Mother's who give on Mother's day ...

Women in my family and my mom exactly would always bake something "loving" to offer to all of us on "Mother's Day" even if that was her day to be taken care of, relaxing and to enjoy her husband's and her kid's company, she would be making sure that we have something sweet and delicious to eat and she would make it "herself" for us.

So here to keep up with the tradition, I will too make (my mom's recipe) the TRIPLE CHEESE STRAWBERRY CAKE for my husband and our son and anyone who comes by on this special day, the "Mother's Day"!

And if you want to try it, here is a simple recipe. Not very sweet, not overly cheesy, real country style down to earth cake.

Let me know if you enjoyed it! Happy Mother's Day to everyone(:
Hugs Z

16 Strawberries, washed, cut off the ends and halved;

Prepare a baking dish with non-stick spray (size 11x9 or so);

Turn oven on 325F (convection);

Make the Crumble:
1/4 cup butter, melted in a steel pot
take of the heat when almost melted
add
1/3 cup icing sugar
1/3 cup flour
and with a spoon, mix and mash until well combined, done;

Prepare the Cheese Cake batter:
With an electric mixer, beat:
2 egg yolks
1 cup granulated sugar
1 tbsp vanilla extract liquid
for about 2 minutes, until lighter colour and fluffy;

Add:
1/2 cup Mascarpone Cream or Original Cream Cheese
and continue with electric mixer for 30 seconds;

Add and blend with a spatula:
1 lemon (zest & juice - 1tbsp of juice)
12 oz Quark Cheese
1 1/2 cup Ricotta cheese
1/2 cup & 1/4 cup flour, all-purpose;

Pour the batter into the baking dish and place the prepared strawberries evenly, pressing each a bit down;

Sprinkle all the Crumble on top and put into the oven!
Bake... and do the toothpick test...when not sticky...it is done, don't over bake it.

Get a good "helper" in the kitchen!

Bake it for about 45 minutes or till it is looking this lovely pale golden brown.

Take time to enjoy the cake, it tastes best freshly made but also the next day, but nothing triumphs the freshly baked warm cake or luke warm I mean...and the smell of baking ...

These kinds of hugs you will get on this very special day, the MMMMMM Day(:

Food with Fashion hand in hand:

AND HOW MY LIFE REVOLVES AROUND BEAUTY THAT INSPIRES ME.

Yes it was mid week and I bake...usually then and for the weekend, we all need the smell of baking in the house.

On Sunday, we tasted the most delicious recipe from My French Country home Blog by Sharon (visit here) and my first time to make individual fruit crumbles! Ok, I never made any crumble before ever...and these are very tasty, thank you Sharon! I used walnuts instead of her recommended almonds, but that is because I had none...it worked too!

Which brings me to say...today I made this also delicious walnut pound cake and having been re-working the recipe over a year now to make it perfect for my cook book(: it pleases me to say that it will be there for sure.

Afternoon tea anyone??

THESE 30 YEARS OLD PORCELAIN PLATES (part of a serving set) from my Mom, INSPIRE ME TO REFLECT ON AND RESPECT THE OLD TRADITIONS AND SKILLS IN MY HOME COUNTRY.

This adorable antique crystal tray is from my friend's shop "Honey B's" (visit HERE) and it is just perfect for my creations fresh from the oven...INSPIRES ME TO MAKE TASTY BAKES.

After my little helper tired out from lifting heavy shopping for mama, and talked to the rain outside, he was ready for his plate of a walnut cake! So proud of him...

MY SON INSPIRES ME TO BE BETTER...in every way.

AND ONTO CHANEL WE GO right from the so very enjoyed cake:

CHANEL ALWAYS INSPIRES ME WITH BEAUTY AND CREATIVITY, ARTFUL EXPRESSION & MUCH MORE...

Now who said that fashion and food are not still together? I am certain they did not separate yet...Karl is too...far from recreating these images but in my head ...when I wake up and all day, these and others like them are on my horizon and ahead of me so I can chase them happily at all times((:

All 3 above images are from Chanel Metiers d'Art fashion show 2011/2012 (HERE)

GWYNETH!

