beater.
  2. Pipe the batter into flat round cakes, about 4 cm in diameter on parchment paper. Let them stand on the plate about 30 minutes at room temperature.
  3. Bake cakes in middle of oven at 175ºC (347º F), for about 15-20 minutes (they will be golden brown). Allow them to cool on the plate.
FILLING
  1. Let the butter/margarine stand in room temperature for 10 minutes. Stir butter/margarine with the icing and vanilla sugar until creamy. It is best with an electric beater. Add the yolks, one at a time. Season with the coffee and cocoa.
  2. Spread the cream on the underside of the crusts.
  3. Place the cakes in the refrigerator (30 minutes) or in the freezer (15 minutes) until the butter cream hardens.
GARNISH
  1. Melt the chocolate and coconut butter.
  2. Dip the creamy part of the cake in the melted chocolate once or twice. Let the chocolate harden in between.

STORAGE: Refrigerator 6-8 days, in freezer about 3 months.

Finished already? Then enjoy - yum!