What Makes a Travel Destination Romantic?

Various sources look at love and romance connected to travel destinations differently. Today is all about surveys and algorithms that give an idea about everything, and it is the case for romance, too.

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The Bride magazine, for instance, awarded New York as the most romantic city and preferred proposal destination as well as LGBT wooing in 2019.

A simple Google search for the most romantic travel destination would bring Europe forward, with Paris taking the top spot, followed by Santorini and Venice. Not much to argue, there!

Interestingly, searching for the most romantic country in the world would put the Philippines at the top of the list, followed by Rwanda and the very hot Puerto Rico, all three with over 90% of “people experiencing love on a daily basis” (source The Atlantic, accessed 18/01/2022). Hungary and Cyprus are just below the 90% mark.

Meanwhile, the United States occupies 27th place and France 57! I get poorer nations know better how to prioritize and get to have way more fun! Rich does not necessarily mean happy has been proven right times and again!

Gosh, I loved Puerto Rico! Hot, indeed – places and people! I won’t get into details here because that is another travel-love story that waits for me to write it!

The most romantic holiday destinations seem to include sandy beaches and azure waves lapping at the lover’s feet. No wonder Bali, Cancun, the Maldives or Hawaii would be at the top of the list before significant cities. Buenos Aires (the place of caliente, sensual Argentine tango), Paris or Venice – both competing for “the city of love” appellative for the historical love stories inspired by each and made famous by great writers follow short, though.

What Made my Romantic World Travel Destinations List and Why?

I would love to include in this post a few of the places other fellow travel bloggers and I visited and wrote about as sources of inspiration for your future travels.

Whether you are a couple, single, young or mature, travel for work or relaxation, look for cityscapes or gastronomic destinations, beaches or wineries, in love or hoping to find love in your travels, check the locations included here and see what makes them romantic. Perhaps one day you will decide to buy a plane ticket and fly away to your dream romantic world travel destination you have read about right here!

No matter what your motivation to travel is, any place has its romantic traits if you know where to look. An impressive medieval castle, a sumptuous king’s court surrounded by hectares of lavish gardens, a gondola ride, a perfect meal, a sunset on a wild beach, a skydive over a desert oasis or small-town airbase, a boat paddling on a tiny pond or cruising the oceans – all these and more have their dose of romance included if love drives you to plan travelling!

Any place in the world can make you feel butterflies in your stomach if you happen to be there with the right person. People make places romantic! I have never read a book that describes the sensual way in which a stonemason built a wall!

I said it and will repeat it every chance I have: love is the strongest force in the universe. Hate never created anything but destruction.

Enjoy reading and, if possible, travel to see the places you only read about! Travelling should be a basic necessity and accessible to everyone on this planet! We all know that is not the case, but we can all dream of it and let our imagination wander free in places we hope to visit or re-visit one day!

Limassol, Cyprus or Cruise Ship Romance

Cruising the seas of the world is definitely romantic. Working on cruise ships can and is, too. You don’t just see so many places in a short time, but you meet many interesting people. Because Cupid has his ways, this is an actual affair. I was there. It happened to me. It was… well, read for yourself!

Venice, Italy – Beyond the Façade

Venice, the Serenissima, and her inhabitants have inspired countless love books or movies. Almost every corner, each little canal or Piazzetta offers the perfect angle for a picture, the best restaurant for dinner, or just a private corner to steal a kiss! Still, a lot is not in plain sight but worth discovering. And, yeah, apparently I wrote about the sensual way a famous artist painted a wall! Oops! Art is seductive and painful – a complicated affair!

Cairo, Egypt – A Love for History

Does it have anything to do with Cleopatra VII Philopator and Marcus Antonius? Not really; well, there is some history there. But it has more to do with a particular “Spanish-speaking Egyptian tour guide exuding exotic charm and owner of long, dark and thick eyelashes that would make any girl jealous”. Read the post for clarification!

Romantic Mendocino on the West Coast of the USA

No need to cross the world in search of a romantic place. If you happen to live on the West Coast, there is at least one at the door (don’t take it literarily, you will have to drive to get there!) It might be just what the doctor ordered for your relationship (with your partner, food, nature, and so on!)

Amalfi Coast, Italy – A Gourmand’s Paradise

The Amalfi Drive is southern Italy’s best-known stretch of coast, famous for breathtaking scenery, little postcard towns perched on the mountain cliff, dramatic drop to the narrow beaches and infinite blue sea. But the region’s best is undoubtedly its seafood. Are you looking for inspiration to book a romantic world travel destination for your holiday or simply a romantic Valentine’s Day dinner at home? Stop here! Recipe included!

Kauai, Hawaii

Didn’t I mention sandy beaches and incredible blue waters as the top romantic destination for many? I did, and you have already read it (unless you skipped that paragraph!) Look no further for a complete guide to the Coconut Coast of Kauai, and imagine how romantic it would be to take your loved one there!

Istanbul, Turkey – The Night’s Mistress on the Golden Horn

What happens when somebody with a romantic interest asks you out for dinner in an incredibly alluring, exotic and vibrant city, and you fall to the city’s charms instead of your date’s? Is it even possible? It was to me, and you will see why if you click here to read the story!

Tahiti, French Polynesia

Still a beach holiday, but perhaps a good idea if you are planning to enjoy time with your friends on a Galentine’s Day holiday. There is so much to do, to see and explore, to eat and drink, but most of all, have fun with your gals!

Capri, Italy – The Most Romantic Destination on Earth!

A long time ago, I read a book, fell in love with the place described in it and could not wait to see the site. And, my, was it worth the wait! A good Swedish doctor fell in love with a place and its people in Anacapri, on the beautiful island of Capri. He bought a patch of land with a long history and built his villa with sweat and blood. He said Capri was the one place in the world he wanted to die. I say it is the one place in the world I want to live in! Read to see why!

Best Relais in Emilia Romagna for Foodies

If you ever wondered why the Italians relationship with food is so special, you need to visit nearly all of the country and the many diverse regions to get the right impression! Here is a good starting point: Antica Corte Pallavicina – a little piece of heaven in the Emilia Romagna region of Northern Italy. Buon viaggio e buon appetito!

Santorini, Greece in White and Blue

Greece is famous for its many islands strewn in the blue waters of the Mediterranean Sea, for millennia of history, for its art and nature and most of all, perhaps, its food. And the quaint village of Oia perched on Santorini’s white clifftop is the right place to enjoy it all before driving down to the shore for a splash in the crystal-clear waves! Or you could learn about the goodness of a simple meal through the eyes of a wanderer. Recipe included!

The Best Wineries in Prince Edward County, Canada

Two hours from Toronto, a gorgeous wine county to go winery hopping is the perfect way to see the region and get your day drinking on! Prince Edward County is home to over 35 wineries and has made a real name for itself within Canada. The region is most well known for its Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, so be sure to try those wines in particular.

Romantic Trsteno Arboretum, Croatia – AKA Olena’s Gardens in GOT

Before this beautiful arboretum made a fantastic film location for Game of Thrones, I had the gardens all to myself to share with my boyfriend back then. No picture and not even the famous series does enough justice to this incredibly romantic corner of paradise. Best to visit! Meanwhile, see why my boyfriend’s nickname was Hotass!

Alaskan Cruise – The best Way to Celebrate Anniversaries

How can a cruise not be romantic? Here is the perspective of a cruiser, her advice, tips and of course, the highlights of her anniversary cruise with her husband. Incredible nature, five-star service, excursions of a lifetime and Dramamine tablets, just in case!

What Would be the Most Romantic World Travel Destination for You?

Hopefully, this post offered you the opportunity of an imaginary trip to some of the most romantic world travel destinations. What is your favourite, even if not included here? Where did you travel and find it incredibly lovely? What are your future travel plans, and do they include romantic places? Even better, what makes a place romantic? Drop a comment below; I would love to hear your opinion.

Romantic World Travel Destinations to Consider Visiting in Search for Love

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Walnut meringue crescent moon cookies were always the best delight mom baked for holidays. It is a dessert easy to make but so flavourful, with a tender base, a jam layer and a creamy, nutty top – precisely what we loved to munch on often in-between meal times.

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We would sneak into the pantry where mom kept the massive trays will all the goodies she’d baked for Christmas or Easter (of which the fluffy cozonac was always the centrepiece!) and pinch moon cookies from the beautiful stack so that she would not see (so we thought!) how many were missing by the big day!

It was not long until I started making them with my younger sister and repeated the recipe mainly around Christmas time.

This year, I had the precious helping hand of Santa’s little helper contributing to baking mom’s traditional walnut and meringue crescent moon cookies, and the fun we had in the kitchen was delightful!

Of course, witty Santa’s helper (England born and bred) reading an old recipe handwritten in Romanian was hilarious. Still, I was there to provide the correct translation, and we did not use any alien ingredients on this occasion!

What was incredibly touching to see was how the little helper managed perfectly well with very little intervention on my part. I watched and reminisced how I did the same, around the same age, if not older, in mom’s kitchen back home in Romania.

I am glad to write this and forever remember the generation switch moment as it happened, keeping an old tradition and using the same old (and a tad grease-stained in places) recipe book that mom took the time and patience to write.

It feels emotional now that I’m writing down the recipe. But when we baked the walnut meringue crescent moons, it was fun and pure joy to see how different ingredients transform when mixed and create a delightful dessert.

We agreed on something we both have a passion for – baking is biochemistry, and the kitchen is the lab!

Mom used whatever ingredients she could buy during a difficult time, when communist rule meant restrictions of all sorts, including food.

Today, I am trying to educate my kid to understand the difference the temperature brings to various ingredients and how to use healthier versions and combine them in a way that keeps the flavour but reduces the harm to our body. Mom’s recipe mentioned margarine; we use organic coconut oil or organic butter.