Just so basic and simple and yet so lovely and elegant, isn't she?

Maybe I can't wear mini skirts, but sure can wear a MINI apron! Sexy in the kitchen(: I am on it...

Beauty ... her and the captivating moment of enjoyment of life!

Beauty and peacefulness again...

GWYNETH is an INSPIRATION to me WITH HER COOK BOOK & fashionable TIMELESS ELEGANCE!

Must mention her spring trends recommendations on her website right here: on GOOP

I leave you with the temptation of my walnut cake and hope you have a great rest of the week,

hugs Zaneta

Fast Madeleine cookies on a snowy Saturday morning with my 2 year old.

Ok I first have to apologize to everyone who is a serious French baker and whom ever wants my apology, because I completely mutilated this lovely recipe by David Lebovitz and I found it very inspiring on Paris Breakfast Blog
by the very funny and witty writer Carol Gillott, who even warned me to let them rest in the fridge before baking (((: and I did not listen!

This is why I love blogging btw. It inspires me and all these creative and interesting people from around the world are offering their help and I am grateful...

Yet, again, I did not listen ...because...here it is, my Saturday morning ...has to be fast and efficient...I am writing this as I enjoy the cup of tea and Madeleine cookies with my 2 men.

Ok, my 2 year old heard me say baking...and he was ON IT! on his little stool literally holding mixer in his hands and then licking the dough...looking forward to the result ...and my husband just wants to eat the cookies the minute they are out the oven...what could be better? So leaving them in the fridge for an hour before baking is not even a possibility.
I will try it next time...when hubby at work and son is napping((:

Now, I did it the fast way and it is the easiest, fastest and delicious cookie there is...

We are enjoying it with a nice cuppa of tea as Vicki from French Essence Blog would say (lovely post about tea!) and we are using some of my eclectic cups that are quite vintage and it tastes that much more lovely.

Here is the recipe and how I battered it or twisted it to make it super fast.

Have a great weekend too!

You will need few things:
Non stick spray ((: and it is my best friend when baking! I am Canadian...
2 year old boy to help you!

1 1/4 cup flour (I don't sift it, too much effort and would be messy with a 2 year old)
2/4 cup granulated sugar
3 eggs
1 lemon zest
1 stick of butter (8 Tbsp)
a couple of medium size bowls and a spatula and an electric mixer and some baking trays with shapes...

Mix with an electric mixer for about 4 minutes until very fluffy the following:
3 eggs
2/4 cups granulated sugar

And let your 2 year old lick the batter that he so wants to do! Now you have some time to finish it off fast(:

OK I used some Xmas inspired cookie baking sheet and one with lovely rosettes (to acknowledge the spring) ...but because we still have snow falling outside (horrible I know), I did not feel too bad that I don't yet have a Madeleine cookie baking pan. Spray them with Non Stick spray and no need to use butter and flour and put it in the fridge...this works marvelous and fast.

When your eggs and sugar are fluffed up, add all the flour (I used a dash of baking powder but I would recommend using none) and with a spatula mix well, and let your 2 year old help with that. Pour in the melted butter and give it a few more spins with the spatula until well blended. That is what it looks like...not as smooth as the recipe by Lebovitz...but good enough for the busy mother.

In the oven they go, it is to be 425F for 8 - 10 minutes but my oven was a little behind...it got there shortly and all was ok.

The toothpick test said good to go(:

And despite the drizzling snow outside, we are enjoying them well....gosh it was so fast!

Don't you just love the rosettes? Also, I think that using the plastic baking trays is nicer, they do not seem to brown as much if you prefer that...

Such a beauty this Japanese vintage cup!

Cheers with Rooibos tea or Nazdravi (in Czech)...
HUGS Zaneta

Back in the special place they go... had it made with glass when we moved in as all our cabinets were full wood and this is much better to see my cups(: