Life is a Beach - Baia Beach Club

Hey hey dear peeps :)

Today I have a question for you. 

Hands up all of you out there who feel the need to (safely) absorb some of the sun's goodness if its on offer? 

I, for one LOVE the sun.  I believe there is something purely psychological about the feeling one gets when they feel their skin being gently warmed up (not scorched up), just warmed up! 

Yesterday was another GorGEOUS day here in Malta. There was no avoiding the urge to go somewhere close to the sea.  Seeing the kids splashing around, people enjoying their ice-cream.  Ahhh... when I'm next to the sea I kind of relax "on command" - if you get my drift!

Anyways, the sun and sea also has a tendency to really open up my appetite (not that my appetite needs any coaxing!), so yesterday, we decided to have lunch somewhere by the sea. 

Golden Bay was buzzing with people.  We tried sitting at the beach bar, of which I cannot remember the name (must check on that!).  Incidentally this used to be a place only for ice-cream and Ħobż biż-żejt.  It has now been renovated and has some really nice summery dishes on offer.  Alas, the place was full.  No place for our hungry stomachs to find refuge!  We even tried the Golden Sands' restaurant.  That was full too. 

"Where to go?!", we pondered.  Then, Mr. A. got the perfect idea to drive up to Armier and head down to Baia Beach Club.  Now this place ranks very high on my list of places that make me feel like I've gone on a mini-trip somewhere far far away from the everyday routine.

The drive there also makes you feel like you're on a mini-trip.  Indeed, the last lag of the trip is actually an offroading experience (to put it mildly)!

This only adds to the fun though  (unless your mode of transportation suffers a mishap!!)

I had made sure that the place is open and not fully-booked by calling them up while we were still at Golden Bay.  It is really not worth risking not finding a place if you're famished since this place is quite far off. 

We got there a good 20 minutes later.  Our table was waiting and I was rearing to go to find out what the specials were.  This place never fails to disappoint.  I was lucky enough to have gone three times last summer.  Eating there is just an experience in itself.  One has the beautiful view of Comino and even a little bit of Gozo.  

During high season, the area is usually quite noisy, the mellow music played at Baia usually takes care to balance that out.  However, thanks to yesterday's mini-trip we got to savour an even more peaceful time there.

The menu is not very vast.  But I like this.  First of all it makes me go for something I don't usually go for.  And secondly, it reassures me that the food will be as fresh as possible.  They always have seafood on offer.  However, you can still go for a beef burger if you're feeling peckish for that kind of fare.  They have some great starter dishes, which one may also order as the main course.  

Prices are akin to eating at a nice fish restaurant in St. Julians or Valletta.  So, if you're not planning on splashing out completely, the best option would be to exercise some care when ordering :) 

First came along a cute pair of Bruschetta....

Mr. A. felt like ordering something to "nibble" on, so we ordered the Italian salad with a selection of affettati including Parma ham, some really nice spicy salami and also Bresaola (my personal fave!).  There was also a piece of grilled Caciocavallo cheese (need to try this at home), some Pecorino and some very nice mini Bufala mozzarella balls, for good measure :)

 

I went for the pan seared Calamari.  I asked if I could have a salad or veggies to accompany them instead of the intended oven roasted potatoes.  The waitress was very happy to oblige :)

Mr. A went for the classic Beef Burger with Cheddar Cheese.  He raved about the moistness of the patty ...

Then came the dessert dilemma.  Should we or shouldn't we? We ended up opting for the "let's share the calories" option.  A not too sweet slice of lemon cheesecake to round off our visit to Baia :)

All in all, a very nice mini-getaway!

One which I hope we will get to go on more than once this Summer :)

My (Very Unruly) Cat

Wait. Maybe I should rephrase that.   

Maybe it should read something like “My (Very Unruly) Feline Owner” because sometimes (well, almost all the time), really and truly my cat owns ME (not the other way around)!

Mr. M - the boss himself

I am quite the cat-person.  I’ve always felt like I needed a cat in my life.  Some may say that this is because I’ve never had a dog in my life.  And despite my great fondness of cats I still really wish that one day I’ll have my own canine friend.

The thing is this.  I’m starting to think that my cat is in on the whole “need-to-start-waking-up-early-so-that-my mornings-do-not-feel-like-a video-clip-stuck-on-FFWD (fast forward)-mode”.

