Cake forty - one alias Bread Two

Bread Bunny & Sheep

There’s a long tradition of Easter breads in each country, wreaths and braids are certainly the most common shapes, with or without eggs on top. They range from the most sophisticated ones which look like bread sculptures to very simple ones which look like a doughnut with a hard-boiled egg in the centre. I remember my granny was so proud to give me one of these doughnut-like breads. She lived in a  small village in the South and only saw me twice a year; there was always one of them for me at Easter.

It definitely meant something special for her but I didn’t understand what! It was only a round piece of bread with an egg on top, neither soft or sweet in my child's eyes. I thanked her politely, but now after many years I’m sure she understood I didn’t appreciate it much! It had nothing to compare with the colourful and delicious chocolate egg I would receive from my parents. Now I see she was offering me a piece of her past, it was her way to give me her blessing, a kind of ritual to pass on to me. Her bread looked quite ordinary, I must admit, but it was her work of art, the best she could do. 

song: And I love her
to all grannies and, in particular, to mine

see recipe:  http://time-for-cake-making.blogspot.it/2014/06/cake-forty-one-alias-bread-two-bread.html

Easter Baking - Cake forty

Easter Basket and decorations

Festivities and birthdays are the right moments we can devote more time and care to table laying and table decorations. What may seem useless on first thought is on the contrary what gives that day a special connotation. It’s what makes it different from the other days and gives our celebration further importance. It comes natural to me to spend time organizing the smallest details for the table and invent something new every time: I’m speaking of the choice of the tablecloth which matches plates, glasses and cutlery and the flower centrepiece and decorations. I personally like to kind of play with dough and make edible decorations: hanging gingerbread cookies in the shape of trees, stars, reindeers or Father Christmas at Christmas, a basket to put eggs in at Easter and bunnies, of course! 

Song: Ask me why

If you ask me why.... I’ll say I love baking!

see recipe http://time-for-cake-making.blogspot.it/2014/06/cake-forty-easter-basket-and-decorations.html

Easter baking - Cake thirty-nine

Chocolate eggs and lollipops - 2014

Chocolate causes addiction, no doubt! When you start eating some you’d never stop, you kind of magically feel better, the cocoa molecules cast their spell and capture your senses, they melt your heart and appease your mouth, but this state of food ecstasy doesn’t last long! A few moments after you’ve swallowed the last bite a mixed feeling of pleasure and regret pervades you and shortly afterwards you are 100% aware of the consequences of your eating chocolate. So you get crossed and console yourself with another bite and..... there you are in the trap once more! The circle has started again! 

Working with chocolate gives you the same appeasing sensation without side effects and frustrating feelings though. I love melting chocolate, I like the fact you can use it for writings, frostings and what I find most fun for chocolates of any shapes, colour and taste. At Easter eggs and rabbits of any size are a must, but egg-shaped lollipops are definitely my favourites!

Song: Across the universe

Follow your thoughts while they're tumbling free across the universe!

see recipe: http://time-for-cake-making.blogspot.it/2014/06/easter-baking-cake-twenty-nine.html