For a self-proclaimed future scientist, I am delighted to see how such a young person understands what excessive refining does to sugar and why that is harmful to our health or how the human digestive system does not have the right enzyme to process cow milk and how healthier substitutes not only help personal health but have a role in the massive chain reaction that affects the environment.

Back to our fun baking for a couple of hours, it was the best time spent away from the computer, and I can’t wait until next time it happens again!

The cookies came out perfectly, and we did a lot of bowl-licking in the process and cooky testing to check that the final product passes the approval of the otherwise fussy quality control bakers and eaters in the family!

Miraculously, the cookies kept disappearing from the platter just as I remember it happened when I was a child! But I rest assured the little helper can bake just fine anytime, not just for holidays, while I watch and enjoy a delightful walnut merengue crescent moon cookie when ready with my cappuccino. Perhaps it will be way more than one, in the end, because they are addictively scrumptious!

Ingredients for walnut meringue crescent moon cookies

For the base

Egg yolks

Coconut oil

Coconut sugar

Baking powder

Orange zest

Plain white flour

Salt

Jam layer

Any jam goes, but a slightly sour one will enhance the flavours. I prefer reduced sugar spicy strawberry jam. A jar is enough for this recipe.

For the meringue

Egg whites

Coconut sugar

Walnuts

Rum essence

Salt

Preparation method for walnut meringue crescent moon cookies

The base

Add the coconut oil at room temperature, a pinch of salt, orange zest, and coconut sugar to a large mixing bowl. Use a handheld mixer and the dough hooks to mix at a low speed.

Add the egg yolks one by one and continue mixing.

Sieve the flour and baking powder over and mix until it incorporates nicely.

If the dough becomes too firm, add a spoon or two of milk and mix.

Move the dough into a lined baking tray and level it by pressing gently with your wet hands.

Spread the jam over and level it nicely with a spatula.

The meringue

Before starting, preheat the oven to 180°C (356°F) and line the baking tray with a silicone sheet or baking parchment.

We followed mom’s method for the meringue and made the French version. Because we baked the walnut meringue crescent cookies already assembled, the meringue did not need beforehand cooking.

Mix the egg whites with a pinch of salt at high speed until stiff. Use a grinder to finely grind the coconut sugar (until you obtain a powdered, lighter brown icing sugar). Add it gradually to the eggs and mix at a low speed.

Grind the walnuts (not too long; they need to remain flakey) and add them to the batter. Fold gently with a spatula until incorporated.

Pour the meringue over the jam and level it without pressing too much.

Bake for 40 minutes and check the top is not charring.

When ready and you have checked the walnut meringue and base are cooked throughout, let it cool slightly.

Use a medium-size drinking glass to cut the crescent moon shapes while still warm.

Enjoy the cute and tasty walnut meringue crescent cookies with a festive hot chocolate or a nice cappuccino!

Print

Walnut Meringue Crescent Cookies

These little cookies in a cute crescent moon shape are the easiest dessert to make, but so flavourful, with a tender base, a jam layer and a creamy, nutty top. Perfect for holidays and any other occasion!

(Contains allergens!)

Course Dessert

Cuisine Romanian

Keyword Christmas treats, walnut meringue crescent cookies

Prep Time 30 minutes minutes

Cook Time 40 minutes minutes

Cooling time 20 minutes minutes

Total Time 1 hour hour 30 minutes minutes

Ingredients

The dough

• 200 g organic coconut oil
• 5 egg yolks organic, medium
• 400 g plain flour organic, white
• 1 tsp baking powder flat
• 80 g coconut sugar organic
• 1 organic orange zest
• 1 pinch salt sea/rock

Organic strawberry jam

The merengue

• 5 egg whites
• 120 g ground coconut sugar organic
• 150 g ground walnuts organic
• 1 pinch salt sea/rock
• 1 tbsp rum essence

Instructions

To make the dough

• Add the coconut oil at room temperature, a pinch of salt, orange zest, and coconut sugar in a large mixing bowl. Use a handheld mixer and the dough hooks to mix at a low speed.
• Add the egg yolks one by one and continue mixing.
• Sieve the flour and baking powder over and mix until it incorporates nicely.
• If the dough becomes too firm, add a spoon or two of milk and mix. Optionally, chill the dough for half an hour.
• Move the dough into a lined baking tray and level it by pressing gently with your wet hands.
• Spread the jam over and level it nicely with a spatula.
  

The meringue

• Preheat the oven to 180°C (356°F) and line the baking tray with a silicone sheet or baking parchment.
• Batter the egg whites with a pinch of salt at high speed until stiff. Use a grinder to finely grind the coconut sugar (until you obtain a powdered, lighter brown icing sugar). Add it gradually to the eggs and mix at a low speed.
• Grind the walnuts (not too long; they need to remain flakey) and add them to the batter. Fold gently with a spatula until incorporated. Add the rum essence.
• Pour the meringue over the jam and level it without using too much pressure.
• Bake for 40 minutes and check the top is not charring.
• When the baking time is up, use a toothpick to check that the walnut meringue and base are cooked thoroughly.
  
• Keeping the parchment/silicone sheet, move the cake from the tray to a cooling rack. Allow it to cool slightly.
• Move from the cooling rack to the tabletop and use a medium drinking glass to cut the crescent moon shapes while the cake is still warm.

Walnut Meringue Crescent Cookies Easy Recipe

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Cocktail Recipes (Alcoholic or Not) To Accompany Your Festive Dinners

Another year past deserves recognition in the form of a celebratory dinner, and no Christmas or New Year feast would be buoyant enough without unique festive cocktails (be it alcoholic or not) to accompany the bountiful festive menu you have worked so hard to prepare!

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The end of the year is when we gather to celebrate and share gifts and joy. It is also a time of reflection back to the year gone, to the hardship and small victories we went through day by day. If we are smart enough, we try to learn something from life’s lessons and also plan to improve in any aspect in the new year.

It is the second year in a row in which a typical nostalgic feeling about the year past might be replaced with anxiety, depression, fear. If possible, we should try to see the full glass (after all, this is a post about drinks, is it not?)

What drives us forward and makes us see the day of light is the hope that things will get better, life will be good, and we will be okay. And we will be! It might be not easy now, but everything has an end!

We will meet with friends we have not seen in ages; we will hug each other, laugh and dance, and enjoy a good meal and a funky drink because this is what humans do!

If anyone can genuinely foresee the future, perhaps they would like to enlighten all of us. Until then, let’s just remember that everything in this world has energy – you, the house you live in, the pebbles in your garden – everyone and everything that happens to be close to you at any given moment.

And energy has a way of transforming according to the vibes each object, animate or inanimate, produces.

If there is logic in everything, then good vibes, kindness and positivity must attract the same thing. And goodness should be the conclusion of this reflection time, as a good drink should accompany the feast we all are having, hopefully, at the end of yet another odd year!

Have your pick from this generous list of festive cocktails and enjoy the holiday season!

1. Cranberry Moscow Mule

Recipe provided by saporitokitchen.com.

This cranberry Moscow mule is a fun twist on the classic cocktail. Flavoured and garnished with cranberry, this cocktail is perfect for the holiday season. Whether you are having a party or enjoying a quiet evening at home, this festive Moscow mule is sure to put you in the holiday spirit.

2. Mulled wine (with or without alcohol)

Recipe provided by gohealthywithbea.com.

Traditional mulled wine or non-alcoholic mulled wine, whatever you choose, is the perfect holiday and winter season comfort drink. In France, it is popular in Alsace (the region close to the German border) around Christmas time, especially at Christmas markets. A must-have on your festive cocktails list!

3. White Chocolate Snowflake Martini

Recipe provided by theartoffoodandwine.com.

White chocolate snowflake Martinis are a gorgeous accompaniment to any winter night, especially a festive one. Still, it is also great for apres ski, an evening dinner party, or a cozy night in. Whatever the occasion, these cocktails will keep you smiling.

4. Cranberry Orange Holiday Sangria

Recipe provided by kaleenaskitchen.com.

The time of year has come for all the fun treats and holiday cocktails. This cranberry orange holiday Sangria is the new holiday favourite among the festive cocktails list! It is a perfect mix of white wine, cranberry vodka, cranberry juice, and orange juice.

5. Gingerbread Martini Christmas Cocktail

Recipe provided by aubreyskitchen.com.

Is it that time of year where you want to cozy up by the fire in your pyjamas while enjoying a delicious Christmas Cocktail? This gingerbread martini recipe is a delightful Christmas drink with Baileys, perfect for your pyjama mood. Are you hosting a festive party? Then it is also the absolute best and festive Christmas Cocktail to enjoy with friends and family.

6. Sugar Cookies for Santa Cocktail (Boozy Christmas Eve Drink)

Recipe provided by kimandkalee.com.

Santa is sure to love this boozy Christmas Eve drink that is both sweet and festive! The sugar cookies for Santa cocktail is great for a holiday party or movie night too! 

7. Cranberry Festive Cocktail

Recipe provided by thegiftedgabber.com.

If you are looking for an easy Christmas cranberry cocktail, you are in luck! This cocktail is the easiest drink you can pour – made of vodka with cranberry juice. 

8. Whiskey Blood Orange Smash

Recipe provided by saporitokitchen.com.

This whiskey blood orange smash is one of the best winter cocktails. Fresh blood orange juice is mixed with rosemary-infused simple syrup and whiskey, then topped off with fizzy ginger beer.

9. Peppermint Piña Colada

Recipe provided by theblondcook.com.

Traditional Piña Colada gets a festive twist in these delicious peppermint Piña Coladas spiked with rum and peppermint schnapps! Adding a little grenadine for the pretty pink colour is optional, and the presentation with the crushed candy cane rim makes it look more festive.

10. Grinch Christmas Cocktail

Recipe provided by sulaandspice.com.

How could we let the month go by without a nod to our favourite holiday grouch, the Grinch himself? Let’s give the man what belongs to him and make a lemony drink. Mr Grinch is a more casual kinda guy, so feel free to serve it on the rocks in a tumbler type glass.

11. Coquito: Puerto Rican Coconut and Rum Festive Cocktail

Recipe provided by senseandedibility.com.

Coquito translates to “little coconut” in English. It is a drink with a lil’ bit of coconut and a whole lotta rum. Puerto Ricans serve this creamy libation during the holiday season. Technically, you can make it whenever you want to, but, traditionally, it is served beginning at Thanksgiving through to Three King’s Day on January sixth.

12. Advocaat Egg Liqueur

Recipe provided by vividlychristmas.com.

If you don’t want to buy commercial Advocaat from the store, you can easily create a homemade version yourself with this recipe. It is also a grateful recipient of leftover egg yolks.

13. Wassail 

Recipe provided by fluxingwell.com.

If you heard of wassail in the old traditional English carol, know that it is a hot beverage that some people still serve during the holidays. There are many variations of this festive cocktail, and this version is non-alcoholic. It’s the kind of recipe you can easily tweak to accommodate personal preference and the ingredients you have on hand. 

14. Jack Frost Cocktail

Recipe provided by theblondcook.com.

A Jack Frost cocktail tastes sweet, tropical and Christmas-y, all at the same time! If you don’t want an icy cocktail, you can also make a martini. Shake the vodka or rum, pineapple juice, cream of coconut and blue curacao in a shaker with ice, and strain into a martini glass.

15. Kinderpunsch: Non-Alcoholic Warm Punch

Recipe provided by foodfolksandfun.net.

Apple cider, orange juice, cherry juice and warm winter spices like cinnamon, cloves, and star anise make this the best warm Christmas Kinderpunsch recipe! 

16. Chocolate Amarula Festive Cocktail

Recipe provided by greedygourmet.com.

The Amarula cream liqueur adds an irresistible fruitiness to this strong, creamy cocktail, complemented with dark chocolate. In short, it makes one heck of a festive cocktail that bursts with South African flavours!

17. Easy Gluhwein Recipe (Mulled Wine)

Recipe provided by wowitsveggie.com.

Gluhwein is a trendy holiday and Christmas drink all over Europe, particularly in Austria and Germany! When you make mulled wine, you want to keep an open mind. Make it the authentic or traditional way first, and then play it up with flavours and spices to suit your tastes.

18. Peppermint Mimosa {Peppermint Bark Cocktail)

Recipe provided by cocktailswithclass.com.

Mimosas are typically fruity cocktails with either classic orange juice or cranberry juice. Give these fantastic festive cocktails with champagne a try and see what you think! I bet you they are a new addition to your holiday drinks menu!

19. Brandy Alexander Cocktail

Recipe provided by inthekitch.net.

A Brandy Alexander cocktail is a rich, slightly spicy drink with notes of cinnamon and chocolate. It is almost like a more booze-forward version of the classic hot cocoa (except for the hot part).

20. Hot Cocoa Bombs with Marshmallows

Recipe provided by creativegreenliving.com.

Not quite a ready-made cocktail, but don’t you love to place a chocolatey cocoa bomb at the bottom of a mug, pour hot milk over it and see it explode into a magical, chocolatey drink with marshmallows and toppings floating in it? Here is how to make those bombs. You are welcome!

21. Candy Cane Jello Shots

Recipe provided by cocktailswithclass.com.

If you’re looking for a fun and festive shot to serve at your Christmas party this year, look no further than candy cane jello shots. They are easy to make, delicious, and sure to get everyone in the holiday spirit!

22. Pomegranate Lime Spritzer Festive Cocktail

Recipe provided by mapleandmango.com.

The Pomegranate Lime Spritzer cocktail is incredibly refreshing and made with a few simple ingredients. Besides, it does not contain any refined sugars or syrups, but only a little juice. It would be nice to have a refreshing cocktail to pair with the tons of sweet goodies during the holiday season!

23. Chocolate Peppermint Martini

Recipe provided by wowitsveggie.com.

The perfect blend of flavours in this peppermint martini recipe comes together to make a lovely holiday beverage.

24. Energising Vegan Christmas Spiced Hot Chocolate

Recipe provided by theveganlarder.com.

This Energising Vegan Christmas Spiced Hot Chocolate is thick, heart-warming and full of energising flavours and spices, perfect for the cold weather. It has the wintery spices cinnamon and nutmeg, with the extra kick of chilli (if you want!) It also happens to be the perfect Christmassy drink to sip when you are packing up all your presents.

25. Keto Sugar Free Eggnog

Recipe provided by healthywithjamie.com.

The cherry on top is keto-friendly eggnog made with almond milk and heavy cream – a healthy choice for the holidays or anytime! A drink with a long history in Europe, the mother of all festive cocktails and one that screams Christmas the most! Plus, this is a clean, low carb, sugar and gluten-free version. Enjoy!

What are your special recipes for festive cocktails?

Even if you were to make one drink every day, you have your festive cocktails fill provided through December until Christmas. But there is nothing better than sharing those you liked best with your family and friends that might visit you at the end of the year.

Which are your favourites? What other cocktails are your speciality? Please share and enjoy!

Have a wonderful Christmas and a truly Happy New Year!

Cocktail Recipes (Alcoholic or Not) To Accompany Your Festive Dinners

The post Festive Cocktails: 25 Recipes For Your Christmas and New Year’s Celebrations appeared first on The World Is an Oyster.

Why Do We Really Celebrate Halloween?

A while ago, I wrote a post about why, how, and when humans celebrate Halloween and take the time to cook and bake all sorts of quirky treats meant to symbolise the meaning of the scariest holiday of the year.

_{This post may contain affiliate links, which means I will receive a commission if you purchase through my links, at no extra cost to you. Please read the full disclosure for more information. Thank you!}

What shocked me the most in my research for that article was the insane amount of cash globally spent on this holiday, even if it is a relatively new tradition in many parts of the planet.

Take my country of origin, for instance. Romania had never heard of Halloween before 1990. In less than ten years, it became one of the biggest holidays after Christmas and Easter.

Although not the wealthiest in the world (not the poorest, either), Romanians would throw raging parties, rent expensive locations and fill them with lush decorations, serve celebrity chefs foods and drinks and buy funky designer costumes for one night only. They do spend a crazy amount of cash for a holiday that was never even celebrated in Romania because this was not a country’s tradition. And our traditions do go back over 8000 years – not many can say this!

But who can resist the shiny glitter of what others have? A tad too snobbish for my taste, but they are my people, I must accept them as they are (although I do wish they would read more about the fascinating history of this amazing country of ours!)

Of course, the champions at spending are the Americans, with total expenses overtaking Valentine’s Day. Western European countries are following the trend and see increasing amounts spent on Halloween year after year.

Since we love any reason to celebrate anything, especially after so much hardship lately, why not do it in style then?

Hopefully, after all the time spent decorating the house and surroundings efficiently enough to scare the treats or tricksters (after all, everybody counts on it and it is the reason why they venture out at night!), you have some time and resources left to get baking.

I was looking for the quirkiest Halloween treats to make this autumn, and I found a few fabulous ones to put together and inspire everybody’s baking. I will make time and make a few, especially since some won’t even require baking, just time for preparing and assembling.

Whether you host a Halloween party or go to one, these ideas will inspire you and pleasantly surprise either your guests or your hosts if you show up at their spider web-covered door with a box of quirky and luscious homemade treats!

Have a spooky and delectable Halloween!

Quirky Halloween Treats

1. Poison Apple Cookies

What is better than tempting your Halloween party guests’ taste buds than with a few seriously scary-looking but delicious buttercream sugar cookies? Don’t they look fabulous on a dark background? Just imagine how amazingly spooky they will look on your Halloween tablescape!

Recipe provided by buttercreamparties.com.

2. Spooky Eyeball Red Velvet Cake Balls

Great for dessert, bake sales, and class parties, the spooky eyeballs not only look impressive–they taste great too! Kids, especially, would love the gross-out factor, and these red velvet cake “eyeballs” surely tick the box!

Recipe provided by shugarysweets.com.

3. Eye of Newt Halloween Wands

Are you feeling crafty? Super cute and easy to make, Eye of Newt Halloween Wands are perfect for parties. Kids love them, and they make a great gift too!

Recipe provided by whoneedsacape.com.

4. Hocus Pocus Cupcakes 

The delectably spooky cupcakes are delightfully fun for all you witches out there obsessed with Winifred (Winnie), Sarah, and Mary and their exploits on Halloween night. They will surely put a spell on you!

Recipe provided by houseofnasheats.com.

5. Spider Brownie Bites

Arachnophobic much? Treat your fear with these adorable little guys – the hit of the Halloween table! All you need is two-bite brownies, some chocolate frosting and a few decorations.

Recipe provided by tastesofhomemade.com.

6. Swampy Frog Egg Pudding

Halloween festivities aren’t complete without a ghoulish recipe. Would you ever guess this Swampy Frog Egg Pudding is a modern spin on a classic dessert gone to the dark side? Gluten-free, dairy-free and fright-filled. Boo!

Recipe provided by boulderlocavore.com.

7. Monster Halloween Marshmallow Pops

Monster Halloween Marshmallow Pops are easy treats that anyone can make. They require only five ingredients and come together in just a few minutes. Suitable for people following a gluten-free diet. I will definitely make some!

Recipe provided by recipesfromapantry.com.

8. Cocoa Krispy Owls

Fun to make, fun to eat, Cocoa Krispy Owls are marshmallow treats made with cereal, cookies, M&M’s and candy corn. It’s time to get those kids in the kitchen, and make some clever and really quirky Halloween treats!

Recipe provided by anaffairfromtheheart.com.

