tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37030495749931817562024-03-12T22:58:03.460-07:00Coffee and pieEmilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06967855350498876132noreply@blogger.comBlogger149125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3703049574993181756.post-10285079428983946982013-01-18T05:33:00.002-08:002013-01-18T05:33:40.703-08:00The best of autumn<div style="text-align: center;">
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As I'm typing this, I keep looking across to see the wispy snowflakes blowing in all directions with even talk of a blizzard. I should really show you photos of that but <a href="http://racheleats.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">Rachel</a> sent out a heartfelt plea to finally (ahem!) see my photos of Kew Gardens which I visited back in November. Somehow I'm also more in the mood for sunshine and autumn colours than ice and snow. So that will have to wait a little longer, as will Vienna but I'm working on it. In the meantime, stay warm and have a lovely weekend.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/8390137312/" title="Picture 1522 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img alt="Picture 1522" height="333" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8363/8390137312_d9581a4bdb.jpg" width="500" /></a>
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Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06967855350498876132noreply@blogger.com40tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3703049574993181756.post-89319537920941328172012-12-21T11:20:00.000-08:002012-12-21T11:21:52.396-08:00Films for the holidays<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I hope you don't mind another list. Partly it's because I still haven't gotten around to sorting out my photos from Vienna or Kew Gardens (autumn colours for winter coming up) and partly because I feel a little sad thinking about my first Christmas without my Dad. The time between Christmas and New Year is so wonderful for watching films you wouldn't normally have time to see. The ones on my list (in no particular order) are sometimes based around Christmas but more often they just feature it in a few scenes. Others are not at all Christmassy but just feel right for this time of year. In any case, I hope you'll find a few ideas and also share your favourites with me.<br />
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<b>It's a Wonderful Life</b><br />
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I think you know this one. It's special for me as it was the first film I ever saw at the Broadway cinema in Nottingham as a 17 year old. I can remember those luxurious armchair seats, the old fashioned clock next to the screen, the ruffled curtains which came up when the trailers started. We watch it every year on Christmas Eve.<br />
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<b>Ma Nuit Chez Maud</b><br />
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I love it this film for the beautiful photography, the story which flows like a piece of music and the snow falling on Clermont Ferrand. So intelligent and fresh, plus it makes you want to read Pascal.<br />
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<b>When Harry Met Sally</b><br />
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Christmas only features in a little scene but it's still a wonderful film for the holidays. I'm not normally a romcom person but this one manages to be funny and sweet without becoming sentimental.<br />
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<b>Everyone Says I Love You</b><br />
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I know not all readers of this blog like Woody Allen but he's one of the few people who can make me laugh. This is a musical for people who don't normally like musicals if that makes sense. It was recommended to me by Abbie and I've seen it a few times. The locations are gorgeous (Paris, New York, Venice) and I can't resist the final scene on Christmas Eve down by the Seine.<br />
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<b>Meet Me in St. Louis</b><br />
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I love a good musical at Christmas, especially this one for Judy Garland's perfect version of 'Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas' and because few people did set pieces as well as Vincent Minelli. Other choices could be 'Kiss Me Kate', 'Guys and Dolls', 'Singin' in the Rain' or 'Bugsy Malone'.<br />
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<b>2046</b><br />
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I'm probably one of the few people who saw this before 'In the Mood for Love'. In fact it was the first Wong Kar Wai film I ever saw, in a tiny arts cinema in the centre of Annecy. I found it so strange and beautiful that I came out exhilarated into the night air. It's less perfect than the first first with Tony Leung and Maggie Chung but I like it for that. Basically it's the story of a man and his relationships with women over various Christmas Eves, mainly in Hong Kong. Even if the sci-fi bit is kind of annoying, the photography is stunning and sensual and I'm in love with the music.<br />
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<b>The Apartment</b><br />
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A bittersweet antidote for those who find festive films too saccharine. It's the story of Jack Lemmon's character who lends his apartment to work colleagues for rendezvous and how things get complicated when his boss asks to use it as well. It's touching, funny but also sad and you'll never think of straining spaghetti in the same way.<br />
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<b>Fanny and Alexander</b><br />
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It's nice to watch longer films in different parts over the holidays. Bergman's film makes me imagine what it's like to be part of a large family which I often longed for. There's darkness and light but also magic in the story. The image I love the most is that of Alexander on a sleigh going to church with flaming torches in the snow filled streets.<br />
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<b>The Best of Youth</b><br />
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This is another long one to be enjoyed in different stages. It's an epic following a group of young Italians from the 60s to the present day, taking in political and cultural changes but all done with the kind of warmth Italian cinema does best. Not always easy to get hold of with English subtitles. I have to tell you though that there's a heartbreaking part at the end of the first segment so be prepared.<br />
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<b>The Bishop's Wife</b><br />
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I mentioned my crush on Cary Grant in the last post so of course there has be a film with him over the holidays. He plays an angel who comes a help a clergyman and his wife. I saw it just the other week and found it so charming and funny, especially the ice skating scene.<br />
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<b>Casablanca</b><br />
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I think I have watched this every Christmas since I was a child. My grandmother used to visit us on Christmas Day for lunch and then watched this, complaining that it used to be a much better film when she was younger. I'm sure you know its many famous lines but you'd need a heart of stone to say it doesn't make you feel romantic at all. I love the sadness in the faces of Bogey and Bergman, although Claude Rains is my favourite.<br />
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<b>The Man Who Would be King</b><br />
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I don't think I've ever told you but John Huston is one of my all time favourite directors. We all watched this on Christmas Day a couple of years ago and it seemed like the perfect Christmas film, even though it doesn't feature Christmas at all. It's simply a grand adventure, beautifully told.<br />
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<b>Lawrence of Arabia</b><br />
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Christmas surely deserves an epic watched on a large screen. My Dad loved this film and watched it every year. I must admit that T.E Lawrence is a hero of mine; while David Lean's version is certainly romanticised I can't resist the music and those sweeping desert scenes.<br />
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<b>La Grande Vadrouille</b><br />
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In Alsace I shared a flat with some French people who couldn't believe I had never heard of this film or André Bourvil. It was unavailable in Britain until a couple of years ago when we watched it at Christmas. Very few things makes me laugh but it's one of the funniest films ever. It's the story of some (very) British airmen who have to land in occupied Paris and the chaos that causes. All the nationalities are completely ridiculous but it keeps on getting funnier and crazier. I love the Turkish bath scene and the German chair game the best, I think<br />
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<b>Peau d'âne (Donkey Skin)</b><br />
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When I was a member of the Broadway cinema in Nottingham a few years ago, I was invited just before Christmas for a free seasonal film, plus a mince pie and mulled wine. This film, based on a Perrault fairytale was one of them and it completely charmed me. Catherine Deneuve is the daughter of a widowed king whose wealth is generated by a donkey. When he decides to marry her, a fairy godmother (the wonderful Delphine Seyrig) appears to save her and she has to disguise herself with the skin of the donkey. The most memorable scene for me is the part where Catherine Deneuve makes a gâteau d'amour to win the heart of the handsome prince while singing a lovely song. I'd love the recipe.<br />
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<br />Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06967855350498876132noreply@blogger.com24tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3703049574993181756.post-28267009606320025772012-12-04T08:38:00.003-08:002012-12-04T09:40:40.930-08:00Berlin cheesecake 2012 Gift Guide<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxRkNX-ipUuiudRezMJ4dzJvmkkfRKiURbOrC2cHNq6_nS8fOfiuVqpKtvF8a_FHYnviQC3MwxlBpYrRepaROFu0gDmKkE1dn8qA1g_A6KQ4k0Hd_we06NlHzNmNV0FNcyV0rVHHtR7P9c/s1600/audrey-hepburn-with-santa.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="398" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxRkNX-ipUuiudRezMJ4dzJvmkkfRKiURbOrC2cHNq6_nS8fOfiuVqpKtvF8a_FHYnviQC3MwxlBpYrRepaROFu0gDmKkE1dn8qA1g_A6KQ4k0Hd_we06NlHzNmNV0FNcyV0rVHHtR7P9c/s400/audrey-hepburn-with-santa.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Friends, it's that time of year again! While I appreciate some of you might groan at the idea of the hearing the same old Christmas music everywhere and finding a suitable gift, I must admit to loving every minute of of it (OK, not the massive queues in shops). Christmas for me is a break from winter gloom, a season of lights, the smell of roast chestnuts and cinnamon and a chance to give something nice to others. I love looking through gift guides and also preparing this one, not because I necessarily expect to own everything in it but it's just nice picking out presents for those I care about or seeing pretty designs. A Cup of Jo is my favourite (and many people's too); but this post is rather an eclectic mix of stuff I like instead of something geared to a particular person. I've divided it into categories though in order to make it easier to follow. So let's put the kettle on and get started!<br />
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<b><u>Fashion and accessories</u></b></div>
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Fairisle jumpers are still in fashion what with all the Scandi drama shown this past year on BBC4. Below you'll find one for every budget:<br />
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The <a href="http://shop.gudrungudrun.com/sarah-lund-jumper.aspx" target="_blank">ultimate cult jumper</a>, brilliantly worn by Sarah Lund in the Killing III, and hand knitted in the Faeroe Islands. <i>Gudrun og Gudrun</i>, €280.<br />
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I got the beautiful Jaeger boutique fairisle jumper last year and love <a href="http://www.johnlewis.com/358109/Product.aspx" target="_blank">this season's design</a>. So pretty and snug. <i>John Lewis</i>, £120, but hurry, they're selling fast!<br />
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You can always rely on Asos to come up with <a href="http://fashionfinder.asos.com/womens-ASOS/ASOS-Reindeer-Fairisle-Jumper-1685253" target="_blank">some awesome designs</a>. They tend to be popular though so don't leave it too long. <i>Asos</i>, £35.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikuiavvlR96s7t-BuvezEoRiQyg2pC7Rm2CXzuzGdPjjLEdUPT6aAfkN8PFUXIH_Ki0Va4VaQlsi93JOEqdGGaAFVq1iBBqd3-vKWhpe3al2gb35Etkb518eYHOAzehQg6-nMQB2Z7QOxm/s1600/sandra-juto-wrist-worms4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikuiavvlR96s7t-BuvezEoRiQyg2pC7Rm2CXzuzGdPjjLEdUPT6aAfkN8PFUXIH_Ki0Va4VaQlsi93JOEqdGGaAFVq1iBBqd3-vKWhpe3al2gb35Etkb518eYHOAzehQg6-nMQB2Z7QOxm/s400/sandra-juto-wrist-worms4.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Beautiful <a href="http://www.wristworms.com/" target="_blank">wrist worms</a> handmade by Sandra in Berlin. I don't know what I'd do without mine, perfect for camera walks. <i>Sandra Juto</i>, about €35.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii1TimAuv97DEOmYL3-XdPfGZDrfXsx426TN7FgLgNrcYVAUnnPrQGOpDZ6SdyIUPKGrnGYTKJf9J1BE6Z0zI8ZqcA9gpA6oYhPicV_Eu5CTPn_-qutp4_za3BTAWuNTUlnGdFSGUauSjy/s1600/jlewisscarf.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii1TimAuv97DEOmYL3-XdPfGZDrfXsx426TN7FgLgNrcYVAUnnPrQGOpDZ6SdyIUPKGrnGYTKJf9J1BE6Z0zI8ZqcA9gpA6oYhPicV_Eu5CTPn_-qutp4_za3BTAWuNTUlnGdFSGUauSjy/s400/jlewisscarf.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
A <a href="http://www.johnlewis.com/231614718/Product." target="_blank">pretty patterned scarf</a> to go with your jumper, <i>John Lewi</i>s, £28.<br />
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The <a href="http://unebricoleuse.blogspot.co.uk/2011/10/toast-travels.html" target="_blank">lovely Susan</a> introduced me to Toast earlier this year and I've been coveting <a href="http://www.toast.co.uk/product/slippers+and+socks/FPPP8/ARAN+KNIT+HOUSE+SOCK.htm?categoryref=%2fcategory.aspx%3fcategoryid%3dslippers%2520and%2520socks%26seoterm%3dslippers%2520socks%26&pcat=slippers+and+socks&adimage=&clr=FPPP8_deepred" target="_blank">these socks</a> ever since. Perfect for the house but I also have it on good authority that they're the best Wellington boot socks ever. <i>Toast</i>, £29.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic2ZYoLZv67UFzIH8Jy-3kubiky9cJwb-Kg1p1e7lIucaMjw1oTA9HIHXzpx2KepXq6H2xWjRV5hob42eZBDKcIxbfZrl1_Vmcf1CdmN0Q-ogrx5KhVPem1ePbDGnLQCZi0RNJMZ6ebYm3/s1600/Zippo-40285-rw-86752-100671.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic2ZYoLZv67UFzIH8Jy-3kubiky9cJwb-Kg1p1e7lIucaMjw1oTA9HIHXzpx2KepXq6H2xWjRV5hob42eZBDKcIxbfZrl1_Vmcf1CdmN0Q-ogrx5KhVPem1ePbDGnLQCZi0RNJMZ6ebYm3/s400/Zippo-40285-rw-86752-100671.jpg" width="393" /></a></div>
For those winter walks. <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Zippo-Warmer-Handwarmer-Finish-Edition/dp/B005P163YQ" target="_blank">Zeppo hand warmer</a>, <i>Amazon</i>, £15.75.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsNrMo9VpmlCofqWQEjGH4Bu0LsBB2y_1GouxIiXaVBEYAxXES2-6Fm8NdUK2TRJsUvP_bCUz8kvWEQSzOJqLp9XtArtql-jwYoKG6p_2ASrPzugAzKSisfHB8G1cUX6tzr0yJCOV7j0BF/s1600/iphone1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="306" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsNrMo9VpmlCofqWQEjGH4Bu0LsBB2y_1GouxIiXaVBEYAxXES2-6Fm8NdUK2TRJsUvP_bCUz8kvWEQSzOJqLp9XtArtql-jwYoKG6p_2ASrPzugAzKSisfHB8G1cUX6tzr0yJCOV7j0BF/s400/iphone1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/EyePoetryPhotography?section_id=11885271" target="_blank">Gorgeous iPhone cases</a> from the wonderful Irene, £22 on <i>Etsy</i>.<br />
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<b><u>Beauty</u></b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5eYwbecZC_PlQ_9Kjndz8GILMzTrqFABqlau0Zee6r5shHDKfW-OFu1ac7ZD8IEG7unVm7slZEQyUMW6mz3awtH1sxIACOpIpC0XxekJXj-InLKvN8R0irpmpGO56keBMXLZbyobBXNTw/s1600/cleanse-and-polish-limited-edition-150ml-pump-med-b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5eYwbecZC_PlQ_9Kjndz8GILMzTrqFABqlau0Zee6r5shHDKfW-OFu1ac7ZD8IEG7unVm7slZEQyUMW6mz3awtH1sxIACOpIpC0XxekJXj-InLKvN8R0irpmpGO56keBMXLZbyobBXNTw/s400/cleanse-and-polish-limited-edition-150ml-pump-med-b.jpg" width="301" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://uk.lizearle.com/christmas-gifts/cleanse-and-polish-christmas-limited-edition.html" target="_blank">A limited edition</a> for Christmas of my favourite hot cloth cleanser. It's amazing. Cleanse and Polish, <i>Liz Earle</i>, £19.75.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg87r1FIUiXeW_CxWHSC8XPqDclesSnfH6krXqGDCcycWjLwVBAHlkxhXijti3A0aOldCLe3Mo1GPlGfBlLCVzwATDOBqucOgb8jLKKidE9COKP0Hu2whgVkjvtq4euljiHo8LvH6B8kqKF/s1600/Clarins-Face-Treatment-Oils.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg87r1FIUiXeW_CxWHSC8XPqDclesSnfH6krXqGDCcycWjLwVBAHlkxhXijti3A0aOldCLe3Mo1GPlGfBlLCVzwATDOBqucOgb8jLKKidE9COKP0Hu2whgVkjvtq4euljiHo8LvH6B8kqKF/s400/Clarins-Face-Treatment-Oils.jpg" width="392" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.clarins.co.uk/Rebalancing%20Oils/270,en_GB,sc.html" target="_blank">Brilliant facial oils</a>. Yes they're expensive but one bottle will last you ages. I bought one on an afternoon feeling miserable with red and dry skin and haven't looked back since. Use just a few drops at night with one for every skin type. <i>Clarins</i>, £29.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3sOvAGffPqiv_qUXTP17Plx5MrbIlTfBHjXk8K1azMMAENJiNgBSikVb1z23I8j4pG001xRoG5pyHMCld9c4F0QcJBG4kRtexYrJ2UrBjqUCbpKF_LrXf4N3HEhw0fU3mIE8CFh7w9axS/s1600/handcream.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3sOvAGffPqiv_qUXTP17Plx5MrbIlTfBHjXk8K1azMMAENJiNgBSikVb1z23I8j4pG001xRoG5pyHMCld9c4F0QcJBG4kRtexYrJ2UrBjqUCbpKF_LrXf4N3HEhw0fU3mIE8CFh7w9axS/s400/handcream.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Every winter I suffer with eczema and cracked fingertips. <a href="http://uk.loccitane.com/shea-butter-hand-cream,83,1,29776,271739.htm" target="_blank">This </a>is about the only thing that helps. Shea butter hand cream, <i>L'Occitane</i>, £18.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiv8_9r6xPXeEY4xInPGkeSwQbPD7wadHFpHFNNgoz6-SyY1SIWoZztT0Juv6TitEWJ0pTEg0H-bSmjlOxSNBdD6VnoUroucJemjnQHxLsJ2b2u2TlsxEXiOikWjFoZjdzRINRAkGY4RzQ/s1600/clinique-chubby-stick.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiv8_9r6xPXeEY4xInPGkeSwQbPD7wadHFpHFNNgoz6-SyY1SIWoZztT0Juv6TitEWJ0pTEg0H-bSmjlOxSNBdD6VnoUroucJemjnQHxLsJ2b2u2TlsxEXiOikWjFoZjdzRINRAkGY4RzQ/s400/clinique-chubby-stick.jpg" width="363" /></a></div>
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I'd love to wear lipstick but find my lips are too dry but sometimes just plain gloss is boring. These <a href="http://www.clinique.co.uk/product/9938/24146/Holiday-12/Stocking-Fillers/NEW-Chubby-Stick-Intense-Moisturizing-Lip-Colour-Balm/index.tmpl" target="_blank">chubby sticks</a> combining colour with lip balm sound wonderful, £16 from Clinique.<br />
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<b><u>House and garden </u></b> </div>
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<a href="http://shop.nationaltrust.org.uk/products/garden-kneeling-pad/2942/" target="_blank">Kneeling pad</a> for those hours in the garden, £8.00, <i>National Trust</i>.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdmnKQ618isqE3EAst1RyXy2un8gILHfWUgrkQPilbwx79-QQT5_bJHYCdUhdPmzo7ou6ZTfp3Bja5zxfxFJ5UtM_-7UxYROJsGxhi9lVlwXYU46W2Rv5MXt2La31wJreWvRVlLmuCVzLr/s1600/bulbplanter.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdmnKQ618isqE3EAst1RyXy2un8gILHfWUgrkQPilbwx79-QQT5_bJHYCdUhdPmzo7ou6ZTfp3Bja5zxfxFJ5UtM_-7UxYROJsGxhi9lVlwXYU46W2Rv5MXt2La31wJreWvRVlLmuCVzLr/s400/bulbplanter.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<a href="http://www.capitalgardens.co.uk/stainless-steel-long-handled-bulb-planter-p-24517.html" target="_blank">Bulb planter </a>to save your back planting alium and tulips for next spring, £24.50.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoXOkU5TmvPS718W6EE3mKJybRR0D-4y3TBDawbKMQlbjsDCbEaME5PX-7jLqKb8yUN5uvOemvnHiUvPsJC6a2i1h6TzFpNfPLTaDxwGuHhCkOdrZewR0Hd6JePC7HjOoYLTteQBDDOSJ7/s1600/original_beanstalk-magic-talking-seeds.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoXOkU5TmvPS718W6EE3mKJybRR0D-4y3TBDawbKMQlbjsDCbEaME5PX-7jLqKb8yUN5uvOemvnHiUvPsJC6a2i1h6TzFpNfPLTaDxwGuHhCkOdrZewR0Hd6JePC7HjOoYLTteQBDDOSJ7/s400/original_beanstalk-magic-talking-seeds.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.notonthehighstreet.com/beecycle/product/beanstalk-magic-talking-seeds" target="_blank">Talking beanstalk seeds</a> to bring some colour to a windowsill and send your friends a message. From <i>Not on the high street</i>, £3.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhipNJmuJT1i8MMXytgNdbS3zu2wasBa7ULhr-K3dEJISz_iLkj6IuY3IK3Jt5buqOiwty-UIhLHoBbEm4b7SHpFkGo6PaUFFRRqwVXbWt-7WgjW2ulRHrkUJ_3bV5CqAHNBSIz1BuelLGA/s1600/latin.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhipNJmuJT1i8MMXytgNdbS3zu2wasBa7ULhr-K3dEJISz_iLkj6IuY3IK3Jt5buqOiwty-UIhLHoBbEm4b7SHpFkGo6PaUFFRRqwVXbWt-7WgjW2ulRHrkUJ_3bV5CqAHNBSIz1BuelLGA/s400/latin.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.thebookpeople.co.uk/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/qs_product_tbp?storeId=10001&catalogId=10051&langId=100&productId=304341" target="_blank">Latin for Gardeners</a>, to make sense of all those names, <i>The Book People</i>, £4.99.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4I9jXd7W9nePyytGibpGpnbmvjkVj4KDIov9pNtZ7XS0A6AVvX8_40QVEEEN19rn0dW83SbCQXA3zqCK7rpQwS6UDu6ezIDLbcR_F2EOYep1fJR2az0tb_VqNL8k2AEpl5t0TmrwIePBm/s1600/RHS.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4I9jXd7W9nePyytGibpGpnbmvjkVj4KDIov9pNtZ7XS0A6AVvX8_40QVEEEN19rn0dW83SbCQXA3zqCK7rpQwS6UDu6ezIDLbcR_F2EOYep1fJR2az0tb_VqNL8k2AEpl5t0TmrwIePBm/s400/RHS.jpg" width="338" /></a></div>
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I can't wait to get the latest edition of <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/RHS-Encyclopedia-Gardening-Christopher-Brickell/dp/1409383946/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1354555084&sr=1-1" target="_blank">this</a>, <i>Amazon</i>, £21.70.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHDrPGzHr2NHObTTwVYB9d9Ak5vZeNGlkVGQGrAn38Yh6f3CpqFI5ZuWouOLjd4W6x-9P4_f9FJJ1gVUjqSGt8sDCIDJqDRDk1tJaz2SmuBrhP8CKmLtCgIVwVrFYrL246SCdcksAkimOG/s1600/grey-owl-tea-set-800x600.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHDrPGzHr2NHObTTwVYB9d9Ak5vZeNGlkVGQGrAn38Yh6f3CpqFI5ZuWouOLjd4W6x-9P4_f9FJJ1gVUjqSGt8sDCIDJqDRDk1tJaz2SmuBrhP8CKmLtCgIVwVrFYrL246SCdcksAkimOG/s400/grey-owl-tea-set-800x600.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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I'm so in love with <a href="http://perennialtearoom.com/greyowlteaset.aspx?MMP=101YMU5JN51" target="_blank">this tea set</a>, even though it's pricey and rather tricky to find, $52.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh08WlAU9sAuMFrL49m3zF3UTK2HE3Mg4a-tPEi8I8VctWVUWza_mAeldRdHTpOUIF134ZilwT9TwtboRs6DN2l_w-1xluPtK8PYXz3uf58cmwEDcIX9wSdabTR8SndqpO64FI3gLPZRIsn/s1600/moominpapa.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh08WlAU9sAuMFrL49m3zF3UTK2HE3Mg4a-tPEi8I8VctWVUWza_mAeldRdHTpOUIF134ZilwT9TwtboRs6DN2l_w-1xluPtK8PYXz3uf58cmwEDcIX9wSdabTR8SndqpO64FI3gLPZRIsn/s400/moominpapa.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<a href="http://www.cloudberryliving.co.uk/arabia-moomin-mug--winter-forest--winter-seasonal-2012--1134-p.aspx" target="_blank">The Moomin limited edition winter mugs</a> are always gorgeous and I'm looking forward to a Christmas Day cuppa in this one, <i>Cloudberry Living</i>, £15.95.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQyTmWJt0FA7R1J1gsjmUFuDpUZkeX1mSMsy30Tb4s4k3PtnU0fCh3ODhilKncDh3W61eE5V_-Suh6Yl7Pozh6iigh_HQS3wLl8-ntqN7E7IJ7h5g_c2jo0keH0WgrDyxVeVtU_o3HcIPb/s1600/cakestand.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQyTmWJt0FA7R1J1gsjmUFuDpUZkeX1mSMsy30Tb4s4k3PtnU0fCh3ODhilKncDh3W61eE5V_-Suh6Yl7Pozh6iigh_HQS3wLl8-ntqN7E7IJ7h5g_c2jo0keH0WgrDyxVeVtU_o3HcIPb/s400/cakestand.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
I was overjoyed to get <a href="http://www.lakeland.co.uk/42749/Botanic-Blue-Cake-Stand" target="_blank">this exquisite cake stand</a> as a present last year. The perfect centrepiece to show off your baking skills, <i>Lakeland</i>, £25.99.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivNqgxA8E2pbzyHsZvJR8qXe45HKEfLLJG5R8rtOm5Uipiy4Op0ksMI1cmrkQraaLhcLF-c2RctdA9tQnM-iLjPAg8220vWhMs7xtzALDCUJ3nydZ0rLs4qdyDjC6zuw7L3_X7ud14OfuC/s1600/teaTowelDetail.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivNqgxA8E2pbzyHsZvJR8qXe45HKEfLLJG5R8rtOm5Uipiy4Op0ksMI1cmrkQraaLhcLF-c2RctdA9tQnM-iLjPAg8220vWhMs7xtzALDCUJ3nydZ0rLs4qdyDjC6zuw7L3_X7ud14OfuC/s400/teaTowelDetail.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
<a href="https://www.famillesummerbelle.com/Manhattan-Tea-Towel.html" target="_blank">Manhattan tea towel</a> if you can't make Christmas in New York, <i>Famille Summerbelle</i>, £10.00<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcyBT1fkFTQxRt1u8FryazUhPfmnd0xVDV8eYAEj08jbnkOU1Lm-bR0c1LecK32fEIFAXDxpx3QrLKjzp7M302ChRYIlrtvUbdqNWEavB6t7X9eJZYvgVeTZ80No4UFBEVK_OjjhkRzqR3/s1600/finnstyle_2237_306589368.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="253" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcyBT1fkFTQxRt1u8FryazUhPfmnd0xVDV8eYAEj08jbnkOU1Lm-bR0c1LecK32fEIFAXDxpx3QrLKjzp7M302ChRYIlrtvUbdqNWEavB6t7X9eJZYvgVeTZ80No4UFBEVK_OjjhkRzqR3/s400/finnstyle_2237_306589368.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Iittala tealights to make your home festive and pretty through the dark nights. The <a href="https://www.iittala.com/Home-interior/Kivi-Votive-60-mm-red/p/K001287" target="_blank">red is my favourite</a> but I can never bring myself to spend that much money so getting it as a gift would be wonderful, <i>Iittala</i>, from £16.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSriFTiAxsXgDQNTrJQqD3weniGivGFm0dC24-OMR7-cw_iMKRQgaJ_D2vdy3_bW1c5QSkUHcJ4iZKoB8LdwOQJPN14qyz-2uF2h2HWKStACL_hyphenhyphenOxbyThZuLLWfNywBI9FRDZMLrny7B4/s1600/chinatown.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSriFTiAxsXgDQNTrJQqD3weniGivGFm0dC24-OMR7-cw_iMKRQgaJ_D2vdy3_bW1c5QSkUHcJ4iZKoB8LdwOQJPN14qyz-2uF2h2HWKStACL_hyphenhyphenOxbyThZuLLWfNywBI9FRDZMLrny7B4/s400/chinatown.jpg" width="270" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Chinatown-Poster-Movie-Nicholson-Hillerman/dp/B001JKJ0MO/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1354611215&sr=8-2" target="_blank">Chinatown poster</a>, still the best film noir ever, <i>Amazon</i>, £13.18<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><u>Stationery</u></b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm8faHjDHR7g_kKmSytJsKTSPIQkK-NVvEN7f4LknYYWfZoYXPDe4ibYLtwSPDA8KMHmfePLIwfplA7qecbKmoqx4LU-FpZtQFq6C4xTplNTU9l4u22Ccc11smex6qMOmlaYmgVcXyKIRf/s1600/Decole-SquirrelTape_370.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="317" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm8faHjDHR7g_kKmSytJsKTSPIQkK-NVvEN7f4LknYYWfZoYXPDe4ibYLtwSPDA8KMHmfePLIwfplA7qecbKmoqx4LU-FpZtQFq6C4xTplNTU9l4u22Ccc11smex6qMOmlaYmgVcXyKIRf/s400/Decole-SquirrelTape_370.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.howkapow.com/squirrel-tape-dispenser" target="_blank">Squirrel tape dispenser</a>, <i>How Kapow</i>, £14<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhng9CMQs9pmI8t-YXf7ZSnwTN5KSJlCZ4mrJI-61bX1dCR3MhB8hDabQCyf6lhLrzy9SxnbKAS2ePSBd12byHfzMIiBLOb13X4FCXmJo14R2XGkxDjxwSBy77MIloMxcFnasSILEfZPg4v/s1600/productimage-picture-paris-eraser-422.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhng9CMQs9pmI8t-YXf7ZSnwTN5KSJlCZ4mrJI-61bX1dCR3MhB8hDabQCyf6lhLrzy9SxnbKAS2ePSBd12byHfzMIiBLOb13X4FCXmJo14R2XGkxDjxwSBy77MIloMxcFnasSILEfZPg4v/s400/productimage-picture-paris-eraser-422.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://nonesuchthings.com/" target="_blank">Eiffel tower eraser</a> to brighten up your day, <i>None Such Things</i>, £2.95.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSTFxi8mMMirppARGXzXHT8bUR4pSSmVV7paIf2bVL-b0_Vzi5Ldkffj70HMBqq0NrjByfC8jTUjwfFiPil3Pe0LYVQzrACOU0GSUfYcsuq5Rh9ufHXxy1zucz7EHGr_Zibx570DzEECfM/s1600/productimage-picture-school-milk-bottle-398.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSTFxi8mMMirppARGXzXHT8bUR4pSSmVV7paIf2bVL-b0_Vzi5Ldkffj70HMBqq0NrjByfC8jTUjwfFiPil3Pe0LYVQzrACOU0GSUfYcsuq5Rh9ufHXxy1zucz7EHGr_Zibx570DzEECfM/s400/productimage-picture-school-milk-bottle-398.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://nonesuchthings.com/" target="_blank">Vintage milk bottles </a>which I found just after I returned to the UK this summer. They remind me of free milk at infants' school. <i>None Such Things</i>, £3.95.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIw4jBoGlS8vyHLCmZkW7h4qAfdRMfBr1Ur7ItinrRnjzxIxFH66eeHJCkOp3ROk7k0PmN0o88UwOngnQKmBXkapzBN4CqRh4JBAY_zkQiAxRobuX-JCLzN3_3VpU-XbI4eZVzeEoyZc6N/s1600/diary.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIw4jBoGlS8vyHLCmZkW7h4qAfdRMfBr1Ur7ItinrRnjzxIxFH66eeHJCkOp3ROk7k0PmN0o88UwOngnQKmBXkapzBN4CqRh4JBAY_zkQiAxRobuX-JCLzN3_3VpU-XbI4eZVzeEoyZc6N/s400/diary.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Desk-Diary-2013-Brent-Elliott/dp/0711233039" target="_blank">The most beautiful diary</a>, RHS, <i>Amazon</i>, £8.39<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinhAmUZbckFgzY6EpsZ1eEpqA_m_TIZolykRqz8kBm_YPmDGgRfvmrPjihHxjAduGJcRjPB-EgrsJy03pjShscd1DqkLolXLSMvZ3s2DCF3k24rLSL71UmSOpWsOJADp-uDttRbrEbbymt/s1600/pattern-pens-all-460x460.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinhAmUZbckFgzY6EpsZ1eEpqA_m_TIZolykRqz8kBm_YPmDGgRfvmrPjihHxjAduGJcRjPB-EgrsJy03pjShscd1DqkLolXLSMvZ3s2DCF3k24rLSL71UmSOpWsOJADp-uDttRbrEbbymt/s400/pattern-pens-all-460x460.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<a href="http://poketo.com/shop/stationery/pens-pencils/Pattern-Graphic-Pens" target="_blank">Pretty pens </a>to inspire you to write something handwritten to your friends, <i>Poketo</i>, $4.50<br />
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<b><u>Films</u></b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDxKLR9ZCDnF2LqTXSdlDgTDLYVPim4hXnN_SlVfNVrJp0PqKqMAx3DW3f53unh18m57SuvOxPso4tSgHG5BZtcEBQWMsQLE0RVgzCnVoSeIMG43s4J6mSRxQ1viX3kQQUINin_FTf7qve/s1600/cary_grant-2_29620820.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDxKLR9ZCDnF2LqTXSdlDgTDLYVPim4hXnN_SlVfNVrJp0PqKqMAx3DW3f53unh18m57SuvOxPso4tSgHG5BZtcEBQWMsQLE0RVgzCnVoSeIMG43s4J6mSRxQ1viX3kQQUINin_FTf7qve/s400/cary_grant-2_29620820.jpg" width="301" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Cary-Grant-Box-Set-DVD/dp/B000PMGRDM" target="_blank">A Cary Grant box set</a> because too much of a good thing can be wonderful as Mae West once said, <i>Amazon</i>, £42.79.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXV_EvPULCWBKeZZJhYFKwOwo6FkY4ZIL8ryog3dILkygF3ZJnlhSTXcS18f7CaITOQqo6YdhE3WgvUPmCXulhLjmFOrzq0aC600rhXoRGfPGpqbRUeNj2eOrTZ49GwjF9V-ryj0sm-En9/s1600/1942_Katharine_Hepb_270012s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="286" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXV_EvPULCWBKeZZJhYFKwOwo6FkY4ZIL8ryog3dILkygF3ZJnlhSTXcS18f7CaITOQqo6YdhE3WgvUPmCXulhLjmFOrzq0aC600rhXoRGfPGpqbRUeNj2eOrTZ49GwjF9V-ryj0sm-En9/s400/1942_Katharine_Hepb_270012s.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Spencer-Tracy-Katharine-Hepburn-Collection/dp/B000CCXBY8" target="_blank">Classic film set </a>with Katharine Hepburn and Spencer Tracy because there's nothing like old movies over the holidays. <i>Amazon</i>, £10.25.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAevEGnk2G9uPeweFAwjL9LXQGzir9hzxZxJ3qp3DSIISt26Q1Y2ya8s651U-NNf7K3C2Z2RLATeNIR3Wx4CoXcUwNENdym6760RINtoTU0fHBiRsxpTrnqGZN_AnSftJe6MIWEGvwPGBv/s1600/woody.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAevEGnk2G9uPeweFAwjL9LXQGzir9hzxZxJ3qp3DSIISt26Q1Y2ya8s651U-NNf7K3C2Z2RLATeNIR3Wx4CoXcUwNENdym6760RINtoTU0fHBiRsxpTrnqGZN_AnSftJe6MIWEGvwPGBv/s400/woody.jpg" width="280" /></a></div>
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I'm just dying to see this <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Woody-Allen-A-Documentary-DVD/dp/B0089XWS46/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1354536790&sr=8-1" target="_blank">new Woody Allen documentary</a>, Amazon, £10.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvwnmgs5E8Q7QmFJ2BY0W6VCVfDnezljuOkLK3XNq8fprcKvhiFYKaACYn4reCFA8vSJyU5PsvKh1fVMgTRUnFcJUBhIj99RfQ6V8YSEYnxU-YKeWEnhzFW7WfSpqXXInVYXpnNor8G04f/s1600/the_artist_3.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="231" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvwnmgs5E8Q7QmFJ2BY0W6VCVfDnezljuOkLK3XNq8fprcKvhiFYKaACYn4reCFA8vSJyU5PsvKh1fVMgTRUnFcJUBhIj99RfQ6V8YSEYnxU-YKeWEnhzFW7WfSpqXXInVYXpnNor8G04f/s400/the_artist_3.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIUjQvx8nywWkdadLrGp8jYBnRU7ewJbfATquJ-IVubKk2PsU1D54tgyBG-Ic9SJHAFK4BvMJDZqXONgef0JFnoczvyiCBruqalhGqUb-l9gD9v3MfiNRHlIp0Jz7FmjBuXuP5Ja2Hg4xx/s1600/moonrise.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIUjQvx8nywWkdadLrGp8jYBnRU7ewJbfATquJ-IVubKk2PsU1D54tgyBG-Ic9SJHAFK4BvMJDZqXONgef0JFnoczvyiCBruqalhGqUb-l9gD9v3MfiNRHlIp0Jz7FmjBuXuP5Ja2Hg4xx/s400/moonrise.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Two of my favourite films from this year which I saw in Berlin with my Mum. <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Artist-DVD-Jean-Dujardin/dp/B006E04QDM/ref=sr_1_1?s=dvd&ie=UTF8&qid=1354537313&sr=1-1" target="_blank">The Artist</a> (£7.01) and <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Moonrise-Kingdom-DVD-Bruce-Willis/dp/B007IGGN46" target="_blank">Moonrise Kingdom</a> (£11.99), both from <i>Amazon</i>.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZUrjeQWLOLyH0geCRpOrSPbaU-7iVqNI90VMaoizWz57QPCWIqTs_CD-U-VyeH5VP4_O5Ziwt_6s-FAWqGSybvX2fjPE3vBduAPOORlkX141jtTkJTiW-aObGZA8Vf_kfZZ9yTLPyNmwd/s1600/bridge_2198616b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="257" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZUrjeQWLOLyH0geCRpOrSPbaU-7iVqNI90VMaoizWz57QPCWIqTs_CD-U-VyeH5VP4_O5Ziwt_6s-FAWqGSybvX2fjPE3vBduAPOORlkX141jtTkJTiW-aObGZA8Vf_kfZZ9yTLPyNmwd/s400/bridge_2198616b.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwBCfkg5rQFn4eYdQxN-pd02YdjhaoCJQk0rN5MpOUC8C2cYdXpNtlH_0fSZlfznVfuRLgdi0DokMeHNNvhTPTNQlYe0COBHqCK0Z6GluJ-ZOJJKPo1qHW_Jz17h8BIluk0XY8cM4Gxrl_/s1600/borgen.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwBCfkg5rQFn4eYdQxN-pd02YdjhaoCJQk0rN5MpOUC8C2cYdXpNtlH_0fSZlfznVfuRLgdi0DokMeHNNvhTPTNQlYe0COBHqCK0Z6GluJ-ZOJJKPo1qHW_Jz17h8BIluk0XY8cM4Gxrl_/s400/borgen.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Two more brilliant Scandi series you may have missed, <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0072HTWQM/ref=asc_df_B0072HTWQM10872530?smid=A3P5ROKL5A1OLE&tag=hydra0b-21&linkCode=asn&creative=22206&creativeASIN=B0072HTWQM&hvpos=1o2&hvexid=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=19860551441777826265&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=" target="_blank">The Bridge</a>, £24.29 and <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Borgen-1-New-Packaging-DVD/dp/B008HGJSUW/ref=sr_1_2?s=dvd&ie=UTF8&qid=1354636193&sr=1-2" target="_blank">Borgen</a>, £22, both from <i>Amazon</i>.<br />
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<b><u>Books</u></b><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsRL2L8jLNCjUzS3FQdCiim7GfbhLsGb5H-OHlgLeboJjuep2hkwlrHefgkI8GFXYVrLmr0twMEzOph0Uq4Wil2vJPogKU3ur-lWZB3_8oiXDgjYuRDHWw_skVBV28L8J0POGE17olgOVf/s1600/Scandilicious-Baking-cover-low-res.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsRL2L8jLNCjUzS3FQdCiim7GfbhLsGb5H-OHlgLeboJjuep2hkwlrHefgkI8GFXYVrLmr0twMEzOph0Uq4Wil2vJPogKU3ur-lWZB3_8oiXDgjYuRDHWw_skVBV28L8J0POGE17olgOVf/s400/Scandilicious-Baking-cover-low-res.jpg" width="306" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyyqEJWB7IJDikCiVekff4hIw9sYEFLhUyeBBnZX1VDLOYe67TGdjWY_y0x8gkLOZcQ2iXcnRTLnS8tmorrAyxgf9pO1nF207brQJ1KQVIMcXLmwIzwbWIKmOxxMZx8PR5hY1PXjE00bJi/s1600/nigel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyyqEJWB7IJDikCiVekff4hIw9sYEFLhUyeBBnZX1VDLOYe67TGdjWY_y0x8gkLOZcQ2iXcnRTLnS8tmorrAyxgf9pO1nF207brQJ1KQVIMcXLmwIzwbWIKmOxxMZx8PR5hY1PXjE00bJi/s400/nigel.jpg" width="268" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6wGqLbINGh1T0ZbWLyviIDaNH-lu4ZsK8EMPPLk_VXGuRz4iq7wA3FExpK83e1OOEIQufbBOo8ENvHTk9BBsd23_Lq9P066gHD_BNvacgBAct4UjUuuRxcGpPbLlla1ceSLL4qNBcdGGE/s1600/bake-off.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6wGqLbINGh1T0ZbWLyviIDaNH-lu4ZsK8EMPPLk_VXGuRz4iq7wA3FExpK83e1OOEIQufbBOo8ENvHTk9BBsd23_Lq9P066gHD_BNvacgBAct4UjUuuRxcGpPbLlla1ceSLL4qNBcdGGE/s400/bake-off.jpg" width="337" /></a></div>
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My favourite cookbooks of the year, <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Scandilicious-Baking-Signe-Johansen/dp/1444734679/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1354269825&sr=8-1" target="_blank">Scandilicious Baking</a>, £16, <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/0007256035" target="_blank">The Kitchen Diaries II</a>, £12 and the <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Great-British-Bake-Off-showstoppers/dp/1849904634" target="_blank">Great British Bake Off book</a>, £8.86, all from <i>Amazon</i>.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdC6i6EvBrHDudXL1FucF0exTJlEd3RPXwV3ziIkee1bKtbUh-jIrl7ytt7lQyYKGjWAIHmshpxriJHf-MiOhQ-W0wI5xhenfqVM2-c6hilpTEMS6yu9j-1rvi3B61xVEHOfiE1IdJgERQ/s1600/BurtonTaylor2_2340220b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="248" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdC6i6EvBrHDudXL1FucF0exTJlEd3RPXwV3ziIkee1bKtbUh-jIrl7ytt7lQyYKGjWAIHmshpxriJHf-MiOhQ-W0wI5xhenfqVM2-c6hilpTEMS6yu9j-1rvi3B61xVEHOfiE1IdJgERQ/s400/BurtonTaylor2_2340220b.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<div style="text-align: left;">
<a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Richard-Burton-Diaries-Chris-Williams/dp/0300180101/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1354537457&sr=8-1" target="_blank">Richard Burton's diaries </a>to enjoy alone or read aloud together, £18.75, <i>Amazon</i>.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRKoHC7WxpnKORguUDkRiTKea040SmkpBKKbfds6HGcIknuCzeUKwgjpgjv3eXEdFmGYEuZf_EPeBOEYNUWT7B3caOp3h3P1BwPq3FmHEIALA6-6al6Dth5PXdsIMJIHLDnIWSQoSv7ZqK/s1600/etym.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRKoHC7WxpnKORguUDkRiTKea040SmkpBKKbfds6HGcIknuCzeUKwgjpgjv3eXEdFmGYEuZf_EPeBOEYNUWT7B3caOp3h3P1BwPq3FmHEIALA6-6al6Dth5PXdsIMJIHLDnIWSQoSv7ZqK/s400/etym.jpg" width="380" /></a></div>
<a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Mark-Forsyths-Gemel-Etymologicon-Horologicon/dp/1848314280/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1354556489&sr=1-2" target="_blank">A set with the Etymologicon and the Horologicon</a> to understand hidden connections in the English language and rediscover forgotten words so you can impress your friends by talking about rumpeepers (mirrors) and snollygosters (smug, dishonest people, generally politicians). Fantastic stuff. £15 from <i>Amazon</i>.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbCuNNoqQ62WWMvCyaG50t193gvu-9gaz9jgUdtTbbkmvKRZBTrvOemGFrF83aM1yxWzHg0i2VUpxtV3bVFmmrLCc9suDGVOP2dXIVL6PPjCWQcPAbbXitTgnYAOHzyRaw7VsXrni55q8C/s1600/the-missing-ink-978023076712601.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbCuNNoqQ62WWMvCyaG50t193gvu-9gaz9jgUdtTbbkmvKRZBTrvOemGFrF83aM1yxWzHg0i2VUpxtV3bVFmmrLCc9suDGVOP2dXIVL6PPjCWQcPAbbXitTgnYAOHzyRaw7VsXrni55q8C/s400/the-missing-ink-978023076712601.jpg" width="282" /></a></div>
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I've always loved writing things by hand and receiving handwritten messages but it doesn't happen often enough. I hope Philip Hensher's new book will inspire me to do more. <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/The-Missing-Ink-Handwriting-Matters/dp/0230767125/ref=tmm_hrd_title_0?ie=UTF8&qid=1354636933&sr=1-1" target="_blank">The Missing Ink</a>, £6 from <i>Amazon</i>.<br />
