6 ingredients to cook BEETROOT SOUP

You really don't need more than that !

 Chop one big onion and pre cut beetroot.

  I use about 3 - 4 cloves of garlic - chop them :)

5 - 6 beetroots - it is a SUPERFOOD

Melt 50 - 60 g of butter, add beetroot , simmer , stir it occasionally. Do that for about 5 min.
Add onions, garlic and stock. I like vegetable or chicken ;) Keep cooking till beetroot and all the ingredients are soft.

Now is time to add some Pine nuts :) yum ! One hand full. Or more if you like more ;) Cook for further 7 min.
Turn it off and let it cool.
Wizz it, season it with bit of salt if it needs it... Reheat to serve.

 This soup is beautiful , really, give it a go ;) Recipes that are easy to do are the best ! As I will not hesitate to try them and I dare to think you feel the same way. Life is sometime too busy  ,to be standing in the kitchen for ever, or supermarket list can get too long, that you feel like you had enough of shopping before you bought everything you need...I like my dishes to be simple, but yummy, that all that matters ;D I buy my usual ingredients I like to use and then I experiment. Hope you like my Beetroot soup.

Enjoy, just like we do ;D

Vanilla xx

Taste of Slovakia...

Vyprazany Syr - Fried cheese is a new national dish.

It is served with tartar sauce usually. The Slovakian Tartar sauce is not that sharp...It really goes well together :D + Some fries and vegetable salad on the side. Cabbage and onion is my very favourite.

 Bryndzove halusky used to be a traditional dish  for many years...

Being Slovakian , it was quite a surprise, that it wasn't my favourite. I do like it now ;) Potato dumplings with melted butter , bryndza - sheep cheese and sometimes bit of bacon at the top, that's what it is. Quite simple.

 We use Bryndza- Sheep cheese to make easy spread. It is lovely. Mix some butter into bryndza and finely chopped onions.

That is how we have it .Spread on bread,with some fresh vegetables on the side...Yummy and simple again...

 Zlaty Bazant - Golden Pheasant is a great beer. Nowdays Slovakians are enjoying Radler of different flavours. Refreshing..I do like it ! My Dad's choice is Krusovice Beer. He sais it is a quality ;D

 Summer Market was fun. Music and good food everywhere... Super sausages almost of taste of well known Chorizo ..And childhood memories always seem to be back when I bite into Goffri - Waffles Soo satisfying :)

Vinea is non alcoholic drink I suggest you all try when you visit Slovakia. Very refreshing, bubbly drink, made from grapes. White or Red. So goood. My Darling didn't resist Veternik , cake similar to eclairs, just the filling is creamy caramel. This is only few of my favourite things ....but there are so many more...Am sure when you one day visit Slovakia, you will find some lovely food, tasty mineral water , crunchy bread and so much more.
Slovakia is the heart  of Europe. It has second highest range of mountains in Europe after Alps worth visiting. Consider  visiting this lovely and friendly place. :D For lots of people this part of the world is quite unknown... still quite unusual to visit.

Vanilla xx

Going to the lakes ...

 Slovakia is the heart of Europe, so it is inland. No sea. But we have got some beautiful lakes , worth  visiting. This was just a short stop at Vinne Jazero - Vinne Lake

 We stayed here a few years ago for few days.

 This is Sirava Lake, it is so big, it has so many different beaches. It is equivalent to sea for Slovakians. This is a view onto cabins above Sirava.

 We had a look around Beach called Luc,

 This boat will take you around Sirava for about 12 euros.

 It was Monday, so it wasn't very busy. On the weekends this lake is full of life...

 My Darling and me, enjoying lemon Radller , Zlaty Bazant is a favourtite one ;D
We were waiting for our friends to arive. It was a very hot day. All our holiday was very hot. Temperature was in between 30-38 C
Can't believe it's over ! I really loved it there. I have so much more to show you.
So see you next time. Now we are getting ready to jump into the car and drive to Devon. I doubt it will be Slovakian weather, but it will be nice to get away for the weekend with our friends.
How exciting.

Vanilla xx

Hundred Heart's would be to few to carry the Love

Hi everyone!

Yesterday I found lovely pattern to complete the blanket for my little ONE (yes I'm still making it, but it's nearly finished). It's a little heart and I'm planing to make 4 of them and attach to every corner of the blanket...its gonna look cute and my little ONE will have something to chew as well (she is taking everything to her mouth). I've already done one so ta-dah!

I can't wait when will be finished.

Ginger XXX

My orchids

Hello all, just want to show you my beautiful orchid, which welcomed me home with such a lovely flowers. Before I went on holiday it didn't have any. And also at this point I would like to thank Ginger for keeping an eye on my plants.

Pepper xxx

First stop: Singapore

Hello all,
long time no hear, I know but I will try to compensate you my absence. Like I mentioned before I went on holiday for 3 weeks and my first stop was Singapore. City/ country definitely has got a wow factor. When we arrived they were just getting ready to celebrate 50 years of independence. Singapore is well organized and clean place. Everything is done and prepare to make citizen's life easier. MRT- subway system, promenades, shelters to protect people from the sun. In 1970 government decided to develop Sentosa island  into holiday resort where citizens and also tourist can unwind and spend time out of town. Singapore also seemed very safe so if your are female or solo traveler I would still recommend to go. But because Sinagapore is so organized is also very strict. For instance you are not allowed to bring with you chewing gum and make sure your throw your used chewing gum in the bin or you can face a fine. No hugging in public without permission. E-cigarettes are illegal, also for cannabis fans for possessing a small amount you can get hefty prison sentence, for a pound of cannabis is MDP which means Mandatory Death Penalty, or after 10.30 pm prohibition so no alcohol. Rules, rules and rules again but place is amazing and was on my must see list :)
We have spend in Singapore 3 days, and that is enough. Of course you can stay longer and still keep yourself occupied but not everyone like everything, so below you can see pictures from places we have been to see in Singapore.

Gardens by the Bay

Cloud forest

Singapore aquarium

Sentosa

Hotel Marina Bay

Singapore Down Town

And at last show you care :)

Enjoy the view and see you soon in Kuala Lumpur  :) If you have any question you can e-mail me or leave a comment, I will reply to all :)

Pepper

Slovakian Summer Holiday.

Good morning from the balcony , with distant view of two ruined castles and the Volcano. The one we really would like to climb...Also the ruined castle, would be a great trip.

Sky is beautifully blue... We love it !

We came down for breakfast and here is a tasty surprise...Nectarines were ready to be picked and here they are on the table waiting for us to help ourselves .

We strolled down town, to have a look at the castle...

The park and fountain around the castle.

There was a Summer Market in town, we went to see it.
Slovakian folk music was spreading everywhere , there were stalls of every kind you can imagine.

 I liked these traditional honey flavoured hearts decorated beautifully. One of my friends' Mum is making them and it is work of art.

 This is a Museum of architecture in Slovakia...

 Inside the houses you can see some artefacts, people used to use for cooking and working....

 Old churches door was so small , that you have to bend to be able to enter it...
It was designed like that , for people naturally to be bowing while entering the church.

Look forward to exploring some more of Eastern Slovakia and share with you soon :)
Vanilla xx