9. Witch’s Brew Halloween Bark 

This festive candy bark is made with different colours of candy melts, candy eyeballs, gummy worms and frogs, candy corn and jelly slugs for a “ghoulish” combination of sweets! A spooky treat for Halloween movies night!

Recipe provided by marathonsandmotivation.com.

10. Colourful No-Churn Halloween Ice Cream

Heavy cream, sweetened condensed milk and white cake mix plus food dyes is all you need to make spooky-looking ice cream. A fun and easy frozen Halloween treat!

Recipe provided by xoxobella.com.

11. Meringue Ghosts

Crisp on the outside and marshmallowy on the inside, the Meringue Ghosts will perform a quick disappearing act from your Halloween table – straight into your guests’ tummies! Deliciousness with only two ingredients!

Recipe provided by somethingsweetsomethingsavoury.com.

12. Frankenstein Kiwis

A healthy cute and still spooky treat is always welcome to balance all that sugar debauchery at Halloween! Big or small, we all deserve it!

Recipe provided by twohealthykitchens.com.

13. Salted Caramel Chocolate Truffles

The cherry on the cake (or should I say the cross on the grave?) and an absolute favourite among the other quirky treats you should prepare for the spookiest party of the year – indulgent salted caramel in silky chocolate ganache. Such an exquisite truffle would surely tick anyone’s fancy and make your Halloween party a guaranteed success!

Recipe provided by andreajanssen.com.

Hopefully, these amazingly quirky Halloween treats will inspire you to get busy in the kitchen before the big party. Have fun making, spooking your guests and eating them!

The post 13 Quirky Treats For a Spooky Halloween Party appeared first on The World Is an Oyster.

Celebrate International Children’s Day With Fun and Healthy Foods

Each summer, the first day of June was a massive deal for me throughout my childhood years. International Children’s Day was and still is celebrated in Romania with a big bang, live shows, all sorts of activities, gifts and lots of love for the little ones.

_{This post may contain affiliate links, which means I will receive a commission if you purchase through my links, at no extra cost to you. Please read the full disclosure for more information. Thank you!}

I know the world celebrates on different occasions, but to be honest, every day is children’s day. We don’t need a special moment to remember to appreciate the best we have, do we? And indeed, nobody needs reminding to spoil the little people in our lives!

I continued to celebrate on June 1st as I grew up and perpetuated the tradition in my family, no matter where we lived and when the respective country celebrated. International means international!

Children continuously remind us of one important truth: everything in this world should be FUN! This is what childhood is for!

There is enough trouble in the world as it is, but the children should never have to acknowledge it! Their only business is to live a happy childhood and grow up free of worries. They will have plenty to worry about as adults!

Here are a few suggestions of kid-friendly recipes, healthy, fun to make and eat that any child likes. You will also find some pretty and creative ideas for the more picky ones. Some might need a little more imagination on our part in learning how to make healthy choices.

At the end of the post, you will find valuable advice on how to best photograph your little ones and dehydrate foods that are fun to eat or use dry.

Children of all ages all over the world have a magnificent International Children’s Day! And adults everywhere, MAKE SURE this happens! I will certainly do my part, as always!

Kid-Friendly Recipes For Any Meal-Time

1. Almond Flour Blueberry Muffins

Recipe provided by theworldisanoyster.com

I doubt there is a child in this work who does not like muffins! Although I’ve heard of one who does not like chocolate! WOW! If anyone knows what that is and how can I get it, please share! I could not extract any tips from the said child’s parents. They are like me, too – in perpetual search of an effective treatment for chocolate addiction! Same genes, right?

2. Snowman Hard-Boiled Eggs

Recipe provided by www.bakingbeauty.net

Kids don’t care about “healthy” but surely care about “fun”. There is but one way to persuade them – heavy use of one’s imagination!

3. Heart-shaped Banana & Oatmeal Pancakes

Recipe provided by theworldisanoyster.com

If not on rushed school days, perhaps when more time is available, it is worth treating the little ones with a different choice of breakfast rather than sugar-packed cereals. Of course, pancakes are fun, but they can also be kid-friendly and healthy with just a few simple substitutions. Just get the funny face or cartoon faces pancake pan from the cupboard!

4. Three Ingredient Banana Berry Nice Cream

Recipe provided by creativegreenliving.com.

If you haven’t heard the buzz about nice cream yet, you are in for a tasty treat! Way healthier than high in fats and sugar ice cream, nice cream is the healthy treat of your dreams.  

5. Quinoa Vegan Nuggets

Recipe provided by bohemianvegankitchen.com

Any kid loves nuggets, and especially dipping them in salsa, and then licking their fingers, and mucking their faces – because it is fun! I’m all for fun, as long as there is room for healthy foods in the diet, too!

6. “Veggie Faces” No-Bake Vegetable Pizzas and Wraps

Ideas provided by twohealthykitchens.com.

We have all heard, at some point in our lives, “don’t play with the food!” Is that good advice or bad advice? Hmm…

7. Oven-baked Beet Chips

Recipe provided by pinkfortitude.com.

Now, beet chips are something I would bake for kids to eat and pinch from the bowl when they are not looking! It sounds terrible, I know! But, honestly, would you resist?

8. Mild Chicken Fajitas

Recipe provided by amummytoo.co.uk.

If you are looking for an easy dinner that the kids will actually eat after having fun wrapping it, then this is the recipe for you!

9. Vegan Bruschetta

Recipe provided by vegandollhouse.com

Tomato ladybugs are cute snacks for kids and a perfect appetizer for any occasion. I know a fussy eater who refuses to touch tomatoes; perhaps this is the perfect solution to persuade them!

10. Harry Potter Pumpkin Juice

Recipe provided by healthyrecipes101.com.

If you are a fan of Harry Potter, you probably know that pumpkin juice is a popular drink in the books. Rest assured, this drink is magic: it only takes fifteen minutes to make (if you misplaced your witch wand!); it is especially kid-friendly and can be served hot, warm, or cold.

11. Allergen Friendly Vegan Sweet Potato Cookies

Recipe provided by thishealthykitchen.com.

Vegan sweet potato cookies are healthy enough for breakfast and tasty enough for dessert, making a perfect choice for school or workplace safe snacks.

12. Spaghetti Squash Tater Tots

Recipe provided by wholesomefamilyliving.com.

For a fun and healthy side, try these easy to make spaghetti squash tater tots every child loves! Why not get your kids involved in the kitchen and have them help out rolling the tater tots they will eat?

13. Mr Potato Head Fruit Tray

Instructions provided by getyourholidayon.com.

Use your creative zest and transform Mr Potato Head Fruit Tray into a healthy and fun themed treat that kids and adults will love for a birthday party or celebration.

Non-edible accessories here:

14. Healthy Chocolate Rice Bubble Slice

Recipe provided by simplifycreateinspire.com.

Not only does it taste amazing, but it also uses healthy ingredients, so you can feel like a total BOSS when you serve it up for your kids! Or sneak half a tray worth when no one else is looking!

15. Broccoli Nuggets

Recipe provided by joyfilledeats.com.

If you are looking for new ways to get some greens into your kid’s diet, this recipe would be perfect. Requiring only five ingredients, broccoli nuggets make a healthy side dish or snack.

16. Indonesian Chicken Satay

Recipe provided by soyummyrecipes.co.uk

This can be a great choice for dinner, fun to make, fun to eat and a great way to introduce the little ones to international cuisines.

17. No Bake Carrot Cake Balls

Recipe provided by servedfromscratch.com.

If you are looking for a healthy snack for your little ones (and yourself), these carrot cake balls offer just that! Forget about the oven for once!

18. Healthy Chocolate Chip Banana Bread

Recipe provided by cookingwithcarbs.com.

Banana bread is everybody’s favourite, no matter the age. There is always room for a slice of healthy goodness!

19. Open faced sandwich

Recipe provided by flavourstreat.com.

Not even the pickiest eater will resist a cute sandwich, fun to make and even more fun to eat! Needless to say, it teaches the little ones that making healthy food choices is fun too.

20. Spinach & Cheese Muffins

Recipe provided by www.mamazilla.co.uk.

These savoury spinach & cheese muffins are delicious, easy to hold by little hands and a great snack for days out or school lunches. Super yummy, super healthy and super kid-friendly!

21. Healthy Homemade Jello Fruit & Veggie Snack

Recipe provided by foodmeanderings.com.

Could something sinful be made out of fruit and vegetables? J-hello! It’s so tasty that the kids don’t even notice it has spinach in it. And if they do notice, it is so good that they don’t seem to care!

22. Homemade Gluten-Free Teddy Grahams

Recipe provided by strengthandsunshine.com.

Teddy Grahams are a kid-friendly snack time favourite, vegan, top eight allergy-free, even sugar-free and whole-grain! A recipe with options for different flavour variations, these adorable little bears will be gobbled up by little hands (and big ones too!)

23. Rocky Road Brownie Batter Dip

Recipe provided by momthelunchlady.ca.

When you run out of ideas of how to entertain fussy eaters, perhaps it is worth trying a fun treat in the shape of a dip. Because kids find comfort in dipping healthy foods in smooth, flavourful dips, don’t they?

24. Sandwich Kabobs For Picnics

Recipe provided savingyoudinero.com.

Little ones will eat anything on a stick because it is just more fun that way, according to any kid’s perfectly valid rationale. You only need kabob sticks and their favourite fruits.  Sandwich kabobs for school lunches? Well, we are always searching for kid-friendly recipes, are we not?

25. Easy Fruit Sparkler

Recipe provided by liltigers.net.

Perfect for any summer BBQ, get together, or party, fruits sparklers will catch everyone’s eyes. Besides, it would be a great activity for kids to make their own healthy sparklers!

26. Dark Chocolate Hummus

Recipe provided by asweetalternative.com.

Everybody is happy when healthy meets fun! Why didn’t I think about this before? Not only is this a kid-friendly recipe; it sounds perfect for grown-ups, too!

