“Forbidden to forget”

No, it is not a story set in the 1940s, nor under Franchism. The Scent of Lemon Leaves is a modern story, fictionalized enough to make it tolerable, but which reminds us how this plague has not yet been completely defeated. And although the scent of the lemon leaves in the title makes us think of a candid love story born in an orchard, in reality it hides the rotten stink of evil that camouflages itself as good.

Through The Mirror

Traveling by train is the perfect time for me to abandon myself completely to reading, the monotonous lull of the locomotive, the chatter of unknown voices in the thin corridors, are the perfect background to immerse myself into a literary adventure. And if the noises are too loud and annoying, as happens lately, with inappropriate phone calls or even more inappropriate fights, then you can arm yourself with the dear old faithful mp3 and find the right soundtrack *.

Trains are becoming faster and faster so I can hardly start and finish a book on the go as in the past, and I must admit that I miss it a bit. But on the journey to Venice a couple of springs ago, I managed to find a private seat and complete half of the novel I had brought with me, then finishing the second half on the return trip.

I’ve…

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“A Long Summer with « My Brilliant Friend» “

Summer is still far away, although the first days of intense heat are coming – even if go together with three or four days of rain and cold. – But, by booking now, perhaps, a trip to the Sorrento’s coast will not cost you a fortune.

There is something magical in the scent of lemons at sunset.

Through The Mirror

Have you ever been to Sorrento in July? with the scent of lemon that spreads everywhere, it mixes with the sea, with fish, with the fried food of street vendors, with freshly baked biscuits.

Have you ever been on one of the wonderful terraces looking at the Golfo, sipping limoncello * and enjoying mozzarella in carrozza[1] or other specialties?

No?

What are you waiting for?

Life is one and some whim must be satisfied!

Summer is still far away, although the first days of intense heat are coming – even if go together with three or four days of rain and cold. – But, by booking now, perhaps, a trip to the Sorrento’s coast will not cost you a fortune.

There is something magical in the scent of lemons at sunset.

Or maybe it’s simply the idea of a holiday, of relaxation, which I don’t see on the horizon…

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“Is it always Spring in Alabama?”

Now, beyond the fact that in this remote village are all beautiful, what has convinced us to watch the TV series is the cast and lightness of the plot, almost a sitcom. We are more and more avid about not only the characters, the love affairs (predictable!), but also careers, food *, places, and we are almost persuaded to make a trip in Alabama as soon as possible, because in all the seasons, it always seems like it’s Spring! But nobody, and I mean nobody suffers from allergies !!!! – who knows, maybe the flowers there do not wildly pollinate like here, or they have heavier antihistamines

Through The Mirror

Cinnamon Apple Bundt Cake
(the recipe is from my English friend, John)

INGREDIENTS
– 2  1/2 cups all-purpose flour
-2 teaspoons baking powder
-1/2 teaspoon baking soda
-1-1/2 cups plus 1/2 cup packed light brown sugar, divided
-4 medium sized medium Granny Smith apples, peeled, cored and cut into ½” pieces
-1 Tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon, divided
-1 teaspoon table salt
-1 cup unsalted butter, melted
-4 large eggs, lightly beaten
-confectioners’ sugar

METHOD

Graphic by: Gioia

Preheat oven to 350° F. Grease and flour a 12-cup Bundt pan. In a small bowl, combine flour, 1 tablespoon of cinnamon, baking powder, salt and baking soda. Set aside.
In a medium saucepan, melt the butter over low heat. Let it cool slightly off heat, about 10 minutes. Whisk in 1½ cups brown sugar until smooth, then whisk in the eggs. Fold in the flour mixture until just combined. Do not overmix. Fold in apples.
Spoon half of the…

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“E’ sempre Primavera in Alabama?”

Ora, al di là che obiettivamente in questo paesello sperduto sono tutti bellissimi, ci ha convinto il cast e la leggerezza della trama, quasi una sitcom, e così lo abbiamo iniziato.
Ci siamo appassionate sempre di più non solo ai personaggi, alle vicende amorose (immancabili!), ma anche alle carriere, ai cibi*, ai posti, e ci siamo quasi convinte di farci una vacanza in Alabama il prima possibile, anche perché in tutte le stagioni, sembra sempre Primavera! Ma nessuno, e dico nessuno soffre di allergie!!!! – chissà forse i fiori lì non spollinano selvaggiamente come qui, o avranno antistaminici più pesanti…

Through The Mirror

*Bundt Cake Mela & Cannella
(la ricetta è del mio amico inglese, John)

Ingredienti per la torta:
-450 gr farina 00
-160 gr zucchero semolato
-140 gr zucchero
-1 cucchiaino di cannella
-¼ cucchiaino chiodi di garofano in polvere
-1 cucchiaino di vaniglia
-250 ml olio leggero
-2 uova
-1 bustina di lievito vanigliato
-2 mele renette
-½ dose di salsa di mele
-50 gr di noci
-1 pizzico di sale

Per la salsa di mele:
-3 cucchiai di sciroppo d’acero
-1 cucchiaino di succo di limone
-50 gr di uvetta sultanina
-2 mele renette
-1 cucchiaino di cannella

Procedura

Per la salsa di mele

Graphic by: Gioia

Cuociamo a vapore le mele tagliate a fette fin quando non risulteranno molto morbide. Mettiamo in ammollo in un liquore dolce l’uvetta, poi trasportiamo tutti gli ingredienti nel robot e frulliamo fin quando non diventa di una bella consistenza cremosa.

Per la…

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“A Long Summer with « My Brilliant Friend» “

Have you ever been to Sorrento in July? with the scent of lemon that spreads everywhere, it mixes with the sea, with fish, with the fried food of street vendors, with freshly baked biscuits. Have you ever been on one of the wonderful terraces looking at the Golfo, sipping limoncello * and enjoying mozzarella in …