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<b><u>For men </u></b></div>
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<b><u><br /></u></b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBkOUpWkEguZbmcOPlC3_joNhz0gjc8XR-9jcxSf-MbdlA_uCA9ho2PhgRCMYjiyhqwc0bDiLUybzGCddqs-n30WNVPROhIEI4PqyGi1h6Zd9wp1kqL6ya2b47By2L6Dt1TrB6YYkO53GU/s1600/hymie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBkOUpWkEguZbmcOPlC3_joNhz0gjc8XR-9jcxSf-MbdlA_uCA9ho2PhgRCMYjiyhqwc0bDiLUybzGCddqs-n30WNVPROhIEI4PqyGi1h6Zd9wp1kqL6ya2b47By2L6Dt1TrB6YYkO53GU/s400/hymie.jpg" width="263" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/The-Hymie-Joke-Book-Shades/dp/1849543917" target="_blank">The Hymie Joke Book</a> by Michael Winner. My Dad loved the jokes that Sunday Times readers sent in every week about the rather sexist Hymie and his wife. Some are better than others but in this collection you're bound to find something to make you (and the men in your life) laugh. £8.96 from <i>Amazon</i>.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUojQMdNtTDD_E5rEQOJWPb4faFGkv3_DlYOWpEaFMCunauh8DMN7pxFKllU4x8kBuCCARCFHT11eAVJSGi4ONwuaac3d7veYOPLODAPiTdVe1TcxmJ1z4BYVB-uaNj1zJJNGuyi2D7McU/s1600/liz-earle-for-men-try-me-kit1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="276" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUojQMdNtTDD_E5rEQOJWPb4faFGkv3_DlYOWpEaFMCunauh8DMN7pxFKllU4x8kBuCCARCFHT11eAVJSGi4ONwuaac3d7veYOPLODAPiTdVe1TcxmJ1z4BYVB-uaNj1zJJNGuyi2D7McU/s400/liz-earle-for-men-try-me-kit1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Men's grooming products by Liz Earle in <a href="http://uk.lizearle.com/mens-skincare/mens-try-me-kit.html?cmp=google_pe_mens&gclid=CN6JxOTj_rMCFaTMtAodejYATw" target="_blank">Try-Me sets</a> (£16.75) or <a href="http://uk.lizearle.com/new-offers/mens-everyday-skincare.html" target="_blank">full size sets</a> (£38).<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3W1BRjJsJ5GwhhSVv3m5LcOTZ6cJv10J7P1itHdfM5gc1ePDZ_sEK7rMwSLdCIPEvYboNV56nm0sqr96W6sp7TIlvk-rjH7VAny25E28Ns9sGodPQEC1YD3X5gWtmfpUOqeEQWxGW1K80/s1600/diptyque-l-ombre-dans-l-eau-eau-de-toilette-100ml_2807911.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3W1BRjJsJ5GwhhSVv3m5LcOTZ6cJv10J7P1itHdfM5gc1ePDZ_sEK7rMwSLdCIPEvYboNV56nm0sqr96W6sp7TIlvk-rjH7VAny25E28Ns9sGodPQEC1YD3X5gWtmfpUOqeEQWxGW1K80/s400/diptyque-l-ombre-dans-l-eau-eau-de-toilette-100ml_2807911.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div>
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My favourite<a href="http://www.diptyqueparis.co.uk/personal-fragrances/eau-de-toilettes/lombre-dans-leau-edt.html" target="_blank"> men's fragrance</a>, £50.<br />
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<b><u>Edible gifts</u></b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjGgYFt8XiVb57q3yzy4ACk-B3JXq3UKWl-cYZM0MRR-pDljAbNHj4hG2bcBGi5lrhouBRjLkIz2AEE7t8F66z3ELLsQzFtf-wco1wjLTFIHmpzvPtHQW508k4rXbP0PmoDnYyplMfRnGJ/s1600/lemoncake.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjGgYFt8XiVb57q3yzy4ACk-B3JXq3UKWl-cYZM0MRR-pDljAbNHj4hG2bcBGi5lrhouBRjLkIz2AEE7t8F66z3ELLsQzFtf-wco1wjLTFIHmpzvPtHQW508k4rXbP0PmoDnYyplMfRnGJ/s400/lemoncake.jpg" width="290" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://shop.peytonandbyrne.net/Products/172-lemon-cake.aspx" target="_blank">Delish lemon cake</a> from <i>Peyton and Byrne</i>, a company with fabulous bakeries in London, £10.<br />
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Don't forget, to make a really special and personal gift, you could also bake all or some of my Christmas cookies to put in a tin or pretty wrapper or how about some orangettes? You'll find the links below:<br />
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<a href="http://berlincheesecake.blogspot.co.uk/2011/12/sweetest-thing.html" target="_blank">Orangettes</a><br />
<a href="http://berlincheesecake.blogspot.co.uk/2011/12/big-baking-post.html" target="_blank">Vanilla crescents</a><br />
<a href="http://berlincheesecake.blogspot.co.uk/2011/12/big-baking-post.html" target="_blank">Linzer Augen</a><br />
<a href="http://berlincheesecake.blogspot.co.uk/2011/12/big-baking-post.html" target="_blank">Spekulatius</a><br />
<a href="http://berlincheesecake.blogspot.co.uk/2011/12/big-baking-post.html" target="_blank">Cinnamon stars</a><br />
<a href="http://berlincheesecake.blogspot.co.uk/2011/12/big-baking-post.html" target="_blank">Lebkuchen</a><br />
<a href="http://berlincheesecake.blogspot.co.uk/2011/12/big-baking-post.html" target="_blank">Mini stollen</a><br />
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Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06967855350498876132noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3703049574993181756.post-81671987453465792922012-11-26T00:56:00.000-08:002012-11-26T00:57:14.374-08:00Summer interlude<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/8205841731/" title="Picture 450 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img alt="Picture 450" height="333" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8069/8205841731_74e7e8d2ae.jpg" width="500" /></a>
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<br />
Thank you again for your kind comments to my last post. I read them all many times. Somehow it seemed strange to respond individually on such a serious topic so I'll just say that your support means a lot.<br />
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It feels good to return to my last glimpse of summer when most of the trees have lost their terracotta leaves and fat raindrops refuse to stop falling day after day. I have just returned from Vienna but I still have to tell you about my trip to Finland first. Only a week after we returned from Venice, there was yet another departure, this time for Helsinki with the feeling that my feet hadn't touched the ground. In the plane to Helsinki from Amsterdam, I listened hard to the conversations of the Finns around me to try and catch a word I could recognise. Seagulls swooped around the square in front of the station as I wheeled my case around midnight, thinking that the only real difference between Saturday night here and in the UK was that the people wore coats to stand around drinking. But things looked different on a Sunday morning in the warmth of a day heading towards autumn but still clinging to summer. Crowds filled the café terraces and sat outside in the parks and runners in shorts were everywhere to be seen. I had plans for Tallinn, and to visit a large sea fortress close to Helsinki as well as dinner at the market between the stands collapsing under the weight of piles of jewel like berries and mushrooms but my trip was overshadowed by food poisoning on the second day from the hotel breakfast (you might want to skip scrambled eggs from the buffet in future) which left me feeling weak and nauseous for the remainder of my trip.<br />
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Instead I stayed in the city, tentatively climbing the steps to the beautiful Lutheran cathedral, stopping to rest at the wonderful Café Ursula by the seafront, browsing along the endless shelves in the Academic bookshop with a pot of tea at the lovely Café Aalto. It felt sad not to be able to sample all the wonderful things I had seen in the amazing food department of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stockmann,_Helsinki_centre" target="_blank">Stockmann</a> but I still returned there day after day to pick up tonic water, cottage cheese and digestive biscuits, little things which made me feel I wasn't so far from home. I imagined how it was to be there at the height of summer, taking a boat across to one of the little islands to picnic or go for a walk, rather like the dancer in Bergman's beautiful <a href="http://criterion.com/films/27782-summer-interlude" target="_blank">Summer Interlude</a> who finds her broken memories once more. I wandered through the lovely Botanical Gardens, just around the corner from the hotel with their jets of water sparkling in the sun, the satisfying sultry feeling in the palm house amongst plants which were living fossils and gigantic lily pads from which I imagined frogs leaping. It felt comforting in the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Temppeliaukio_Church" target="_blank">Church of the Rock</a> which looks so ordinary from the outside but overwhelms you inside. I could have sat there for hours, listening to the organ music and watching others light candles and say prayers at what was almost like a little shrine with trickles of water from the outside running down the walls.<br />
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Ultimately though, it's hard being ill away from home, staying in an anonymous hotel room when all you long for is your own bed, a bowl of Heinz tomato soup and to spend the afternoon watching Groundhog Day. I'm glad I went to Helsinki to experience the end of a Scandinavian summer but nothing felt so good as when our plane touched down in Birmingham and that magic word 'home' was suddenly within reach again.
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/8205631283/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="Picture 078 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img alt="Picture 078" height="333" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8201/8205631283_380849bf64.jpg" width="500" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alvar_Aalto" target="_blank">Aalto's</a> Finlandia Hall</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/8207147420/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="Picture 127 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img alt="Picture 127" height="333" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8346/8207147420_044a596738.jpg" width="500" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Statues at the railway station</td></tr>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/8206048753/" title="Picture 128 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img alt="Picture 128" height="333" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8345/8206048753_8620a27b43.jpg" width="500" /></a>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/8206043909/" title="Picture 134 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img alt="Picture 134" height="333" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8062/8206043909_15bb4991bf.jpg" width="500" /></a>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/8205638723/" title="Picture 162 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img alt="Picture 162" height="333" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8489/8205638723_83940d2474.jpg" width="500" /></a>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/8207117330/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="Picture 168 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img alt="Picture 168" height="333" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8064/8207117330_1ba8a5da31.jpg" width="500" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Amazing berries at the market</td></tr>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/8206019355/" title="Picture 171 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img alt="Picture 171" height="333" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8201/8206019355_c348dcc051.jpg" width="500" /></a>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/8206011323/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="Picture 175 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img alt="Picture 175" height="500" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8207/8206011323_4e9e6a8bed.jpg" width="333" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The romantic German church</td></tr>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/8207095516/" title="Picture 189 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img alt="Picture 189" height="333" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8350/8207095516_c6430d09d7.jpg" width="500" /></a>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/8205998859/" title="Picture 193 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img alt="Picture 193" height="333" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8343/8205998859_4772e4e31b.jpg" width="500" /></a>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/8205972191/" title="Picture 195 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img alt="Picture 195" height="500" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8208/8205972191_ae30151cbf.jpg" width="333" /></a>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/8207051936/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="Picture 206 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img alt="Picture 206" height="333" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8206/8207051936_409d61c903.jpg" width="500" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking towards the Lutheran cathedral</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/8207046730/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="Picture 211 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img alt="Picture 211" height="333" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8480/8207046730_d2d0017491.jpg" width="500" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Perfect evening light</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/8205946731/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="Picture 215 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img alt="Picture 215" height="333" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8344/8205946731_d0eaebbdf5.jpg" width="500" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our hotel room</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/8205941013/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="Picture 224 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img alt="Picture 224" height="333" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8482/8205941013_3e963ed85f.jpg" width="500" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Inside the Lutheran cathedral</td></tr>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/8207025816/" title="Picture 241 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img alt="Picture 241" height="333" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8065/8207025816_88b9407641.jpg" width="500" /></a>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/8207014020/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="Picture 257 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img alt="Picture 257" height="333" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8062/8207014020_1e6ba1b0da.jpg" width="500" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Café Aalto at the Academic bookshop</td></tr>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/8205671767/" title="Picture 632 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img alt="Picture 632" height="333" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8198/8205671767_b002aa818c.jpg" width="500" /></a>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/8206790534/" title="Picture 630 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img alt="Picture 630" height="333" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8202/8206790534_050e8bc4da.jpg" width="500" /></a>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/8206735018/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="Picture 269 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img alt="Picture 269" height="333" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8201/8206735018_2826fd7068.jpg" width="500" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Orthodox Uspenski Cathedral</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/8205919325/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="Picture 280 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img alt="Picture 280" height="333" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8345/8205919325_1cbb4d1460.jpg" width="500" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Window display at Stockmann</td></tr>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/8207003540/" title="Picture 291 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img alt="Picture 291" height="333" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8069/8207003540_9a511f9aae.jpg" width="500" /></a>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/8205908053/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="Picture 312 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img alt="Picture 312" height="333" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8340/8205908053_53f9a5103b.jpg" width="500" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The wonderful Church of the Rock</td></tr>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/8206992308/" title="Picture 319 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img alt="Picture 319" height="333" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8062/8206992308_7e371892f6.jpg" width="500" /></a>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/8205896549/" title="Picture 320 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img alt="Picture 320" height="333" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8340/8205896549_d838696a87.jpg" width="500" /></a>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/8205890025/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="Picture 326 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img alt="Picture 326" height="333" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8485/8205890025_7319f1cfc5.jpg" width="500" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Moomins everywhere</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/8205886069/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="Picture 342 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img alt="Picture 342" height="333" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8062/8205886069_1df7bf98ef.jpg" width="500" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The strange Sibelius monument</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/8205873889/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="Picture 404 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img alt="Picture 404" height="333" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8345/8205873889_aa3054950e.jpg" width="500" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At the Botanical Gardens</td></tr>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/8205868907/" title="Picture 424 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img alt="Picture 424" height="333" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8203/8205868907_4ff3c45298.jpg" width="500" /></a>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/8205863677/" title="Picture 425 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img alt="Picture 425" height="333" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8339/8205863677_438b546e4d.jpg" width="500" /></a>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/8206943962/" title="Picture 428 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img alt="Picture 428" height="333" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8206/8206943962_2611d2fbba.jpg" width="500" /></a>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/8206927154/" title="Picture 455 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img alt="Picture 455" height="333" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8208/8206927154_d1a2279ff0.jpg" width="500" /></a>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/8206920830/" title="Picture 471 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img alt="Picture 471" height="333" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8068/8206920830_280709d6b0.jpg" width="500" /></a>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/8205656615/" title="Picture 473 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img alt="Picture 473" height="333" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8482/8205656615_8e83c32324.jpg" width="500" /></a>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/8206908998/" title="Picture 477 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img alt="Picture 477" height="333" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8063/8206908998_370c9111ed.jpg" width="500" /></a>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/8205813299/" title="Picture 478 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img alt="Picture 478" height="333" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8069/8205813299_a919734669.jpg" width="500" /></a>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/8206898652/" title="Picture 479 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img alt="Picture 479" height="333" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8341/8206898652_c892af2f83.jpg" width="500" /></a>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/8205803343/" title="Picture 484 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img alt="Picture 484" height="333" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8064/8205803343_9c9d8557df.jpg" width="500" /></a>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/8206875516/" title="Picture 503 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img alt="Picture 503" height="333" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8065/8206875516_0cdfd45cf1.jpg" width="500" /></a>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/8205779463/" title="Picture 510 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img alt="Picture 510" height="333" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8057/8205779463_300b3d4459.jpg" width="500" /></a>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/8205756061/" title="Picture 549 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img alt="Picture 549" height="333" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8065/8205756061_c698094f36.jpg" width="500" /></a>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/8205745481/" title="Picture 557 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img alt="Picture 557" height="333" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8339/8205745481_b3d9b5e52b.jpg" width="500" /></a>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/8206833086/" title="Picture 571 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img alt="Picture 571" height="333" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8340/8206833086_4eb1f92b3b.jpg" width="500" /></a>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/8206827310/" title="Picture 665 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img alt="Picture 665" height="333" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8068/8206827310_38224ca9a0.jpg" width="500" /></a>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/8206821464/" title="Picture 670 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img alt="Picture 670" height="333" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8342/8206821464_4c8faf5ea2.jpg" width="500" /></a>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/8206817346/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="Picture 691 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img alt="Picture 691" height="333" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8067/8206817346_16855b023f.jpg" width="500" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Inside the Winter Gardens</td></tr>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/8205715109/" title="Picture 735 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img alt="Picture 735" height="333" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8207/8205715109_92bd4eafe2.jpg" width="500" /></a>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/8205705035/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="Picture 737 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img alt="Picture 737" height="333" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8344/8205705035_85c48669f0.jpg" width="500" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A large Snufkin from the Moomins</td></tr>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/8205693285/" title="Picture 619 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img alt="Picture 619" height="333" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8345/8205693285_fb798cd5b9.jpg" width="500" /></a>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/8206778118/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="Picture 621 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img alt="Picture 621" height="333" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8067/8206778118_e6ffa7a2ea.jpg" width="500" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At the Design Museum</td></tr>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/8205680871/" title="Picture 636 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img alt="Picture 636" height="333" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8199/8205680871_eab854c585.jpg" width="500" /></a>
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<br />Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06967855350498876132noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3703049574993181756.post-78195078051535157432012-10-26T04:57:00.002-07:002012-10-26T04:57:38.803-07:00What remains<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/8086075820/" title="Picture 1367 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img alt="Picture 1367" height="333" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8054/8086075820_d58a81aa75.jpg" width="500" /></a> </div>
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It's now over three months since my Dad died and the longest I have ever gone without talking to him. When I lived abroad, we would talk on the phone a once or twice a week, not for very long but simply to exchange a few words and for him to tell me what the weather outside my door was like. At the time I found it silly but then I've learned that's it's the silly things you miss the most. We often talked about Venice, his memories of a day spent there many years ago, how we wanted to go there together as a family and rent an apartment in the centre. For his birthday in June, I gave him two books on Venice, including the Venice Sketchbook, about the city seen through watercolours which my Dad really loved. I'm glad I did that. In the ambulance, my mother told him he had to be well in time for Venice. He just smiled and nodded.<br />
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One of the things I found hardest to accept when he died was the fact that nothing changed. His paints and brushes were there on the bathroom shelf for the next watercolour, the clothes neatly folded in his closet for him to choose, the letters which came through the mailbox for him to open with the paper knife the garden in full bloom awaiting his return. He died on the most beautiful summer's day full of sunshine and nothing changed. There is something almost obscene about going to one of the most beautiful cities in the world without the person you wanted to share it with. We felt his absence in the plane with the missing seat at the end of our row and choked back the tears as we came into land on the perfect summer evening. The apartment was also perfect, cool and quiet, tucked away in a little street just a few minutes from the Rialto and decorated in rich fabrics. It felt good to go back there for lunch of radicchio salad, tomatoes and mozzarella, bought fresh from the amazing market that morning and in the evening we poured a couple of glasses of ice cold Bellini or Prosecco. I lit a candle in every church in memory.<br />
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On the second day though, we took the boat over to Isola San Michele to scatter a few of my Dad's ashes close to the water's edge so that he a part of him would always be there, watched over by the cyprus trees. We tried to imagine what he would have enjoyed most and painted, how he would have sat on the terrace of a café having a beer while we went off sightseeing. Yet after a week, I felt ready to come home to the patchwork fields and crispness of the English autumn, the landscapes that he knew. We landed in Birmingham in the middle of a brilliant sunset and I thought of the painful contrast between that evening and the end of June when I arrived back to find my parents waiting for me. It left a lump in my throat.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/8086187727/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="Picture 067 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img alt="Picture 067" height="333" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8188/8086187727_fb00ebfb56.jpg" width="500" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rialto, 6:30am</td></tr>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/8086182002/" title="Picture 107 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img alt="Picture 107" height="333" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8475/8086182002_e05e27d7d8.jpg" width="500" /></a>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/8086038780/" title="Picture 108 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img alt="Picture 108" height="333" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8467/8086038780_b0d62ef778.jpg" width="500" /></a>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/8086180545/" title="Picture 112 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img alt="Picture 112" height="333" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8048/8086180545_35e9cea6b7.jpg" width="500" /></a>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/8086178313/" title="Picture 131 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img alt="Picture 131" height="333" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8463/8086178313_83fcce04fa.jpg" width="500" /></a>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/8086172658/" title="Picture 141 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img alt="Picture 141" height="333" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8052/8086172658_1707085473.jpg" width="500" /></a>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/8086170350/" title="Picture 146 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img alt="Picture 146" height="333" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8467/8086170350_61212f088b.jpg" width="500" /></a>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/8086167536/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="Picture 267 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img alt="Picture 267" height="333" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8050/8086167536_f3d0c174e2.jpg" width="500" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lunch</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/8086165160/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="Picture 270 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img alt="Picture 270" height="333" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8334/8086165160_54756fc9a3.jpg" width="500" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A shop for cat lovers</td></tr>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/8086044530/" title="Picture 292 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img alt="Picture 292" height="333" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8056/8086044530_d61a059bba.jpg" width="500" /></a>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/8086163161/" title="Picture 307 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img alt="Picture 307" height="333" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8054/8086163161_6ec6431b09.jpg" width="500" /></a>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/8086160861/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="Picture 312 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img alt="Picture 312" height="333" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8467/8086160861_1cbe3e1c02.jpg" width="500" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Isola San Michele</td></tr>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/8086158491/" title="Picture 318 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img alt="Picture 318" height="333" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8335/8086158491_f8fca8a79d.jpg" width="500" /></a>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/8086053225/" title="Picture 335 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img alt="Picture 335" height="333" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8467/8086053225_c3d4c27b1c.jpg" width="500" /></a>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/8086050811/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="Picture 355 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img alt="Picture 355" height="333" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8465/8086050811_837a5ce0c3.jpg" width="500" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ice cream from Rosa Salva</td></tr>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/8086154874/" title="Picture 358 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img alt="Picture 358" height="333" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8330/8086154874_f50d209eb7.jpg" width="500" /></a>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/8086151232/" title="Picture 360 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img alt="Picture 360" height="333" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8189/8086151232_94501a96cf.jpg" width="500" /></a>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/8086149110/" title="Picture 380 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img alt="Picture 380" height="333" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8323/8086149110_b005105341.jpg" width="500" /></a>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/8086146594/" title="Picture 383 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img alt="Picture 383" height="333" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8464/8086146594_7a832b872f.jpg" width="500" /></a>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/8086145749/" title="Picture 392 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img alt="Picture 392" height="333" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8475/8086145749_92e976f660.jpg" width="500" /></a>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/8086139953/" title="Picture 459 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img alt="Picture 459" height="333" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8327/8086139953_893417ce13.jpg" width="500" /></a>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/8086137147/" title="Picture 463 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img alt="Picture 463" height="333" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8326/8086137147_0f36767629.jpg" width="500" /></a>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sheltering in La Salute</td></tr>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/8086131823/" title="Picture 477 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img alt="Picture 477" height="333" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8470/8086131823_d381f6ce3f.jpg" width="500" /></a>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/8086129491/" title="Picture 481 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img alt="Picture 481" height="333" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8187/8086129491_21aedf614f.jpg" width="500" /></a>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/8086066523/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="Picture 519 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img alt="Picture 519" height="333" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8055/8086066523_b812f9606b.jpg" width="500" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View from the Campanile of San Giorgio</td></tr>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/8086126953/" title="Picture 521 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img alt="Picture 521" height="333" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8467/8086126953_7c4f1f7002.jpg" width="500" /></a>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/8086124133/" title="Picture 557 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img alt="Picture 557" height="333" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8327/8086124133_e2d8db3de8.jpg" width="500" /></a>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/8086118734/" title="Picture 567 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img alt="Picture 567" height="333" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8049/8086118734_a2387b9a43.jpg" width="500" /></a>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/8086116795/" title="Picture 582 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img alt="Picture 582" height="333" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8324/8086116795_e83a7901d3.jpg" width="500" /></a>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/8086070523/" title="Picture 606 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img alt="Picture 606" height="333" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8186/8086070523_ab48d32834.jpg" width="500" /></a>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/8086113766/" title="Picture 630 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img alt="Picture 630" height="333" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8326/8086113766_59342042cf.jpg" width="500" /></a>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/8086109396/" title="Picture 682 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img alt="Picture 682" height="333" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8325/8086109396_cdf70b43d3.jpg" width="500" /></a>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/8086107695/" title="Picture 692 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img alt="Picture 692" height="333" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8051/8086107695_aa412cb5b9.jpg" width="500" /></a>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/8086103772/" title="Picture 699 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img alt="Picture 699" height="333" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8045/8086103772_d594202d94.jpg" width="500" /></a>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/8086100880/" title="Picture 707 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img alt="Picture 707" height="333" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8335/8086100880_eb8d1abe2b.jpg" width="500" /></a>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/8086099701/" title="Picture 955 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img alt="Picture 955" height="333" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8326/8086099701_ef58d52a5f.jpg" width="500" /></a>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/8086097259/" title="Picture 982 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img alt="Picture 982" height="333" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8327/8086097259_edcb652867.jpg" width="500" /></a>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At the Peggy Guggenheim Foundation</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Yoko Ono wishing tree in the garden</td></tr>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/8086090284/" title="Picture 1213 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img alt="Picture 1213" height="333" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8049/8086090284_b73e1821b2.jpg" width="500" /></a>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/8086087641/" title="Picture 1219 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img alt="Picture 1219" height="333" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8050/8086087641_68e9abcb2d.jpg" width="500" /></a>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/8086084647/" title="Picture 1295 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img alt="Picture 1295" height="333" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8472/8086084647_7186eb2278.jpg" width="500" /></a>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/8086078116/" title="Picture 1551 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img alt="Picture 1551" height="500" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8049/8086078116_8d256306b5.jpg" width="333" /></a>
