2013 Recap

Last year was a year full of opportunities and new experiences. I got to travel to some states within the Mexican Republic and I absolutely loved it. Also I got the great opportunity to make new and awesome friends in those states. I learned new things in the kitchen and found how much I love pastry and baking in a real life restaurant situation. Love waking up early in the morning and walking while the sun isn't out yet. Bake bread and pastries for breakfast service and get to dance salsa with my co-workers while waiting for conchas and croissants to get out of the oven. 

Being away from home wasn't really difficult since I've been out for nearly three years now, but knowing they're not as close as always was a bit heart wrenching since I lost my only true friend while I was away and couldn't say goodbye properly. My baby, she was called Tita, my dog. She was 13 years old and living in such a cold weather led her to joint pains, arthritis and later on a heart attack. I miss her so much now that I'm on vacation @ home, but I know the suffering is gone for her and that keeps me sane. 

I also learned that we haven't got our life granted, I almost lost one true friend I haven't spoke with for years, and when I thought he was gone I felt awful, my world started to crumble with all the letters never written and the words unspoken. Lucky enough, everything passed and we could talk to each other again, now we are in touch permanently, having cleared out everything that kept us apart in the past. We keep reminding each other that our love and friendship is really important even with all the kms between us and the hours of difference. One thing is certain, when he has trouble sleeping, I'm always there to keep him company.

 

Yes, this year I had loss, but I also found love in places where I didn't find possible, nobody ever said to me that finding a best friend and acknowledging her was like finding your soul mate. We always think love is just a romantic thing, but it's not, and that's what I discovered this year. This love is the kind of love that makes you stronger and happier. You don't need to be together 24/7 because you know in your heart that distance doesn't matter, you love each other no matter what, through drunkness or soberness, through exams and daily homeworks, projects and contests, you love each other always. 

I got offered a job, I had the opportunity to retake sports after a rehab period. Now I'm running and doing yoga again. I also had some mishaps. Started to slowly introduce animal products to my diet after a couple years of vegetarianism. And as every year, I changed my hair, once again. This year wasn't a huge change, just blunt bangs and medium hair. After having blue, purple, red, green, gray, turquoise hair and a mohawk, it was the least radical change I could think of. 

2014 hold on. I'm coming with more plans and I'm eager to try new experiences. I love new. This year I'll be 21 but I'm loving 20. This year I'll continue traveling and learning, hugging and kissing, knowing and missing, I'll continue to move through this world with a smile in my face since being happy is all I can think of. I'm so blessed with family, friends and lovely sunsets. 

I send hugs to all of you out there I know it's not always easy to wake up and get out of bed, but after we think a bit we do, and as the day goes by we are happy we did. I've been down, I've been at my bottom, now I'm going up, forward. I don't regret any decision I've made, since it took me to where I am now. Yes, it was hard. Yes, I also thought it would never be over, but you know what? Even if my heart is broken again, I'll fix it and love with all of it again, even if I get exhausted and sleep 2 hours, I'll keep being a perfectionist at school, even if I don't get a full crow pose, I'll keep doing yoga. Even if I have a bad day, I'll try to see the bright side since I know I'm living. 

2014 is just an excuse for me to use a new agenda. Get rid of toxic relationships, and leave behind bad memories for good. Just as it is every day, every sunrise. 

I know there may be a lot more people out there recovering from something, be it an ED, breakup, loss or whatever. Know you are not alone, I'm here with you. I've struggled too. You can be happy too. 

Colored cookies plus stripes

Hey! This year has been a really busy one and it's not over yet! I have just returned from an internship in a hotel boutique in Morelia, Michoacan. Let me tell you I fell in love with this city, there are lots of cultural, music, theatre and film events every day. But that's not all, food is delicious, all typical dishes have that "something" that makes me wanna eat them always. From corundas to carnitas, I'm drooling right now.

 

Today I want to share with you a technique for striped cookies. This photos have been sitting for a while now. And I guessed since its summer and kids are on vacation, this cookies are a real good project to make with them (:
Here you can find my favorite sugar cookie recipe (:

COLORED COOKIES

later on I will upload the step by step pictures. 

Use your favorite sugar cookie recipe. Divide it in the number of colors you want your cookies to be.

Cover with film a pound cake or square pan. 

Roll your first color and put it in the pan.

Roll your second color and put it in the pan over the first color. Press slightly for the doughs to stick to each other and to eliminate any air pockets. 

Repeat previous steps until you are finished with your colors. 

Depending on how thick you roll the cookie dough, that's how thick the color stripes are going to be..

Remove the block of dough with help from the film. 

Slice the dough 1/4 inch thick, or as thick as you desire your cookies. 

Place each cookies in your cookie sheet and precede as always in your baking. 

Let cool, enjoy 

The key to achieving straight lines is to roll each color of dough even, in all its surface. Mine are not really straight, but I love how they turned out. Remember that the color of the dough may change after baking.

OXO

Val♥🌸

My holy birthday weekend

This weekend was my 20th birthday and I was completely excited about it. Tell me what's not exciting about changing the first number of your age? I have been using it for a decade, gosh, that's a lot of time.

Saturday 30 was my day. A very special day, actually.

My family was very kind and pleasing with me (which I love). First they baked for me a delicious, fluffy, bit tangy but sweet cheesecake. Oh god that cheesecake was good. I can assure you the secret ingredient was true love, since my mother doesn't like to enter the kitchen unless she's going to eat something. But she made an effort, a big one and I really appreciate it. Thanks to her and my grandmas, now I'm the aspiring baker, no one expected me to be, ha!