I am also starting to become a very firm believer in this: 

You see.  My cat has an agenda all of his own.

• He wakes (me) up consistently anywhere between 04.30-05.30.
• He keeps to his diet by having breakfast as soon as he wakes (me) up. 
• He (very obviously) feels the need to start off his day with a good dose of morning exercise; something which I for one have NEVER managed to succeed at!
• He sticks to his routine 7 days a week, he doesn't take a break on weekends, public holidays or any other human excuse for a break.

Oh GOD! I think I am even starting to become jealous of his disciplined ways! Did I really just admit that? Jealous of my own CAT’S DISCIPLINED WAYS?!?!

Time to recompose myself.

SO, in essence, I have two ways of looking at this.  Either my cat has human abilities and is trying to discipline me to become a bit more like him.   

The other option would be.... well to be honest  I’d rather not explore any other options, lest I figure out some other secret motive/conspiracy of his!

One positive consequence of my cat's early bird attitude is that on some very rare occasions I succumb to his ways and end up starting the day as early or a bit later than him.  And its on these days that I really get to appreciate the stillness and calm that early mornings have to offer :)

March Long Weekend Recap

Hey peeps!

Today's been one hell of a day.  This weekend was a long one for those of us living on the pebble (aka Malta).  

Monday, 19th March, is the day we celebrate St. Joseph's feast and the same day happens to be a Public Holiday (hurray hurray!).  The weather all throughout the three days was simply GorgGeous.  We simply couldn't have asked for sunnier or blue-er skies.

Yesterday, for me, was the culmination of the end of Winter 2012.  

I got to spend a great couple of hours basking in the sun, on the beach, at Golden Bay, in great company nonetheless :)

Therefore, you can now appreciate what a toughie today was.  Being rudely awaken by the high pitched alarm, hitting the snooze button (one time too many, as per established tradition) and being stuck in all the morning traffic jams.  OK, you get the picture!

I decided to put up some photos from this weekend.  I wanted this post to be a kind of 'no comment' post :) The pictures pretty much speak for themselves.  

Spring/Summer 2012 here we come !!

Flowers, flowers, flowers-a-plenty!!

Orchid heaven

The highly composed kitty at the garden centre

My avocado, kidney bean, pickled veggies & green leaves salad

Golden Bay (Għajn Tuffieħa) in all of its sunny glory! BLISS!

and last but definitely Not least! .....

One of my Dad's fave seasonal treats - Zeppole (Sfineġ ta' San Ġużepp).  Fried (or in this case baked) choux pastry filled with sweet ricotta speckled with dark chocolate & candied fruit peel.  My Dad gets these from a little place in Rabat (Malta) - must ask him name of place!

Now, onto more serious matters... when's the next Public Holiday?!?! :)

Happy St. Paddy's Day !! - Coconut Flour Choccy Chip Cupcakes

 Happy St. Paddy's day to all!!

I hope this post finds you enjoying the beautiful weather we're being graced with after the hurricane-of-a-weekend we had just a week ago!

Spring is definitely in the air and I can feel it in my bones.  It's that time of year where I start dreaming of the warmer days.  I just love this time of year.  The promise of 'longer' days is enough to work miracles on my mood!


Here is a quote by Adrienne Cook, which I think is very befitting of the current mood :)

"St. Patrick's Day is an enchanted time - a day to begin transforming winter's dreams into summer's magic"

Today I bring you this wonderful recipe by Comfy Belly for Chocolate Cupcakes made with Coconut flour...This website is one of the few websites I like to go to when I need to whip up something sweet but not dangerous.  The author, Erica Kerwien has come up with some really amazing "keeper" recipes.  I just keep going back for more.


In the spirit of St. Paddy's, I am presenting these cupcakes with a twist...What better way to celebrate the day than to indulge in some cupcake love?!

Now, now, before you start getting your panties in a twist at the notion of the sugar-highs (and subsequent sugar-crashes) associated with cupcakes, I can assure you from now that these little ones are anything but deadly sins.


I like to call them "yummy-in-my-tummy-(almost)-guilt-free-cupcakes".


They are not entirely guilt-free (hence, the almost).  But they come very close.  They are made with coconut flour, so no wheat, no gluten.  There is no milk in the cupcake recipe itself (there is a dairy product in the frosting/topping though). And to top it off there is none of the highly processed white stuff (aka sugar).  Agave syrup was the sweetener of choice.  More on that later. They do have eggs in them, but I'm working on figuring out if I can omit/lessen the amount of these some day (not that I have anything against eggs - i love 'em!)