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Now that a little time has passed, I realise that the shock is gone but what remains is the unbearable longing to see him again. I have so much I'd like to tell him, so many questions I'd like to ask. We talk about him every day, remembering things that made us laugh, talking about what he would have thought about his or that. I will always look for him in the garden now damp and covered with fallen leaves. I can only make the best of what remains, knowing that a part of me is missing.<br />
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<br />Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06967855350498876132noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3703049574993181756.post-14234109700699480782012-08-16T07:53:00.000-07:002012-08-16T07:53:05.011-07:00My dad<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I returned to Britain on the 23rd June leaving Berlin at the beginning of an amazing summer's day. My friend H. told me that Berlin had put on it's best colours for me. I cried when we took off and flew over the city skyline where I picked out the places I loved best in miniature. Yet somehow I felt ready to leave and my head was buzzing with plans for the summer. Trips to castles, great houses, ruins and gardens all together when we'd pack a hamper, watching sports events in the living room with my dad, spending my birthday at Castle Howard where they filmed Brideshead Revisited and then Venice where we had found the loveliest apartment a stone's throw from the Rialto and we could take a boat trip down the Canal Grande and my dad could do some sketching. Almost all these things have come to nothing though because he died ten days ago. Even though we know our parents are mortal, we like to imagine that somehow our love will stop them from ever leaving us but on that morning before he died I knew that I was completely powerless to prevent him slipping away. There's something terrible about dying in hospital with monitors, tubes everywhere, machines, doctors and nurses taking blood and arranging scans. All these numbers which show a person's condition but can never express what they mean to you. Most of all I feel bad about the way it happened, the way he had to suffer for weeks because the local doctors failed to diagnose the problem, the way he couldn't eat or drink much at all that last week, the emergency abdominal operation he needed which turned out to be bigger than anyone had expected, the way the infections took over his whole body. Just a couple of days before he died, he seemed to rally and told us that he felt better for the first time and could get over this. We talked of stopping at McDonald's on the way home for his favourite strawberry milkshake and I promised to make a chocolate cake to welcome him home. But life decided differently.<br />
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He was one the kindest people who never complained, even when he must have been in pain, someone whose voice and hearty laugh filled the room. Everyone loved him and he loved us. He was my rock, the one who held everything together and would know what to do.<br />
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Grief is a strange process. The intensity of the pain scared me at first but now I understand that it's because he meant so much to me. The shock made me shiver with cold and unable to enjoy eating anything at all. I ate because I had to eat, because you can't give up on life. There is anger but also a whole pile of regret for the things I said or didn't say, guilt for the moments when I seem to keep going and don't grieve enough and guilt for the times when I break down completely and can't keep it together. I find it hard to know what to say when people ask me how I am and find June Carter's response best, "I'm surviving". Only the Olympics have provided a little distraction. Nights are a relief because the fatigue of grief overwhelms me and I fall asleep without thinking of much at all but then the mornings come too soon and I awake knowing that he isn't here. In his room his watercolour painting things remain undisturbed and I often go to sit there and be alone with all that is left of his presence. I miss so many things about him but most of all the solid warmth whenever he hugged me because I felt protected and loved. If I can take any comfort in all of this, it's from the fact that he didn't suffer too long and that my mum and I managed to say our goodbyes just before they sedated him and attached him to the life support. I told him about Bradley Wiggins winning gold, that Murray had played and beaten Baghdatis again. He simply smiled and told us how kind we were for coming. I like to think that he didn't know how close the end was.<br />
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The funeral is tomorrow, a day I'm dreading but a day I need to get through somehow. The trip for September to Venice is still on. There will be many tears and moments of heartbreak thinking about what could have been and feeling his absence. It helps me more than I can say to know that all of you are there for me, even if I haven't written for months. I'm not sure when the next post will be but please know that I haven't forgotten you.Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06967855350498876132noreply@blogger.com22tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3703049574993181756.post-69524316910168001272012-06-19T07:05:00.000-07:002012-06-19T07:05:43.829-07:00Goodbye to Berlin<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/6331816316/" title="Bild 084 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img alt="Bild 084" height="333" src="http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6095/6331816316_82e581122a.jpg" width="500" /></a> </div>
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I picked out the title long ago after those wonderful Christopher Isherwood stories which describe a very different city. I've often regrretted not having been able to live in the Paris of the twenties or the immediate post-war period or New York in the seventies but with Berlin, I think I managed to catch it at a wonderful time back in 2007. Wedding and Neukölln were still seriously uncool, rents were cheap, the little bars and nighclubs by the Spree seemed there to stay and the property developers and tourists hadn't yet discovered it fully. Berlin is still a wonderful city but it's changed a lot. When I made my decision to leave about a year ago, it didn't seem so harda nd besides, it's rather like reaching 30, you know it will happen one day but never imagine it will really come around. Perhaps I was even a little sick of the city but in the past few weeks I keep going to places I love and thinking how much I'm going to miss all of this. Just taking the U2 line from east to west when it goes overground for a bit and you look towards Potsdamer Platz or seeing the Regierungsviertel at night from the S-Bahn - these are moments that will always give me a kick. This coming Saturday then (at 11:35am if you want to be really exact), I'll leave my home here and Berlin will continue to exist without me, just as it did all those years before as our paths were moving ever closer together. I know that cities don't belong to anyone but it felt good knowing that I had Unter den Linden or the Volkspark Schöneberg at my fingertips. Originally I had made a list of all the thing I wanted to do in my last weeks but I quickly abandoned that, knowing that the stress of the move would make it impossible to do that much and also that I didn't want to accomplish absolutely everything here because that would leave nothing to come back for.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/7401031884/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="Bild 017 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img alt="Bild 017" height="333" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7100/7401031884_17f14a1fca.jpg" width="500" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Porridge and scones at the charming Hudson's cakes in Kreuzkölln</td></tr>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/7401116074/" title="Bild 018 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img alt="Bild 018" height="333" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7090/7401116074_e959158b7c.jpg" width="500" /></a>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/7401111476/" title="Bild 022 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img alt="Bild 022" height="333" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7243/7401111476_ff7f2a89b3.jpg" width="500" /></a>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/7401035074/" title="Bild 023 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img alt="Bild 023" height="333" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7073/7401035074_bb65f23b03.jpg" width="500" /></a>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/7401108054/" title="Bild 025 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img alt="Bild 025" height="333" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8018/7401108054_57bb8eb8c9.jpg" width="500" /></a>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Check out the clotted cream!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The best cuppa</td></tr>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/7401047144/" title="Bild 035 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img alt="Bild 035" height="333" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7074/7401047144_581b7cc7e2.jpg" width="500" /></a>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wandering around Neukölln</td></tr>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/7401050606/" title="Bild 040 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img alt="Bild 040" height="333" src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5456/7401050606_24ab558d24.jpg" width="500" /></a>
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I feel very lucky to have been abe to spend half a decade here, to have been a part of this and know that it will always have a special place in my heart. Back in Febraury I went to a Twin Peaks marathon screening with a good friend at a recreation of the Black Lodge and David Lynch's red room at a tiny bar in Neukölln. A thick layer of snow lay fresh on the ground but inside people came past with big slices of cherry pie and steaming cups of coffee and I chatted to some of the people around me, mainly artists. I though about how that represented everything I love about Berlin - the easiness, the excitement and something special which you just can't put your finger on. There's no easy way to say goodbye, in fact I prefer Tchüss which isn't quite as final. A big thanks to all of you for being so patient with me and give me so much support. It would have been so much harder without you. The next time we meet, I'll be writing from another part of the world.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/7401100410/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="Bild 042 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img alt="Bild 042" height="333" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8028/7401100410_0e8d04e22c.jpg" width="500" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nice headwear in Neukölln</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Returning to the zoo in West Berlin</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A sand cat</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/7401058292/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="Bild 071 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img alt="Bild 071" height="333" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8152/7401058292_c1d81c5f1e.jpg" width="500" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The lion sleeps</td></tr>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/7401089122/" title="Bild 119 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img alt="Bild 119" height="333" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7237/7401089122_b01103c036.jpg" width="500" /></a>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/7401084364/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="Bild 121 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img alt="Bild 121" height="333" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7234/7401084364_33ebc4d68f.jpg" width="500" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Berlin's panda</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/7401066014/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="Bild 126 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img alt="Bild 126" height="333" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7096/7401066014_ccfbc3d529.jpg" width="500" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The oriental entrance to the zoo</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/7401079752/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="Bild 128 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img alt="Bild 128" height="333" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7077/7401079752_2163d82a19.jpg" width="500" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Coffee time at Café Buchwald</td></tr>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/7401074620/" title="Bild 130 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img alt="Bild 130" height="333" src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5462/7401074620_8ec4cb57a3.jpg" width="500" /></a>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/7401070548/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="Untitled by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img alt="Untitled" height="333" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7244/7401070548_b6eb05e3e7.jpg" width="500" /></a></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/7401135210/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="Bild 137 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img alt="Bild 137" height="333" src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5468/7401135210_6be519342d.jpg" width="500" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Baumkuchen or tree cake - a butter layer cake topped with chocolate</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/7401143466/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="Bild 143 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img alt="Bild 143" height="333" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7083/7401143466_2b815133fd.jpg" width="500" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Outside the Akademie der Künste in Tiergarten</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/7401163962/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="Bild 145 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img alt="Bild 145" height="333" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7224/7401163962_d11dd1dba1.jpg" width="500" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Schloss Bellevue, where the German president works</td></tr>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/7401148002/" title="Bild 148 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img alt="Bild 148" height="333" src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5160/7401148002_28db62dc06.jpg" width="500" /></a>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/7401160026/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="Bild 149 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img alt="Bild 149" height="333" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7211/7401160026_90c33a4ca6.jpg" width="500" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The rose garden in the Bürgerpark in Pankow</td></tr>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/7401150726/" title="Bild 156 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img alt="Bild 156" height="333" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7234/7401150726_819dec2ac3.jpg" width="500" /></a>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/7401156414/" title="Bild 158 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img alt="Bild 158" height="333" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7085/7401156414_43c191922c.jpg" width="500" /></a>
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<b>Danish pastries (from Nigella Lawson's How to be a Domestic Goddess)</b><br />
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I've been wanting to post this recipe for such a long time but somewhere alog the line, things got in the way. It might look like a lot of work but actually not much effort is needed for fresh pastries which are probably the best you'll get unless you live in Denamrk that is. In fact the pastry and filling can be made ahead and popped in the freezer until you need them. I don't mean to be biased but my friends told me of all the cakes i've made for them over the years, these were the best!<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/7157784874/" title="Bild 158 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img alt="Bild 158" height="333" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7242/7157784874_a8bfc2b5c9.jpg" width="500" /></a>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; text-align: left;">1/4 cup warm water</span><br style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; text-align: left;" /><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; text-align: left;">1/2 cup milk at room temp</span><br style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; text-align: left;" /><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; text-align: left;">1 large egg at room temp</span><br style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; text-align: left;" /><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; text-align: left;">2 1/4 cups white bread flour</span><br style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; text-align: left;" /><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; text-align: left;">1 package rapid rise yeast</span><br style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; text-align: left;" /><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; text-align: left;">1 teaspoon salt</span><br style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; text-align: left;" /><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; text-align: left;">1 tablespoon sugar</span><br style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; text-align: left;" /><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; text-align: left;">1 cup unsalted butter, cold, cut into slices</span><br style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; text-align: left;" /><br style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; text-align: left;" /><strong style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; text-align: left;">Almond filling:</strong><br style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; text-align: left;" /><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; text-align: left;">1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons banched almonds, toasted</span><br style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; text-align: left;" /><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; text-align: left;">1/3 cup plus 2 tablespoons icing sugar</span><br style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; text-align: left;" /><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; text-align: left;">2 tablespoons unsalted butter at room temp</span><br style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; text-align: left;" /><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; text-align: left;">1/2 teaspoon almond extract</span><br style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; text-align: left;" /><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; text-align: left;">1 large egg white</span><br style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; text-align: left;" /><br style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; text-align: left;" /><strong style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; text-align: left;">Clear glaze:</strong><br style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; text-align: left;" /><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; text-align: left;">1/3 cup sugar</span><br style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; text-align: left;" /><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; text-align: left;">1/4 cup water</span><br style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; text-align: left;" /><br style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; text-align: left;" /><strong style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; text-align: left;">Sugar glaze:</strong><br style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; text-align: left;" /><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; text-align: left;">1/2 cup icing sugar</span><br style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; text-align: left;" /><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; text-align: left;">1-2 tablespoons warm water</span><br style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; text-align: left;" /><br style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; text-align: left;" /><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; text-align: left;">1. Beat egg, water and milk together, set aside. Put flour, yeast, salt and sugar into food processor and pulse to mix, add the cold slices of butter and process until the butter is cut up, empty into a bowl and add the milk mixture. Fold together, cover with plastic wrap and put in the refrigerator overnight or up to 4 days.</span><br />
<br style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; text-align: left;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; text-align: left;">2. To turn into pastry, let it get to room temp, roll into a rectangle, </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; text-align: left;">fold into thirds turning it afterwards so that the closed fold is on your left. Roll out again to a rectangle and repeat the steps above 3 times.</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; text-align: left;"> </span><br />
<br style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; text-align: left;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; text-align: left;">3. Cut in half, cover and put in refrigerator for 30 minutes. </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; text-align: left;">To make the almond filling, toast the almonds, then process with the icing sugar until finely ground. Add the butter then process again, then the almond extract and egg white.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; text-align: left;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; text-align: left;">4. Roll out pastry into a large square and cut into 9 equal squares.</span><br />
<br style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; text-align: left;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; text-align: left;">5. Take each sqaure and put a tablespoon of the almond mixture onto the pastry. </span><span style="background-color: white;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; text-align: left;">Bring up the opposite corners and pinch together, then flatten the pastry slightly.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; text-align: left;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; text-align: left;">6. Place on baking sheets and brush with the egg glaze, leave them to rise until they have doubled in size (about 90 minutes) </span><div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; text-align: left;">7. Preheat the oven to 350, cook for 15 minutes or until golden brown.</span></div>
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<br style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; text-align: left;" /><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; text-align: left;">8. To make the clear glaze heat the water and sugar to boiling and then brush on pastries when they have cooled a little. </span><br style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; text-align: left;" /><br style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; text-align: left;" /><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; text-align: left;">9. To make the sugar glaze, add the water to the icing sugar a little at a time to make a runny icing. When they have cooled drizzle over the sugar glaze.</span> Velbekomme!<br style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; text-align: left;" /><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/7157812546/" title="Bild 188 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img alt="Bild 188" height="333" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8158/7157812546_7ffd2a9168.jpg" width="500" /></a>
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<br /></div>Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06967855350498876132noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3703049574993181756.post-41307995342877607422012-06-10T04:24:00.000-07:002012-06-10T04:26:35.812-07:00The summer of a dormouse<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/7157852004/" title="Bild 236 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img alt="Bild 236" height="333" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7100/7157852004_0d4d062690.jpg" width="500" /></a> </div>
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Reader,<br />
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I am relieved that this blog isn't accompanied by a webcam because if you could see inside my flat right now, you might be shocked by the chaos. Half filled boxes piled on top of one another, bags of papers to be recycled, piles of books to take to the charity shop etc. I have little less than two weeks in Berlin but still a long list of things of get through and if you were wondering what I have been doing these past few weeks, the truth is, I feel rather overwhelmed by it all. Taking your life apart after 5 years in a place is a complicated business; there are moments when it doesn't seem quite real and others when sadness weighs down upon me. Last Wednesday was my final day at work and all last week I was busying myself in the kitchen making chocolate cakes and whipping up batches of amaretti. In return I was taken out to dinner, given beautiful bouquets with Emily roses, boxes of chocolates, a whole carrot cake and even a personal file with the students' favourite recipes. Saying goodbye affected me much more than I could ever have imagined, though strangely only when I got home and today there's still a whirlwind of emotions pulling me in different directions. I keep looking round, thinking of all the things that I love here and wondering how I'll be able to get by without them. Yet I know if I stay, I'll never be able to accomplish certain things.<br />
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My mum's visit at the end of May seems like an eternity ago when summer arrived in the city and boots and tights were exchanged for sandals and dresses. A final respite before the serious work began. The highlight was her birthday when I made a Linzer Torte and we returned to the Gemäldegalerie before catching Wes Anderson's latest film, the wonderful <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_d4vnjHzrWU&feature=relmfu" target="_blank">Moonrise Kingdom </a>which managed to be as delicious as the soufflé at the end of this post. It was perhaps the perfect week, even though that made it even harder when she left and grey clouds and rain returned the following day. Just looking at the photos fills me with a longing for those sun drenched days.<br />
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Luckily I have enough wonderful friends to take me out and cheer me up when it all gets too much. Last week one of them gave me a little Iittala jar filled with Berliner Luft (Berlin air) to be opened whenever I miss it here. I thoroughly intend to take great gulps of it regularly.<br />
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Some photos from the perfect week:<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/7326496574/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="Bild 103 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img alt="Bild 103" height="333" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8154/7326496574_aeed041886.jpg" width="500" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">On our way to visit the Reichstag</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/7326492296/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="Bild 125 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img alt="Bild 125" height="333" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7219/7326492296_3b232e360f.jpg" width="500" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The best place to catch the sun's rays on the Reichstag terrace</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/7326488520/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="Bild 128 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img alt="Bild 128" height="333" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7071/7326488520_33106fe5b4.jpg" width="500" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking towards Potsdamer Platz</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/7326257478/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="Bild 126 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img alt="Bild 126" height="333" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8149/7326257478_4d9146685b.jpg" width="500" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Endless legs</td></tr>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/7326484168/" title="Bild 131 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img alt="Bild 131" height="333" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7090/7326484168_9ce19cc74e.jpg" width="500" /></a>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/7326477690/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="Bild 165 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img alt="Bild 165" height="333" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7094/7326477690_f24c7441b8.jpg" width="500" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tomato caprese at Va Piano for lunch before going to see the Avengers</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/7326475140/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="Bild 167 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img alt="Bild 167" height="333" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7090/7326475140_169fe6d78e.jpg" width="500" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A stroll in Tiergarten</td></tr>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/7326467070/" title="Bild 171 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img alt="Bild 171" height="333" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8160/7326467070_1b0c6b668c.jpg" width="500" /></a>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/7326260906/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="Bild 175 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img alt="Bild 175" height="333" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7103/7326260906_c494119418.jpg" width="500" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The view from the top of the Siegessäule is pretty nice too - looking west</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/7326460234/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="Bild 173 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img alt="Bild 173" height="333" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7221/7326460234_2fa5f36e82.jpg" width="500" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Golden Else from the top....</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/7326457464/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="Bild 181 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img alt="Bild 181" height="333" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7085/7326457464_4c4651fb70.jpg" width="500" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">...and the bottom</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/7326454824/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="Bild 188 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img alt="Bild 188" height="333" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7217/7326454824_aec39fabc9.jpg" width="500" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The cinema at the Sony Centre</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/7326451632/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="Bild 190 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img alt="Bild 190" height="333" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8160/7326451632_1a687d1586.jpg" width="500" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Summer porridge</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/7326448542/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="Bild 196 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img alt="Bild 196" height="333" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8009/7326448542_0b1ded0419.jpg" width="500" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Visiting the Max Liebermann villa where the garden is so beautiful it makes you cry</td></tr>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/7326442802/" title="Bild 199 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img alt="Bild 199" height="333" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7232/7326442802_7fd2c952fe.jpg" width="500" /></a>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/7326438772/" title="Bild 216 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img alt="Bild 216" height="333" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8021/7326438772_c666e1a483.jpg" width="500" /></a>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/7326434742/" title="Bild 219 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img alt="Bild 219" height="333" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8165/7326434742_3d7d2c4c73.jpg" width="500" /></a>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/7326265028/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="Bild 224 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img alt="Bild 224" height="333" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7225/7326265028_cdff9fe947.jpg" width="500" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The birch path - my favourite part of the garden</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/7326427956/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="Bild 232 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img alt="Bild 232" height="333" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7244/7326427956_26b0bb5cf0.jpg" width="500" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking out to Wannsee</td></tr>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/7326423718/" title="Bild 235 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img alt="Bild 235" height="333" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7216/7326423718_e686cd3d5b.jpg" width="500" /></a>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/7326415092/" title="Bild 259 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img alt="Bild 259" height="333" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7233/7326415092_848ba57d3a.jpg" width="500" /></a>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/7326410008/" title="Bild 261 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img alt="Bild 261" height="333" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7231/7326410008_277f91e812.jpg" width="500" /></a>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/7326401850/" title="Bild 270 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img alt="Bild 270" height="333" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7221/7326401850_260f200c71.jpg" width="500" /></a>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/7326394132/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="Bild 278 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img alt="Bild 278" height="333" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7237/7326394132_e73464e51c.jpg" width="500" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Garden of Exile at the Jewish Museum. Sadly too crowded with school parties these days.</td></tr>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/7326275828/" title="Bild 285 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img alt="Bild 285" height="333" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7236/7326275828_c2f8c79fc2.jpg" width="500" /></a>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/7326382824/" title="Bild 300 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img alt="Bild 300" height="333" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8027/7326382824_8df6b05c5a.jpg" width="500" /></a>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/7326378224/" title="Bild 296 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img alt="Bild 296" height="333" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7078/7326378224_d92ef299ef.jpg" width="500" /></a>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/7326374848/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="Bild 301 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img alt="Bild 301" height="333" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8157/7326374848_53a934c2f4.jpg" width="500" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gedeckter Apfelkuchen</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/7326371202/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="Bild 323 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img alt="Bild 323" height="333" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8017/7326371202_571c221ca2.jpg" width="500" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A birthday cake for my mum - Linzer Torte</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/7326282790/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="Bild 331 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img alt="Bild 331" height="333" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8158/7326282790_269afd0667.jpg" width="500" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At the amazing Stasi Museum</td></tr>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/7326356286/" title="Bild 340 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img alt="Bild 340" height="333" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8014/7326356286_fe7002e203.jpg" width="500" /></a>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/7326286840/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="Bild 343 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img alt="Bild 343" height="333" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7085/7326286840_876781d654.jpg" width="500" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The different stamps showing the complex hierachy</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/7326352296/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="Bild 351 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img alt="Bild 351" height="333" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7094/7326352296_903f34a20c.jpg" width="500" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mielke's offices (infamous head of the Stasi)</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/7326338644/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="Bild 396 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img alt="Bild 396" height="333" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8010/7326338644_8aba3dcd71.jpg" width="500" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The meeting room</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/7326335146/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="Bild 413 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img alt="Bild 413" height="333" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7235/7326335146_52288dbd1a.jpg" width="500" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Where the canteen and supermarket were located in Stasi times</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/7326324464/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="Bild 437 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img alt="Bild 437" height="333" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8009/7326324464_ca97cd54d1.jpg" width="500" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Frankfurter Tor</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/7326320300/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="Bild 458 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img alt="Bild 458" height="333" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7092/7326320300_fe9d8f4e05.jpg" width="500" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Café Moskau - sadly closed</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/7326295560/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="Bild 491 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img alt="Bild 491" height="333" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7215/7326295560_2f76b274a6.jpg" width="500" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The pelicans at the Tierpark</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/7326310756/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="Bild 496 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img alt="Bild 496" height="333" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7093/7326310756_1951c8dfeb.jpg" width="500" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The villa at the Tierpark</td></tr>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/7326306018/" title="Bild 522 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img alt="Bild 522" height="333" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7075/7326306018_2755549011.jpg" width="500" /></a>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/7326298910/" title="Bild 533 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img alt="Bild 533" height="333" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8010/7326298910_1bcc53ce1a.jpg" width="500" /></a>
