The World Is an Oyster

Cruising Memoirs of a Wanderlust Soul. A Travel And Food Blog

The World Is an Oyster
Easter 17

Easter / Holidays

Why Do Christians Celebrate Easter On Different Occasions?

Why is Orthodox Easter celebrated at a different date than Catholic Easter? Well, it is almost impossible to grasp the intricacies of a two-thousand-year-old religion, especially when there is so much controversy around it. There is an ocean of written information for those interested in more profound diggings, but I will attempt a simplified explanation. Christianity is not the first monotheistic religion. Allegedly, Zoroastrianism seems to be about 12.000 years old and had lasted a few thousand years (even until today in some areas). In contrast, Akhenaten’s attempt to impose a monotheistic religion by instating Ra as the sun god...

orange and ricotta upside down cake 25

Italy / Savour the Flavour

How to Make Upside Down Caramelised Orange Cake With Ricotta

An Italian Inspired Delight for Your Morning Coffee Orange and ricotta cake in endless variations is a famous desert around Italy, especially in the south where orange trees grow everywhere, not only in orchards, and cheesemaking has become a true art over the millennia. I often look for inspiration in the incredible Italian cuisine when cooking or baking, and each time I congratulate myself for the result is always exceptional. I tried two versions for this cake: for one, I sprinkled sugar on the bottom of the baking mould and placed the orange slices over it to caramelise them during...

Easter bunny sponge cake 25

Easter / Holidays

How to Make a Fluffy Easter Bunny Cake

Chocolate and Mascarpone Easter Cake There is great fun for kids of all ages (going up to 45!) to pinch chocolate eggs and cut a chunk of this fluffy looking Easter bunny cake! I speak from personal experience. For a long time, I searched online for a bunny-shaped cooking mould. As I am a bit picky and hard to impress with the available offers, I decide to ditch wasting time and make my own shape. An A4 paper, a pair of scissors and a rectangular baking mould readily available made for the trouble of ordering online and waiting a couple...

Traditional Easter recipes 41

Easter / Holidays

Traditional Easter Foods For A Special Celebration

What is on Your Easter Table? Easter is the Christian celebration of Jesus’ resurrection three days after his horrific killing by human fellows. Chronologically (according to the Bible), Easter or Passover in Hebrew has been celebrated 1500 years before Jesus’ time, since the Israelites’ liberation from Egypt. Etymologically, the Latin word for Easter – Pascha, of Aramaic origins – is at the base of the names for this religious holiday in all Latin languages today (Paşte in Romanian, Pasqua in Italian, Pâques in French, Pascua in Spanish and Páscoa in Portuguese.) The English word is newer and has Anglo-Saxon roots...

Pasca Romanian Easter Cake 24

Easter / Holidays

Easter Pasca: A Traditional Cake for A Special Occasion

The Romanian Traditional Recipe Pasca is a specific Romanian Easter cake filled with sweet cheese and raisins. The recipe consists of a basic Romanian cozonac dough or the Italian version of it, Panettone, with added sweet cheese filling.  Pasca has a deep religious symbolism that revolves around Jesus’ resurrection. The name of the cake itself has prehistoric roots. In the past two millennia, it has been associated with the Christian feast that commemorates the miracle of resurrection. Pasqua in Italian means Easter, and derivates of the word mean the same thing in all Latin languages. In Romanian it would be...

rustic roasted potatoes with game sausages 30

Romania / Savour the Flavour

How to Make Rustic Roasted Potatoes With Game Sausages

A Cosy Winter Dish Rustic roasted potatoes with game sausages or traditionally prepared meats are a regular dish in any Romanian restaurant, especially in Transylvania.I grew up in the magnificent city of Brașov, surrounded by mountains. The ski resort was only fifteen minutes away, so I would go up to the slops even without the intention to practise winter sports, but only for a hearty meal at one of the restaurants that would offer traditional foods. And take my word, there is no better, tastier and delicious food than the traditional Romanian!I had this dish with small and big game,...

homemade chocolate bits 30

Christmas / Easter / Romania / Savour the Flavour / Valentine's Day

How To Make Homemade Chocolate From Scratch

The Best Chocolate Is Always Homemade! Homemade chocolate is the most delicious treat mom used to make when I was a child. Using simple ingredients and requiring little time and effort, homemade chocolate is easy to make from scratch, and the taste is divine! The velvety softness and aromas will make you fall in love with it and prefer it over the classical bars, guaranteed! Mom always saved it for special occasions, Christmas, Easter or birthdays, making it more desirable. These days, homemade chocolate would make a perfect Valentine’s Day treat or gift, or a unique addition to the special...

Valentine's day dessert recipes 59

Holidays / Valentine's Day

Valentine’s Day. Why and How Do We Celebrate It?

Why Do We Celebrate Valentine’s Day? The world celebrates Valentine’s Day – the winter holiday of love – as a religious remembering of St Valentine, a Roman priest that married couples against Emperor Claudius’ order. Claudius was involved in endless wars with the enemies of the largest ancient empire and needed soldiers. In his vision, a soldier who had a wife and family was not reliable. So he declared marriage illegal. Valentine, a young priest in Umbria (Umbri, in Roman times), cared more about young love than he cared about an emperor’s orders and kept marrying couples secretly. In the...

30

Holidays / Valentine's Day

Easy to Make Oatmeal Pancakes: A Healthy Breakfast for Your Sweetheart

A Special Breakfast for A Special Occasion How does spoiling your loved ones with flourless, refined sugar-free and fruity oatmeal pancakes sound? If not often, at least on special occasions, such as a birthday, Mother’s Day or Valentine’s Day? Whenever you feel like showing your love on a healthy plate, this breakfast recipe will do just that. Be assured that the beneficiary will appreciate and enjoy your effort! Healthy oatmeal pancakes are an excellent substitute for getting out of your porridge routine; even more when the occasion is special. So why not spoil your sweetheart on a special morning with...

pear and almond chocolate cake 32

Italy / Savour the Flavour / Valentine's Day

How to Make the Softest Italian Pear and Almond Chocolate Cake

Valentine’s Day Delight or Daily Coffee Side? This Pear and Almond Chocolate Cake is a delicious and versatile dessert that works wonderfully both as an indulgent dessert to finish a romantic Valentine Day’s dinner AND as a side for your daily coffee(s). To the Italians, it is in most cases the latter, but that does not mean this pear and almond chocolate cake cannot make a perfect special occasion dessert. To me, it works the same way Tiramisù would: “wow!” And “can I have more, please?” Imagine the combination of delicate, soft and juicy pears and the crunchiness offered by...

walnut snails 32

Christmas / Easter / Romania / Savour the Flavour

Walnut Snails Recipe Inspired by a Famous German Pastry

How the Walnut Snails Recipe Made It to Mom’s Recipe Book Mom’s walnut snails recipe is an adaptation of the Nussschnecken desert which is basically a sweet bun of Saxon origins, filled with nuts and cinnamon. Schnecken is the German word for snails, which suggests the unique shape of this finger-licking delicious walnut filled treats. Given Transylvania’s Saxon heritage, our cooking and especially baking have seen a tremendous German influence over the centuries.  When I was a child, mom’s best friend was a German lady who used to bake weekly. She would always invite us to keep her company while she was dancing...

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