I've never been much of an art's and craft's person.  Art classes at school used to send me in fits of panic as a child because I've just never been creative that way!  However, yesterday I came across this wonderful website and I convinced myself that I could probably get these right :)


At Queen of DIY, you will find step by step instructions on how to shape your cupcakes into little clovers.  I'm telling you I had such a blast making them! All you need is aluminium foil and scissors and a little bit of time on your hands. 


As for the frosting for these cupcakes, I wanted to opt for a healthy one of course.  I confess that I've never been one for cupcake frostings and I know that many believe that a cupcake is not a cupcake without the frosting.  But I tend to find cupcake frosting quite intimidating - to prepare as well as to eat!  I just don't like the extreme sugary-ness of most cupcake frostings, so anyway, I googled "healty cupcake frostings" and of course I got re-directed to Peter G's recipe for Greek Yoghurt Topping at Souvlaki for the Soul. This guy is a genious in my eyes!


I wanted to (almost) cry from happiness!!! I could finally present cupcakes with a healthy frosting to my friends and family :) YEY TRIPLE YEY!


Greek yoghurt is such a versatile ingredient.  It can be used in both sweet and savoury recipes and with its luscious thickness it lends a beautiful creamy texture wherever and whenever you decide to use it.  For this recipe, I chose to sweeten with just a bit of honey.  The original recipe calls for icing sugar but I found honey to act as a good thickener as well, in addition to being a healthier alternative.  For the sake of St. Patrick's Day I decided to use a bit of food colouring (green of course!) - I had never bought food colouring before, but I decided that this was a worthy cause ;)   I also used freshly chopped up pistachios to finish off my VERY first attempt at decorating cupcakes!

On a final note, before I pass you on the recipes, I would like to extend a big "Happy St. Patty!!" shout- out to my very very good friend Patrick Mifsud, a Maltese artist currently based in London. Check out his website here.  I sooooooo wish I could go see his current exhibition!! (sob, sob).


here goes :)

My kind of lunch break - Angka Cafe

Hi there!

As of late I have gotten into the habit of bringing my own lunch to work.  I find this helps me keep track of what I eat during the day.  In and around our workplace we are faced with many-a-temptation, be it the vending machine upstairs or downstairs, the sweets shop round the corner, or the pastizzi place down the road, we can get easily lured into unhealthy eating habits for five out of seven days a week.  For sure this can take its toll on our health (and waistline), especially on people like me who get to spend a good 8 hours a day sitting at my desk!

So basically, I am doing my very very best to keep up this habit of preparing a little something for my lunch.  Sometimes it will be leftover dinner from the previous day or maybe I'll just prepare a simple salad dressed with anything I fancy.  The thing is that I don't always manage!  Sometimes I'll be too busy in the evening, or I tell myself that I'll whip up something quick in the morning and then I end up waking up late etc. etc. etc. 

Today was one of those days.  I was pretty sure that I would wake up earlier than usual (FAIL) and prepare my lunch before I come in to work (FAIL No. 2). 

Around noon, my stomach had started to rumble.  Actually it had started to make 'give-me-food ' noises much earlier.

Alas, I digress.

I needed to go out of the office and 'hunt' for food but I really did not feel like getting anything ordinary so I decided to pop over to this gem of a place - Angka Cafe Rejuvenation Centre & Green Clinic.

Angka Cafe is situated in Marsa, at the beginning of Aldo Moro Road (underneath Millenia).  The place is very easy to spot since the Cafe itself overlooks the main road.  Inevitably you'll notice the uber-cool white furnitire and the pretty pops of colour even if you're just driving past.

This place specialises in preparing the freshest food possible, and the healthiest! The first time I visited  I had vegetarian falafel with a wild rice accompaniment and a small side of greens.  Add to that a nice pot of hot green tea.  And to finish it off I tried their vegan dark chocolate truffles - one with Spirulina and one with Flax seed.  This place is the perfect way to get started on the whole healthy-eating-shebang - and I do not mean this in any way ironic.  Far from it!  They have managed to make vegetarian and vegan food as tasty as it is visually appealing.