Even though the cheesecake's recipe wasn't followed to a T by mom, she did an amazing job. We saw that skipping the water bath and 90 minutes cooking time, wasn't really bad. And I'm really sure she had a blast while baking. I saw it in her face.

Besides my fabulous birthday cheesecake, they made more things to spoil me right. From real good books, chocolate cooking bibles, and extreme adventure trips, this has been, BY FAR, my best birthday (week), so far.

I'm really glad my family made such a big effort to make me smile after all the pressure they know I've been under this past couple weeks. I'm also glad of my friends (old and new ones) they give such a spark to my day-to-day. It's easier to enjoy every aspect of life when you have people like this by your side supporting, encouraging and loving you.

I wouldn't change a thing that's happened to me so far. Every little experience has made me who I am now. I'm happy with who I am. That maybe I would like to exercise 5 of 3 days I actually do, yes, but I'm working on it. (:

You know when you are really satisfied with what's going on in your life? I haven't felt like that in a relatively long time. Now that's changed. I'm changed too. I love everything I have and I have everyone I love.

I just wanted to take a time, space and post to write and share with you a moment that's really important for me.

OXO
Val💕

Day of the dead one year ago

So, I just realized that I've left my blog sailing away solo in internet waters. What a bad sailer.
Since November 2012 I took some photos of something I wanted to share with everyone, it is a little part of the traditions of my country. I really LOVE my traditions, I LOVE being mexican and all that it involves.
I know it's been already a year since this holiday and pictures were taken, but I guess it's never too late when it comes to sharing. But here is Dia de los Muertos again, so let's get the photos rolling. 

Being so full with work for future projects is really my kind of life right now. Studying another language for a master in Lyon next year, working for my plane ticket. Working for a college scholarship and visiting kids in hospitals just to make them laugh. If this isn't a good explanation of busy, then I don't know what could be.
Between all this activities I've also being taking photos like crazy and today I want to share one of my best experiences from last year.

In 2012 I got the opportunity to go "visit" my grandparents on November 1st. Here in Mexico this day is a very special one, according to traditions, it is the date when our loved and dead ones come to visit. We put an altar at home with the things our loved ones liked, from fruit, mole, all their favorite food and drink, cempasuchil flowers (marigold),papel picado, candles, salt, water, with every item having its particular meaning. 

For me it's a very fun tradition, full of color, good food and family. A lot of people is curious about how someone could like a tradition like this, involving dead. I really don't know, I guess it feels good believing that the ones that already parted, can come and be with us for a little while. 

A lot of kids enjoy this celebration, I think it's a cultural thing, it comes from every family, and in every corner of Mexico, there's a little difference, but the essence is the same. Nowadays some kids are forgetting about this tradition because I guess it's more fun to dress up and eat candy. I would love if they could follow both ways, Halloween and Day of the Dead, since I don't have nothing against the North American celebration. Who doesn't like candy, really?

Also last year I got another great opportunity. Participating in Coyoacan's fair of Day of the Dead bread. I went in with some sugar skull looking cookies, making something so traditional a little bit updated for those new generations to still keep their interest. I've got to say I feel very proud of the cookies since they were a hit. I spend a lot of time on making and decorating them in the tiny apartment kitchen, but successfully. 

It was a nice year and a nice celebration, just as this year's. 

I don't know how I will cope with being away from my country and food for so long. Have you ever been away for a lot of time? What is it you missed the most? How did you cope with it? Let me know in the comments!

Sugary kisses and bony hugs!!

Val

XOX

 

Bunnies and Sugar

Here is one of my fave recipes. Sugar Cookies. So easy, few ingredients, a total no-brainer.
I've received several compliments about them, because they taste just good! And also because you can decorate them as you wish with a simple Royal Icing recipe.
This bunnies may be great for Eastern. Even though here in Mexico we don't celebrate it, I'm used to see a lot of bunnies and colored eggs in April (:
I remember making this and wrapping them in baskets whenever I needed a gift for someone, even one of my cousins who went to Canada for a year asked if I could bake her a basket before she went away.

Sugar Cookies
Yields ~ 40 cookies

Ingredients:

• 1 cup butter
• 1 cup powdered sugar
• 1 egg beaten
• 1 1/2 tsp almond extract (optional)
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 1 tsp salt
• 2 1/2 cups sifted flour

Directions

• Cream butter. Add powdered sugar. Blend in egg, almond extract, vanilla, salt and flour.
• Chill dough until firm. Roll to 1/4" thickness on a floured surface. Cut the shapes you want with cookie cutters.
• Place on greased cookie sheets. Bake at 375 F (190°C) for 8-10 minutes.
• Let cool and decorate.

I'll also share with you my fave Royal Icing recipe, so you can decorate this delicious cookies with this equally yummy icing.

Royal Icing

Ingredients:

• 4 cups powdered sugar, sifted
• 2 tbsp. meringue powder (substitute w/ 3 egg whites)
• 5 tbsp warm water

Directions

• Beat the egg whites and add sugar slowly, finally add water depending in its texture and how you want it for your cookies.
• If it's too thick add more water, until you have the right consistency for piping.

Note: I normally cut this recipe in half as it makes lots of icing, though its not easy to measure 1.5 egg whites, I do my best and it always ends up great.

As you can see this recipes are real easy, and you can whip a batch of decorated cookies in no time. Fabulous, don't you think?

Share with me how you did. Any suggestion or question, leave it on the comments, down there. :D

OXO

Val