27. Simple Homemade Baby Food Recipes

Collage provided by tasteasyougo.com.

There is that lovely occasion when you introduce babies to solid foods for the first time. Ahh! Here you will find plenty of homemade baby food ideas with instructions for batch freezing.

28. Galaxy Fudge

Recipe provided by sugarspiceneverythingnice.com.

It is called “galaxy fudge” because it looks like the actual solar system has arrived in your kitchen to satisfy all your and your kid’s snacking needs. Plus, it is literally out of this world!

29. Watermelon Ice Lollies

Recipe provided by keep-calm-and-eat-ice-cream.com.

Refreshing, with no added sugar and easy to make, watermelon lollies are everybody’s summer dream. I’m sure all children agree!

30. Organic, Vegan and GMO Free, Maca Popsicles

Recipe provided by conflictedvegan.com.

You know it’s good when it is made with superfoods, organic and GMO-free products. Popsicles are fun and healthy for kids of all ages when made the right way!

4 Tips for Taking Adorable Photos of Your Little One

Ideas provided by essentiallysydney.com

You don’t need a fancy camera to capture priceless photos of your little one! Check this out for great advice!

Food Dehydrator Tips: 7 Amazing Foods to Dry

Advice provided by fluxingwell.com.

If you own a food dehydrator or plan on buying one, check these valuable tips on what and how to dehydrate and store foods for future use. Ah, I love alliteration too!

I hope this collection will help in choosing fun and healthy foods for the kids in your lives. Enjoy celebrating and please spread the word! Thank you!

Celebrate International Children’s Day With Fun and Healthy Foods

The post 30 Kid-Friendly Recipes Fun To Make and Eat appeared first on The World Is an Oyster.

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 has 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 and the creator of the universe in ancient Egypt did not last after the pharaoh’s demise.

Of course, all the history we know is based on the writings left by our ancestors. But where there was no alphabet or the form of writing is so old that it is impossible to decipher, the wisdom perpetuated orally is largely ignored. However, the knowledge of it has survived to our times (see Zalmoxianism).

Contempt seems to have survived better since today people still call the old polytheistic religious beliefs “paganism”. What if suddenly a new polytheistic religion emerges? What would the current ones be called then? I am not worried at all. We are sarcastic and bully enough species, able to find an equally scornful label!

Christianity is a monotheistic religion that followed the polytheistic ones after the ancient Greek and later Roman Empire’s demise.

From his star, the God we have known of for thousands of years must have a great view over his creation. He surely sees us squirming on a tiny planet, taking for granted a worry-free life, often putting everything we do on his shoulders (“It was God’s will!”) and begging for help and forgiveness when it gets tough.

Most likely, humans are not his only creation; if God does not answer every individual call, it might be because he’s busy contemplating others, on other planets, in different universes, also his work. Probably. Some of us accept this based on the current religious norms.

Spirituality and religion are different concepts. One has more to do with philosophy and inner, personal beliefs, while the other is a set of established dogmas, canons, etc. Does a deity or another impose religions on people? No. It is an efficient human attempt to control and manipulate large masses.

One’s connection with spirituality should have more to do with love and compassion than with fear that this or that will happen to you if you do or don’t do this or that as imposed by some humans. Hence each village on this planet has a different understanding, traditions and practices of the same belief.

Historically, armies of soldiers killed their fellow humans and sacrificed their lives in wars for millennia. If faith is all about love and compassion, I doubt any god has ever explicitly told anyone, “You must kill your fellow humans so that this or that king gains more power!” Yet, so many wars started on religious grounds by humans.

A ruler with more imagination and persuasive power would have easily won as his army would sacrifice lured by a promise of endless happiness or threatened by a fear of eternal damnation. In essence, GREED was and still is the real winner, a whim is a real motive, and manipulation is the effective delivery method.

It is all reduced to superb control skills, practised and mastered over millennia. Crash the real connection with the individual’s spirit and dominate by instilling irrational fear of the unknown.

One law governs the world beyond any physical law known to humans. It is called love. It has a funny way of healing, appeasing, pacifying.

Jesus mentioned it repeatedly, but the Romans were afraid this law based on human emotion would undermine their position of political power. So, they barbarically killed a man who did not wrong anyone.

Some three centuries later, emperor Constantin I (another Roman holding the reins of power) repented after killing left and right, including his wife and eldest son, and imposed an old-new state religion on remorse.

Almost from the start, the new (old) religion has known rifts based on doctrine; the East and the West (Rome and Constantinople) have had a hard time agreeing on many aspects, including calendars. But still managed to put together a set of rules that make a state religion. Made by humans. God has no religion!

Fast forward another seven centuries; a so-called great schism fractured Christianity during the dark ages. Constantinople and Rome finally separated. A thousand years old Roman Empire reached an end.

The two main branches of Christianity (the Catholic and Orthodox Church respectively) based their separate calendars on the lunar, respectively solar-lunar cycle on their division. 

Hence, we celebrate Easter on different occasions, typically at a week’s distance.

2021 saw the longest distance I could remember. The Orthodox celebrated Easter about a month after the Western Easter. It is difficult to call it Catholic Easter since the Western Christian religion is also subdivided (does Henry VIII, for instance, breaking with Rome on love whims sound a bell?)

In 2022, the Orthodox Easter will be celebrated in Romania, Bulgaria, Greece, Cyprus, Serbia, Macedonia, Albania, Georgia, Ukraine (if the war will end by then to allow any celebrations at all!), Russia (largely brainwashed by bolshevik propaganda and unaware of its invasion of a sovereign neighbouring country!) and some parts of the Middle East and Africa on the 24th of April. The rest of the Christians will have had already observed it on the 17th of April.

Given the war in Ukraine, there is one thing I want to mention to underline the gap between religion and spirituality. The Russian Orthodox church’s highest in command agrees with his country’s war and killing of the children in Ukraine. That is not because his religion tells him something, but because his position of power depends on how much he agrees to his tyrant president.

In his desperate clinging to power and wealth, the patriarch bends to political power hoping his position will be saved. Given Russia’s history and the mingling of religion in state business for over a thousand years, he’ll probably get the exact opposite, so all his attempts to save his place at the expense of killed children will only count when he meets his maker.

Since we celebrate twice, perhaps it is a good idea to take a minute and give some thought to the beginnings of this religion, its spread and division, its complicated history and the meaning of believing in something not always easy to conceptualise. And also, do what we do best on holidays: splash cash on commercial goods and gorge on food! We are what we are.

At least, on the Orthodox Easter Sunday, the Romanians still greet each other with the acceptance of the only known miracle performed by a man: “Christ has risen!” And the reply still is: “In truth, he has risen!” before we wish each other a “Happy Easter!” and share red painted eggs and cozonac! All of these are old, thousand of years old customs that are gradually dwindling in the robotic era.

Other nations in the Balkans probably keep the same traditions. Still! Given the hallucinating speed of life the modern world is witnessing, traditions, history, beliefs, and everything else some of us still cling to might become just a thing of the past.

This was the hardest post to write. Honestly! Next time I’ll stick with chocolate bunnies – a lot less demoralising and thorny!

Sources: Historia, Britannica, World Library.

Why Do Christians Celebrate Catholic and Orthodox Easter On Different Occasions?

The post Why Do Christians Celebrate Catholic and Orthodox Easter On Different Occasions? appeared first on The World Is an Oyster.

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 chocolate and mascarpone Easter bunny cake! I speak from personal experience.

_{This post may contain affiliate links, which means I will receive a commission if you purchase through my links at no extra cost to you. Please read the full disclosure for more information. Thank you!}

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 decided to ditch wasting time and make my easy shape.

If you have plenty of time to wait for a delivery, have a look at these options:

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 of days for delivery. Easy, rapid and cheap!

I pulled a sheet from the printer, drew a chunky bunny face and cut around the drawing. I’m no artist, but a steady drawing hand and some degree of imagination proved handy in the endeavour.

Meanwhile, I had prepared a simple sponge. After it cooled down, I just placed the cut shape on top and cut the sponge around the paper. Voila! My cake idea looked like a fun and festive little cutie!

This chocolate and mascarpone Easter bunny cake created on a Saturday turned out incredibly successful at our house. The recipe is tried and tested. If you are thinking to give it a go, add a few things to your shopping list and start cutting any shape you want.

As we got closer to Easter, a bunny was the obvious choice. A chick would have been a tad difficult because of skinny legs, but a massive egg shape would have worked just as great!

This fluffy mascarpone and chocolate cake would not necessarily be categorised as a traditional Easter cake, but it surely catches the eye and tantalises the taste buds!

Pasca would be the obvious choice for a more traditional recipe. Or you could find further inspiration in this Easter round-up of recipes from around the world. Whatever you choose to make, it is essential to have fun and enjoy!

Ingredients for Easter bunny cake

For the sponge:

Eggs

Organic white flour

Organic coconut sugar

Tepid water

Orange zest (chose organic, pesticide and wax-free oranges)

Baking powder

A pinch of salt

For the filling:

Mascarpone cheese (drained)

A sachet of vanilla pudding (can be purchased online)

Unsweetened almond milk

Organic coconut sugar

Cacao

Potato/corn starch (or flour)

A pinch of salt

Flavours (I used rum)

Whipped cream (optional)

To decorate

Shredded coconut

Strawberries (we’re out of season, and I could not find organic; the conventional ones were utterly tasteless, and we discarded them, but they got points for aesthetics.)

Chocolate strands

All sorts of tiny chocolate eggs

Pair your slice of sponge cake with a steamy cup of cappuccino, and your day will instantly look a lot brighter.

There is no way in the world a chocolate and mascarpone sponge cake would not wow, so have a go at it. Be creative, have fun in the process and enjoy the result. I vouch for yumminess!