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I made David Lebovitz's fromage blanc soufflé (recipe <a href="http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/Fromage-Blanc-Souffle-355924" target="_blank">here</a>) the day my mum arrived and even though we couldn't eat it warm, it was still amazing - rather like a cheesecake and perfect alone or topped with a few strawberries to offset the creaminess.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/7326254288/" title="Bild 097 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img alt="Bild 097" height="333" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8021/7326254288_238b41fa86.jpg" width="500" /></a>
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<br />Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06967855350498876132noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3703049574993181756.post-20273376423959974622012-05-11T05:21:00.000-07:002012-05-11T05:27:07.426-07:00Footfalls echo in the memory<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/7157794800/" title="Bild 168 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img alt="Bild 168" height="333" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7093/7157794800_d59bcfd4df.jpg" width="500" /></a> </div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
Sometimes it's just a partcular shade of green, part of a conversation overheard or a photo like <a href="http://undimanche.blogspot.de/2012/05/west-yorkshire-north.html" target="_blank">Gracienne's </a>that makes me homesick. I think of our garden, the bluebell woods in spring, people carrying orange bags from Sainsburys and queuing for those red London buses and it melts my heart. These past few weeks I've been busy cancelling Internet, phone, electricity and while there was a liberating rush at the idea of not having to pay for any of these soon, it also made me aware that yes, I'm really doing this, that I have only six more weeks in Berlin and a one way ticket booked for the UK (eek!). People often tell me that I'm brave for wanting to change my life and for taking a leap into the unknown but believe me, I feel like a total coward and fraud, quaking in my boots at the very idea of all that I have to do before I make my way to the airport.</div>
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Part of me wants for it all to be over and then another part winces at the pain of goodbye. I've always been torn between people and places and the languages that I speak, feeling very English whenever I'm abroad and yet like a foreigner in my own country. Somehow though I know deep down it's the right time to leave and think of Scarlett Johansson in Woody Allen's Vicky Christina Barcelona and her impression that the wind has changed course and that it's simply time to move on. Could there be any better guide than your own heart? I have always been a restless person - probably that's what motivated me to study philosophy in the first place in the hope of finding some answers. Some friends ask me if it won't be strange returning ot the small place where I'm from but my honest answer is I don't know how it will be when I get there. Actually I'm looking forward to my long summer break reading in the garden, playing badminton and croquet, watching Wimbledon and the Tour de France, just like back in the school holidays. I guess deep down I hope to find that part of myself that I lost when I moved away, that perpetual adolescent who still refuses to grow up completely and wants to go in search of adventures, a little like Alain Fournier's Le Grand Meaulnes.</div>
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While I continue with my soul searching and waves of emotions that seem to change as often as the weather here, let me offer you a farewell gift; my little Berlin guide. My friend <a href="http://generationberlin.mondoblog.org/" target="_blank">Manon</a> inspired me with her wonderful post on how to spend a weekend here (if you speak French you might like to check it out). Mine doesn't promise to be a definitive list of the very best places and it's rather oriented towards the West since that's where I spend most of my time but it will certainly give you a few ideas.</div>
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<b><u>Restaurants</u></b><br />
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<b><a href="http://www.qype.com/place/16496-Ixthys-Berlin" target="_blank">Ixthys</a></b> (Schöneberg, U-Bahn Nollendorfplatz) - My friend Gabi introduced me to this place last summer. It has to be one of the strangest culinary experiences consisting of a tiny room decorated with biblical quotations on the wall and inside the menu. Yet everything is freshly prepared and once you taste the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bibimbap" target="_blank">bibimbap</a> (made with meat, fish or tofu), you'll easily forgive its other flaws.<br />
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<b><a href="http://www.qype.com/place/26965-Pizzeria-Piccolo-Taormina-Berlin" target="_blank">Pizzeria Piccolo Taomina</a> </b> (Charlottenburg, U-Bahn Uhland Straße/ S-Bahn Savignyplatz)- I discovered this after an event at the Insitut francais which is just down the road. It's probably the most affordable place you'll find to eat round Ku'damm and I can totally recommend both the pizzas and the tiramisù. plus what could be nicer than having your order shouted in Italian over the loudspeakers when it's ready?<br />
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<a href="http://www.qype.com/place/1999364-Hamy-Sophie-Berlin" target="_blank"><b>Hamy Sophie</b></a> (Charlottenburg, U-Bahn Bismarckstraße). This is perhaps my favourite place to eat at the moment, somewhere my friends and I go after fitness classes as it's nearly opposite our gym. There are only a few dishes on the menu but all are freshly prepared and can be made without meat if you wish. They also offer delicious smoothies and the service is incredibly friendly and fast.<br />
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<b><a href="http://www.mysatyam.de/" target="_blank">Satyam</a> </b>(Charlottenburg, U-Bahn Ernst Reuter Platz, S/U-Bahn Zoologischer Garten)) - Many Berliners complain about the lack of good Indian food in Berlin. While this probably won't win any prizes among real Indian affectionados, I have a soft spot for a place serving all vegetarian food which is tasty and comforting. Nothing like burning your fingers getting the steam out of fresh bhatura bread on a cold winter's day..<br />
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<a href="http://www.qype.com/place/2391-Gottlob-Berlin" target="_blank"><b>Gottlieb</b></a> (Schöneberg, U-Bahn Eisenacher Straße) - For its wonderful breakfasts and at lunchtime the Käsespätzle.<br />
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<a href="http://cafe-datscha.de/en/specials.html" target="_blank"><b>Datscha</b></a> (Friedrichshain, U-Bahn Samariter Straße or S/U-Bahn Warschauer Straße)- I used to meet my friend Justine her every week and we came to think of it as our place. The borscht (either with meat or vegetarian) is delicious but make sure you save room for dessert; the warm blini with berries and quark is pure heaven, as is the Zupfkuchen when they have it. Alternatively, you could get up late on Sunday, wander round the charming flea market at Boxhagener Platz and call in for the wonderful brunch without the usual dried up bread and sweaty cheese.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/4945408788/" title="Bild 097 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img alt="Bild 097" height="333" src="http://farm5.staticflickr.com/4129/4945408788_ae981e79cb.jpg" width="500" /></a>
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<b><a href="http://sasaya-berlin-en.tumblr.com/" target="_blank">Sasaya</a> (</b>Prenzlauer Berg, U-Bahn Eberswalder Straße<b>) </b>- For some of the best Japanese food in Berlin look no further. Reservations recommended.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/5119988851/" title="Bild 025 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img alt="Bild 025" height="333" src="http://farm2.staticflickr.com/1240/5119988851_ba00acdd77.jpg" width="500" /></a>
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<b><u>Teatime or Kaffeeklatsch</u></b><br />
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<b><a href="http://www.qype.com/place/485827-1900-Cafe-Bistro-Berlin" target="_blank">Café 1900</a></b> (Charlottenburg, S-Bahn Savignyplatz) - My friend Wendy lives next door to this charming little place filled with flowers where you seem to step back a little in time. The coffee is wonderful and they serve the biggest pieces of home made streuselkuchen with plain or spelt flour and all kinds of fillings. A treat and still something of a secret.<br />
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<b><a href="http://www.qype.com/place/490284-Der-Kuchenladen-Berlin" target="_blank">Der Kuchenladen</a></b> (Charlottenburg, S-Bahn Savignyplatz) - If cakes, tarts and gâteaux are your thing, then this is the place for you. A large range of delicious cakes of all varieties. It tends to get pretty packed at weekends so reserving before might be a good idea.<br />
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<b><a href="http://www.cafeeinstein.com/das-cafe-einstein" target="_blank">Café Einstein Stammhaus </a></b>(Schöneberg, U-Bahn Nollendorfplatz) - There are two locations in Berlin, one on Unter den Linden which offers one of the few possibilities to get a decent coffee in this area, but I still prefer the original Stammhaus tucked away in Schöneberg. There's something of an Austrian coffee house about it and definitely an old fashioned elegance. The coffee is wonderful as is the cheesecake. Not to be confused with the Einstein Kaffee chain you'll find throughout Berlin.<br />
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<b><a href="http://www.konditorei-buchwald.de/" target="_blank">Cafe Buchwald</a></b> (Tiergarten, S-Bahn Bellevue) - In summer people head to sit outside but I prefer to sit in the large room at the back with its wooden floor and upholstered chairs which has a timeless feel. In summer a gentle breeze blows through the floral curtains as you savour your large piece of cake or perhaps some of their famous <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baumkuchen" target="_blank">Baumkuchen</a>.<br />
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<b><a href="http://www.qype.com/place/10405-Cafe-Cinema-Berlin" target="_blank">Cinema café</a></b> (Mitte, S-Bahn Hackescher Markt). Finding a decent and affordable place for a coffee in Mitte nowadays is sadly quite a challange but I have a real fondness for this place, one of Berlin's oldest cafés where you can take your drinks out into the only unrennovated courtyard with its graffiti.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/6867802008/" title="Bild 291 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img alt="Bild 291" height="333" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7189/6867802008_4cf49fb992.jpg" width="500" /></a>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/6867812948/" title="Bild 302 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img alt="Bild 302" height="333" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7270/6867812948_279f1d0ab9.jpg" width="500" /></a>
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<b><a href="http://www.kaffeemitte.de/" target="_blank">Kaffeemitte</a></b> (Mitte, U-Bahn Rosa Luxemburg Platz) - This café offers the chance to get away from the masses of tourists and bubble tea shops springing up just about everywhere. Great for its trendy concrete décor as well as the coffee and cakes, especially the apricot crostata and tiny cream filled cannoli.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/7175937770/" title="a 061 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img alt="a 061" height="333" src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5279/7175937770_646b6e3e46.jpg" width="500" /></a>
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<a href="http://www.qype.com/place/42160-Kohlenquelle-Berlin" target="_blank"><b>Kohlenquelle</b> </a>(Prenzlauer Berg, S/U-Bahn Schönhauser Allee) - One of the few authentic places left in this over hip neighbourhood. I once met <a href="http://www.berlinreified.com/" target="_blank">Sylee</a> here for lunch and love the fact that none of the chairs seem to match, as well as the good food. It's a place to spend time on a sunny afternoon chatting with friends or reading.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/5436049211/" title="Bild 038 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img alt="Bild 038" height="333" src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5060/5436049211_38c7a0bee7.jpg" width="500" /></a>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/5436050683/" title="Bild 039 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img alt="Bild 039" height="333" src="http://farm5.staticflickr.com/4139/5436050683_009b805b2d.jpg" width="500" /></a>
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<b><a href="http://www.kleinesschloss.de/" target="_blank">Kleines Schloss Café</a></b> (Babelberg, S-Bahn Babelsberg) - This one is rather out of the way but sometimes it's lovely to take the train out of Berlin. Instead of following the crowds to Sanssouci palace, why not get off a couple of stops earlier and head for the park in Babelsberg with its winding paths and little castles? If you make it down to the water, you can stop for some refreshment at this delightful place with its wonderful view.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/5401188640/" title="Bild 132 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img alt="Bild 132" height="333" src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5054/5401188640_f961148942.jpg" width="500" /></a>
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<b><u>Museums</u></b><br />
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Everyone heads for the Pergammon or the Neues Museum which are certainly amazing but the crowds can be unbearable and the air is sticky. If you're lookng for something a little different, you could try:<br />
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The<u> <a href="http://www.smb.museum/smb/sammlungen/details.php?objID=5&lang=en" target="_blank"><b>Gemäldegalerie</b></a></u> (Tiergarten, S-/U-Potsdamer Platz/ U-Bahn Mendelssohn Bartholdy Platz) - One of my favourite places for its wonderful collection of paintings which are beautifully hung. It's also an oasis of calm with just the occasional schoolgroup passing through but often you have the rooms almost to yourself.<br />
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<a href="http://www.smb.museum/smb/standorte/index.php?lang=en&p=2&objID=6124&n=12" target="_blank"><b>Museum für Fotografie </b></a>(Charlottenburg, S-/U-Bahn Zoologischer Garten) - This is dominated by the large Helmut Newton foundation but there are other exhibitions too and a library. For lovers of photography, a must.<br />
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<b><a href="http://www.co-berlin.info/news.html?Itemid=390" target="_blank">C/O </a></b>(Mitte, S-Bahn Oranienburger Straße, U-Bahn Oranienburger Tor)- Located in the former post office on Oranienburger Straße, the C/O has exciting exhibitions from well and lesser known photographers. But even if those weren't so good, it would still be worth going for the building alone with its Berlin scruffiness, peeling walls and tiled floors. Sadly this will all change come autumn when it moves to a new home and the place is turned into yet another characterless hotel.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/5054671406/" title="Bild 024 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img alt="Bild 024" height="333" src="http://farm5.staticflickr.com/4127/5054671406_835b05f691.jpg" width="500" /></a>
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<b><a href="http://www.deutsche-kinemathek.de/" target="_blank">Museum for Film and Television</a></b> (Tiergarten, S-/U-Potsdamer Platz) - Located on Potsdamer Platz, step inside and take a journey through the history of German film and television taking in Louise Brooks' bob, Fritz Lang's Metropolis and Marlene's dresses. There are also interesting temporary exhibitions.<br />
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<b><a href="http://www.jmberlin.de/" target="_blank">The Jewish Museum</a></b> - For me, Berlin's mosr interesting and unusual museum which manages to be moving, humourous and informative without ever being dry or resorting to clichés. The café is also great.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/4716824721/" title="Bild 093_picnik by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img alt="Bild 093_picnik" height="333" src="http://farm5.staticflickr.com/4065/4716824721_e913dcd529.jpg" width="500" /></a>
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<a href="http://www.liebermann-villa.de/PWP/DesktopDefault.aspx?TabID=1" target="_blank"><b>Max Liebermann Villa</b></a> (Wannsee, S-Bahn Wansee, then bus 114)- Discovered by accident one winter when I needed a warm place to shelter from the cold on one of my walks and now a firm favourite of mine. The garden is perhaps what I love the most, so beautiful all year round, and there's a wonderful café where you can sit and enjoy the view down to the Wannsee. Until August there's also an exhibiton of garden paintings by Emil Nolde and Max Liebermann.<br />
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<b><u>Words, words, words</u></b><br />
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While I fantasise about finding a bookshop like in Hannah and her sisters whre you can get a copy of ee cummings' work, I know this is probably just a dream (especially since the place they used for that in New York closed down long ago). These are nice alternatives though:<br />
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<b><a href="http://235750.umbreitwebshop.de//" target="_blank">Marga Schoeller</a></b> (Charlottenburg, S-Bahn Savignyplatz) - Something of a Berlin institution this. They sell both English and German books and the staff couldn't be nicer. The English section is quite small but you can also find real gems here like 'I, Claudius' and Henry James' 'English Hours'.<br />
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<b><a href="http://www.buecherbogen.com/" target="_blank">Bücherbogen</a></b> (Charlottenburg, S-Bahn Savignyplatz) - Just around the corner from Marga Schoeller and under the arches of Savignyplatz is this shop selling all kinds of art, design, photography and film books, sometimes in English. You can browse to your heart's content while trains rattle by overhead and also pick up the latest copy of Cahiers du Cinéma or Sight and Sound.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/4624368855/" title="a 046 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img alt="a 046" height="333" src="http://farm5.staticflickr.com/4011/4624368855_3de3c89a7b.jpg" width="500" /></a>
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The <a href="http://autorenbuchhandlung-berlin.de/index.htm" target="_blank"><b>Autorenbuchhandlung</b></a> (Charlottenburg, S-Bahn Savignyplatz) - If you like reading in German I can think of no lovelier place to buy your books. They have the prettiest editions and the staff are extremely knowledgeable and helpful. And even if you don't read German, it's worth stopping by to enjoy the atmosphere and order tea and cake in their charming new café.<br />
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<b><a href="http://www.kulturkaufhaus.de/" target="_blank">Dussmann </a></b>- Part of me feels bad for including this because I try to support the smaller shops first but I can't help liking Dussmann, partly because it's a refuge for me. You can find a huge selection of films, music and of course, books but I normally head straight for their separate English bookshop with its comfy chairs. They're open until midnight almost every evening.<br />
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<b><u>Cinemas</u></b><br />
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Films can be tricky in Berlin unless you only watch German ones or don't mind dubbing, except at Berlinale time. I tend to favour English language or original versions which is probably the reason I haven't beeen inside the International yet which I've heard is the nicest cinema in Berlin. In the meantime, here are my choices:<br />
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<b><a href="http://www.cinestar.de/de/kino/berlin-cinestar-original-im-sony-center/" target="_blank">Cinestar Sony Center</a></b> (Tiergarten, S-/U-Potsdamer Platz) - I'm going to start with my most contraversial choice which may produce a wave of protest from film lovers in Berlin. It's not the nicest cinema and yes, it's a multiplex showing Hollywood rubbish but first there's the advantage of being able to see films in the original English version and without subtitles and they do have indie or less mainstream films too. It's overcrowded with popcorn munchers at the weekend but I love to come here for matinées, especially in summer, when you're almost alone and have the feeling you're skipping school.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/4714553381/" title="Bild 196 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img alt="Bild 196" height="333" src="http://farm5.staticflickr.com/4019/4714553381_fc43f4c209.jpg" width="500" /></a>
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<b><a href="http://www.arsenal-berlin.de/en/arsenal-cinema/current-program.html" target="_blank">Arsenal </a></b>(Tiergarten, S-/U-Potsdamer Platz) - This is the rough equivalent of the BFI in London, showing classic or rare films alongside festivals on a particulr theme or director. Perhaps my favourite.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/5608655717/" title="Bild 028 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img alt="Bild 028" height="333" src="http://farm5.staticflickr.com/4096/5608655717_36638c2474.jpg" width="500" /></a>
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<b><a href="http://www.hoefekino.de/" target="_blank">Hackesche Höfe Kino</a></b> - Up above the guided tours gathering the courtyard below, you can climb the five flights of stairs to this great cinema which shows films from the around the world in the original version. The best time to come is for the first screenings on Sundays which don't have adverts.<br />
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<b><a href="http://www.lichtblick-kino.org/lichtblick.php" target="_blank">Lichtblick Kino </a></b>(Prenzlauer Berg, U-Bahn Senefelder Platz) - This is perhaps the tiniest cinema I've ever been in. Perfect for hot summer days when the structure of the building makes it deliciously cool. They have an unusual and varied programme where classics mix with modern films but you can also see Casablanca every Saturday night and Wim Wenders' Himmel Über Berlin every month.<br />
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<b><a href="http://www.yorck.de/kinos/detail/100013" target="_blank">Neues Off </a></b>(Neukölln, S-/U-Bahn Hermannplatz) - I haven't been to this place very often but I love the auditorium and the plush feel of the turquoise seats.<br />
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<b><u>Bakeries</u></b><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/5176198162/" title="Bild 133 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img alt="Bild 133" height="333" src="http://farm5.staticflickr.com/4089/5176198162_a49fcb4ee2.jpg" width="500" /></a>
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I'm going to be honest, for all my gourmandise, I tend to buy my bread from Alnatura, an organic chain, simply because I can be sure they haven't made it dark by using malt and because it's close to my home. But if I have a little more time or fancy something different, I can recommend:<br />
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<b><a href="http://www.qype.com/place/1793299-Brot-und-Butter-GmbH-Berlin" target="_blank">Brot und Butter </a></b>(Charlottenburg, U-Bahn Ernst Reuter Platz) - For their delicious dark sourdough bread. There's also a nice range of cheeses and cakes and you can enjoy coffee and lunch at one of the tables. Service could be friendlier and it's kinda pricey but never mind.<br />
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<b><a href="http://www.qype.com/place/43171-Aux-Delices-Normands-GmbH-Berlin" target="_blank">Aux Délices Normands</a></b> (Charlottenburg, S-Bahn Messe Nord ICC) - The bread from this French bakery is truly delicious but what I go there most for is the amazing cheesecake. Go early to avoid disappointment; there's not much left at the end of the day.<br />
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<b><a href="http://www.qype.com/place/32225-Croissanterie-Christian-Sachse-Berlin" target="_blank">The Croissanterie</a></b> (Neukölln, S-/U-Bahn Hermannplatz) - Getting decent croissants in Berlin is something of a challenge. In a regular German bakery you should rather opt for a <a href="http://www.davidlebovitz.com/2010/03/berlin-germany-travel-food/" target="_blank">Laugencroissant </a>which are normally delicious. But if you insist on having a French style one, head to Galeries Lafayette on Friedrichstraße or here which offers a wonderful range of freshly baked ones, both sweet and savoury.<br />
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Or alternatively, you could buy bread from my favourite market on <a href="http://www.wochenmarkt.wochenmarktfoto.com/" target="_blank">Karl August Platz </a>in Charlottenburg on either Wednesdays or Saturdays. The <a href="http://www.brotgarten.de/produkte" target="_blank">Brotgarten</a> stand is especially nice.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/7176002246/" title="a 019 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img alt="a 019" height="346" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8016/7176002246_1a1f317fe6.jpg" width="500" /></a>
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Viel Spaß! I'll be back with some Danish recipes soon.<br />
<br />Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06967855350498876132noreply@blogger.com22tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3703049574993181756.post-77357723938344636032012-05-01T05:18:00.001-07:002012-05-03T23:41:18.927-07:00The Wanderer<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/7131047859/" title="IMG_2021 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_2021" height="333" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8007/7131047859_036a45550b.jpg" width="500" /></a>
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For someone who is so much of a homebody, I seem to have been all over the place just recently. Derbyshire, Paris and then two weekends ago, Copenhagen. The beginning wasn't easy, waking up at 3:30am with my body and mind resistant to the need to get up in the middle of the night. For the first time in ages I drank tea staring out into the darkness while so many thoughts raced through my mind pumping with adrenaline. I checked and double checked that I had everything, knowing that I would forget something (but remembering what Abbie told me, that if you forget something small, it means you have the most important things - this time, my sunglasses) before closing the door behind me and walking through deserted streets where I feared the sound of my suitcase wheels on the cobbles would wake everyone.</div>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/6984866056/" title="IMG_1721 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_1721" height="333" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8166/6984866056_2e7bab5b39.jpg" width="500" /></a>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/6984867750/" title="IMG_1724 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_1724" height="333" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8162/6984867750_deff302e7c.jpg" width="500" /></a>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/7130953649/" title="IMG_1726 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_1726" height="333" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7184/7130953649_86ab9ecabd.jpg" width="500" /></a>
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Flying over the sea where the golden disc I had noticed at the airport cast its first rays over the blue opaque mass below, I could hardly contain my excitement at the thought that I was going to Scandinavia for the first time. The airport suddenly seemed deserted as we made our way though its long passageways, snacking on the muesli bars I had made for us the previous day and laughing as an airline employee passed and wished us "Velbekomme", literally, "May it do you good". What can I say about Copenhagen? From the very first glimpse it charmed me with its coloured buildings reflected in the canals, elegant houses lining narrow streets and squares, the bakeries displaying the most delicious cakes on every corner, the supermarkets which sell cartons of thick, delicious yoghurt you can drink. It was wonderful hearing the language which I've come to love from watching the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Killing_(Danish_TV_series)" target="_blank">Killing</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Borgen_(Danish_TV_series)" target="_blank">Borgen</a> and now the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Bridge_(Danish/Swedish_TV_series)" target="_blank">Bridge</a> and from learning it every day. This is a city where bicycles rule the streets, where everything is so organised but it still feels so relaxed and even as you bask in the evening sun on the terrace of a café, no-one raises their voice as they talk. It's not a big city but I had the feeling of so much space and the gulls flying overhead reminded me that the sea is so close. We visited the Rundet<span style="background-color: white; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;">å</span>rn, climbing up its slope without stairs to enjoy the view of the rooftops and palaces all around us <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">with the <span style="background-color: white; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;">Øresund bridge in the distance. We discovered the fabulous Lagkasehuset bakeries and lunched on delicious sandwiches filled with hummus and sun dried tomatoes before dividing a selection of cakes into three (our clear favourite was the strawberry rhubarb yoghurt slice). We walked until our feet ached up to the see the Little Mermaid perched on her rock before a group of students, celebrating their exam success and dressed in evening wear, descended from a bus clutching cans of Carlsberg to have their picture taken. </span></span></div>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/6984873054/" title="IMG_1731 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_1731" height="333" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7072/6984873054_934ae6167f.jpg" width="500" /></a>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/7130958555/" title="IMG_1740 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_1740" height="333" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7124/7130958555_520bebf1db.jpg" width="500" /></a>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/7130960169/" title="IMG_1764 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_1764" height="333" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7259/7130960169_44a9baf9df.jpg" width="500" /></a>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/6984879826/" title="IMG_1788 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_1788" height="333" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7228/6984879826_bc653f922d.jpg" width="500" /></a>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/6984881198/" title="IMG_1790 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_1790" height="333" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7206/6984881198_a6d02f1e5b.jpg" width="500" /></a>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/7130967173/" title="IMG_1791 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_1791" height="333" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8014/7130967173_00df36a5dc.jpg" width="500" /></a>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/7130968739/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="IMG_1803 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_1803" height="333" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8153/7130968739_a0aae21bc2.jpg" width="500" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The round tower</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/6984890576/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="IMG_1833 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_1833" height="333" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8166/6984890576_c847e699ba.jpg" width="500" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The view from the top</td></tr>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/7130975995/" title="IMG_1842 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_1842" height="333" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7046/7130975995_7e3f5b1e60.jpg" width="500" /></a>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/7130977597/" title="IMG_1867 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_1867" height="333" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7134/7130977597_b08a13f06c.jpg" width="500" /></a>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/6984898192/" title="IMG_1883 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_1883" height="333" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8017/6984898192_a134e6d8f9.jpg" width="500" /></a>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/6984899812/" title="IMG_1885 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_1885" height="333" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7118/6984899812_cb36a160a4.jpg" width="500" /></a>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/7130986031/" title="IMG_1886 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_1886" height="333" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7253/7130986031_0875507fac.jpg" width="500" /></a>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/6984903652/" title="IMG_1889 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_1889" height="333" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7271/6984903652_dd2da5cbf9.jpg" width="500" /></a>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/7130989197/" title="IMG_1895 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_1895" height="333" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7192/7130989197_9754021790.jpg" width="500" /></a>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/6984906886/" title="IMG_1901 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_1901" height="333" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8158/6984906886_7f8ef79389.jpg" width="500" /></a>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/7130993749/" title="IMG_1902 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_1902" height="333" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7265/7130993749_baf2498447.jpg" width="500" /></a>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/7130996185/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="IMG_1905 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_1905" height="333" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8003/7130996185_84eed79844.jpg" width="500" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The English church</td></tr>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/6984915276/" title="IMG_1908 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_1908" height="333" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7129/6984915276_1d2e6ef749.jpg" width="500" /></a>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/6984916816/" title="IMG_1916 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_1916" height="333" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7095/6984916816_f145106d9a.jpg" width="500" /></a>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/7131002127/" title="IMG_1920 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_1920" height="333" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7106/7131002127_bbdd4accce.jpg" width="500" /></a>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/6984920094/" title="IMG_1922 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_1922" height="333" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7203/6984920094_b42a9b641b.jpg" width="500" /></a>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/6984921404/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="IMG_1930 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_1930" height="333" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7096/6984921404_fcb0ec2d03.jpg" width="500" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Celebrating in style</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/7131008471/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="IMG_1939 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_1939" height="333" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7200/7131008471_f8832329e2.jpg" width="500" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The genetically modified little mermaid</td></tr>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/6984927586/" title="IMG_1941 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_1941" height="333" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7084/6984927586_8ef6785636.jpg" width="500" /></a>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;"><br /></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;">The forecast had promised rain but sunshine pierced through the clouds as we left Copenhagen behind for a few hours and took the train across the bridge to Malmö in Sweden. A wedding party was gathering outside the Town Hall and a brass band marched by but even on Saturday, there was still a calmness which I haven't experienced in any other city on a main shopping day.