Today I found out that they are doing a lunch buffet.  I find this idea ingenious!  It enables office workers to pop in and get a healthy (with a capital H) lunch in a really quick and efficient manner.  They also do take-outs, so you can take whathever tickles your fancy from their buffet back to the office. 

They have also thought of having 2 different prices.  You can go for a small plate or for a larger one.

"Bravo!" for coming up with this concept I say, it made me feel much less guilty for pressing the snooze button one time too many this morning :)

Papoutsakia Love - Stuffed Aubergines

Hi there!


Remember how as kids we were often told that unless we finished off every last morsel of food placed in front of us, we would be denied our fair share of something sweet?  

I openly admit that I have a sweet tooth (albeit a selective one).  I remember being told that I got this from my grandma, however I obviously enjoy savoury food just as much, and if not more, sometimes. 


Today i am sharing with you a recipe for stuffed aubergines.  In Greece, they are called papoutsakia, which translates very loosely to "little shoes".  I got my first taste of papoutsakia while on holiday in Koroni (Greece) last summer.  

It was literally love at first taste.  I loved them and I instantly developed a condition known as papoutsakia love. 


It took me quite a while till I got round to finding the time to make them at home and the opportunity came round this week.  I came across some purple beauties at the veggie store and as soon as I laid eyes on them I got this mental image of aubergine shells stuffed with a beautifully thick salsa bolognese, topped off with a nice dollop of bechamel sauce, and finally a layer of finely grated cheeeeeseee :) .... So basically I had no choice, the time had finally come!!


I made my papoutsakia one weeknight without much preparation and planning.  I returned home at 20.00 well armed with my fresh pork mince and I started to wonder whether we would actually get to taste them that evening since I really had no idea how long all this would take!


I started with the Bolognese sauce, and then realised that I only had one jar of store-bought Napoletana sauce and one can of regular tomato (polpa di pomodoro) sauce. 
"How silly am I?", not to have thought this through, I thought to myself.  Alas, I was so determined that I did my best to ignore the moment of great hesitation/disappointment that was about to descend upon me.


The Bolognese sauce turned out really nice, and I vowed to myself that next time I would use fresh tomatoes. For the time being, all was well in the kitchen - I excused myself for using ready-made Napoletana sauce!


Then came the béchamel-sauce-dilemma.  I am going to be brutally honest with you.  I was starting to run out of time and the little carton of soya béchamel in my pantry started to suddenly seem like a godsend. 


So, once again I excused myself a little bit more, and decided to try out this recipe using soya béchamel for two out of four aubergine halves. 


From the begninning of this mini-kitchen-adventure, I had decided not to follow recipes, so when it came to popping the "little shoes" in the oven I became a bit hesitant.  This is where I opted to check out what other recipes on the web were suggesting.  In the end all turned out well, all four of the "little shoes" were a dose of delight in their own right :) 


The lovely scent emanating from the oven took me back and made me reminisce of that time in Koroni, when under the shade of an olive tree, with the most gorgeous view to the Ionian sea, I first got introduced to a sweet little pair of papoutsakia.

here's my extremely improvised recipe for "little shoes"

And off we go... with Cheese & Onion Happiness!

hi there!

THIS is my very very first post and i must say i've got butterflies in my tummy!

the other day i found myself at home.. on a very windy/rainy/grey day.. with my cat miao-ing his head off and insisting on braving the weather... and what did I do to kill time?

i BAKED ... i baked to my heart's content... waiting with great trepidation to see the end result... it was these little guys' turn to come to life.. and after testing them out (not even giving them time to cool) i must say i'm really happy with the end result :) ... i decided to try the recipe by Comfy Belly for Onion Cheddar Biscuits... in my opinion this recipe brings to life the amazing cheese and onion chemistry that gets magically transformed into cheesy happiness in the oven... my "biscuits" ended up looking more like mini-muffins since i baked the final mixture in mini-muffin liners out of fear that i wouldn't manage to get them off baking paper once cooked!  truth is i like to use muffin liners because it saves me a lot of kerfuffle especially when i know i will be enjoying them "on d go" :)

so here's my version of these biscuits... i tweaked the original recipe abit and ended up adding some paprika powder.. just a wee pinch and some garlic powder for some extra zing... i also used olive oil, but feel free to use softened butter in the mixture if so your heart wishes!

these little babies are gluten free and low carb given they are made with almond flour, cheese and eggs ... olej !

here goes :) .....