Print

Fluffy Easter Bunny Mascarpone and Chocolate Cake

A decadent cake to make in any shape and for any occasion!

Course Dessert

Cuisine Romanian

Keyword Easter Cake, Fluffy Bunny Cake, Mascarpone and Chocolate Sponge Cake, Sponge Cake

Prep Time 30 minutes minutes

Cook Time 30 minutes minutes

decorating 10 minutes minutes

Servings 16 servings

Ingredients

Sponge

• 6 pcs eggs
• 6 tbsp organic white flour approx 200 g
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 6 tbsp organic coconut sugar approx 160 g
• 1 tsp orange zest organic
• 6 tbsp tepid water approx 60 ml
• 1 pinch salt rock/sea

Filling

• 250 g mascarpone cheese
• 1 sachet vanilla pudding I used Dr Oetker Original
• 1 tbsp potato/corn starch or white flour
• 2 tbsp cacao powder organic
• 500 ml almond milk unsweetened
• 180 ml whipping cream optional
• 6 tbsp coconut sugar organic
• 1 pinch salt
• flavours

Decoration

• 60 g shredded coconut
• 3-4 pcs strawberries
• chocolate strands
• chocolate eggs

Instructions

Sponge

• Preheat the oven to 180°C/356°F/gas mark 4.
• Place parchment paper on a rectangular baking tray. Mine measures 34/24 cm. If you use a larger tray, you might want to increase the quantities but keep the ratio.
• The key to a beautiful, fluffy sponge is the rule of 1, which translates into 1 egg/1 tablespoon of flour/1 tablespoon of sugar ratio. Depending on the egg's size and the type of flour, you might need extra, this is why I allowed 200 g flour, but I did not need the entire quantity. In general, I use less sugar than required, but this is a matter of taste.
• In a bowl, whisk the egg whites with a pinch of salt until stiff, then leave aside.
• In a different bowl (larger), whisk the egg yolks with sugar, orange zest and salt until the volume doubles. Add the tepid water gradually and keep whisking, preferably with an electric hand mixer.
• Add the egg whites and mix carefully using a large spatula in a circular motion, from the bottom of the bowl to the top.
• Gradually add the sieved flour together with the baking powder. Keep mixing carefully until the consistency is that of a dense cream. You might not need all the flour if enough has been absorbed to confer the desired consistency.
• Pour the entire content into the baking tray. It is essential to level the batter evenly. I do this by gently slamming the tray to the worktop a few times. When happy with the result, bake for 25-30 minutes. Do not open the oven's door for the first 20 minutes!
• My oven bakes quickly, so I usually reduce the temperature to 170°C as I place the tray inside.
• Perform the toothpick test to check the sponge is thoroughly baked; if needed, allow extra baking time.
• When ready, remove from the tray, flip upside-down on a cooling rake, and cool completely before cutting around the paper shape and dividing the sponge horizontally.
  

Cream filling

• Start by preparing the vanilla pudding by following the sachet's instructions: mix the powder with 4 tablespoons of sugar and 4 tablespoons of milk. Additionally, add 1 tbsp of starch/flour and 2 tbsp of cacao powder). You might need 2-3 extra tbsps of milk.
• Bring the rest of the milk to boil in a pan. Reduce the heat and pour the mix.
• Cook for about three-four minutes until it boils while stirring continuously. The pudding should change consistency reasonably quickly.
• When ready, turn the heat off and allow it to cool completely, then add the flavour of your choice and mix.
• Separately, batter the mascarpone cheese with 2 tablespoons of sugar and a tiny pinch of salt until it becomes fluffy.
• If you choose to use whipped cream, whip it in a separate bowl. Be careful not to spoil it and add it to the mascarpone when ready. Mix until it incorporates evenly.
• Add the boiled and cooled pudding to the composition and mix either using a hand mixer or a spatula. The cream should have a uniform colour and a pretty thick consistency.

Assembling the cake

• Chose the tray/platter for your cake.
• As the sponge is thoroughly cooled and has the desired shape, you can use sweet compote syrup to moisten the sponge. This step is optional. The sponge should absorb enough humidity from the cream while in the fridge to become moist.
• If you need to prepare syrup, boil 6 tablespoons of water with 3 tablespoons of sugar until it thickens slightly. Cool completely before use.
  
• Place the first sponge layer on the chosen platter, moist slightly and allow a few minutes for the sponge to absorb the syrup.
• Add a little more than half the quantity of cream and spread evenly.
• Place the second half of the sponge on top, moisten and cover the top and sides with the remaining cream.
  
• Sprinkle shredded coconut to cover the entire cake.
• With a dry spatula, press slightly to create an indentation. It will make a 3D impression of bunny ears.
  
• Decorate as desired and enjoy!

Notes

This mascarpone and chocolate bunny cake can be stored in the fridge for no longer than three days and according to the expiring day of the products used. 

Needless to say, mine was over on the day!

How to Make a Fluffy Easter Bunny Cake

The post How to Make a Fluffy Easter Bunny Cake appeared first on The World Is an Oyster.

What Traditional Easter Foods Do You Have on Your Festive Table?

Before listing a few traditional Easter foods, let’s take a minute and recap why a big part of the world celebrates Easter.

Easter – Meaning and a Brief History

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 leading back to a Teuton goddess, Eostrae, to whom people offered sacrifices around the spring equinox.

Historically, Jesus’ crucifixion happened around Passover. In a desperate attempt to maintain their power and domination over a large chunk of the world as they knew it, the Romans provided the context to the only known miracle: the resurrection from the death of one man they feared would undermine their dominance. The greed for evermore power is such a human peculiarity!

What boggles the mind is that a few centuries later, the same Romans have set the foundations of a whole new religion on the same atrocious event they allowed to happen in the first place out of fear of losing power! Idiosyncratic – another synonym for uncanny! Oh, how I love words and their meaning!

The exact date of the crucifixion is shrouded in controversy. As a result, this year, I will celebrate Easter a month later than most of you since the Christian Orthodox religion has set the date a week apart from the Catholic one. Humans do funny things, especially if they have a certain degree of power; who am I to judge?

I’m not even going there. Anyone curious can read mountains of books, search all lost and recently found Dead Sea scrolls, and put together all the missing pieces.

To some, history (if recorded accurately and without bias) might matter more than a form of mass control and manipulation or another. However, many agree that there might be a force that keeps the universes out of chaos, whatever people call it. Let’s not forget that religions have changed often and have been either monotheistic or polytheistic in human history. This was people’s choosing, as it fitted them and the interests of those in power.

History, though, has a habit of repeating itself. I briefly mentioned the similarities between Mithras or Zalmoxis and Jesus in my posts about time travel and autumn walk. Likewise, new beliefs overlapped or adopted and modified old ones over time. But there must be an origin to everything.

Humankind has seen a few crucial turning points, and we might very well face a new one. Sadly, we also have a habit of not learning from mistakes; hence, history always gets a chance to repeat itself.

Although the new generations gradually show less interest in religion, the historical and anthropological facts remain beyond the myths.

A Holiday Important Enough to Deserve Traditional Easter Foods

Since we still have a reason to celebrate Easter, what better way to contemplate our fate as a species than through enjoying our traditional Easter foods?

Thanks to a few fellow food bloggers, I put together a few traditional Easter recipes from different parts of the world. Hopefully, they will inspire you to cook or bake something other than what you traditionally prepare for the Easter feast.

Whatever you choose to make, please take a minute to think of our religious holidays’ meaning beyond consumerism and, whatever you believe, remember that kindness does not cost money, although it is priceless!

Happy Easter!

Traditional or Fun Easter Foods For A Special Celebration

Pasca: A Traditional Romanian Easter Cake

Recipe provided by theworldisanoyster.com

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.

Simple Easter Egg Sugar Cookies

Recipe provided by buttercreamparties.com

The sure way to impress little people and adults alike is by offering them cute cookies. Find your favourite buttercream cookie tutorial and more ideas for Easter on the website.

Pastiera Napoletana

Recipe provided by cucchiarella.com

An absolute delight, this Italian Easter cake is based on a beautiful marine legend. Check the website for all things Italian, mouth-watering goodies.

Cozonac

Recipe provided by theworldisanoyster.com

This special festive nut and fruit-filled treat has plenty of history and goodness. At Easter, the Romanians would bake enough loaves to feed an army, although only the family and guests would indulge! Cozonac is to us the best among all the Easter foods we will have on the festive table!

Easter Crack Toffee Candy

Recipe provided by homeatcedarspringsfarm.com

Try an easy dessert that will bring spring colours to your festive Easter table. This treat requires only two ingredients and imagination to decorate it.

Traditional German Easter Bread with Marzipan and Almonds

Recipe provided by mydinner.co.uk

Are you feeling artistic? Have a go at a beautiful wreath bread with a rich history behind it and a step by step tutorial. Other Easter treats are available on the website, including a lamb shaped cake and a Hefezopf.

Sicilian Easter Bread Baskets

Recipe provided by breadbakes.com

This is a beautiful recipe with fascinating family history and loving memories shared with the younger generations. Check the website for all you need to know about different types of bread for all occasions.

Sweet and Easy Vegan Carrot Oatmeal Cookies

Recipe provided by therunningbaker24.com

These treats suit various diets and are healthy and easy to make, and could be a favourite cookie on the festive Easter table!

Easter Chick Cookies

Recipe provided by emilyfabulous.com

Creativity knows no limits in baking! Cuteness by sprinkling is a sure way to have fun while baking and impress when serving.

Fluffy Easter Bunny Cake

Recipe provided by theworldisanoyster.com

Not precisely an Easter food in the traditional way, a fluffy Easter Bunny cake is more of a fun baking idea, especially when little helpers get involved.

Quick and Easy Vegan Challah Bread

Recipe provided by therunningbaker24.com

A vegan Challah bread is fun to bake, not to mention that it makes an excellent side for other recipes on this list and not only!

Vegan Cinnamon Rolls

Recipe provided by theurbenlife.com

These chewy rolls are delicious and easy to make and will surely look good on any festive table; besides, they suit perfectly a healthy lifestyle.

Easter Bread With Raisins

Recipe provided by coffeefitkitchen.com

This celebratory bread is so yummy you might want to make it any other time, not only at Easter! Did I mention how easy it is to make? Well, it is!

Incredible Snickerdoodle Cake

Recipe provided by givemetherecipedammit.com

There can be no Easter without dessert, but if you ever need an emergency backup, look no further. This recipe has a funny backstory, too!

Double Chocolate Chip Hot Cross Buns (vegan)

Recipe provided by rainbownourishments.com.

This Easter, bake a few vegan hot cross buns with two types of chocolate chips. They are fluffy, will melt in your mouth and are better than store-bought!

Bacon Cheddar Deviled Eggs

Recipe provided by momthelunchlady.ca

A decadent and hot appetiser, deviled eggs should be present on any festive table, no matter the occasion. At Easter, they complement the coloured eggs beautifully.

Rainbow Carrots In Tarragon Brown Butter

Recipe provided by senseandedibility.com

Rainbow carrots make a scrumptious side dish to share with loved ones at the Easter table. Perfect for lamb and not only.

Easy Riz Cantonais

Recipe provided by cheapdeliciousdinner.com

If you plan an Easter foods picnic, this is a popular Madagascan recipe with Asian influences, easy to make and carry in a picnic basket.

Pepper Crusted Racks Of Lamb With Horseradish Creme Fraiche

Recipe provided by giangiskitchen.com.

The pepper-crusted rack of lamb with horseradish crème fraiche is a wonderful combination of peppercorns, lemon zest, garlic, fresh herbs, and panko—a tasty outer crust over a perfectly juicy lamb.

Slow Roasted Shoulder of Lamb

Recipe provided by greedygourmet.com.

This slow-cooked shoulder of lamb is one of those memorable lamb recipes that will remain with you forever. It’s one of those wow dishes that you can proudly serve to a special someone or for your family on a special occasion

Leg Of Lamb With Fresh Mint Sauce

Recipe provided by whatagirleats.com.

Leg of Lamb with Fresh Mint Sauce is studded with garlic and roasted with rosemary, salt and pepper. It’s the perfect Easter meal or Sunday supper.

Welsh Lamb and Pumpkin Pie

Recipe provided by intheplayroom.co.uk.

A traditional Welsh recipe for all seasons and perfect for Easter, too!

Classic Passion Fruit Daiquiri

Recipe provided by senseandedibility.com

This is a spring shaken cocktail that goes perfectly with any of the above. According to its creator, passion fruit “transcends seasons and cultures”. I believe her. I have tried many of her creations and will surely have this one at Easter!

Easter Gifts and Crafts Ideas

If you are looking for teen Easter baskets ideas this year, you might find inspiration in this teen collection kindly provided by dailychristmasinspo.com.

For younger kids, there is plenty in this post put together by Sarah at journeyforjasmine.com. You’ll find many cute ideas that will make Easter a lot more exciting for the entire family.

This time last year, the world was still dealing with total lockdowns. At the moment, there is hope the pandemic will soon reach an end. I also have immense hope that the insane war and suffering in Ukraine will be over before the Orthodox celebration of Jesus’ resurrection.

Perhaps we all need to take a minute and reconsider the past couple of years and all that it meant to each of us and humankind collectively. If we are as smart as we believe we are, we will never allow history to repeat ever again! And we will have health, peace and traditional Easter foods on our table!

There is hope for our species!

The post Traditional Easter Foods For A Special Celebration appeared first on The World Is an Oyster.

The Romanian Traditional Recipe

Easter pasca cheesecake is a specific Romanian dessert made at Easter. In essence, it is a baked cheesecake 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. It is associated with the Christian feast commemorating the miracle of resurrection for over two millennia.

Pasqua in Italian means Easter, and derivates of the word mean the same thing in all Latin languages. In Romanian, it would be Paşte (pronounced Pashte), hence the special cake to celebrate the occasion: Easter pasca cheesecake.

Many would call it Easter bread, but this might sound a tad demeaning to the Romanians. To us, bread is never sweet and is purely a side for main dishes. Something that requires extended time, a lot of care in preparation and includes sugar is definitely a cake.

As there are three days of Easter, Romanians prepare in advance for the celebration.

A forty-day long lent leading to Easter is strictly observed mainly in countryside Romania and allows people to reflect on the meaning of life or death and find their religious roots.

Towards the end of the lent, the ladies would get busy preparing traditional holiday food that includes appetisers (Boeuf Salad is one) and main lamb courses. Of course, desserts cannot miss from the festive Easter table. Lots of nut, poppy or chocolate-filled cozonac, a large, rounded Easter pasca cheesecake and red-painted eggs would be the centrepiece.

Although baking can sound tedious, it consists mainly of resting time. The dough contains yeast that needs time to activate and rise, so should you decide to give it a go, make sure you plan a day off to make the treats.

Traditionally, Romanians would make cozonac and pasca on the Maundy Thursday, the day Jesus asked his disciples to love one another as He loved them. There is a lot to discuss here, and everything has way wider historical, philosophical, religious and political implications, but this is a mere recipe, so let’s get on with it.

Ingredients for Easter Pasca Cheesecake

For the dough:

White flour (I used strong bread flour)

Coconut sugar

Tepid water

Yeast

Butter

Orange/lemon zest (or in combination)

Milk

Eggs

Vanilla essence

Salt

For the sweet cheese filling:

Cheese. The best option would be farmer’s (cottage) cheese or ricotta. It is essential to drain the cheese well before use. For this pasca, I used homemade cheese that I prepared in advance.

Coconut sugar

Raisins

Orange or lemon zest (or a mix)

Semolina

Eggs

Essences (I prefer rum in combination with raisins)

A pinch of salt.

Method

To make the starter dough, mix the sugar with yeast, a little sieved flour and tepid water and allow 10-15 min to activate the yeast, preferably in a warm place.

Once the yeast has activated and started making tiny bubbles, add the butter (melted and cooled previously), milk, eggs, the zest of organic orange, salt and the rest of the sieved flour.

Depending on the type of flour, the exact quantity might vary. Add it gradually while kneading, either with a standing mixer or using your hands. When the dough makes little air pockets as you fold it, you will know it has enough flour. Even if it is still a bit sticky, no extra flour is necessary. The dough has to remain soft and supple.

At this point, I heat the oven to 50°C/122°, then turn it off and place the bowl on the middle rack to let the dough rest for at least 30 minutes. Typically, it has rested enough when the volume has doubled.

You can use the waiting time to prepare the filling by mixing the well-drained cheese with sugar, raisins, eggs, semolina, essences and orange zest, plus a pinch of salt to enhance the taste.

The composition has to be similar to a regular cheesecake. If it is too soft, you can add more semolina. If it is too hard, it might require another egg.

When the resting time is up, use a part of the dough for the braided wall and keep a larger amount for the base.

Before you start, preheat the oven to 160°C/320°F.

I rolled three thin threads from the smaller dough piece to braid the wall as I prefer to taste more the filling than the paste. Be aware that the dough will expand further during the initial stage of baking.

The rest of the dough will go on the base of the baking mould. It is OK to use a rolling pin to shape it in a 1-1.5 cm thick round form; it will still fluff once in the oven.

I used a 24 cm diameter loose base baking tray with parchment paper fit on the base and well-oiled walls.

You might need extra hands to help fit the braided dough to the mould’s wall; I certainly appreciated the involvement of a little helper!

As the helper holds the braided dough in place, add the cheese filling in the middle and spread it evenly using a large spatula.

Separately, beat an egg with a teaspoon of sugar and brush the entire surface of your pasca.

Because I had some dough left, I used it to make two tiny cheese-filled teddies using some small moulds included in my baking set. Needless to say, they turned up way more exciting than my pasca, laden with deep metaphysical meaning! Something like the chocolate eggs and Easter bunnies hidden around the house! The times are ever-changing, although some traditions carry on, even two thousand years later.

The tray goes on the oven’s middle rack. Also, reduce the temperature to 150°C/302°F. As each oven is slightly different, the baking time might vary, but it should be around 30-40 minutes or until the dough turns golden brown. If it burns too early, you might need to cover it with another tray.

My mould was quite full, and as it started to bake, my pasca raised a bit too much, so I could not cover it. Luckily, it did not burn either.

You should not open the oven’s door during the first 20 minutes, but it is OK to turn the tray after this initial time to allow thorough baking.

Perform the toothpick test to check if the cake is baked thoroughly and cool on a rack before removing it from the tray.

If you are baking on Holy Thursday, Easter is still a few days away. You can keep the pasca in the fridge, preferably in a cake box.

If desired, bring to room temperature before slicing and serving.

Happy Easter!

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Traditional Easter Pasca Cheesecake

Pasca is the traditional Romanian Easter cheesecake specific to this religious holiday only. A culinary delight for a special occasion!

Course Dessert

Cuisine Romanian

Keyword Pasca, Romanian Easter Cake, Traditional Easter Cake, Traditional Easter Cheesecake Recipe

Prep Time 1 hour hour 15 minutes minutes

Cook Time 40 minutes minutes

Resting time 45 minutes minutes

Total Time 2 hours hours 40 minutes minutes

Servings 10 portions

Ingredients

Pasca Dough

• 600 g white flour plain or strong bread
• 120 g sugar coconut
• 125 ml tepid water
• 10 g dried yeast
• 125 ml tepid milk
• 3 eggs plus 1 for coating before baking
• 60 g butter melted and cooled
• 1 pcs orange/lemon zest organic
• 1 tsp vanilla essence
• 1 tsp rock/sea salt

For the filling

• 1 kg cheese cottage, ricotta or homemade, drained
• 150 g raisins
• 3 pcs eggs
• 70 g semolina use gradually
• 4 tbsp coconut sugar
• 1 tsp rum essence
• 1 tbsp orange zest organic
• ¼ tsp salt

Instructions

Pasca Dough

• For the starter dough, mix the sugar with yeast, a little sieved flour and tepid water. Allow 10-15 min to activate the yeast, preferably in a warm place.
• Once the yeast has activated and started making tiny bubbles, add the butter (melted and cooled previously), milk, eggs, organic orange zest. Mix well.
• Add the salt and the rest of the sieved flour and start kneading. Depending on the type of flour used, the exact quantity needed might vary. Add it gradually while kneading either with a standing mixer or using your hands.
• When the dough makes little air pockets as you fold it, you will know it has enough flour.
  
• At this point, heat the oven to 50°C/122°, then turn it off and place the bowl on the middle rack to let the dough rest for at least 30 minutes. Typically, it has rested enough when the volume has doubled.
  
• Before the last stage of preparation, preheat the oven to 160°C/320°F.
• When the resting time is up, use a part of the dough for the braided wall and keep a larger amount for the base.
• Depending on how many threads you want to use, roll thin ones and braid them. I only used three and rolled them up as thin as I could.
  
• The rest of the dough will go on the base of the baking mould. Use a rolling pin to shape it in a 1-1.5 cm high round form; even if you press the dough, it will still fluff up once in the oven.
• Prepare your baking mould. I used a 24 cm diameter loose base baking tray with parchment paper fit on the base and well-oiled walls.
• Place the base dough in the tray and the braided dough vertically on the wall. You might need extra hands for this step, as the dough is elastic and will tend to fall and shrink.
  
• As the helper holds the braided dough in place, add the cheese filling in the middle and spread it evenly using a large spatula.
• Separately, beat an egg with a teaspoon of sugar and brush the entire surface of your pasca.
  
• Reduce the oven's temperature to 150°C/302°F and place the baking mould on the middle rack (position 3).
• Bake for 30-40 minutes or until pasca turns golden brown. If it burns too early, you might need to cover it with another tray.
• Do not open the oven's door during the first 20 minutes. After that, you can turn the pasca to allow even baking.
• Perform the toothpick test to check if the cake is baked thoroughly and cool on a rack before removing it from the tray.
  

Cheese Filling

• In a large bowl, mix the well-drained cheese with sugar, raisins, eggs, semolina, essences and orange zest, plus a pinch of salt to enhance the taste.
• The composition has to be similar to a regular cheesecake. If it is too soft, you can add more semolina. If it is too hard, it might require another egg.
  

Notes

Pasca can be kept in the fridge for up to five days, preferably in a cake container. I never tried to freeze it, and I don’t recommend it, as the cheese might go crumbly or too wet when defrosted. After all, this is a cake we make once a year, for an exceptional occasion, so I don’t see the point in preserving it.

Before serving, bring to room temperature.

Enjoy!

Easter Pasca: A Traditional Cheesecake for A Special Occasion

The post Easter Pasca: A Traditional Cheesecake for A Special Occasion appeared first on The World Is an Oyster.

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!

_{This post may contain affiliate links, which means I will receive a commission if you purchase through my links at no extra cost to you. Please read the full disclosure for more information. Thank you!}

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 meals you would prepare for your loved ones on this occasion.

I make this sweet treat rarely, but I always prefer the scratch version rather than melting another already-made chocolate or making fudge.

Homemade Chocolate VS Fudge

Fudge might be the closest version to homemade chocolate, but it is not the same thing. The difference is the proportion of sugar used in fudge – way too much for my taste!

When I moved to the UK, I visited a candy shop and witnessed their fudge making. Although the location was picturesque and the fudge business very successful, I lost interest in the demonstration when the makers emptied an entire sack of white, refined sugar in the massive bowl they used for making fudge.

Anyone who cares the slightest bit about their health knows that refined sugar is a no-no. I will not debate here; there are enough facts easily accessible on the internet to make an informed choice.

I prefer coconut sugar for two main reasons: it is less refined than white sugar and is a healthier option than artificial sweeteners!

Besides, I always use it in small quantities. I never liked anything sickening sweet, and I understand that sugar is not a preservative, although there are enough people who believe so!

If you add 2kg of sugar to a kilogram of fruit when you make jam, for instance, it will not preserve it for longer but will surely make the jam sickeningly sweet!

Likewise, I use reduced sugar quantities in baking; I would rather taste other flavours besides sugar in my cakes!

Homemade Chocolate VS Chocolate Bar

Although I love dark chocolate, I am very selective with the brands I choose to buy. A sickly sweet one won’t do!

In time – and persistent tasting (Oh, I know, I was talking about health barely a minute ago, oops!) I settled mainly with German/Swiss/Austrian chocolate producers. And I will always pay a few pence extra for quality than still paying and not enjoying a bar of chocolate!

I want to feel the taste of cacao in my chocolate and distinct flavours, not tons of sugar that would diminish any other savour!

Because I am picky, I make my chocolate the way I fancy, and this offers me a variety of aromas to enjoy.

I love the punch pepper or chilly gives to chocolate, just as I enjoy a citrusy flavour or a boozy one. Plus, I relish hazelnuts, dried fruits or nougat crumbs in my chocolate.

It is so easy to adapt the recipe, and creativity is essential!

Who can say making homemade chocolate from scratch is no fun when you are free to experiment all you like?

It might get a bit messy in the process, but this is cooking: you are in your kitchen, not in a pharmaceutical production line! Enjoy the fun part and leave the chores for later! Or even better – persuade someone else to clean up; after all, you’ve already done your bit!

Ingredients:

Water

Organic coconut sugar

Organic cacao powder

Powdered milk

Unsalted butter

Flavours to your taste

Roasted hazelnuts (optional)

Method:

In a pan, boil the water with sugar for eight minutes until it becomes syrupy.

Add the cacao powder, mix well and continue boiling at low temperature for another four minutes. Stir occasionally so that it does not crystalise or stick to the pan.

Remove the pan from the hob, add the powdered milk and mix well.

Depending on the type of powdered milk used, you might want to grind it before if it is too lumpy.

During this step, you will see how the powdered milk quickly absorbs the syrupy composition and thickens. The thickness will balance when you add butter. Keep mixing until all lumps dissolve and the consistency is of thick cream.

Add the butter and mix well. Optionally, add roasted crushed hazelnuts, dried fruits, or anything else you might think of that goes well with chocolate.

Add flavours of your choice, and feel free to experiment with small bits first to see if you want to go for that specific taste.

My favourite flavours are rum essence with a dash of ground pepper or orange essence with pepper. The choice is yours!

At this point, the composition should be malleable enough to pour in silicone moulds if you decide to go for unique occasion shapes.

If you are going for simple bar shapes, place parchment paper on a tray, empty the content from the pan and level nicely with a spatula.

Cool in the fridge for at least 4-6 hours, depending on the layer’s thickness. Overnight is better!

If you used shapes, carefully remove your chocolate from the silicone moulds. Otherwise, cut bars of desired thickness and enjoy when you are craving something sweet!

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Homemade Chocolate

Make your own chocolate from scratch using the flavours you like. The result is yumminess in a bar and most likely healthier than refined sugar packed commercial version!

Course Dessert

Cuisine Romanian

Keyword easy dessert, homemade chocolate, treat recipe

Prep Time 4 minutes minutes

Cook Time 12 minutes minutes

Moulding 4 minutes minutes

Total Time 20 minutes minutes

Servings 8 people

Ingredients

• 200 ml water
• 200 g coconut sugar organic
• 50 g cacao powder organic
• 200 g powdered milk (extra 30-50 g if needed)
• 100 g unsalted butter
• flavours of choice
• 60 g roasted hazelnuts optional

Instructions

• In a pan, boil the water with sugar for 8 minutes, until it becomes syrupy.
  
• Add the cacao powder, mix well and continue boiling at low temperature for another 4 minutes. Stir occasionally, so it does not crystalise or stick to the pan.
• Remove the pan from the hob, add the powdered milk and mix well. Depending on the type of powdered milk used, you might want to grind it before if it is too lumpy.
• During this step, you will observe that the powdered milk will quickly absorb the syrupy composition and thicken. Keep mixing until all lumps dissolve.
  
• Add the butter and mix well. Optionally, add roasted crushed hazelnuts.
• Add whatever flavours you wish. Try with small quantities first to see if you want to go for it. My favourite flavours are rum essence with a little dash of ground pepper or orange essence with pepper. The choice is yours!
• At this point, the composition should be malleable enough to pour in silicone moulds if you decided to go for special occasion shapes. Larger moulds work better than smaller; the Christmas shapes I tried were not quite successful because of this!
  
• If you are going for simple bar shapes, place a parchment paper on a tray, empty the content from the pan and level nicely with a spatula.
• Cool in the fridge for at least 4-6 hours, depending on the layer's thickness. Overnight is better!
• If you used shapes, carefully remove your chocolate from the silicone moulds. Otherwise, cut bars of desired thickness and enjoy when you are craving something sweet!

Notes

From these quantities, I obtained approximately 600 g of chocolate. Simple maths say that a 100 g bar contains about 33 g organic, unrefined sugar.  A lot less and better than any bar I bought from the shops!

For a vegan version, skip the butter and use coconut, rice or soy powdered milk as substitutes. I have not tried them, and I do not know how the consistency works.

Homemade chocolate should preferably be stored in the fridge as it contains dairy products. If you use substitutes for a vegan version, then a container and room temperature will do.

The Best Chocolate Is Always Homemade!

The post How To Make Homemade Chocolate From Scratch appeared first on The World Is an Oyster.