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/6984929206/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="IMG_1942 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_1942" height="333" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7048/6984929206_25ae794529.jpg" width="500" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My hotel room</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/7131014579/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="IMG_1945 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_1945" height="333" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7037/7131014579_ae21619ea9.jpg" width="500" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">On the way to Sweden</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/7131015779/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="IMG_1963 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_1963" height="333" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7259/7131015779_151cb66838.jpg" width="500" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Malmö</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/6984933234/" title="IMG_1965 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_1965" height="333" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8017/6984933234_97bdb0d6db.jpg" width="500" /></a><span style="background-color: white;">
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/7131017997/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="IMG_1966 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_1966" height="333" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7211/7131017997_479033c9f1.jpg" width="500" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Shopping for kitchenware at Lagerhus</td></tr>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/6984936770/" title="IMG_1970 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_1970" height="333" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7262/6984936770_f8385a3f76.jpg" width="500" /></a><span style="background-color: white;">
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/7131021565/" title="IMG_1971 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_1971" height="333" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7037/7131021565_dac76f207e.jpg" width="500" /></a><span style="background-color: white;">
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/7131022601/" title="IMG_1973 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_1973" height="333" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7243/7131022601_fb61924f47.jpg" width="500" /></a><span style="background-color: white;">
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/7131023781/" title="IMG_1980 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_1980" height="333" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7264/7131023781_b8bed6b33e.jpg" width="500" /></a><span style="background-color: white;">
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/7131024933/" title="IMG_1981 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_1981" height="333" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8015/7131024933_c9b9a0bfbc.jpg" width="500" /></a><span style="background-color: white;">
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/6984944142/" title="IMG_1985 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_1985" height="333" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7113/6984944142_56b25f23f6.jpg" width="500" /></a><span style="background-color: white;">
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<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/7131028881/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="IMG_1990 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_1990" height="333" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7090/7131028881_57c75eaf5d.jpg" width="500" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pasta salad at Barista coffee in Malmö</td></tr>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/7131043501/" title="IMG_1998 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_1998" height="333" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7060/7131043501_009bc045aa.jpg" width="500" /></a><span style="background-color: white;">
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/6984958936/" title="IMG_1992 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_1992" height="333" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7240/6984958936_9c7c51d26e.jpg" width="500" /></a><span style="background-color: white;">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/6984963216/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="IMG_2016 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_2016" height="333" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7046/6984963216_2ae5f7b855.jpg" width="500" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Back in Copenhagen</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/6984965800/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="IMG_2030 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_2030" height="500" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7119/6984965800_28cae11cb2.jpg" width="333" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hans Christian Andersen</td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;">On the final day, we followed in the footsteps of Sarah Lund and I wore my patterned jumper as we traced the locations used in the series. We stopped at <a href="http://www.holbergno19.dk/" target="_blank">Holberg no 19</a> where the owner, an American actor sat having coffee and telling anecdotes about his time in New York as we savoured some amazing coffee and truly delicious cheesecake served in a glass consisting of a layer of crumbled biscuits, then philadelphia and cream and topped with fruit. The weather was a little unkind to us that afternoon though and a cold drizzle descended, chilling us to the bone and forcing us to take shelter in <a href="http://www.cafeoscar.dk/" target="_blank">Café Oscar</a> where we jealously watched everyone around us devouring the delicious </span></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: sans-serif;">Smørrebrød (Danish open sandwiches) and crepes filled with smoked salmon before ordering them ourselves. We stayed there for a long time in the flickering light of the candles, wishing the rain would stop and regretting that we felt too full to try the amazing cakes from the bakery we had discovered on Store Kongensgade called <a href="http://www.tastedeli.eu/" target="_blank">Taste</a> (if you go there, will you try it for me?) </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;"><br /></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;">The sun made its reappearance as we wheeled our cases a short distance from the hotel to the train station and I took a final glance at the city, feeling I could have stayed there forever. Yet somehow I wasn't sad becuase I know there will be other times, that there is so much to go back for, that I left a part of myself there. I love you Copenhagen.</span></div>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/6984967114/" title="IMG_2035 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_2035" height="333" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7280/6984967114_90a6c635ae.jpg" width="500" /></a>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/7131052025/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="IMG_2040 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_2040" height="333" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8012/7131052025_74cd70d08b.jpg" width="500" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Following Sarah Lund - the police station</td></tr>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/7131053323/" title="IMG_2046 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_2046" height="333" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7235/7131053323_71a2fc97d1.jpg" width="500" /></a>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/6984971174/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="IMG_2054 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_2054" height="333" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7179/6984971174_ba0a09fdd6.jpg" width="500" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kierkegaard</td></tr>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/6984947020/" title="IMG_1846 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_1846" height="333" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7222/6984947020_bf0b520a01.jpg" width="500" /></a>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/6984948762/" title="IMG_1850 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_1850" height="333" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7129/6984948762_d6a01f9e40.jpg" width="500" /></a>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/6984950840/" title="IMG_1855 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_1855" height="333" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8017/6984950840_6bf718495c.jpg" width="500" /></a>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/6984953046/" title="IMG_1857 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_1857" height="333" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8143/6984953046_676e7dbc6e.jpg" width="500" /></a>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/7131039399/" title="IMG_1862 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_1862" height="333" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8003/7131039399_5191fe9307.jpg" width="500" /></a>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/6984957270/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="IMG_1872 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_1872" height="333" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8165/6984957270_f929c6d3c1.jpg" width="500" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Holberg no 19</td></tr>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/7130980473/" title="IMG_1876 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_1876" height="333" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7106/7130980473_4bd89546f5.jpg" width="500" /></a>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/6984973232/" title="IMG_2059 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_2059" height="333" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7245/6984973232_c766307d63.jpg" width="500" /></a>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/7131055577/" title="IMG_2058 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_2058" height="333" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8163/7131055577_4ba705655e.jpg" width="500" /></a>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/6984975610/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="IMG_2065 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_2065" height="333" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7213/6984975610_d66f1aa9ba.jpg" width="500" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The best cheesecake</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/6984977152/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="IMG_2073 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_2073" height="333" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8018/6984977152_57b7f38bb4.jpg" width="500" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I love Danish bakeries!</td></tr>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/6984978840/" title="IMG_2074 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_2074" height="333" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7268/6984978840_84f43c536e.jpg" width="500" /></a>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/6984980044/" title="IMG_2079 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_2079" height="333" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8020/6984980044_d1e513bda4.jpg" width="500" /></a>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/6984981666/" title="IMG_2082 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_2082" height="333" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7205/6984981666_3db1b6b7bb.jpg" width="500" /></a>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/7131070399/" title="IMG_2091 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_2091" height="333" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7069/7131070399_efe327d83d.jpg" width="500" /></a>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/7131071987/" title="IMG_2102 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_2102" height="333" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7240/7131071987_a96320e96e.jpg" width="500" /></a>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/7131073681/" title="IMG_2103 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_2103" height="333" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7181/7131073681_9fdfa6b02d.jpg" width="500" /></a>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/6984991344/" title="IMG_2104 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_2104" height="333" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7138/6984991344_2fedddd3d2.jpg" width="500" /></a>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/6984992794/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="IMG_2109 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_2109" height="333" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7126/6984992794_7c30c5d07d.jpg" width="500" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The guards at Amalienborg Slot</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/7131077945/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="IMG_2129 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_2129" height="333" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7080/7131077945_87519d3f82.jpg" width="500" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Inside the Marmor church</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/7131079461/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="IMG_2142 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_2142" height="333" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7046/7131079461_02091da6eb.jpg" width="500" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Taking shelter at Café Oscar for the best lunch</td></tr>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/7131080907/" title="IMG_2149 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_2149" height="333" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8151/7131080907_60002dc498.jpg" width="500" /></a>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/7131082159/" title="IMG_2150 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_2150" height="333" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7274/7131082159_2f9e87b76b.jpg" width="500" /></a>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;">Addresses:</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;"><a href="http://www.tastedeli.eu/" target="_blank">Taste Deli</a> - Store Kongensgade 80</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;"><a href="http://www.cafeoscar.dk/" target="_blank">Café Oscar</a> - Bredgade 58</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;"><a href="http://www.lagkagehuset.dk/butikker" target="_blank">Lagkagehuset</a> - various locations</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;"><a href="http://www.holbergno19.dk/" target="_blank">Holberg no 19</a> - Holbergsgade 19</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;"><a href="http://www.meyersdeli.dk/da/meyers_deli_gl_kongevej.html" target="_blank">Meyers Deli</a> - Gl. Kongevej 107, 1850 Fredreiksberg</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;"><a href="http://www.baristafairtrade.com/" target="_blank">Barista Coffee</a> - </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">Södergatan 22, Malmö</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><a href="http://www.lagerhaus.se/" target="_blank">Lagerhus</a> - </span><span style="background-color: #e5e3df; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Södergatan 16, Malmö</span>Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06967855350498876132noreply@blogger.com24tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3703049574993181756.post-60504810132861114032012-04-24T22:00:00.000-07:002012-04-24T22:00:35.957-07:00Paris je t'aime<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/6947566570/" title="IMG_1496 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_1496" height="333" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7129/6947566570_297182a5eb.jpg" width="500" /></a> </div>
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First of all, thanks for your kind comments and messages. I haven't been around here much simply because I've been travelling quite a bit and the past few weeks have seemed like a whirlwind of activity, packing and unpacking my suitcase in between. I have so much to tell you but first, let's start with Paris...<br />
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I'm usually awake before the alarm clock rings at a few minutes to six, surprised by the morning chill as I throw back the covers. After a couple of stretches the kettle has boiled and I settle down to that all important first cup of tea. Sometimes I switch on the radio to hear the shipping forecast live before the demolition work begins opposite but other days I open my Moleskine exercise book and begin revising the vocabulary from yesterday's Finnish lesson. The words are often long and unlike anything I've heard before, those long vowels, the tiny break between the 'h' and the following consonant, sentences which seem so simple yet are full of unending complexity. I try to get my mind around some of the fifteen cases that I know whose names are also beautiful and complex, the inessive, the partitive, the ablative; and wonder if I will ever be able to fully grasp this wonderful language.</div>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/6947505812/" title="IMG_1343 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_1343" height="333" src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5347/6947505812_f1ae1c964f.jpg" width="500" /></a>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/7093579231/" title="IMG_1345 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_1345" height="500" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7206/7093579231_e6ac6c4573.jpg" width="333" /></a>
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At the restaurant of the Musée d'Orsay I found that same fascinating mixture of apparent simplicity and complexity in each course of the Finnish menu. A savoury malt pudding with marinated vegetables and crème fraîche with dill, cucumber soup with buttermilk and topped with a crispy cheese lattice, the most tender piece of smoked salmon, wamed and served with just the right amount of mashed potato and cauliflower flavoured with truffles and finally, vanilla cream mixed with lingonberry puree with just a slightest crunch of a few flakes of oat crumble. All had names from paintings by Akseli Gallen Kallela; the Defense of Sampo, the Songs of Kalevala and my favourite, Les roses blanches for the dessert. The people sharing our table looked fascinated by what we were eating. The older woman started telling us about her life; the eleven children she had had, how everyone had encouraged her to return to university to take a German degree afterwards, how she spends most of her time travelling round the world visitng her family because she believes Americans are often too insular.</div>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/7093625765/" title="IMG_1455 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_1455" height="333" src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5320/7093625765_d74d4ac56d.jpg" width="500" /></a>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/7093627443/" title="IMG_1461 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_1461" height="333" src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5194/7093627443_d4c8dd9b48.jpg" width="500" /></a>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/6947557494/" title="IMG_1464 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_1464" height="333" src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5199/6947557494_e5eb08eace.jpg" width="500" /></a>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/7093630133/" title="IMG_1466 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_1466" height="333" src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5337/7093630133_b009dc3f59.jpg" width="500" /></a>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/7093631707/" title="IMG_1470 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_1470" height="333" src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5152/7093631707_95cc7f96b2.jpg" width="500" /></a>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/6947561954/" title="IMG_1473 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_1473" height="333" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7231/6947561954_b75e604c74.jpg" width="500" /></a>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/7093635543/" title="IMG_1487 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_1487" height="333" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7232/7093635543_a92ac94582.jpg" width="500" /></a>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/7093587821/" title="IMG_1374 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_1374" height="333" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7093/7093587821_5dbd69ba32.jpg" width="500" /></a>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/7093589235/" title="IMG_1388 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_1388" height="333" src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5325/7093589235_03b5c2b146.jpg" width="500" /></a>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/7093590923/" title="IMG_1391 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_1391" height="333" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7243/7093590923_a8235e28e0.jpg" width="500" /></a>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/7093595301/" title="IMG_1396 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_1396" height="333" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7072/7093595301_ac14a8d02f.jpg" width="500" /></a>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/7093601157/" title="IMG_1410 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_1410" height="333" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7054/7093601157_427a634164.jpg" width="500" /></a>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/6947532138/" title="IMG_1419 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_1419" height="333" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7251/6947532138_373c6b3f59.jpg" width="500" /></a>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/7093606397/" title="IMG_1423 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_1423" height="333" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7260/7093606397_7cd0020de1.jpg" width="500" /></a>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/7093607991/" title="IMG_1425 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_1425" height="333" src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5467/7093607991_ae25003337.jpg" width="500" /></a>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/6947538778/" title="IMG_1426 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_1426" height="333" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7215/6947538778_92639e6f8e.jpg" width="500" /></a>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/6947545614/" title="IMG_1432 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_1432" height="333" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7057/6947545614_e5e83610c7.jpg" width="500" /></a>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/6947547460/" title="IMG_1434 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_1434" height="333" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7046/6947547460_9108cbd188.jpg" width="500" /></a>
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I rediscovered the métro and it distinctive smell I've always loved and which I can only try and describe as a little like warm sawdust, along with the posters of plays and events I will never go to. There was the joy of seeing the places that I love again; the book stands of the bouquinistes down by the Seine, Notre Dame, the little park behind the Institut de France with its cherry blossom, the hotel in the rue de Buci where Simone de Beauvoir used to live, that first evening strolling down the Champs de Mars. As much as I love Berlin, I somehow returned here wishing it could be more of a city for walkers and inexhaustably beautiful like Paris. I'm already thinking about how to get back there as soon as possible.</div>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/6947568588/" title="IMG_1509 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_1509" height="333" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7268/6947568588_115f69a315.jpg" width="500" /></a>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/6947571092/" title="IMG_1519 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_1519" height="333" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7100/6947571092_07859f9a4a.jpg" width="500" /></a>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/7093644127/" title="IMG_1522 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_1522" height="333" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7075/7093644127_6584a3c0e5.jpg" width="500" /></a>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/7093646035/" title="IMG_1525 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_1525" height="333" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7106/7093646035_bd77cd0387.jpg" width="500" /></a>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/7093647805/" title="IMG_1538 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_1538" height="333" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7057/7093647805_5aa2693189.jpg" width="500" /></a>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/7093650493/" title="IMG_1547 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_1547" height="333" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7066/7093650493_f9355bd85c.jpg" width="500" /></a>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/6947581890/" title="IMG_1550 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_1550" height="333" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7106/6947581890_f583af6daf.jpg" width="500" /></a>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/7093655833/" title="IMG_1554 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_1554" height="333" src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5323/7093655833_fa4d27229d.jpg" width="500" /></a>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/7093657859/" title="IMG_1560 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_1560" height="333" src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5323/7093657859_0aa9a0bc7b.jpg" width="500" /></a>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/7093659941/" title="IMG_1572 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_1572" height="333" src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5448/7093659941_5a1fe276c8.jpg" width="500" /></a>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/7093665575/" title="IMG_1589 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_1589" height="333" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7113/7093665575_c2e8f7f888.jpg" width="500" /></a>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/6947597336/" title="IMG_1592 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_1592" height="333" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7088/6947597336_e5139561e4.jpg" width="500" /></a>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/7093677693/" title="IMG_1633 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_1633" height="333" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7055/7093677693_6a5a18397f.jpg" width="500" /></a>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/6947608912/" title="IMG_1637 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_1637" height="333" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7139/6947608912_fec92de154.jpg" width="500" /></a>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/7093682491/" title="IMG_1657 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_1657" height="333" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7194/7093682491_6369c66e1b.jpg" width="500" /></a>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/7093684457/" title="IMG_1664 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_1664" height="333" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7272/7093684457_a872383309.jpg" width="500" /></a>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/6947615934/" title="IMG_1665 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_1665" height="333" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7203/6947615934_f7b4e232fe.jpg" width="500" /></a>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/7093707491/" title="IMG_1704 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_1704" height="333" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7222/7093707491_15ab3aaf7e.jpg" width="500" /></a>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/7093710309/" title="IMG_1705 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_1705" height="333" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7279/7093710309_4cf3b4fffc.jpg" width="500" /></a>
</div>Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06967855350498876132noreply@blogger.com19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3703049574993181756.post-51808031708865145882012-03-28T09:10:00.001-07:002012-03-28T09:24:46.312-07:00From Paris to Berlin<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/6867802008/" title="Bild 291 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img alt="Bild 291" height="333" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7189/6867802008_4cf49fb992.jpg" width="500" /></a>
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About a decade ago, I spent a couple of weeks in Paris with my mother in the springtime. We rented an apartment opposite the Comédie Française and in the evenings I would watch the crowds gathering outside the theatre before the play was about to begin, some people obviously coming straight from work with their briefcases and stylish suits and then later when it was all over, I would open the windows to hear snippets of their conversations as they came out. One evening we even plucked up the courage to go and see Gogol's Le Réviseur in French although the experience of sitting in one of those plush red seats is somehow more vivid in my mind than the production. Every day we saw the jewel encrusted entrance to the métro station on Place Colette and walked along the columns of the Palais Royal gardens which I would later see in one of my favourite films, Charade, with Audrey Hepburn and Cary Grant. Springtime in Paris is such a cliché but it turned out to the one of the wettest with raindrops positively bouncing off the pavement as we ran for shelter in Brentano's bookshop. In those days I didn't cook much and only have a few memories of what we ate: an onion soup I made in the apartment, coffee in the Deux Magots served by the rudest waiter, an exceptional tarte à l'orange eaten in the Luxembourg Gardens and most of all, croissants filled with goats cheese made by my mum that last morning, hearts filled with regret to be leaving. We ate them in the gardens on Ile de la Cité under the watchful gaze of Henri IV after a walk around the islands.<br />
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I'm telling you all of this because I spent one of the nicest weeks in Berlin when my mum visited me recently.<br />
Our first walk together took place on the greyest of days through the bare branches of Treptower Park and I regretted not taking my scarf as the cool breeze blew through my winter coat. Chilled after more than an hour outside, I was happy to return to the café close to the Allianz building where they served the biggest piece of blueberry streuselkuchen I've ever seen.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/7013862885/" title="Bild 042 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img alt="Bild 042" height="333" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7082/7013862885_e48b8de4ba.jpg" width="500" /></a>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/6867757050/" title="Bild 047 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img alt="Bild 047" height="333" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7177/6867757050_6c5cf0d3e4.jpg" width="500" /></a>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/7013878767/" title="Bild 067 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img alt="Bild 067" height="333" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7133/7013878767_f2fb99c2eb.jpg" width="500" /></a>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/6867771598/" title="Bild 075 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img alt="Bild 075" height="333" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7256/6867771598_5663c84c71.jpg" width="500" /></a>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/6867773424/" title="Bild 088 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img alt="Bild 088" height="333" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7070/6867773424_45b811c436.jpg" width="500" /></a>
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Cyclists stopped to take pictures of the Molecule Man on the river Spree and couples kissed in front of the part of the East Side Gallery in hommage to Honecker and Brezhnev.<br />
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There were the quiet moments at home, watching John le Carré's <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0092425/" target="_blank">A Perfect Spy </a>and eating homemade soup, mornings in museums, surrounded by groups of schoolchildren in the Pergammom and wandering through the deserted rooms of the Gemäldegalerie where I thought of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Old_Masters_(novel)" target="_blank">Thomas Bernhard's Alte Meister</a>.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/6867776326/" title="Bild 104 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img alt="Bild 104" height="333" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7200/6867776326_c142cd4b00.jpg" width="500" /></a>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/7013891485/" title="Bild 118 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img alt="Bild 118" height="333" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7085/7013891485_569bd55de8.jpg" width="500" /></a>
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The sky was turning a delicate shade of pink as we looked down from the Kulturforum towards Potsdamer Platz. In <a href="http://www.vapiano.de/frame.php?lang=de&section=home" target="_blank">Va Piano</a> we perched on high stools and watched the passers-by until the pizza with spinach and cream was ready and afterwards regretted not having room for dessert. But we returned a few days later for tiramisù and strawberry cream.<br />
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At the ladies' night preview of the Best Exotic Marigold Hotel, the woman in front of me talked about running an 8 minute mile and I found myself wondering what had brought the big group of Americans to Berlin and whether they would stay here for long.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/7013970833/" title="Bild 120 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img alt="Bild 120" height="333" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7267/7013970833_215a2be6d8.jpg" width="500" /></a>
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They had run out of spinach tart at the <a href="http://www.kleinesschloss.de/" target="_blank">Kleines Schloss </a>restaurant in Babelsberg but the delicate flavours of the carrot and ginger one were just perfect.Others sat outside by the river eating ice cream and suddenly it seemed like summer.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/6867795592/" title="Bild 227 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img alt="Bild 227" height="333" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7180/6867795592_b5fcc5dba8.jpg" width="500" /></a>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/7013909021/" title="Bild 265 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img alt="Bild 265" height="333" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7104/7013909021_e3ddee374d.jpg" width="500" /></a>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/7013914851/" title="Bild 296 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img alt="Bild 296" height="333" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7188/7013914851_e8cd66807c.jpg" width="500" /></a>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/7013918345/" title="Bild 307 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img alt="Bild 307" height="333" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7221/7013918345_8e89ab8770.jpg" width="500" /></a>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/6867812948/" title="Bild 302 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img alt="Bild 302" height="333" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7270/6867812948_279f1d0ab9.jpg" width="500" /></a>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/6867819394/" title="Bild 312 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img alt="Bild 312" height="333" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7061/6867819394_3ed0050621.jpg" width="500" /></a>
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That last morning a stiff breeze blew us in the direction of Bellevue through the Tiergarten and we stopped for elevenses at the Kaisersaal where they serve a perfect German cheesecake with quark and a truly decadent Sachertorte. I wondered how a whole week could go by so fast and realised there is no worse feeling than finding yourself travelling back from the airport late and night and alone.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/6867823870/" title="Bild 357 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img alt="Bild 357" height="333" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7210/6867823870_9f22edf956.jpg" width="500" /></a>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/6867825274/" title="Bild 361 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img alt="Bild 361" height="333" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7113/6867825274_cae7dafc23.jpg" width="500" /></a>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/7013937991/" title="Bild 395 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img alt="Bild 395" height="333" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7124/7013937991_9ef04ee346.jpg" width="500" /></a>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/6867832564/" title="Bild 399 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img alt="Bild 399" height="333" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7272/6867832564_44baf0eef9.jpg" width="500" /></a>
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Perhaps the nicest thing about my mum's visit was being able to enjoy a nice and relaxed breakfast every morning. Red berry muesli with a chopped banana, rye bread with butter and orange and ginger jam, fresh blueberries, mugs of café au lait and bowls of plain yoghurt. I even made some banana bread one morning which tastes great alone or with a little butter at breakfast time or for afternoon tea with delicately whipped cream.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/6867867732/" title="Bild 180 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img alt="Bild 180" height="333" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7222/6867867732_6b9515700b.jpg" width="500" /></a>
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<b>Banana bread (from Meine Familie und ich - March edition)</b><br />
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For a loaf tin, around 30 cm long.<br />
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<b>Ingredients</b><br />
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400g plain flour<br />
200g ground almonds<br />
1 tsp bicarbonate of soda<br />
2 tsp baking powder<br />
1/2 tsp salt<br />
3 very ripe bananas<br />
60ml sunflower oil<br />
125g brown sugar<br />
3 eggs<br />
200ml buttermilk<br />
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1. Grease and line your loaf tin and preheat the oven to 180° or 160° for fan assisted ovens.<br />
2. Mix the flour, almonds, bicarb, baking powder and salt together in a bowl.<br />
3. Peel the bananas and mash them with a fork. Beat the oil, sugar, eggs and buttermilk together, either by hand or with a hand mixer and add to the flour mixture. Stir until fully incorporated. Add the mashed bananas and stir again. Pour the batter into the loaf tin and smooth the top.<br />
4. Bake the banana bread in the oven for 60-70 minutes. If necessary, cover the top with foil after 30 minutes to prevent it from browning too much. When it's ready, remove the bread from the oven, leave to cool and then remove from the tin. It keeps for a few days in an airtight container and also freezes well.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/7013975255/" title="Bild 158 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img alt="Bild 158" height="333" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7046/7013975255_1d6cde462a.jpg" width="500" /></a>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/6867863530/" title="Bild 152 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img alt="Bild 152" height="333" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7271/6867863530_1d88be9cd2.jpg" width="500" /></a>
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To finish this already long post, I'd like to tell you that those nice people from the Meininger hotel are offering you the chance to win a night in their really cool hotel and two free tickets to visit the Historiale Museum. I don't normally promote products and am not getting paid to do so here but when they wrote to me about this, I liked the idea that some of my readers might get a chance to come to my home city and of course, we could meet somewhere for coffee and cake. Full details can be found on <a href="http://blog.hostelbookers.com/competitions/berlin-competition/" target="_blank">this page</a> and all you have to do is answer a really simple question which you can find the answer to by going on <a href="http://www.hostelbookers.com/hotels/germany/berlin/56256/" target="_blank">this page</a>. The competition ends on 30th March. so get cracking!<br />
<br />Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06967855350498876132noreply@blogger.com20tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3703049574993181756.post-85073332370338093412012-03-05T03:54:00.001-08:002012-03-05T13:50:54.896-08:00The edge of spring<div style="text-align: center;">
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Since we last spoke we've moved away from bleakest midwinter to the verge of spring. I swear I can feel it in the air, those tight buds on the trees that will open soon, the sunny afternoons that send all Berliners outside for a walk in the park or a coffee on the terrace. But I also wish the time wasn't flying by so quickly; already into the third month of the year which leaves around just three months before I pack up and leave. I'm a hopelessly indecisive person; put me in a huge bookshop with everything I could possibly want and ask me to choose something and chances are I'll come out empty handed. When asked what I'd like for Christmas or my birthday, my mind goes blank. It's the same with Berlin; so many places to revisit, so many I've never done yet and trips further afield to make. There's the sadness which goes with knowing this will be my last spring here as a Berliner (for a while anyway) and sometimes it overwhelms me a little. One morning in the past couple of weeks we had the craziest weather with heavy snow turning the city white. This was not the day to go out with my camera so I stood at my window, looking at the passers-by with umbrellas make their way through the large, wet snowflakes. When I feel sad I listen to the shipping forecast because names like Viking, Dogger and German Bight make me dream of seastorms and the lighthouse in Berwick-upon-Tweed <a href="http://berlincheesecake.blogspot.com/2010/07/summers-tale.html">decorated with penguins</a>.<br />
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Luckily though there were also brighter moments; a dinner party for friends last week when I cooked <a href="http://smittenkitchen.com/2011/09/roasted-tomato-soup-with-broiled-cheddar/" target="_blank">this soup</a>, made <a href="http://friant.blogspot.com/2009/11/curry-de-legumes-thai-aux-couleurs.html" target="_blank">this curry</a> and served this <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2012/feb/17/cheesecake-recipes-hugh-fearnley-whittingstall" target="_blank">New York cheesecake</a> for dessert; meeting up with an old friend again on the first real spring day and catching the last rays of sun over the Lietzensee. Re-reading <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Wind_in_the_Willows" target="_blank">Wind in the Willows</a>, which I found last week in a classic Penguin edition with its orange cover and the wonderful <a href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/books/bookreviews/6023040/Evelyn-Waughs-mad-world.html" target="_blank">Mad World</a> about Evelyn Waugh and Brideshead. Watching the Artist and Kauresmäki's <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0311519/" target="_blank">Man Without a Past</a> . Making these blueberry muffins is also something special; light but satisfying, sweet but with a sourness as the berry bursts inside your mouth. I think of the Finnish idiom while eating them: Oma maa mansikka, muu maa mustikka. Home is a strawberry but a foreign land is a blueberry (both berries are sweet but the strawberry is the sweeter of the two).I hope to find more sweetness as the year progresses.</div>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/6809064852/" title="Bild 193 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img alt="Bild 193" height="333" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7178/6809064852_0f6c37fe32.jpg" width="500" /></a>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/6809066260/" title="Bild 194 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img alt="Bild 194" height="333" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7179/6809066260_b8b903cbe6.jpg" width="500" /></a>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/6809067622/" title="Bild 198 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img alt="Bild 198" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7209/6809067622_435f4e98e2.jpg" /></a>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/6809068688/" title="Bild 205 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img alt="Bild 205" height="333" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7070/6809068688_12a17424ae.jpg" width="500" /></a>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/6809069810/" title="Bild 214 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img alt="Bild 214" height="333" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7176/6809069810_f514ab6de8.jpg" width="500" /></a>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/6955180493/" title="Bild 215 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img alt="Bild 215" height="333" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7066/6955180493_ba3904631c.jpg" width="500" /></a>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/6955181887/" title="Bild 216 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img alt="Bild 216" height="333" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7062/6955181887_0e5362f687.jpg" width="500" /></a>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/6955185669/" title="Bild 228 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img alt="Bild 228" height="333" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7045/6955185669_4de1ca4ab5.jpg" width="500" /></a>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/6955187313/" title="Bild 225 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img alt="Bild 225" height="333" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7052/6955187313_3e2974b0ab.jpg" width="500" /></a>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/6955193231/" title="Bild 012 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img alt="Bild 012" height="333" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7039/6955193231_54c6fb230c.jpg" width="500" /></a>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/6809085286/" title="Bild 016 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img alt="Bild 016" height="333" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7056/6809085286_403ef3d27f.jpg" width="500" /></a>
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<b>Blueberry muffins (from Meine Familie und ich, March 2012)</b><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/6809094930/" title="Bild 066 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img alt="Bild 066" height="333" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7185/6809094930_e319e9fa31.jpg" width="500" /></a>
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200g fresh or frozen blueberries<br />
24 muffin cases<br />
300g plain flour<br />
1 sachet of baking powder<br />
a pinch of salt<br />
1 tsp ground cinnamon<br />
125g caster sugar<br />
60ml sunflower oil<br />
2 medium eggs at room temperature<br />
200ml buttermilk<br />
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1. If using frozen blueberries, allow them to thaw and drain any liquid. Preheat the oven to 180°C or 160°C fan assisted. Grease or line a muffin tin with 24 paper cases.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/6809089092/" title="Bild 029 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img alt="Bild 029" height="333" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7062/6809089092_37fbdbc3b8.jpg" width="500" /></a>
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2. In a medium mixing bowl, combine the flour, sugar, baking powder, salt and cinnamon. In a large bowl beat the buttermilk, oil and eggs together. Gently fold in the dry mixture, stopping when everything is just blended, then add the blueberries.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/6955199783/" title="Bild 045 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img alt="Bild 045" height="333" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7058/6955199783_2d9c581054.jpg" width="500" /></a>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/6955201219/" title="Bild 047 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img alt="Bild 047" height="333" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7191/6955201219_fede06cf57.jpg" width="500" /></a>
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3. Divide the mixture equally between the 12 muffin cases and bake in the oven for around 25 minutes. When they're ready, leave to cool a little before transferring to a wire rack.
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/6809093442/" title="Bild 062 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img alt="Bild 062" height="333" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7200/6809093442_299c9937d0.jpg" width="500" /></a>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/6955205733/" title="Bild 071 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img alt="Bild 071" height="333" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7206/6955205733_ea15955ef6.jpg" width="500" /></a>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/6955207229/" title="Bild 073 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img alt="Bild 073" height="333" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7050/6955207229_02d8fa5bd7.jpg" width="500" /></a>
</div>Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06967855350498876132noreply@blogger.com19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3703049574993181756.post-4489447731558861572012-02-16T03:44:00.002-08:002012-02-16T10:59:57.656-08:00Frozen land<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/6850799017/" title="Bild 158 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img alt="Bild 158" height="333" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7162/6850799017_7aabf15eb3.jpg" width="500" /></a>
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It's the tips of my ears and nose that told me it was going to be a brutally cold day. Poking out from the warmth of the covers, they felt the first chill of the air and I knew that the bedroom windowpane, thin and cracked, would be covered in ice patterns (or Eisblumen in German) just like the kitchen one too. It's hard to make an effort to get up when Berlin is still sleeping but they promised a gloriously sunny day like the rest of the week when the explosion of colours above the rooftops first thing makes me regret having to go to work. There was the first cup of tea and a bowl of muesli with warm milk before slipping on the lined winter boots which unfortunately give me blisters, a skirt, thick tights and my Sarah Lund jumper. I decided to walk close to the water in the hope of catching reflections of the morning and took the underground to Schönleinstraße in Neukölln, a district I barely even know. The weather forecast was wrong though; a grey, colourless day but nevertheless, it still felt good to be there, walking along the frozen Landwehrkanal. Apart from the odd jogger and some car headlights in the distance, I saw no signs of life, just groups of seagulls taking off and landing at regular intervals. Taking pictures in these kind of temperatures (-14°C at 8am) is hard; I have learned to remove and replace the lens cap with my gloves on but after an hour and a half there was an unbearable numbness in my fingers and I had to return home for fresh coffee.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/6850728169/" title="Bild 012 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img alt="Bild 012" height="333" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7010/6850728169_d0973294b7.jpg" width="500" /></a>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/6850731759/" title="Bild 014 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img alt="Bild 014" height="500" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7055/6850731759_dfc692a2cf.jpg" width="333" /></a>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/6850734191/" title="Bild 015 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img alt="Bild 015" height="333" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7012/6850734191_f14ff2f5bd.jpg" width="500" /></a>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/6850737107/" title="Bild 018 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img alt="Bild 018" height="333" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7184/6850737107_382edd73a1.jpg" width="500" /></a>
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<i>Stockings for everyone</i><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/6850745659/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="Bild 035 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img alt="Bild 035" height="333" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7193/6850745659_a0dacf4cd2.jpg" width="500" /></a></td></tr>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/6850750637/" title="Bild 044 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img alt="Bild 044" height="333" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7044/6850750637_48e71945c3.jpg" width="500" /></a>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/6850761305/" title="Bild 069 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img alt="Bild 069" height="333" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7062/6850761305_cfe154ed7e.jpg" width="500" /></a>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/6850773339/" title="Bild 027 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img alt="Bild 027" height="333" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7206/6850773339_701f65c2e9.jpg" width="500" /></a>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/6850775869/" title="Bild 101 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img alt="Bild 101" height="333" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7068/6850775869_8e3067786b.jpg" width="500" /></a>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/6850784841/" title="Bild 125 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img alt="Bild 125" height="333" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7021/6850784841_1cf6495464.jpg" width="500" /></a> </div>
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<i>Snow on my windowsill</i></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/6850807477/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="Bild 182 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img alt="Bild 182" height="333" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7160/6850807477_4aa3966ecd.jpg" width="500" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Taking pictures in frozen Mitte</i></td></tr>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/6850810207/" title="Bild 188 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img alt="Bild 188" height="333" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7022/6850810207_4594680ea0.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/6850812841/" title="Bild 192 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img alt="Bild 192" height="333" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7185/6850812841_65ee9173a6.jpg" width="500" /></a>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/6850815025/" title="Bild 206 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img alt="Bild 206" height="333" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7200/6850815025_f8ec3d4744.jpg" width="500" /></a>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/6850817191/" title="Bild 210 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img alt="Bild 210" height="333" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7063/6850817191_278c6e802a.jpg" width="500" /></a>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/6850819857/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="Bild 216 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img alt="Bild 216" height="333" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7197/6850819857_004a4d568c.jpg" width="500" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Carrot cake - nice to look at but too heavy and unfortunately with cream instead of cream cheese on top</td></tr>
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Last Sunday was different - milder without the bone chilling wind that makes your cheeks hurt - and with plenty of sunshine. On the Spree icebreakers travelled by and groups of birds huddled together on the few bits of the river which remain unfrozen. Treptower park still looks eeriliy beautiful in the morning light with the snow gilmmering in the first rays. Winter days are good for comfort food; thick soups with plenty of cheese melted on top, hot desserts with fruit bubbling out and most all a spicy stew. The one below is simple but truly heartening and exactly what is needed when the thermometer hangs around zero.</div>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/6885706615/" title="Bild 004 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img alt="Bild 004" height="333" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7048/6885706615_e98445a770.jpg" width="500" /></a>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/6885710289/" title="Bild 018 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img alt="Bild 018" height="333" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7191/6885710289_a88bc3781e.jpg" width="500" /></a>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/6885712539/" title="Bild 028 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img alt="Bild 028" height="333" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7052/6885712539_4908bb8360.jpg" width="500" /></a>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/6885721985/" title="Bild 040 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img alt="Bild 040" height="333" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7062/6885721985_b6f98cc5d3.jpg" width="500" /></a>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/6885725899/" title="Bild 043 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img alt="Bild 043" height="333" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7192/6885725899_4669b89a70.jpg" width="500" /></a>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/6885729343/" title="Bild 048 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img alt="Bild 048" height="333" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7051/6885729343_b2365bb0dc.jpg" width="500" /></a>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/6885731835/" title="Bild 050 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img alt="Bild 050" height="333" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7180/6885731835_72b09f8af1.jpg" width="500" /></a>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/6885736349/" title="Bild 055 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img alt="Bild 055" height="333" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7037/6885736349_fb77dfecab.jpg" width="500" /></a>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/6885760079/" title="Bild 081 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img alt="Bild 081" height="333" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7190/6885760079_477c21fb70.jpg" width="500" /></a>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/6885766051/" title="Bild 087 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img alt="Bild 087" height="333" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7050/6885766051_2a754ae8fb.jpg" width="500" /></a>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/6885767765/" title="Bild 092 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img alt="Bild 092" height="333" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7065/6885767765_aa8e503abf.jpg" width="500" /></a>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/6885769449/" title="Bild 102 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img alt="Bild 102" height="333" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7063/6885769449_545d85469b.jpg" width="500" /></a>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/6885771477/" title="Bild 115 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img alt="Bild 115" height="333" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7045/6885771477_498c60e760.jpg" width="500" /></a>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/6885773363/" title="Bild 116 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img alt="Bild 116" height="333" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7187/6885773363_2602ba246b.jpg" width="500" /></a>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/6885777759/" title="Bild 123 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img alt="Bild 123" height="333" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7067/6885777759_d2f3ee335f.jpg" width="500" /></a>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/6850722779/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="Bild 004 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img alt="Bild 004" height="333" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7204/6850722779_eb2cf17e9b.jpg" width="500" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This post is dedicated to H. who loves Streuselkuchen - recipe<a href="http://berlincheesecake.blogspot.com/2011/10/seven-days.html"> here</a>. We'll miss you on Saturdays!</td></tr>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Spiced aubergine stew (adapted slightly from Nigel Slater's Tender)</b></div>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/6850782915/" title="Bild 123 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img alt="Bild 123" height="333" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7023/6850782915_927d80fb51.jpg" width="500" /></a>
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I'm going to shamefully confess to having chosen ready ground spices for this recipe despite Nigel's advice to freshly grind your own for the simple reason that I don't posess a coffee grinder or pestle and mortar. But if you do and feel like grinding your spices for better flavours, please do so. I also left out the chillies because when it comes to really hot food, I'm a total wimp. It was still a deliciously comforting dish though, one of my favourites for winter and even more delicious the following day when all the ingredients had had time to blend.<br />
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Makes generous portions for 2<br />
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1 large aubergine<br />
2 medium onions, finely sliced<br />
2 tbsp sunflower oil<br />
1 tsp cardamom powder<br />
2 cloves of garlic, crushed<br />
a thumb-sized piece of ginger, finely sliced<br />
1 tsp turmeric<br />
1/2 tsp chilli powder<br />
4 medium tomatoes (tinned whole ones are also fine in winter)<br />
1x 400ml tin coconut imlk<br />
a small bunch of mint<br />
a small bunch of coriander<br />
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1. Wash the aubergines, remove the stalk and cut them into chunks. Place them in a colander in the sink, sprinkle with a little sea salt and leave for at least half an hour to get rid of the bitter juices.<br />
2. Heat the oil in large pan and fry the sliced onions until transluscent and soft.Stir in the crushed garlic and finely chopped ginger, followed by the ground spices. Chop the tomatoes and add them to the pan.<br />
3. Rinse the salt off the aubergine and pat dry. Without oiling it, heat a ridged grill pan and griddle the aubergines until streaked on each side and softer.<br />
4. Add the aubergines to the onions and pour in the coconut milk and allow everything to simmer gently until the vegetables are tender. Salt as needed and serve with flatbread or rice.<br />
<br />Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06967855350498876132noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3703049574993181756.post-58333158597126265472012-01-31T14:27:00.000-08:002012-02-01T05:28:16.200-08:00The hardest step<div style="text-align: center;">
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Forgive my absence on this blog - this was really not the way I intended it to be, not even getting around to wishing any of you a Merry Christmas or Happy New Year and now we're into February. I feel I have to start with a piece of news, something that's been running through my mind constantly these past few months. It's nothing incredibly exciting like a book deal or a wedding but rather the decision to leave Berlin in the summer and return to Derbyshire for a while. It's hard to say exactly when I made up my mind. Berlin has been so great to me; I've managed to make a decent living for the first time in my life, get a place of my own, live in one of the loveliest cities and have the most wonderful friends. It seems insane to give it all up and yet...there are other things I want to try and if I don't make that leap now, I have the impression I'll never have the courage or the chance to take that step.<br />
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This summer will mark my fifth year as a Berliner. I remember that first visit a year before my move, walking through the Tiergarten in the rain to catch a glimpse of the Siegessäule, visitng the zoo and seeing the panda. There were the early days here when I did the CELTA and spent wild nights clubbing with Americans who've long since left. Five long years, half a decade and there's still so much to explore and understand. In my mind I've rehearsed the different stages; packing up my Berlin life into boxes, selling the furniture, cleaning my apartment and looking out from the plane at the red rooftops of Berlin as I fight back the tears. I try to prepare myself just as Maggie Cheung and Tony Leung do in In the Mood for Love when they practise saying goodbye even though I can't delude myself that you can train your emotions. Leaving Berlin will be one of the saddest things I do. Of course it seems more than a little desperate being 30+ and returning to the same small town where you started out when others already have houses and careers and I haven't even managed to get a drivers' licence in between.I've often identified with Dianne Wiest in Hannah and Her Sisters, the kooky one who gets turned down for acting parts for being too offbeat looking, trying out different projects and always needing to borrow money.<br />
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Deep inside there's a fear that it will all blow up in my face. I hope it will be a transition to something I've been wanting to do for a while, something I don't yet want to talk about because I'm afraid the dream won't come true - does that sound crazy?</div>
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Outside a Siberian winter has settled in Berlin for a while bringing frost, glacial winds but plenty of sunshine - the kind of winter I like best. The time here seems so precious but I keep repeating to myself what the our American guide at the Teufelsberg told us; once a Berliner, always a Berliner. I know wherever I go that it will always be a part of me. Thanks to all of you for your comments and emails - I know that you'll bear with my while I find my way through a somewhat uncertain 2012.<br />
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In the meantime I've been doing plenty of baking because nothing helps you keep it together better than a cup of tea and a large piece of cake and also because it's the only way to heat up my freezing cold kitchen. Nigel Slater's carrot cake is one of the nicest I've made; light and moist but with the indulgence of a cream cheese frosting.<br />
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<b>Carrot cake (from Nigel Slater's Tender, Volume I)</b><br />
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<b>For the cake</b><br />
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3 large eggs<br />
250g plain flour<br />
2 tsp baking powder<br />
1/2 tsp bicarbonate of soda<br />
1 tsp ground cinnamon<br />
a pinch of salt<br />
200ml sunflower oil<br />
125g light muscovado sugar<br />
150g carrots, peeled and grated<br />
juice of half a lemon<br />
150g chopped walnuts<br />
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<b>For the frosting</b><br />
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250g mascarpone<br />
200g Philadelphia cream cheese<br />
150g icing sugar, sifted<br />
a few walnut halves<br />
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1. Preheat the oven to 180°C/160°C fan assisted. Grease and line a couple of 22cm cake tins.<br />
2. Separate the eggs. Sift together the flour, bicarbonate of soda, baking powder, cinnamon and salt.<br />
3. Mix together the flour and sugar in a food processor until smooth then add in the egg yolks one at a time. Tip in the grated carrots, lemon juice and then the chopped walnuts. On the slowest setting possible, carefully fold in the flour mixture.<br />
4. Beat the egg white until stiff then fold them into the mixture using a metal spoon.<br />
5. Divide the mixture evenly between the two tins then bake in the oven for around 40 minutes. The cakes should be moist but not sticky. When they're done, leave them in their tins for about ten minutes before transferring to a cooling rack.<br />
6. When the cakes are cool you can begin making the frosting. Beat the mascarpone, cream cheese and icing sugar together with a hand mixer or by hand until smooth and creamy. Sandwich the cakes together with the about a third of the frosting and spread over the top and sides with the remaining mixture. Scatter a few walnut halves on top and enjoy with a large mug of tea or coffee.Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06967855350498876132noreply@blogger.com26Berlin, Allemagne52.524268 13.4062952.2151175 12.774576 52.8334185 14.038004tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3703049574993181756.post-37111697860611492982011-12-17T12:17:00.000-08:002011-12-17T13:15:31.675-08:00I'll be home for Christmas<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/6516427517/" title="Bild 150 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img alt="Bild 150" height="333" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7007/6516427517_ab69195a43.jpg" width="500" /></a> </div>
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The Christmases of my childhood seem bathed in that vintage glow that comes with looking at old photographs. The time I went sledgeriding with my Dad down the hill before they built the houses on it, my parents and their Christmas Day walk, my Grandmother who sat in the living room with the heating on full watching It's A Wonderful Life until James Stewart became suicidal and she decided the film was much too depressing, the Boxing Day lunch we used to have at the pub. The 80s simply seem much quieter, even though I know I'm seeing things through rose tinted glasses. The past few weeks have been quite chaotic with many things to finish and deal with and through all of the most difficult times I've dreamed of my trip back to Derbyshire, free at last of all the pressure. The moment to lock the front door and head to the airport has almost arrived but I find myself overwhelmed by a mixture of emotions in anticipation of everything still to come and even sad after saying goodbye to friends I see almost every day here. I know that it will get easier the moment the plane takes off, knowing that it's my favourite time of the year with Christmas just a week away and the build up I so love. So as we're changing countries it seems appropriate to finish with some photos from another Christmas market, this time in Potsdam and a recipe for something traditionally found on the festive dinner table, red cabbage. Thank you so much for all your comments and support, especially the last week. They mean a lot to me and help keep me going. I'm headed for London next week for a couple of days to enjoy the special atmosphere and decorations. I look forward to sharing my experiences there with you and in the meantime, enjoy the last week before Christmas and take care.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/6527277331/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="Bild 006 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img alt="Bild 006" height="333" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7003/6527277331_7e32936087.jpg" width="500" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><br />Dramatic sky over Potsdam</i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/6527308569/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="Bild 045 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img alt="Bild 045" height="333" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7151/6527308569_7eb4dffd68.jpg" width="500" /></a></td></tr>
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In the Dutch quarter</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/6527317217/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="Bild 055 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img alt="Bild 055" height="333" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7160/6527317217_1f1064872e.jpg" width="500" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><br />Not soap but marzipan</i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/6527336557/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="Bild 071 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img alt="Bild 071" height="333" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7023/6527336557_10b8fbe626.jpg" width="500" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><br />A lot of Lebkuchen hearts</i></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ajouter une légende</td></tr>
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Braised red cabbage with chestnuts (adapted from the New York Times cookbook)</div>
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1 large red cabbage</div>
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12 chestnuts</div>
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1 small onion, finely chopped</div>
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3 tablespoons white wine vinegar</div>
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3 sharp flavoured cooking apples, peeled and cut into thin slices</div>
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1. Preheat the oven to 200°C. Strip away any marked leaves from the cabbage and cut into quarters, removing the tough central core. Finely shred each quarter and leave to one side.</div>
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2. With a sharp knife, make an incision in each chestnut, beginning and finishing on either side of the "topknot". Place the chestnuts in a small baking dish and place them in the oven for around 10 minutes or until they've split. Remove and let them cool a little before peeling them.<br />
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3. Heat the vinegar and apple slices together in a large ovenproof saucepan and when everything begins to simmer, tip in the peeled chestnuts and shredded cabbage. Cover, turn the heat down and leave to cook for around 10 minutes, stirring from time to time.</div>
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4. Place the saucepan in the oven, cover the with tinfoil so the cabbage doesn't burn and bake for half an hour.</div>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/6527390293/" title="Bild 282 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img alt="Bild 282" height="333" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7033/6527390293_bca6ba74b6.jpg" width="500" /></a>
</div>Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06967855350498876132noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3703049574993181756.post-16434954942267907992011-12-15T02:20:00.000-08:002011-12-15T08:54:35.076-08:00The sweetest thing<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/6516430893/" title="Bild 237 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7151/6516430893_7661a17d5e.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="Bild 237" /></a></div><br /><br />Today hasn't been the easiest of days. The whole overground train network is down after a computer system failure with many people stranded and a few unlucky ones stuck in tunnels. Lack of information meant I waited 25 minutes on a cold platform before giving up and cancelling all other arrangements. Still, it wasn't all bad; stopping off to do some Christmas shopping and finding time to braise a red cabbage (recipe coming up soon). We're down to the last of the sweet stuff and between you and me, I'm relieved. After a day of excess on Tuesday with all those cookies and then snow topped spice cake for breakfast yesterday I'm off sugar for the rest of the week in an attempt to detox a little in time for the festivities. That doesn't mean I can't write about it though. The mince pies turned out great thanks to my friend S. who suggested using Pflanzenfett instead of shortening for the pastry as you can't get it over here. I can't say it tastes exactly the same but it brings the necessary lightness and crispness which you can't achieve with all butter. <div><br /><div>The orangettes couldn't be simpler and will make everywhere smell of warm citrus fruit and chocolate, the very essense of Christmas, no? Thanks to the lovely Susan of <a href="http://unebricoleuse.blogspot.com/">Bricolage</a> and <a href="http://giuliageranium.blogspot.com/">Giulia Geranium</a> (two of my favourite blogs so please check them out) for giving me the idea to make them.</div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/6516175277/" title="Bild 177 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7002/6516175277_445686910b.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="Bild 177" /></a></div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b>Mincemeat</b></div><div><br /></div><div>Until a few days ago, I never understood the mania for making mincemeat yourself. I'd always found really good shop stuff which we added some extra brandy to and even an article in the Guardian about the virtues of the homemade variety failed to convince me. In Berlin though finding mincemeat isn't all that easy; I was delighted to come across some at Galeria Kaufhof by Wilkin and Son, although at more than €3 a jar, you might curb your mince pie ambition. Yet when I used it in the cheesecake I was somehow disappointed with the flavour and decided to take the plunge and make my own. It turned out to be amazingly simple; if you've got plenty of time, combinig the ingredients overnight to let the flavours blend might be a good idea but it's not essential. I also noticed that with the homemade kind the individual ingredients are much easier to taste rather than the usual fruity mass. </div><div><br /></div><div>Recipe adapted from a mix of those by <a href="http://www.davidlebovitz.com/2008/12/the-mince-that-made-my-butcher-wince/">David Lebovitz</a> and Nigella Lawson's How to be a Domestic Goddess.</div><div><br /></div><div>Makes 600g</div><div><br /></div><div>2 medium sized cooking or sharp apples (boskop/russets/canadiens gris are good), peeled and cut into quarters</div><div>juice and zest of an unwaxed lemon</div><div>125g raisins</div><div>125g sultanas</div><div>50g glacé cherries, roughly chopped</div><div>50g blanched almonds, chopped into thin slivers</div><div>2 tablespoons brandy</div><div>125g soft, dark sugar</div><div>1/2 teaspoon mixed spice</div><div>1/2 teaspoon cinnamon</div><div><br /></div><div>2 x 300g jam jars</div></div><div><br /></div><div>In a large saucepan, dissolve the sugar in the lemon juice over a low heat. Add the chopped apples and all the other ingredients, except for the brandy. Simmer gently for about half an hour until the mixture has become very soft and slightly liquid. Remove from the heat and leave to cool a little before stirring in the brandy. Spoon into sterilised jars (see note below) and cover the tops with a wax disc.</div><div><br /></div><div>To sterilise jars you can either put them in the dishwasher and remove them when clean but still warm or otherwise wash them in soapy water, dry thoroughly and place in an oven at 180°C for 5 minutes.</div><div><br /></div><div><b>Mince pies</b> (from Nigella Lawson's How to be a Domestic Goddess)<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/6516183847/" title="Bild 248 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7161/6516183847_6173704edc.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="Bild 248" /></a></div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Makes around 24</div><div><br /></div><div>300g plain flour, sifted</div><div>75g shortening/ Trex or Pflanzenfett in Germany</div><div>75g cold, unsalted butter</div><div>juice of 1 orange</div><div>a pinch of salt</div><div>600g mincemeat (see recipe above)</div><div><br /></div><div>some icing sugar to dust over</div><div><br /></div><div>1. Sift the flour into a small bowl and using a teaspoon, add small dollops of the shortening and butter. Rub in a little with your fingers and place the bowl in the freezer for 20 minutes. </div><div>2. Mix the orange juice and salt in a little jug and chill in the fridge for 20 minutes.</div><div>3. When the time is up, tip the flour and fat into a food processor and pulse until you have crumbs like rolled oats. Drizzle in the orange juice a little at a time through the funnel and continue to pulse until the mixture is just beginning to stick together. Remove the dough from the food processor and on a floured work surface, knead it a little with your hands until it forms a ball. Divide into two discs, wrap in plastic and chill in the fridge for another 20 minutes.</div><div>4. Preheat the oven to 200°C.</div><div>5. When the time is up, roll each disc out as thinly as possible but not so thin that it breaks or won't support the filling. Using a 6-7cm round cutter, cut out circles in the pastry and gently place each one into the pie mould, pressing down a little so they're even. Fill each one with a generous teaspoonful of mincemeat as nobody like a dry mince pie. When you've cut out enough circles for the base, roll the pastry out again and cut out the tops using a star shaped cutter, placing each one lightly on top of the mincemeat.</div><div>6. Bake in the oven for 10-15 minutes, checking that they don't burn. Leave the pies in the tins for a minute or two as it makes them easier to remove and transfer to a cooling rack. Dredge with icing sugar before serving.</div><div><br /></div><div>Orangettes (from <a href="http://smittenkitchen.com/2006/11/candy-girl/">Smitten Kitchen</a>)</div><div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/6516171681/" title="Bild 183 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7154/6516171681_587c425fb2.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="Bild 183" /></a></div><br /></div><div>3 large organic oranges</div><div>water for boiling</div><div>250ml water + 225g sugar for the syrup</div><div>400g dark chocolate (I used 70% Lindt)</div><div><br /></div><div>1. Slice the tops off the tops off the oranges and with a shap knife, score the peel from one end to the other and remove. Cut the peel into thin strips and trim the edges to make them neat.</div><div>2. Place the strips a large pan of boiling water for 5 minutes, drain and throw the water away as it will contain bitter juices. Boil a fresh lot of water and place the strips in it for another five minutes. This step removes the bitter taste.</div><div>3. Make the syrup by mixing together the 250ml water and 225g sugar and bringing it to a gentle simmer, Tip in the peels and cook for about an hour, checking back from time to time that the pan hasn't run dry. </div><div>4. Remove and transfer to a wire rack to cool and dry out. I placed a piece of baking parchment underneath to collect the sticky drips.</div><div>5. When they're cool, melt the chocolate in a double boiler or in the microwave, stopping to stir every 30 seconds with the latter. Using a fork, dip each strip of peel in the chocolate and leave to set on a baking tray covered with parchment. When the chocolate has set, store them in a metal tin.</div>Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06967855350498876132noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3703049574993181756.post-63098988598280044282011-12-14T06:50:00.000-08:002011-12-14T10:00:20.988-08:00All about cake<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/6510822109/" title="Bild 195 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7012/6510822109_c7fdd236a8.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="Bild 195" /></a></div><br /><br />One of things I dread most during the holiday season in Britain is visiting someone and being offered a slice of Christmas cake. Often dry or dense fruit cake covered with a layer of shop bought marzipan and some thick fondant icing like concrete. Even the smallest piece sits in your stomach like a lead weight and unlike in Germany you can't refuse it and say you don't really like such cakes but have to smile over every forkful and compliment your hostess. Thankfully there are lighter alternatives which also have the advantage of not needing to be made weeks in advance. If you do have your heart set on a fruit cake though, might I suggest a Dundee cake like <a href="http://dillandparsley.blogspot.com/2011_12_01_archive.html#7470415866910854928">the one P.K made</a>? She recommends the recipe from Delia Online <a href="http://www.deliaonline.com/recipes/type-of-dish/entertaining/traditional-dundee-cake.html">here</a> for a lighter kind of cake.<div><br /></div><div>Here are my suggestions for three different cakes to serve at Christmas.</div><div><br /></div><div>When I saw Nigel Slater's mincemeat cheesecake recipe, my first reaction that it couldn't possibly work. Surely the flavours wouldn't blend well with the cream cheese or it would simply overwhelm everything else. Yet I couldn't resist the urge to test it and to my surprise it's a real winner. The buttery taste of the base with digestive bicuits, the creaminess and then the fruit make it something special and a little more original than just simply bringing out another batch of mince pies. A couple of points though; the recipe calls for 300g of digestive biscuits for the base but I found it didn't need half that amount and even then it came out much thicker than I'd normally like so I'd suggest using about a third. The second point is that you might not want to serve this cake to your, er, German friends. One student told me it was different which is of course a polite way of saying it isn't really your cup of tea while another friend compared the taste of mincemeat to Worchester sauce which is certainly original (although saying that, the other person who tried it really loved it.)</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b>Mincemeat cheesecake (from a <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2010/dec/12/nigel-slater-christmas-dessert-pudding-recipes">recipe</a> by Nigel Slater in the Guardian)</b><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/6480706301/" title="Bild 018a by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7005/6480706301_1dd0675c51.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="Bild 018a" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><b>For the base</b></div><div><br /></div><div>100g digestive biscuits</div><div>65g unsalted butter, melted</div><div><br /></div><div><b>For the filling</b></div><div><br /></div><div>600g full fat cream cheese</div><div>100g brown sugar</div><div>4 medium eggs</div><div>zest of a small orange</div><div>a teaspoon vanilla extract</div><div>300g sour cream</div><div>1 jar of mincemeat (around 310g, I found that the 200g in the original recipe wasn't enough) or better still, make your own. I'll be posting a recipe for homemade mincemeat this week but <a href="http://www.deliaonline.com/recipes/main-ingredient/mincemeat/home-made-christmas-mincemeat.html">Delia's</a> is also wonderful</div><div><br /></div><div>For a 26cm springform tin lined with baking parchment to prevent the base from sticking</div><div><br /></div><div>1. Melt the butter in saucepan or in the microwave. Place the biscuits in a food processor and pulse a few times until you have fine crumbs (alternatively you can place the biscuits in a strong plastic bag and crush with a rolling pin). Mix the butter with the crumbs and transfer to the springform tin. Pat the crumbs down a little but not too strongly (to avoid having a thick crust). Place the tin in the freezer for 20 minutes to set.</div><div>2. Preheat the oven to 140° and begin making the filling. In a large bowl, beat the cream cheese and sugar together until smooth. Add the eggs one at a time, blending in thoroughly before adding the next one. Mix in the vanilla extract and orange zest, then the sour cream. Finally stir in the mincemeat gently until only just incorporated.</div><div>3. Remove the springform from the freezer and place it on a baking tray. Pour in the cheescake mixture and bake for one hour. The middle will probably feel a little wobbly but that's perfectly normal. After one hour, switch off the oven and leave the cheesecake in there with the door closed for another hour.</div><div>4. Take it out of the oven, let it stand in the tin until cool then transfer to a plate and leave overnight in the fridge. If you don't do this, your cheesecake will not set properly. Grate a little more orange zest and scatter some biscuit crumbs over the top if you like.</div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/6480708751/" title="Bild 024 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7008/6480708751_21538df6eb.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="Bild 024" /></a></div></div><div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/6510830235/" title="Bild 210 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7162/6510830235_1a289c0011.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="Bild 210" /></a></div><br /></div><div>Few things seem to represent Christmas as much as cranberries. Their rich, gleaming colours and sourness so perfect for jam and cakes. I've seen the upside down cake with them in quite a few places, most recently on <a href="http://moveablefeastscookbook.blogspot.com/2011/11/cranberry-caramel-upside-down-cake-and.html">Barbara's blog</a> but was keen to have a plain cake with them inside which proved more difficult to find. Joy the Baker has a lovely recipe for a cranberry streusel coffee cake which would be perfect for teatime or after a large main course as a lighter dessert. The streusel with brown sugar and oats is irresistable and it's amazingly airy and light.</div><div><br /></div><div>Cranberry streusel coffee cake from Joy the Baker (recipe <a href="http://www.joythebaker.com/blog/2008/12/cranberry-coffee-cake/">here</a>)</div><div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/6510839725/" title="Bild 222 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7143/6510839725_479fbf17fd.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="Bild 222" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/6510844213/" title="Bild 229 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7159/6510844213_bab45655d5.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="Bild 229" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/6510848257/" title="Bild 233 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7022/6510848257_4c79b7d6a6.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="Bild 233" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>My favourite festive cake of all though is this snow topped spice cake from Nigella Lawson. I posted the recipe last year but you can find it again here. This morning I took it into my morning class since this is my last week at work before my holiday and was really pleased how much everyone liked it. It's spicy enough with cinnamon, ginger and cardamom and sweet with lemon icing but manages to be as light as a feather and satisfyingly squidgy in the middle. Best of all, it's incredibly simple. This will be the one I'm making for my family at Christmas.</div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/6510818475/" title="Bild 191 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7162/6510818475_2b86664ceb.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="Bild 191" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><b>Snow topped spice cake</b> (slightly adapted from Nigella Lawson's How to be a Domestic Goddess)</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/6510826751/" title="Bild 196 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7150/6510826751_1555ba8822.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="Bild 196" /></a></div><br /></div><div><b>For the cake</b></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(76, 75, 76); font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 20px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><span class="Apple-style-span" >4 large eggs, separated, plus 2 extra large egg whites<br />125ml vegetable oil<br />125ml water<br />2 tbsp runny honey<br />100g dark muscovado sugar<br />75g ground almonds<br />150g plain flour<br />2 tsps baking powder<br />1 tsp bicarbonate of soda<br />pinch of salt<br />1 tsp ground ginger<br />1 tsp cinnamon<br />1/2 tsp all-spice<br />1/4 tsp ground cloves<br />zest of 1/2 an orange<br />100g caster sugar</span></span></div><div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" ><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" ><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;">For the icing</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" ><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" ><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;">juice of 2 lemons</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" ><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;">150g icing sugar, sifted</span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(76, 75, 76); font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 20px; text-align: -webkit-auto; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">1. Preheat the oven to 180°C.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" >2. <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(76, 75, 76); font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 20px; text-align: -webkit-auto; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">Whisk together the yolks and oil, then add the water, honey and dark muscovado sugar. Add the almonds, flour, baking powder, bicarb, spices and zest, folding in gently.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(76, 75, 76); font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 20px; text-align: -webkit-auto; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">3. In another bowl, beat the egg whites until stiff and then gradually add the pinch of salt. </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(76, 75, 76); font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 20px; text-align: -webkit-auto; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">4. Fold the whites into the cake mixture, and pour into a greased and lined Springform tin. Bake for 45 minutes, or until the cake is springy on top and beginning to shrink away from the sides. Let the cake cool in its tin on a rack for 25 minutes before turning it out.</span></span><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(76, 75, 76); font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 20px; text-align: -webkit-auto; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(76, 75, 76); font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 20px; text-align: -webkit-auto; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">To make the icing; sift the icing sugar into a bowl and add the lemon juice. Stir until smooth. Add more sugar/juice as necessray, depending on how thick or runny you like your icing. Spread on the cake with a palette knife and leave to set. The cake keeps well for a few days and also freezes (uniced) beautifully. </span></span></div>Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06967855350498876132noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3703049574993181756.post-14558259671624949592011-12-13T09:38:00.000-08:002011-12-13T13:24:11.028-08:00The big baking post<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/6506160011/" title="Bild 007 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7145/6506160011_80de3288a2.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="Bild 007" /></a> </div><br />Dear reader,<div><br /></div><div>As we speak, a large pot of homemade mincemeat is cooling on the stove, soon to be laced with brandy and left overnight for the flavours to blend. Commissioned by my boss to bake 2 dozen mince pies, I feel a little nervous, especially since I don't have the proper sized tin, only a muffin mould and cutters which are too small. Since the begiing of December I have made around 200 German Christmas cookies or Plätzchen. Last week I made a mincemeat cheesecake and on Sunday the flat smelled of oranges and freshly baked gingerbread as I prepared a snow topped spice cake and some orangettes. In the small hours of this morning I made Dan Lepard's cranberry chocolate snow cookies as the sky was turning the loveliest pink and orange. They were so good that I ate at least 12 of them, yes really, me who was always so self-righteous about only ever eating one transformed into a quivering wreck who raids the biscuit tin. If there was ever a case for baking overdose, it could well be me and it's not even Christmas yet. </div><div><br /></div><div>Still, as Mae West once said, too much of a good thing can be wonderful. In the spirit of seasonal excess, I'll be posting a series of recipes, hopefully every day until Sunday, beginning with this post on Christmas cookies. I've never really been a fan of shop biscuits or boxes of chocolates, however expensive they may be. There are always the caramels, liqueurs and coconut ones which I hate left at the bottom and it always seems too much. Yet a little bag of homemade goodies makes a lovely gift, much nicer than a boring voucher or another CD and I guarantee that your friends will really appreciate the time and effort you've put in for them. I made all the Plätzchen below over about four days but you might not have the time or energy for that which I quite understand. The Spekulatius are by far the simplest and quickest, followed by the cranberry and chocolate snow cookies then the vanilla crescents, Linzer Augen and mini Stollen. The Lebkuchen and cinnamon stars are the fiddliest and most time consuming, although also the most popular. Whichever you choose, I'm sure they'll be most appreciated.</div><div><br /></div><div><b>Vanilla crescents (recipe from Mingou I posted <a href="http://berlincheesecake.blogspot.com/2009/12/little-snow-was-here-and-there.html">here</a>)</b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b><div style="text-align: center;"><b><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/6506132599/" title="Bild 072 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7008/6506132599_d9985ff530.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="Bild 072" /></a></b></div><br /></b></div><div><br />Keep in a metal tin for 4-6 weeks in a cool place</div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>Linzer Augen </b><b>(recipe from Mingou I posted <a href="http://berlincheesecake.blogspot.com/2009/12/little-snow-was-here-and-there.html">here</a>)</b></div><div><br /><div style="font-weight: bold; text-align: center; "><b><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/6506155753/" title="Bild 115 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7162/6506155753_d19f3d4000.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="Bild 115" /></a></b></div><br />Keep in a metal tin for 4-6 weeks in a cool place<br /><br /><b>Spekulatius </b></div><div><br /><div style="font-weight: bold; text-align: center; "><b><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/6506146281/" title="Bild 099 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7027/6506146281_d9046aeaa7.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="Bild 099" /></a></b></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><b><br /></b></div><div>I bought my patterned form from Karstadt but any large department store in Germany should stock nice ones. If you can't find it, just use ordinary cutters in the shape of your choice.</div><div><br /></div><div>Makes around 80</div><div><br /></div><div>500g flour</div><div>250g butter</div><div>250g natural cane sugar</div><div>a pinch of salt</div><div>2 eggs</div><div>1 teaspoon ground cinnamon</div><div>1 teaspoon ground cloves</div><div>1/2 teaspoon ground cardamom</div><div>1/2 teaspoon baking powder</div><div><br /></div><div>1. Preheat the oven to 200° or 175° fan assisted. Place all ingredients in a large bowl and mix until you have a smooth dough.</div><div>2. Roll the dough out to around 5 mm thick and cut out shapes or if using a form press the dough onto the pattern evenly with a rolling pin or your hands. Place on a baking sheet covered with parchment.</div><div>3. Bake for around 10 minutes then remove carefully and transfer to a wire rack to cool.</div><div><br /></div><div>Keep in an airtight container for 4-6 weeks</div><br /><div style="font-weight: bold; text-align: center; "><b><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/6506151437/" title="Bild 104 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7016/6506151437_ab0e29ab78.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="Bild 104" /></a></b></div><br /></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>Zimtsterne (cinammon stars). </b>Recipe from the December issue of Meine Familie und ich.</div><div><br /></div><div>I chose a different recipe from previous years in order to avoid serving raw egg white so I could give it to kids and older people. It's basically pretty similar but this time the icing is applied before baking.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/6506141901/" title="Bild 095 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7031/6506141901_f159d4f63f.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="Bild 095" /></a></div><br /></div><div>Makes around 60</div><div><br /></div><div>4 egg whites from medium sized eggs</div><div>a pinch of salt</div><div>350g icing sugar</div><div>500g ground almonds</div><div>1 tablespoon cinnamon</div><div>1/2 tablespoon zest from an unwaxed lemon</div><div>icing sugar for rolling out</div><div><br /></div><div>1. Beat the egg whites with the salt until stiff then fold in the icing sugar. Beat at maximum speed on your hand mixer for another 10 minutes. Put 5 tablespoons of egg whites to one side.</div><div>2. Mix the almonds with the cinnamon and lemon zest. With a large whisk, gently blend in the egg whites and leave to cool for 30 minutes.</div><div>3. Divide the dough into small portions and roll each one out between two sheets of plastic in order to avoid having a super sticky dough that remains glued to the worktop (I'm talking from experience). It should be around 5mm thick. Using a star shaped cutter, regularly dipped in icing sugar, cut out the cookies and place them on a baking sheet lined with parchment, gathering up the remaining bits and rolling out again until you have no dough left over. Brush the reserved egg white mixture over the stars and leave to dry for an hour.</div><div>4. Preheat the oven to 150°C (fan assisted 130°C). Bake the stars for 12-14 minutes and transfer to a rack to cool. They should be slightly golden and chewy inside.</div><div><br /></div><div>Keep in a metal tin for 2-3 weeks</div><div><br /></div><div><b>Elisen-Lebkuchen</b> (Recipe from the December issue of Meine Familie und ich)<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/6506137659/" title="Bild 091 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7173/6506137659_34761eb64a.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="Bild 091" /></a></div></div><div><br /></div><div>Elisen-Lebkuchen are a little different from the normal Lebkuchen because there is no flour but a mix of nuts and spices instead. The cookies are pretty easy to make but decorating them takes a long time. However, all my friends loved them the best so maybe it's worth making the effort.</div><div><br /></div><div>Makes around 60</div><div><br /></div><div>4 medium sized eggs</div><div>1 teaspoon lemon juice</div><div>150g icing sugar</div><div>2 teaspoons Lebkuchengewürz or mixed spice if you don't live in Germany</div><div>200g ground almonds</div><div>200g ground hazelnuts</div><div>a pinch of salt</div><div>1 tablespoon zest from an unwaxed lemon</div><div>60 Backoblaten or wafers, 0.5cm (<a href="http://img.eatsmarter.de/images/13/cache/Aprikosen-Ufos-ApUf_s03_7598_533_400.jpg">see here</a> for more info or you can skip them if there aren't any in your supermarket)</div><div>250g bittersweet or dark chocolate, depending on your preference</div><div>chopped almonds for decorating</div><div><br /></div><div>1. Preheat the oven to 160° or 140° for fan assisted ones. In a large bowl beat together the eggs, lemon juice and icing sugar vigourously by hand or with a mixer for around 10 minues or until thick and creamy. Add the Lebkuchengewürz, ground almonds, hazelnuts, salt and lemon zest and blend with a metal spoon.</div><div>2. Distribute the wafers on a baking sheet covered with parchment and place one heaped teaspoon of mixture on each Oblaten. Bake for around 15 minutes. Remove and leave to cool.</div><div>3. Melt the chocolate in a double boiler or the microwave, stopping to stir every 30 seconds if you're using the latter. I found that melting all the chocolate at once wasn't such a good idea because it started to set before I'd finished decorating so do smaller amounts one after the other if possible.</div><div>4. Brush each Lebkuchen with melted chocolate and scatter some chopped almonds on top.</div><div><br /></div><div>Keep in a metal tin for 4-6 weeks. Place a slice of apple inside that you change regularly and don't close the tin completely so the cookies stay soft.</div><div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/6506836743/" title="Bild 205 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7151/6506836743_85f3c6ac31.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="Bild 205" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><b>Chocolate cranberry snow cookies</b> from a recipe by Dan Lepard in the Guardian <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2011/dec/09/cranberry-chocolate-snow-cookies-recipes">here</a>. So easy and delicious!</div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/6506840827/" title="Bild 208 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7171/6506840827_5d530af330.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="Bild 208" /></a></div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b>Mini Stollen (</b>(Recipe from the December issue of Meine Familie und ich)</div><div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/6506163545/" title="Bild 184 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7008/6506163545_9dd916d891.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="Bild 184" /></a></div><br /></div><div>Makes around 80</div><div><br /></div><div>For the dough</div><div><br /></div><div>250g flour, plus more for rolling out and the worktop</div><div>1 pack of dried yeast or half a cube of fresh</div><div>1 tablespoon milk, slightly warmed</div><div>70g sugar</div><div>125g low fat quark/curd cheese/fromage blanc</div><div>a pinch of salt</div><div>one medium egg</div><div>80 raisins</div><div>50g candied orange peel</div><div>50g candied lemon peel</div><div>a little lemon juice</div><div><br /></div><div>Extra</div><div><br /></div><div>100g of butter for brushing on top</div><div>100g icing sugar for decorating</div><div><br /></div><div>1. Sift the flour into a large bowl and form a well in the centre. In another bowl mix or crumble the yeast with the warm milk and 1/2 teaspoon sugar and pour into the well. Mix with some of the surrounding flour. Leave for 30 minutes.</div><div>2. When the time's up, add in the quark, salt, egg, remaining sugar, raisins, candied orange and lemon peel and the lemon juice and knead until blended. Cover with a clean tea towel and leave to rise in a warm place for 30 minutes.</div><div>3. Roll out the dough on a floured worktop until 2.5cm thick. Cut into rectangles 10cm wide and 20 cm long. With the edge of your hand make an indentation in the middle then fold both sides (lengthways not widthways) over one another so that you have a long Stollen shape.</div><div>4. Place on a baking sheep covered with parchment and leave for another 30 minutes. </div><div>5. Preheat the oven to 180° or 160° fan assisted. Bake the stollen on the middle shelf for 15-20 minutes.</div><div>6. Melt the butter and brush generously over the top of the stollen while it's still warm. The more butter you use, the longer it will keep and the better it will taste. Dredge a thick layer of icing sugar as a finishing touch and cut into 1cm thick slices.</div><div><br /></div><div>Keep in a metal tin for 1-2 weeks</div><div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/6506830833/" title="Bild 002 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7168/6506830833_0f62684871.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="Bild 002" /></a></div><br /></div><div>The finished cookies, ready for giving out. Tomorrow I'll be back to talk about cake and give you an update on my mince pies. Wish me luck!</div><div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/6507204327/" title="Bild 185 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7158/6507204327_bffde957a7.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="Bild 185" /></a></div></div><div><br /></div><div><i>The sky this morning</i></div>Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06967855350498876132noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3703049574993181756.post-20985516700564508212011-12-08T23:36:00.000-08:002011-12-13T13:22:28.170-08:00Sugar and spice<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/6480711209/" title="Bild 031 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7031/6480711209_ba9ca60e77.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="Bild 031" /></a></div><br />I often think I could be someone you'd love to hate:<div><ul><li>I go to bed early and never stay out late, even at weekends</li><li>I'm bright and cheerful in the mornings without needing coffee or having the alarm clock on snooze for an hour.</li><li>I rarely drink alcohol and have never taken drugs or smoked.</li><li>I love to exercise and work out almost every day.</li><li>I like the normally unpopular things like anchovies, stinky cheese, raisins in cheesecakes, brussels sprouts, cabbage and spinach.</li><li>I'm always early for appointments and the first to arrive at parties.</li><li>I never forget to floss.</li><li>I never eat at the cinema because the noise distracts me.</li><li>I only watch original versions of films and love reading subtitles.</li><li>My flat is a mess 90% of the time and if you're brave enough to open any of my cupboards, things tend to fall out.</li><li>My favourite seasons are autumn and winter and I don't like summer.</li><li>I cry easily at films.</li><li>And last but not least, I love Christmas. The whole smaltziness, kitsch and overblown occasion that it is. The twinkling of the lights, the smell of cinnamon and chestnuts, coming home laden with bags stuffed with presents, buying a poinsettia, listening to classic songs by the Carpenters, Bing Crosby, Andy Williams and Nat King Cole, watching the Snowman and It's a Wonderful Life on Christmas Eve then bursting into tears. The build-up part is my favourite so I try to make the most of every spare minute; baking Christmas cookies for friends, going out for walks in the evenings wrapped up warm to see the decorations and visiting the Christmas markets. Yesterday I finished work early and headed over to Gendarmenmarkt and then to the one at the <a href="http://www.opernpalais.de/">Opernpalais</a>. It made me realise how much I love this city in winter. Instead of the usual mulled wine or waffles I paid one final visit to the charmingly old fashioned Opernpalais for coffee and cake which will close at the end of the year. The room was packed with people savouring their spectacular Viennese style Torten, large bowls of soup and hot chocolate piled high with cream. A sad farewell to a Berlin institution which offered a welcome relief to Starbucks; I'm going to miss that place.</li></ul><div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/6480713203/" title="Bild 032 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7020/6480713203_1e1e024ee4.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="Bild 032" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><i>Scandinavian design on the way to the market</i></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/6480716145/" title="Bild 035 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7002/6480716145_75485a595b.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="Bild 035" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/6480718265/" title="Bild 038 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7157/6480718265_f43b1ebbc9.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="Bild 038" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/6480721649/" title="Bild 042 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7154/6480721649_d6b7a7b978.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="Bild 042" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/6480724105/" title="Bild 046 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7013/6480724105_beda470c8c.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="Bild 046" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/6480728955/" title="Bild 049 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7162/6480728955_2d119ddb24.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="Bild 049" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/6480733527/" title="Bild 056 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7142/6480733527_2d6036a0ff.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="Bild 056" /></a></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div><i>Stormy weather over Gendarmenmarkt</i></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/6480735559/" title="Bild 058 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7141/6480735559_b03b9d6aa4.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="Bild 058" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/6480737859/" title="Bild 054 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7020/6480737859_a2b38b731d.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="Bild 054" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/6480740511/" title="Bild 059 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7169/6480740511_14737ef8d6.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="Bild 059" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/6480742751/" title="Bild 061 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7159/6480742751_7f1bf1a19e.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="Bild 061" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/6480745451/" title="Bild 062 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7151/6480745451_0dd61d49b4.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="Bild 062" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><i>Anyone for a cocktail?</i></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/6480747605/" title="Bild 064 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7035/6480747605_031e7a0578.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="Bild 064" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/6480749839/" title="Bild 065 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7162/6480749839_7a8459ac56.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="Bild 065" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/6480754653/" title="Bild 069 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7152/6480754653_5285e59b8f.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="Bild 069" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/6480758125/" title="Bild 070 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7141/6480758125_b548c50f9a.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="Bild 070" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/6480762923/" title="Bild 072 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7141/6480762923_415497c7cc.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="Bild 072" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/6480765117/" title="Bild 073 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7143/6480765117_fd597b2720.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="Bild 073" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/6480767303/" title="Bild 076 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7144/6480767303_7326948efa.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="Bild 076" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/6480769487/" title="Bild 078 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7160/6480769487_6f356e70fd.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="Bild 078" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/6480774157/" title="Bild 081 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7141/6480774157_2c7fb81c1f.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="Bild 081" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/6480776369/" title="Bild 082 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7004/6480776369_f2d0c756a4.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="Bild 082" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/6480778587/" title="Bild 083 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7015/6480778587_36a19ddb69.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="Bild 083" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/6480780737/" title="Bild 085 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7163/6480780737_f2e6371131.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="Bild 085" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><i>Alpaca wool</i></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/6480783499/" title="Bild 087 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7030/6480783499_0d1d2f1555.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="Bild 087" /></a></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/6480948925/" title="Bild 086 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7010/6480948925_ef919fd319.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="Bild 086" /></a></div></div><div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/6480788411/" title="Bild 088 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7167/6480788411_8b0bcc68ed.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="Bild 088" /></a></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/6480793565/" title="Bild 091 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7011/6480793565_77b512a4f8.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="Bild 091" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/6480796165/" title="Bild 094 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7170/6480796165_4e37680970.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="Bild 094" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/6480798403/" title="Bild 095 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7009/6480798403_706183bb61.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="Bild 095" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/6480801067/" title="Bild 098 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7019/6480801067_ec3d60424d.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="Bild 098" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><i>The market at the Opernpalais</i></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/6480803897/" title="Bild 099 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7150/6480803897_66aaa34f2a.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="Bild 099" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/6480806403/" title="Bild 108 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7034/6480806403_f0b543576c.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="Bild 108" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><i>Opernpalais café</i></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a a="" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/6480811507/" title="Bild 119 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7168/6480811507_09bfcc7508.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="Bild 119" /></a><br /><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7170/6480808891_fe61eb9839.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="Bild 112" /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/6480813865/" title="Bild 123 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7034/6480813865_63ee11f0aa.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="Bild 123" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><i>Just part of the amazing range of cakes</i></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/6480818421/" title="Bild 134 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7159/6480818421_3e5857bb58.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="Bild 134" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><i>Dusk on Bebelplatz</i></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/6480824345/" title="Bild 138 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7010/6480824345_e3212939cb.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="Bild 138" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/6480829779/" title="Bild 145 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7010/6480829779_812fe20052.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="Bild 145" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/6480832153/" title="Bild 171 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7022/6480832153_530a0e7250.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="Bild 171" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><i>Fairy lights at Potsdamer Platz</i></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/6480834737/" title="Bild 175 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7155/6480834737_0a7192136f.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="Bild 175" /></a></div><br /></div></div><div>As promised in my last post, here's my version of Julia's recipe for the Swedish spice cake. Her original recipe uses unsweetened bilberries which you should also choose if you're lucky enough to find any. In Berlin there were plenty in jars but sweetened which I hate so I replaced them with fresh cranberries. Julia also used lait ribot which you can easily find in Brittany but I replaced it with buttermilk, although any kind of fermented milk would be fine. My icing came out too thin and was more of a syrup but the cake was still moist and delicious and should definitely be an addition to the Christmas coffee time.</div><div><br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/6480888831/" title="Bild 037 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7029/6480888831_017411ed18.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="Bild 037" /></a></div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b>Mjuk pepparkaka or Swedish spice cake </b>(original recipe in French <a href="http://friant.blogspot.com/2011/11/mjuk-pepparkkaka.html#comment-form">here</a>)</div><div><br /></div><div><b>Ingredients</b></div><div><br /></div><div>100g soft butter, unsalted</div><div>2 eggs</div><div>100g brown sugar</div><div>2 tsp ground cinnamon</div><div>2 tsp ground cardamom</div><div>1 tsp ground ginger</div><div>1 tsp ground cloves </div><div><div>220g white spelt flour</div><div>1 tsp bicarbonate of soda</div><div>100ml buttermilk</div><div>100g unsweetened cranberries</div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;"><br /></span></span></div><div>1. Grease and line your cake tin (it should hold up to 1.5l). Preheat the oven to 150°C. </div><div>2. Melt the butter. </div><div>3. Beat the eggs and sugar vigourously for five minutes until thick and frothy. </div><div>4. Add the spices, flour, bicarb of soda followed by the buttermilk, melted butter and cranberries, beating in slowly. </div><div>5. Pour the mixture into the prepared cake tin and bake in the oven for 50 minutes to 1 hour.</div><div>6. Decorate the cake with icing and berries.</div><div><br /></div><div><b>For the icing</b></div><div><br /></div><div>Combine 200g icing sugar, a tablespoon of lemon juice and 25ml of water. Heat up to 40°C and pour over the cake. The icing will set as it cools.</div><div><div style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-size: 13px; font-style: italic; line-height: 20px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: justify; "><br /></div><div style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: justify; "><b><div style="text-align: center;"><b><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/6480890417/" title="Bild 048 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7006/6480890417_a378c10ee7.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="Bild 048" /></a></b></div></b></div></div>Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06967855350498876132noreply@blogger.com33tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3703049574993181756.post-37918711985084567552011-12-03T08:08:00.001-08:002011-12-03T11:26:22.567-08:00Christmas gift guide<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/6448009399/" title="Bild 110 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7171/6448009399_bfc0429fc9.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="Bild 110" /></a><br /><br />Dear readers, it's been quite a week with a rotten cold, a trip to the dentist, an impending tax bill, a pile of admin and injuring myself with the bread knife. I really lost it yesterday morning and hurled a few things in frustration but am happy to say everything seems brighter today and that I'm on the mend. At least there were some good things; handing out the first Weihnachsplätzchen (Christmas cookies) to friends and going to see Polanski's brilliant <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1692486/">Carnage</a> in spite of a running nose.<br />I still haven't told you about my trip to the Finnish bazaar, Julia's <a href="http://friant.blogspot.com/2011/11/mjuk-pepparkkaka.html">Scandinavian spice cake</a> or shared my selection of seasonal recipes but I'm somehow more in the mood for sharing my Christmas gift ideas. Besides, I'd prefer to do it before the brilliant Cup of Jo guide makes any further lists unnecessary. So here goes...<div><br /></div><div><b>1. Cookbooks</b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivj84kvGOeYy_Cmp9V5jUq1Bp9zqfYLWQRtdoyPtIlVulSVMwQjNOozVAH1JP5bhML462LJkTRbw7lml5XzhiPv_fdpuFdeEzwD7bGHDKEMeMkgWIxXfR4ND2vwQLfdfTfKSTM6MeCdiea/s400/296_3.gif" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5681942377439101730" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); text-decoration: underline; display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 226px; height: 400px; " /></div><div><br /></div><div>I'm ashamed to say it but I rarely buy cookbooks because I'm too mean to spend €20-€30 on one thing, although somehow that never stops me from leaving Dussman with a couple of paperbacks and a DVD for more money. My collection stretches to about 10 which is why I often ask for them for Christmas. This year I've got my eye on <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/River-Cottage-Veg-Every-Day/dp/1408812126/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1322937161&sr=1-1">Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall's River Cottage Veg</a> after testing several recipes from it, all of them absolutely wonderful, especially <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2011/nov/25/vegetable-curry-recipes-fearnley-whittingstall?INTCMP=SRCH">this</a> butternut squash curry. If we're discussing favourite cooks, Nigel Slater claims first place with me for his wonderful writing and recipes. Both volumes of <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Tender-Nigel-Slater/dp/0007447892/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1322937113&sr=8-4">Tender</a> are now out in paperback, either individually or in a lovely set. Dan Lepard's new book, <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_i_0_6?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=dan+lepard&sprefix=dan+le">Short and Sweet</a>, also sounds wonderful.</div><div><br /></div><div>If you speak French, all of the <a href="http://www.epure-editions.com/">Editions de Épure</a> are beautifully designed and great value at just €6.50; my friend Julia's <a href="http://www.epure-editions.com/10-facons-de-le-preparer/La-cardamome--dix-facons-de-la-preparer-296-18.html">little booklet on cardamom</a> would make a perfect gift for anyone, as would the one on <a href="http://www.epure-editions.com/10-facons-de-le-preparer/Le-marron-glace--dix-facons-de-le-preparer-301-18.html">marrons glacés</a>, written by Pauline of <a href="http://beaualalouche.canalblog.com/">Beau À la Louche</a> which I'm dying to get. </div><div><br /></div><div><b>2. For the home</b></div><div><br /></div><div>I have a terrible addiction to <a href="http://www.iittala.com/web/Iittalaweb.nsf/en/home">Iittala</a> for their moomin collection and classic kitchenware. This year they have the prettiest limited edition cups and bowls in the <a href="http://www.iittala.com/web/Iittalaweb.nsf/en/products_seasonal_products_autumn_2011">Kulku set</a> which I couldn't resist, even though I was only able to afford a couple. They also do double packs of their lovely candleholders which make any room or windowsill so pretty. I covet the red which is sadly the most expensive.</div><div><br /></div><div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDtZ8L5L0P_tw0qzm5683SuQhc9W-np-JdKt7bmKQQ_Uvw0Y4OKhFW7ZcehZxJAim3VD54u1KU781HHgFm9yUj_XpQ1epRRs9AwCN8H49iYNWb1dmlBBcnWsHMJhCeEqy89S9VjqbFb-MF/s400/iittala-kulku-umgebung-becher_1119_2.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5681942776543949986" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); text-decoration: underline; display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 400px; " /></div><div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDpsKbMW6m83lUOR23RPfo4BEVrSR-mwYWpobz-4v520bQTOHQYJTF0SZsVBLl-Z8Y8AnHhUQTbnG6sg7g0s8duCDmFBzJmCDnRf6sJpgjl740sxUMANPM7Ymam_vfnkiTlKuFIjPOFeug/s400/Kivi_red_flame.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5681942779934510754" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); text-decoration: underline; display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 270px; height: 300px; " /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>If you're looking for something cheaper, how about this <a href="http://www.pussyhomeboutique.co.uk/acatalog/kitchenware.htm">delightful owl mug</a> with a lid to keep your drink warm which can also be used as a coaster so your desk stays free of tea stains.</div><div><br /></div><div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNwFoXVSLKjxe-CL3oJDOMYwmTpvCbU4bd4yUoD3DdcycgeRdT7pOU4-maQ3GwTjG-bS5qu0IDQpf0qHDWmAzU40v-7uuX-ib16DU1oKcILXmg6vVP15ch0vumhK9G8jt9OCH4GJqijvxr/s400/owl+mug+cut+out+500-500x500.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5681943182037188178" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); text-decoration: underline; display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 400px; " /></div><div><a href="http://poppiesoctober.blogspot.com/">Patoumi</a> keeps taking photos of cakes on her pretty <a href="http://www.marimekko.fi/">Marimekko</a> plates which would look good on any dinner table but right now, these retro bowls (below) are a more afforable addition and available from <a href="http://www.pomeranza-shop.de/">Pomeranza Design Ranch</a> in Prenzlauer Berg.</div><div><br /></div><div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc7SywZrFCKCsLo65j_dsluOTewjCHPTbocYEwOCPnSiRy9KHzIO78FWZcZ5C7Uhyphenhyphentrsk_i42Q-ZAvWjTmp3otnexH_ULqgDOHcI15tE3c5hAclJxJjXllFbo8R8O4nr0GFYh-kLG8riqb/s400/marimekko-teller_425.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5681943185742982530" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); text-decoration: underline; display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 192px; " /></div><div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhszZAE9mBuR5QhNY2BCAsKnsVvAqcztIEWo5iFwYQA5ouUjG6dD3SGwJASA7jLJobhhTPhz8oOISkwOHdlEjkoUTpTrJaym4qOc1OFwhlpyoMMpG6ywdz8yg2-svOVn_xJZi4Qaj2pac2a/s400/otherpicture320101129135745_520x530q80.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5681943179754794114" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); text-decoration: underline; display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px; " /></div><div><br /></div><div>If you're as useless as I am at rolling out pastry to the correct thickness, this<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Joseph-ROLL0100CB-Adjustable-Rolling-Removable/dp/B001VC4PW0"> adjustable rolling pin</a> should change that</div><div><br /></div><div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_nyNYZ1Tpf_Zd22P90fRJ9C6wLkZFLFD0sty7j-mq7BUcInC2t_k1iQGB7OfEZjXuTKLcwOQ4EGzVMxvLN7Jx37kskPQPeAAce6TfsryAwlHzTbxtNlpnCxxZzdLL2sY60JIAPIrOa0hc/s400/Adjustable-Rolling-Pin.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5681959792072661586" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); text-decoration: underline; display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 302px; " /></div><div><br /></div><div>Let's not forget out four legged friends! I'm really excited about seeing Oscar, Mungo, Jasper, Mingus and Jacob in a couple of weeks and have ordered them these new bowls from <a href="http://www.debenhams.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/prod_10001_10001_332008001380BOWL_-1?breadcrumb=Home~Home+%26amp%3B+furniture~Pet+accessories">Debenhams</a> to make breakfast time even better:</div><div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcdfHJtVTCkcq4SBRWpDBUrn4dwmtdRmPIymXjS_BZTh9rRsla5x0m45utkJ3SUY8Xow_NrU7NWUdxlF-P4mbDjZkz8GtY_y7tUFbDZqT6x1itwMN9c7Mm_Ym8Yv8Wqe0VAvnQJG7Of_6b/s400/332008001380.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5681946253005777874" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); text-decoration: underline; display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 383px; height: 383px; " /></div><div>If you have a garden, you can help the birds with this chaming <a href="http://www.pussyhomeboutique.co.uk/acatalog/seasonal.htm">Silvester birdbox</a></div><div><br /></div><div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI9Snaj3nwCDLW4NYBx4Lh9jPVpuaqeJGx9SC3fFHD1fNoyiOR0HEqlcFMVx7vAjUbEYDt99WLUIKt04VoEN_5ZGsckLqQaIuEAP8t1GMGPB3M4pwUQ4pxqR1HZ64q_zT6EQN_1kxEGzxx/s400/Sylvester-Bird-Box.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5681959800081722898" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); text-decoration: underline; display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 332px; height: 400px; " /></div><div><br /></div><div><b>3. Comfort</b></div><div><br /></div><div>The <a href="http://shop.gudrungudrun.com/sweater-traditional-woman.aspx">patterned jumper</a> from Gudrun and Gudrun, as worn by Sarah Lund in the Killing is the essential winter warmer but if you can't afford the original, H&M has a <a href="http://www.hm.com/de/product/96202?article=96202-A#article=96202-B">nice copy</a> in either black or white. </div><div><br /></div><div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9ZPBm-ZVT08nPqLau2lnVP9jIzT0_OZILxLalI9VxV-CPt-1Xg17KMOrq9M9R7nPcIwgbc3K_MsjoNbmwLNExbw5zsj57-MrB1Ap-33qVBIlm3iy0t9OjtJzDvECATfJSHdv_JaQx6tDV/s400/Gudrun_Gudrun_Front_27_11_november_2010.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5681947353507879394" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); text-decoration: underline; display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 400px; " /></div><div>Or if you just want to add some Scandinavian touches to your outfit, this pretty fairisle snowflake scarf from <a href="http://www.accessorize.com/en/restofworld/snowflake-fairisle-scarf/invt/98739635/?bklist=icat,4,shop,wintershop,wintershopscarves">Accessorise</a> would be prefect:</div><div><br /></div><div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWjKzSjV1rePDXTPTR883wM6mUdWEkqCrJFF06_SSJXICouUGTKk9qIDwkPrdBhWypnGGYe7hig5kjLic-ln11WTPmdBRzwtQtV8ptJgNNVt5lvOplCy5KWbXWcUiHHL0cm88889bben4p/s400/5918720011_c9c48ac932.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5681949076428230594" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); text-decoration: underline; display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px; " /></div><div>I wouldn't be without my electric blanket on these cold nights but a little added warmth is always welcome, like with this Moomins <a href="http://www.giftedpenguin.co.uk/gifts-c2/gifts-for-her-c14/moomin-moomin-characters-hot-water-bottle-b-p2295">hot water bottle cove</a>r</div><div><br /></div><div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifz6hphqLpi_l7Nt_-EjGje3nL5xMRlK_f_LpN-o63bt1eiiixXMm4eo9-JFEXBxH20GI7igoLjRSvjcHSG973fDaC1G9Cxq9IC6r5V0SottkGj1Rrxzla2gYg2NqBhZ-X3Vhzo5iWd_LN/s400/1326003_max.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5681950564935812978" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); text-decoration: underline; display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 304px; height: 400px; " /></div><div>In the Guardian today, <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/video/2011/dec/02/beauty-tips-christmas-beauty-presents-video">Sali Hughes</a> has a great gift guide for beauty products with the idea that less is more. As someone who has always dreaded receiving one of those bumper hampers full of products which gather dust in the bathroom, I couldn't agree more that it's much nicer to get just one high quality thing instead. I definitely won't be spending 35 quid on a lipbalm but the peppermint one from Crème de la Mer really does sound like heaven.</div><div><br /></div><div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivrv1_DUexJEAUpT8eZtpH4XD5-oaFNYghqKELlbsCQsqjDxgq7v6brflzWpUfziPKBm7BXXk9NEivChTKNkyQvbtl_5WWRB1falOUahn285wX35pUah7vKOPCPNKja2qLAA6gwCx0ag8A/s400/305cremedelalmer324adf10002986G701M.jpeg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5681942304887598882" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); text-decoration: underline; display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 400px; " /></div><div>For smaller budgets, <a href="http://www.bakersandlarners.co.uk/national-trust-woodland-scented-candle-pid7639.html">the large scented candles</a> from National Trust would be lovely for bathtime and all the money goes to the worthy cause of looking after Britain's great houses and gardens.</div><div><br /></div><div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBLpqnrm1Vt6y-8Cs8AOFo2ryzoabUlFuVhY1dpjlhvR4nRw374berA0lj0gnUMzR-K4RW3JAitgFYTkHY3m-v8Sg02qOOrULt6-YpXz0XArBnh_MnCGh90x58wKEqZw3eYS_lULTFDyLd/s400/product_7639_large.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5681952926478307714" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); text-decoration: underline; display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 400px; " /></div><div>Or if you've just got a few quid to spare, this <a href="http://www.thebodyshop.co.uk/_en/_gb/catalog/product.aspx?ParentCatCode=C_Christmas&CatCode=C_Christmas_SpicedVanilla&prdcode=89317m">Body Shop spiced vanilla soap</a> is so lovely, looks expensive and only costs 2 pounds.</div><div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoW7Z5qVNvStnkNN3Qp3L1hT0jdrCts_WF1Y-x0HS96IaEoCVEEy_1kTEWa6SNJheNvX_EiGbGYdTTEQnjr2Z8tVqFLxzbJYblnPWWn8Z6i1nfwRtMZAiQ2CH3WiFbv9zvB4IBfVhIZ9rn/s400/AAAADI710jwAAAAAAZQifQ.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5681953440072729922" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); text-decoration: underline; display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 250px; height: 250px; " /></div><div><b>4. Books</b></div><div><br /></div><div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimuJVgL6BppVtedxQQTP77PLQzsCZGM8hyphenhyphenYFjFRYAauuyKU_xIwF674M0QCZXG_UX-68UzqPAtZePU_0h55ZDPksIudwvWnVk6uRrnFOO4aI00S6457rKSMNwydLFJZTioEb_VbbbNFBkp/s400/abf471bfcdc8f94150e11aa38be5af39-waal_hare_amber_eyes_ill.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5681959787072337410" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 319px; height: 400px; " /></div><div><br /></div><div>Not surprisingly, books form the main part of my Christmas wishlist, although every year I tell myself it will be different after trying to cram them all into an overstuffed suitcase, worrying that it will exceed the airport weight limit and hauling it up four flights of stairs. But I never learn...Edmund de Waal's exquisite <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Hare-Amber-Eyes-Illustrated/dp/0701187166/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1322935118&sr=1-1">Hare With the Amber Eyes</a> is now available in an illustrated version to give you a better idea of the netsuke and places he's describing. On a student's recommendation, I recently bought Tom Rob Smith's <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Child-44-Tom-Rob-Smith/dp/1847391591/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1322935144&sr=1-1">Child 44</a> and was unable to put it down for 2 days. Its follow-up, The Secret Speech, is on my list but there's also Agent 6 out now in hardback to complete the trilogy. Tove Jansson's <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Winter-Book-Selected-Stories-Jansson/dp/0954899520/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1322935086&sr=1-1">The Winter Book</a> always makes a wonderful gift, as does Murakami's<a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/What-Talk-About-When-Running/dp/0099526158/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1322935053&sr=1-1"> What I Talk About When I Talk About Running</a>. I'm also intrigued by Diego Marani's <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Finnish-Grammar-Dedalus-Europe-2011/dp/190351794X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1322934750&sr=8-1">New Finnish Grammar </a>about a mysteriously wounded man sent to Helsinki. In Provence, I regretted not buying a copy of <a href="http://www.decitre.fr/livres/Le-Club-des-Incorrigibles-Optimistes.aspx/9782253159643">Le Club des Incorrigibles Optimistes</a>, set in Paris in the 60s, and hope to get around to it in 2012.</div><div><br /></div><div>If biography is more your thing, what about <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Lives-Like-Loaded-Guns-Dickinson/dp/184408454X/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1322935172&sr=1-1">Lives Like Loaded Guns</a> about Emily Dickenson and her family. As a huge Diane Keaton fan, I'm also dying to get my hands on a copy of her new book, <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/0007417977/ref=s9_simh_bw_p14_d0_g14_i1?pf_rd_m=A3P5ROKL5A1OLE&pf_rd_s=center-3&pf_rd_r=198YNE2A6HRDEC4P2D2Z&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=261577747&pf_rd_i=266239">Then Again</a>.</div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcOPv3XrWT7c8eXU1OFQWa64UTd3LggHJg0-Mjp2yZ7E4_cGf4lMdsZ9MztWG1xwiuw78rfK1fPH8eQ9q3ViaX0clkdyZJIVHLG4VcttRr69uUOVciGwC8Z9P6CbsLZIidQ7T8UxbsQqQe/s1600/diane-keaton-then-again-L-IeSZET.jpeg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcOPv3XrWT7c8eXU1OFQWa64UTd3LggHJg0-Mjp2yZ7E4_cGf4lMdsZ9MztWG1xwiuw78rfK1fPH8eQ9q3ViaX0clkdyZJIVHLG4VcttRr69uUOVciGwC8Z9P6CbsLZIidQ7T8UxbsQqQe/s400/diane-keaton-then-again-L-IeSZET.jpeg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5681963460566019938" style="cursor: pointer; width: 250px; height: 374px; " /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Art lovers would be thrilled with the catalogue of the <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Leonardo-Vinci-Painter-National-Gallery/dp/1857094913/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1322934130&sr=1-1">Leonardo da Vinci exhibition</a> at the National Gallery if you can't get in or if you're feeling really generous (or have generous friends), the stunning <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Art-Museum-Phaidon-Editors/dp/0714856525/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1322934201&sr=1-1">Art Museum</a> from Phaidon puts all other books to shame.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b>5. Music and film</b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div>If bittersweet, whistful and charming films in crisp black and white or vibrant colours are your thing, then the wonderful Complete Jacques Demy Collection is for you. All the famous ones like Les Demoiselles de Rochefort, les Parapluies de Cherbourg and Bay of Angels are there, along with lesser known gems.</div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic0eFCZIR0L3nel_ohRRtVy0aAf4oOkev2vLx2tN7vN05BHp06E0PzoUOANN2WekNWMIuPOVI-WOizDcD5YiN0rkKdIQ2WgEo-LoOjZkVN6Uak5bomsCbq0mLQvNq-jSCTImC7F0gm4ZqD/s1600/bayofangels.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic0eFCZIR0L3nel_ohRRtVy0aAf4oOkev2vLx2tN7vN05BHp06E0PzoUOANN2WekNWMIuPOVI-WOizDcD5YiN0rkKdIQ2WgEo-LoOjZkVN6Uak5bomsCbq0mLQvNq-jSCTImC7F0gm4ZqD/s400/bayofangels.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5681964179146418978" style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 286px; " /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMr2ZlODit7SJbsOIr_qYq6MjPw9_ernlKDQv6KPXQlcvUCHDsj3ynfcs0Qc6NN5yCa778d6xpXERCu1_NH5FCj31vD0_1y3ZRUJkCwreFMAMpwVYn9jDvt8MK97R0gVY2gHGLHCp6XibA/s1600/demoiselles-de-rochefort-04-g.jpg" style="text-align: left; " onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMr2ZlODit7SJbsOIr_qYq6MjPw9_ernlKDQv6KPXQlcvUCHDsj3ynfcs0Qc6NN5yCa778d6xpXERCu1_NH5FCj31vD0_1y3ZRUJkCwreFMAMpwVYn9jDvt8MK97R0gVY2gHGLHCp6XibA/s400/demoiselles-de-rochefort-04-g.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5681964174261405266" style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 259px; " /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Or you might prefer the Eric Rohmer Moral Tales set instead which I love. Three of the best films I saw this year, <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Gods-Men-DVD-Xavier-Maly/dp/B00450AG1Y/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1322935682&sr=8-1">Of Gods and Men</a>, <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Pina-DVD-Wim-Wenders/dp/B004X1STT6/ref=sr_1_1?s=dvd&ie=UTF8&qid=1322936175&sr=1-1">Pina</a> and <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Illusionist-DVD-Jean-Claude-Donda/dp/B0049U3R0C/ref=sr_1_1?s=dvd&ie=UTF8&qid=1322935705&sr=1-1">the Illusionist</a> are now out on DVD and <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Tamara-Drewe-DVD-Gemma-Arterton/dp/B003LPUMG8/ref=sr_1_1?s=dvd&ie=UTF8&qid=1322935733&sr=1-1">Tamara Drewe</a> will remind you just how peaceful the English countryside can be. French film fans shouldn't miss <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Two-Wave-DVD-Jean-Luc-Goddard/dp/B00450AGXW/ref=sr_1_1?s=dvd&ie=UTF8&qid=1322935807&sr=1-1">Two in the Wave</a>, a documentary about the friendship between Jean-Luc Godard and François Truffaut. I'm also finally hoping to get around to watching Matthieu Amalric's <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Two-Wave-DVD-Jean-Luc-Goddard/dp/B00450AGXW/ref=sr_1_1?s=dvd&ie=UTF8&qid=1322935807&sr=1-1">On Tour</a>. And who could forget <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Killing-1-DVD-Sofie-Gr%C3%A5b%C3%B8l/dp/B004KKPQMI/ref=sr_1_1?s=dvd&ie=UTF8&qid=1322936269&sr=1-1">the Killing</a>?</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I love music but am unfortunately, hopelessly out of touch with the latest things. However, Jeff Bridges' <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Jeff-Bridges/dp/B0057J72L4/ref=sr_1_1?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1322936402&sr=1-1">new album</a> is on my list as is the <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Musique-Manhattan-%C3%80-Midnight-Paris/dp/B003K1ZFFG/ref=sr_1_4?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1322936477&sr=1-4">cd of music</a> from Woody Allen's films.</div>Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06967855350498876132noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3703049574993181756.post-20173478551601583542011-11-20T00:27:00.000-08:002011-11-20T01:45:22.990-08:00Seeking colour<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/6367980299/" title="Bild 141 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6228/6367980299_aa96ef5abb.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="Bild 141" /></a></div><br />Thank you so much for all your lovely comments and film tips last week which made being ill at home seem much less bad. After extended viewing sessions every day and plenty of lemon and ginger tea with honey, I'm starting to feel better at last. The days are still quite warm for mid November but the sky has turned its usual shade of grey and it's hard to believe that just one week ago I got up early to go to the the Bürgerpark in Pankow to take these photos. I always mean to catch the last of the golden leaves before they disappear then wake up to discover the bareness of the trees. That park is a place I know like the back of my hand, it's pinkish paths with stones that crunch underfoot as joggers go by, the rose garden with its white arches where I've often caught the last rays of sun over my book, the café where I've drunk hot chocolate with cream in winter and iced coffee in summer, the little enclosure where the goats live. Yet I always feel there's some little thing I've missed; the flowers in bloom, a sculpture, the way the light illuminates the tops of the trees late afternoon.<div><br /></div><div>Later on that day I met a reader of my blog. Always too early for appointments, I sat in the lobby of the Hackesche Höfe Kino trying to concentrate on my book, nervously biting my lip as I wondered if we would find each other. I glanced over at every new person coming up the stairs yet I knew when it was her, even though I had never heard her voice or seen her face. We snuck into a matinee of Meek's Cutoff, ordered the only vegetarian dish at a Vietnamese restaurant down the road and enjoyed the last pinkish glow of a stunning day before going back into the cinema to watch Polisse, a really great new French film about a youth squad in Paris. Normally going to the cinema is my guilty pleasure I enjoy alone, picking out a seat at the end of the row and feeling the excitement as the lights go down without worrying if anyone else likes the film but it also felt good to to find someone to share that with.</div><div><br /></div><div>I'm feeling in need of colour and comfort on these sunless days. This afternoon I'm off to a Finnish bazaar with some friends, will try baking a Danish style feta and leek tart for dinner and am hoping to finally catch the new Kaurismäki film, Le Havre at the cinema in the next few days. What are your plans?</div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/6367906953/" title="Bild 007 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6230/6367906953_ab2d55c184.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="Bild 007" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/6367909879/" title="Bild 016 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6109/6367909879_771c105c35.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="Bild 016" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/6367916223/" title="Bild 028 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6114/6367916223_9e65922382.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="Bild 028" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/6367918871/" title="Bild 038 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6045/6367918871_73276b36b3.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="Bild 038" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/6367924521/" title="Bild 048 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6116/6367924521_8df7f71d93.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="Bild 048" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/6367927007/" title="Bild 051 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6096/6367927007_f8603e5192.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="Bild 051" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/6367933619/" title="Bild 061 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6034/6367933619_b8f897e53d.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="Bild 061" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/6367938337/" title="Bild 064 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6059/6367938337_ce83f326fb.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="Bild 064" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/6367943731/" title="Bild 079 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6215/6367943731_8c9ab27d0d.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="Bild 079" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/6367947029/" title="Bild 081 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6099/6367947029_5314fe29b6.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="Bild 081" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/6367966159/" title="Bild 107 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6235/6367966159_4290cfc3bb.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="Bild 107" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/6367968899/" title="Bild 113 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6094/6367968899_da67e0b59c.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="Bild 113" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/6367973541/" title="Bild 122 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6094/6367973541_fddaa6cdc6.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="Bild 122" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/6367976803/" title="Bild 140 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6211/6367976803_fa7b7c6323.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="Bild 140" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Finally, I couldn't leave you without giving you the recipe for my favourite cauliflower soup, promised a while back. It's truly one of my winter essentials, simple to prepare and heat up the next day when I'm too tired to cook.<div><br /></div><div><b>Cauliflower Soup from Heidi Swanson's Super Natural Every Day</b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div>Heidi serves hers with aged cheddar and mustard croutons but I prefer a dollop of mustard in mine and some grated cheddar on top.</div><div><br /></div><div>Ingredients</div><div><br /></div><div>2 shallots, chopped, </div><div>1 onion, chopped</div><div>1 large potato, peeled and cut into small cubes</div><div>3.5 cups vegetable stock</div><div>a large cauliflower cut into little florets</div><div>some mature cheddar and Dijon mustard to serve</div><div>1-2 tbsp olive oil</div><div>a pinch of sea salt</div><div><br /></div><div>1. Heat the olive oil in a large saucepan and add in the salt followed by the shallots and onions. Fry over a medium heat until soft. Tip in the chopped potato, cover the pan with a lid and leave to cook for about 4 minutes or until soft. </div><div>2. Uncover, pour in the vegetable stock and bring everything to the boil. Add the cauliflower and cook until the florets are tender. Remove from the heat and puree with a hand blender. Add a dash of mustard and sprinkle over some cheese to serve.</div><div><br /></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/6291942677/" title="Bild 532 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6237/6291942677_54a0d516e7.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="Bild 532" /></a></div><br /></div>Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06967855350498876132noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3703049574993181756.post-24859355234414320272011-11-14T23:41:00.000-08:002011-11-15T00:58:15.498-08:00Film cures for colds<div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a href="http://www.annarbor.com/assets_c/2009/12/Movie%20Squid%20Whale%20Jeff%20Dani-thumb-400x295-19423.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a><a href="http://www.anchoragefilmfestival.org/2008/images/chinatown_1.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 350px; height: 300px;" src="http://www.anchoragefilmfestival.org/2008/images/chinatown_1.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHTyRiQow9s_F2LAYywhf6MHLwUywUpHodSbLLHqUIxqEAbcqjJJZ7YalyH89rx77eT2aUSM-temdOEPgsop-KPJKGVrV55VXcDphxEYHKBKK_1kGv4IyMOId21kE5In7Wir3nIQOGm7M/s400/radiodays1b.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a>As you saw from my list recently, I love the idea of winter much more than the reality but when the weather turns cold, I can't escape the chapped lips, cracked hands, frozen feet, raw, red skin and worst of all, sickness. Today I've abandoned all hope of going to work after waking up with a throat that feels like it's been sandpapered, sore eyes and a sinus infection. I hate taking time off work, mainly because I find it difficult to stay inside and do very little. If I can I make an effort and get dressed, make some tea and porridge with honey and venture outside for a bit. Somehow slobbing around in pyjamas with boxes of Kleenex everywhere makes me feel even worse. What helps me to survive though is my film collection and with about 200 DVDs, I'm never short of anything to watch. Bad colds mean I tend to choose films in English to give my sore eyes a break from reading subtitles or having to concentrate on listening to foreign languages. Below are my top 10 films to watch when you're not feeling so great.<div><br /></div><div><b>1. Radio Days</b></div><div><br /></div><div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHTyRiQow9s_F2LAYywhf6MHLwUywUpHodSbLLHqUIxqEAbcqjJJZ7YalyH89rx77eT2aUSM-temdOEPgsop-KPJKGVrV55VXcDphxEYHKBKK_1kGv4IyMOId21kE5In7Wir3nIQOGm7M/s400/radiodays1b.jpg" border="0" alt="" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); text-decoration: underline; display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px; " /></div><div><br /></div><div>You knew I'd start with a Woody Allen one, right? People tend either to love or hate him and those who love him always have their own particular favourites. I'd be happy with almost any of his films, but somehow Radio Days is my favourite. Seeing Rockaway beach on a grey, rainy day makes me feel all wistful and nostalgic and the soundtrack is wonderful. I already have this planned as my New Year's Eve film.</div><div><br /></div><div><img src="http://eightiesmovies.files.wordpress.com/2011/05/radiodays.jpg" border="0" alt="" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); text-decoration: underline; display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 258px; " /></div><div><b>2. Groundhog Day</b></div><div><br /></div><div><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_yFDmepYDtC8/SYcxr73lbwI/AAAAAAAACRg/NnxNnHGda9c/s1600/groundhog_day_movie_image_bill_murray.jpg" border="0" alt="" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); text-decoration: underline; display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 325px; height: 505px; " /></div><div><br /></div><div>Basically, anything with Bill Murray gets my vote; Ghostbusters, Broken Flowers, Lost in Translation, The Royal Tennenbaums. I love the way he was never really young and always wears that look of eternal suffering. Groundhog Day is probably my choice for sick days because it really makes me laugh and also grateful that at least tomorrow will be different. </div><div><br /></div><div><img src="http://blog.incontextmultimedia.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/groundhog_day.jpg" border="0" alt="" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); text-decoration: underline; display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 225px; " /></div><div><b>3. Bringing Up Baby</b></div><div><br /></div><div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJzZtGJE97gOPRSPFpZ8K1YYVo7J_U3L-FYnflbJsQpXdUDr8iylf6hDqjy2hUISbUc2iwvDvE6Rr_xNqUStRbFgBq9u66AyotDixxK49E_8hgCHooPzV8R_sobLpPWtacM5XBtn1Fzlpa/s1600/Bringing+up+baby+1.jpg" border="0" alt="" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); text-decoration: underline; display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 402px; height: 495px; " /></div><div>When it comes to comedies, I'm very picky; it either has to be screwball or extremely black humour which is the reason I tend to avoid them. Until recently, I had very few in my collection but then I had a terrible cold a couple of years ago and realised that I wasn't in the mood for Ingmar Bergman. Luckily, it was possible to watch the Marx Brothers on YouTube. This film by Howard Hawks with two of my favourite actors, Katharine Hepburn and Cary Grant, is sheer perfection and I love the chemistry between them. Oh and the leopard is adorable too.</div><div><br /></div><div><img src="http://kingdomofstyle.typepad.co.uk/.a/6a00d8341c2f0953ef012875615d01970c-500wi" border="0" alt="" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); text-decoration: underline; display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 500px; height: 401px; " /></div><div><b>4. Metropolitan</b></div><div><br /></div><div><img src="http://picturesinthesmoke.files.wordpress.com/2011/04/metropolitan-1990-whit-stillman-edward-clements-carolyn-farina-taylor-nichols-pic-1.jpg" border="0" alt="" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); text-decoration: underline; display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 500px; height: 290px; " /></div><div>What is it about New York winters that makes them seem so romantic? The reality must be different with blizzards and freezing temperatures but this comedy about the debutante season in the 80s always makes me long to spend Christmas there. The scenes where the main character is asked if he isn't cold just wearing a trench coat and replies that it's very warm and has a lining are my favourites.</div><div><br /></div><div><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_kzcg6-tPn98/SU1xfdasUbI/AAAAAAAAAO4/OoNcpKGnk8o/s320/metropolitn06.jpg" border="0" alt="" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); text-decoration: underline; display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 227px; height: 320px; " /></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>5. The Squid and the Whale</b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://www.annarbor.com/assets_c/2009/12/Movie%20Squid%20Whale%20Jeff%20Dani-thumb-400x295-19423.jpg" border="0" alt="" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); text-decoration: underline; display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 295px; " /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>I grew up in a dysfunctional family with parents who were both married before so this film really strikes a chord with me. It's painful, funny and reminds me how much easier it is to be an adult, even if they still act like children sometimes.</div><div><br /></div><div><img src="http://i2.listal.com/image/1171745/600full-the-squid-and-the-whale-screenshot.jpg" border="0" alt="" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); text-decoration: underline; display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 500px; height: 337px; " /></div><div><b>6. Stolen Kisses</b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><img src="http://www.cinemoi.tv/files/cinemoi/imagecache/movie_hero/images/movie_hero/Baisers_vol_s.jpg" border="0" alt="" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); text-decoration: underline; display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 500px; height: 280px; " /></div><div><br /></div><div>One of the few non-English films I often watch when I'm ill is Francois Truffaut's Baisers Volés or Stolen Kisses. It felt so good to first see it as a twenty year old, unsure of my direction in life and as chaotic as Antoine Doinel. Now it makes me dream of being young in the Paris of the 60s and spending all day at the old Cinémathèque.</div><div><br /></div><div><img src="http://a31.idata.over-blog.com/515x332/1/12/58/25/200903/JPL/JPL004b.jpg" border="0" alt="" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); text-decoration: underline; display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 515px; height: 332px; " /></div><div><b>7. Rio Bravo </b></div><div><br /></div><div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSVYRD6rCn0U0yJ1INQd_Phxg7cjEMZ7TcACvvToGgDSMpQf2az53Yo8whFfSq8p8EtY8f-_CI8d2vIkze8hyQGp7_8iIOLK74Hs4W9Up7qxc3BUP3NYbMsdPfmCeZYy8f-3OS2PTWQDQ/s1600/rio_bravo2.jpg" border="0" alt="" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); text-decoration: underline; display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 525px; height: 295px; " /></div><div><br /></div><div> </div><div>I know this won't be my most popular choice because westerns never are but at two and half hours, this one with John Wayne and Dean Martin manages to fill an afternoon which is nice for long days at home. Tarantino used it as a test for prospective girlsfriends but I love it because it's about friendship and courage in the Old West.</div><div><br /></div><div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF0IZeJyyV_4sIdhDWCGcKy-GRbmCQujIjdudkZ_PAf-HW5w-Ro8hpfY3xxVTKwNOMgS9BZTsmhQzDN8yr7J6lJsHSvRw8IKsEbOfI9_GlKxYdX4V9r9XE5nYTLzWsIo2PDm5M6StnRok/s400/RioBravo05.jpg" border="0" alt="" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); text-decoration: underline; display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 317px; height: 400px; " /></div><div><b>8. Atlantic City</b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><img src="http://images04.olx.com.ar/ui/11/11/35/1296534359_162460635_1-Fotos-de--Atlantic-City-1980-Louis-Malle.jpg" border="0" alt="" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); text-decoration: underline; display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 503px; height: 335px; " /></div><div>Louis Malle has always been one of my favourite directors and film noir one of my favourite genres, but as you'd expect from Malle, he makes it his own and does something original. It's as much about the characters as the heist. Old has-been Burt Lancaster peeps at Susan Sarandon, his beautiful neighbour and imagines his great life as a gangster in a city that has also seen better days but then events throw them together that will change everything.</div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinjfAQ_mwae_8k4U2mxsl01FiLqYaFh8wyINydm1OZ7FwTTauH8EraJpfg6z9V3BXuslB2dOZqugRYrUUdxfVtAZuZBkdZaxi8sJXZH0ae_idp-IucAGY28FCmTUfs3fMrv187D6jBRDU/s1600/atlantic+city.jpg" border="0" alt="" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); text-decoration: underline; display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; cursor: pointer; width: 310px; height: 325px; " /></div><div><br /></div><div><b>9. Chinatown</b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><img src="http://30.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_l12g007zKP1qaseldo1_400.jpg" border="0" alt="" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); text-decoration: underline; display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 396px; height: 297px; " /></div><div>I can never resist the chance to rewatch my favourite film on a free afternoon. It's brilliantly written with perfect acting from absolutely everyone but especially Faye Dunaway and Jack Nicholson who I feel give their best performances as well as a chilling one from John Huston. The music makes me feel I'm sitting in an old fashioned cinema with velvet seats and it's nice to have a little LA glamour when you're sneezing and coughing.</div><div><br /></div><div><img src="http://www.thisisjanewayne.com/news/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/faye+dunaway+chinatown+polanski.jpg" border="0" alt="" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); text-decoration: underline; display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></div><div><b>10. Chungking Express</b></div><div><br /></div><div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXFGBwbo76P_-YFZLmtG1V3cXKoPU1K1JZJQf_gCO1vuVYwTCp8mM3muu4B-HY1JaItXyjVh8tU3N3ZBuaFPiWwFz9FHVmQYtCiFtq26gergLiYY5mTREPFtXfuVWNbu0qOvy2ZezlPEIg/s1600/7222_Chungking-express-1.jpg" border="0" alt="" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); text-decoration: underline; display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 590px; height: 395px; " /></div><div>Two stories based around a snack bar in Hong Kong when paths cross, sometimes changing our lives, sometimes not. The first one is darker about Brigit Lin's need for survival and a chance meeting with a lonely policemen, the second is funny and touching with Tony Leung looking handsome in uniform and Faye Wong charming behind her black heart shaped sunglasses and rubber gloves, bringing change into his life.</div><div><br /></div><div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivFJyJ0RcoroeaoDWN5kbGUG0gUZFcbpIIQExTLaYaD4p03DLnSVk2zDKetl5XldkTDc8PL9tXPutFfRzOiPtu3TKBqABlKawhuslMdaFKVE9ImJ-IsDQwMxBNpwWGzQDs7gD1hxmacNBL/s1600/chungking-express.jpg" border="0" alt="" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); text-decoration: underline; display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 500px; height: 295px; " /></div><div>And you, what are your favourite films for days off sick?</div>Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06967855350498876132noreply@blogger.com22tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3703049574993181756.post-50388334843794581262011-11-10T04:23:00.000-08:002011-11-10T05:07:02.980-08:00The weekly lunch<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/6331049239/" title="Bild 002 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6225/6331049239_870bf9d9b3.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="Bild 002" /></a></div><br /><br /><br />Readers, I have a confession to make, I'm not much of a lunch person. The idea of eating at midday is a nice one but I often lack inspiration. Sandwiches have always filled me with dread; at school it was a choice between them or a cantine lunch and despite my love of good bread I'm not really in the mood for that and an exotic filling every day of the week. Sometimes I'm lucky enough to be able to come home for lunch, sitting down with a plateful of something nice while the church bells are chiming but I always opt for small portions to avoid that heavy weight in my stomach that tires me out in the afternoon. Large, hot meals are for dinnertime. Other days I pack cold leftovers to be eaten in the teachers' room which always excites my colleagues' curiosity and makes them label me exotic. I've decided to post a series of recipes that you can make quickly if you have a spare hour midday or take in a lunchbox. Please feel free to add your own ideas for tasty lunchtime bites in the comments section so that I can hopefully try some of them out and make lunch an event to look forward to. It will also give me a chance to share some of the backlog of photos that I've yet to post. <div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/6214582586/" title="Bild 1061 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6224/6214582586_4ecc1a1c18.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="Bild 1061" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><i>By the Spree, early one Sunday last month</i></div><div><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/6214572764/" title="Bild 1233 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6160/6214572764_be37080ec7.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="Bild 1233" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/6214044379/" title="Bild 1209 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6046/6214044379_360fe148f1.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="Bild 1209" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/6214553384/" title="Bild 1148 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6116/6214553384_fa7f4e56dd.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="Bild 1148" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/6214027103/" title="Bild 1108 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6117/6214027103_6d1197d77a.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="Bild 1108" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/6214024955/" title="Bild 1101 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6237/6214024955_462c3a4986.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="Bild 1101" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/6214536428/" title="Bild 1090 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6119/6214536428_f668620309.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="Bild 1090" /></a></div></div><div><br /></div><div><div>This first recipe is one that I used to feel a little ashamed of because it doesn't really involve fresh ingredients but simply tinned tuna and tomatoes over pasta. Then a friend of mine confessed to loving tinned tuna as well and I felt much better. It may still be possible to get the odd good fresh tomato at the market but the season is all about pumpkins, kale, apples and quinces and in winter, tinned ones have more flavour. This recipe is a mainstay of my kitchen, one that I can whip up in around 20 minutes, feeling glad to have the ingredients in my cupboard so that I don't have to go out in the rain.</div></div><br /><b>Tuna spaghetti </b>(from the Moomins cookbook)<div><br /></div><div>1 tin chopped tomatoes</div><div>1 tin tuna in oil, drained</div><div>1 leek, washed and with the tough green ends discarded</div><div>a little oil for frying</div><div>spaghetti</div><div><br /></div><div>Heat a little oil in a medium sized saucepan and fry the leeks until soft. Pour in the tinned tomatoes and drained tuna and reduce heat to low. Simmer gently for around 20 minutes.</div><div>When the sauce is almost ready bring a large pan of water to the boil, add a generous pinch of salt and cook the spaghetti for the specified time. Wholewheat pasta blends excellently with this sauce and it's so rich and filling that you don't need any cheese.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/6214523930/" title="Bild 1005 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6107/6214523930_954ace17db.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="Bild 1005" /></a></div><br />If you've time the night before or early in the morning, a wholewheat apple muffin would be the perfect dessert. Moist, spicy and with a crunch of brown sugar on top. You can find the recipe from Smitten Kitchen <a href="http://smittenkitchen.com/2008/04/whole-wheat-apple-muffins/">here</a>.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/6331050559/" title="Bild 005 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6049/6331050559_cea41aac97.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="Bild 005" /></a></div><br /></div>Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06967855350498876132noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3703049574993181756.post-21541996828887339352011-11-06T01:17:00.001-07:002011-11-06T03:47:13.925-08:00The devil's mountain<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/6317392565/" title="Bild 149 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6213/6317392565_dccdf144dd.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="Bild 149" /></a></div><br />My journey seemed like it would never end. A perfect autumn day with leaves shimmering gold and scarlet, yet still I was impatient on the train headed west and the bus offering glimpses of majestic villas shielded from prying eyes by high walls. I knew they would be there waiting for me though, ready to make our way through the Grunewald to the <a href="http://www.berlinsightout.de/englisch.htm">Teufelsberg</a> where the Allies once listened to East German and Soviet radio signals until the Wall fell. Today the weather beaten ruins perch defiantly over the city and after seeing it so often when flying from Tegel, it had long been a dream of mine to get inside. An ever growing group of people gathered at the gates waiting for our guide, an American who had worked at the base. The clouds took over as we began to climb up, past buildings covered in graffiti and piles of rubbish left behind from wild parties which often take place there. The weatherproof covering has largely disintegrated because of the strong winds and vandalism but what remains is a haunting skeleton from which you look out over the woven colours of the trees below, across to the hill for kite flyers, the Olympic Stadium, the Wannsee and the river Havel with its sailing boats. The higher we went, the more beautiful the view and at the top of the tower the evening sun appeared, making everything even more radiant with a pinkish glow. I felt lucky to be there, knowing that in ten years' time it will probably be too dangerous to visit, the history under my feet and the wonderful city spread out below. Thanks to my dear friends for making this possible; it was the perfect late birthday present.<div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/6317355027/" title="Bild 003 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6215/6317355027_7e0e88bc06.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="Bild 003" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/6317877542/" title="Bild 014 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6057/6317877542_aa94682fa0.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="Bild 014" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/6317879162/" title="Bild 030 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6239/6317879162_34fc5cd697.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="Bild 030" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/6317881468/" title="Bild 040 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6093/6317881468_c3d6a42dc0.jpg" width="333" height="500" alt="Bild 040" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/6317362535/" title="Bild 046 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6104/6317362535_8b5a63b044.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="Bild 046" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/6317885024/" title="Bild 054 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6111/6317885024_c18f4927c0.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="Bild 054" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/6317886866/" title="Bild 056 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6032/6317886866_a737684ce4.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="Bild 056" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/6317367653/" title="Bild 068 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6093/6317367653_8219019736.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="Bild 068" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/6317369487/" title="Bild 070 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6093/6317369487_7c36c8ed4a.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="Bild 070" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/6317892088/" title="Bild 073 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6058/6317892088_b96f89ac17.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="Bild 073" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/6317894634/" title="Bild 087 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6052/6317894634_a2373fb6b6.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="Bild 087" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/6317897814/" title="Bild 095 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6094/6317897814_a4beaa3bd9.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="Bild 095" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/6317378835/" title="Bild 105 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6040/6317378835_42da3710fe.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="Bild 105" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/6317901160/" title="Bild 110 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6053/6317901160_3bff33bde7.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="Bild 110" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/6317383081/" title="Bild 111 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6053/6317383081_289e09dda0.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="Bild 111" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/6317384749/" title="Bild 128 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6118/6317384749_366771dac3.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="Bild 128" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/6317907020/" title="Bild 134 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6231/6317907020_c05f5c5a73.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="Bild 134" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/6317929512/" title="Bild 140 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6215/6317929512_10aac4f813.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="Bild 140" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/6317911850/" title="Bild 141 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6212/6317911850_47fc33c797.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="Bild 141" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/6317394271/" title="Bild 152 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6233/6317394271_2061d9749e.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="Bild 152" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/6317396013/" title="Bild 153 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6050/6317396013_d4c7055b08.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="Bild 153" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/6317398153/" title="Bild 155 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6036/6317398153_45dbd84134.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="Bild 155" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/6317401175/" title="Bild 160 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6227/6317401175_0635a5bddd.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="Bild 160" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/6317924428/" title="Bild 162 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6101/6317924428_1c12b85226.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="Bild 162" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/6317404779/" title="Bild 164 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6046/6317404779_9225c25c09.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="Bild 164" /></a></div><br /><br /></div><div>Since my last post about my favourite things in winter, there has been nothing but a glorious late autumn I'm happy to say. Long walks outside with the camera are a must to catch every bit of light and the leaves before they disappear. Stepping out last night though, I felt a chill in the air as the sun faded from view and thought it was also the perfect time to make Julia's Kademummabullar or Swedish cardamom buns. Julia has one of the loveliest blogs, full of wonderful recipes and the most beautiful photography but I felt a little nervous at the idea of making these because of the decoration involed at the end. Luckily though, her instructions couldn't have been clearer and despite the excellent video she recommends no longer being available to German users, I managed to make the pastries look presentable. They were so popular that I needn't have worried. Merci Julia pour la recette! Those of you who can read French can also get her wonderful little book on baking and cooking with cardamom at Éditions de l'Épure <a href="http://www.epure-editions.com/10-facons-de-le-preparer/La-cardamome--dix-facons-de-la-preparer-296-18.html">here</a>.</div><div><br /></div><div><b>Kardemummabullar </b>(Swedish cardamom buns). Original recipe in French from <a href="http://www.epure-editions.com/10-facons-de-le-preparer/La-cardamome--dix-facons-de-la-preparer-296-18.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" >Ju* Carnets</span></a>.</div><div><br /></div><div>The recipe seems very complex and hard work because the preparation is spread out over two days but none of the stages took me more than 20 minutes, baking excluded. If a clumsy left-hander like me can manage it, I'm sure you all can too :-) The only things I changed were not adding the optional almond paste to the filling and I skipped making the syrup to pour over the buns when they come out of the oven because I normally find it a bit too sweet.</div><div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/6291953949/" title="Bild 608 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6214/6291953949_030aa491eb.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="Bild 608" /></a></div><br /></div><div>Day 1 in the morning or the night before, create or feed your yeast starter by mixing 40g of fresh or dried yeast with 40 ml lukewarm water and 40g of all purpose flour, cover and leave for 8 hours or overnight.</div><div>Day 1 + 8 hours - prepare the dough without butter</div><div>Day 1 + 8.5 hours: add the butter to the dough </div><div>Day 1 + 18 hours: prepare the filling and make the buns</div><div>Day 2 + 8 hours - glaze the buns, sprinkle with pearl sugar and bake them</div><div><br /></div><div>Makes 20 cardamom buns</div><div><br /></div><div><b>For the dough</b></div><div><br /></div><div>700g all purpose flour</div><div>80g yeast (see note above)</div><div>350ml milk</div><div>100g natural cane sugar</div><div>1 egg</div><div>10g sea salt</div><div>10g ground cardamom</div><div>100g soft butter, chilled</div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>For the cardamom filling</b></div><div><br /></div><div>150g soft butter, creamed</div><div>70g light muscovado or natural cane sugar</div><div>10g ground cardamom</div><div><br /></div><div><b>For the glaze</b></div><div><br /></div><div>1 egg, beaten</div><div>2 tbsp water</div><div>pearl sugar (I got mine at Galeria Kaufhof at Alex but most foodhalls of large department stores should stock it)</div><div><br /></div><div>1. <b>When your yeast is ready to use</b>, pour the flour into a large mixing bowl and create a well in the middle. Pour the egg into the centre along with the salt, sugar, cardamom and yeast and mix the ingrediants together using your fingers (one hand is enough) and forming circular movements away from the centre. There will be plenty of flour around the middle but don't worry. Once you've mixed in the other ingredients, add the milk in several doses, still mixing with your fingers, working in the flour until it's all gone and you can form a ball with the dough. Lightly dust it with flour and place in a clean bowl, cover with a cloth and leave at room temperature for 30 minutes.</div><div>2. <b>When the 30 minutes are up,</b> remove the butter from the fridge, dust it with a little flour and roll it out between two pieces of clingfilm or plastic wrap to soften it. You should have a thin layer of butter. With your thumb, begin working it into the ball of dough then knead it with both hands on a floured work surface. The dough will become sticky and at times, almost impossible to deal with but keep going. Use more flour as needed until you once again have a smooth dough which forms a ball. Put it back in the bowl and leave to rest under a cloth at room temperature for 8 hours.</div><div>3. <b>Eight hours later</b>, you can begin to make the filling in a bowl by combining the butter, sugar and cardamom with a wooden spoon or a spatula. Dust your work surface with flour and roll out your dough to form a rectangle of approximately 40cm x 60cm. Spread the filling evenly over two thirds of the dough then fold it in three, beginning with the unfilled third over the middle third and the remaining filled one over this. I apologise for not having any photos here as none were in focus but you can find it shown very clearly on Julia's blog. Cut the rolled up dough widthways into strips about the thickness of your finger, twist them a little and tie them in a knot. Place your pastries on a baking sheet, cover with a slightly damp cloth and leave them overnight in a cool oven.</div><div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/6292467562/" title="Bild 546 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6034/6292467562_18f5a62336.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="Bild 546" /></a></div></div><div><br /></div><div>4. <b>In the morning of the second day</b>, preheat the oven to 200°C. Brush the unbaked cardamom buns with the egg glaze and sprinkle some pearl sugar over them. Bake in the oven for 12 minutes and leave to cool on the tray for around half an hour before eating. </div><div><br /></div><div><div style="text-align: justify; "><div style="text-align: center;color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; "><b><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeeandpie/6291956673/" title="Bild 620 by Berlin cheesecake, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6036/6291956673_2a588a2936.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="Bild 620" /></a><br /></b></div></div><div><br /></div></div>Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06967855350498876132noreply@blogger.com12