WEEKEND CAT BLOGGING

Although I don't know who should be hosting this week's WCB round-up, I nonetheless decided to write a cat oriented-post, because I can't withhold the following picture any longer!...

Does anyone know who is hosting the event? Is there a volunteer yet?

Lately, I haven't been able to show you any picture of my kitties sharing the same bed or cuddling together for the simple reason that, during the winter, Fridolin and Maruschka's habits change.
Now that the heating is on, Fridolin prefers to lie on the cat tree which is next to the radiator and insert all four feet in it's slits.
Maruschka doesn't really seem to like to be too close to any form of heating, so she stays in the basket or on the bed...
But, during the evening, they both cuddle up together on the bed and sleep like two lazy babies.
As a matter of fact, this picture was taken on late weekend evening (or should I say early morning?!) just before they were to be transported out of the bedroom into their night quarters.
I love their face on this picture. Maruschka looks stressed with her big saucer eyes and Fridolin is "zenly" equal to himself, as usual...

************

!!!NEW WCB SCHEDULE!!!

• January 13-14, Sher at "What Did You Eat?"
• January 20-21, "Cat Blogosphere"
  
• January 27-28, Kate, Bustopher and Harmon at "Kate In The Kitchen"
  
• February 3-4, Rosa at "Rosa's Yummy Yums"
  
• February 10-11, up for grabs!
• February 17-18, up for grabs!
• February 24-25, Kate, Bustopher and Harmon at "Kate In The Kitchen"
  

If you want to volunteer and host our weekly WCB event, then leave a message on the blog "Cat Blogosphere".

A TOUCH OF WINTER DARKNESS

A new year has started and I'm still very impressed by the endless beauty of the sky above my head. I cannot stop searching for great and dramatic cloud sceneries that will catch my eye and generate unique shots.

In order to start off the year 2007 in beauty, I'm sure that this collection of amazing skies will rejoice you...

A rainy October morning (not winter, sorry). The "foehn" was blowing, therefore the clouds looked so tortured...
The same morning, only a few minutes later...
The colors, fog, sky and mountain make me think of Ferdinand Hodler's (a Swiss Art Nouveau painter) paintings (see link).
Another rainy and foehny day of December...
A magnificent wintery sunset with clouds hailing from the north and bringing a change of weather...
A cold day sunset...

CHOCOLATE WALNUT FUDGE

"Fudge" brings me back to childhood and England, because I remember that it was always a type of confection that I loved to eat when on holidays in this beautiful country. It is also very much linked to the yummy world of Thorntons, the famous chocolate manufacturer (see info). I can still remember that awesome sweet smell which perfumed the whole town of Belper, Derbyshire. It was so surreal...

According to popular lore, "Fudge" is supposed to have originated from the United States more than 100 years ago, although it's origin is still disputed. It is also well spread in England as you can find it everywhere. It could be compared to "Toffee" as they both hold similarities when it comes to their creaminess, softness and sweetness. The main difference resides in the fact that, unlike "Toffee" which has a glossy surface and is caramely and chewy (it can be hard, though), "Fudge" has a slightly, granular, gritty and grainy texture with a mat surface. It can be elaborated with many different ingredients (nuts of all kinds, raisins, cherries, etc...) and different flavors (vanilla, chocolate, maple, lemon, mint, etc...), but the basis always stays the same: cream or milk/condensed milk, sugar and butter.

This "Chocolate Walnut Fudge" recipe (source: www.thatsmyhome.com) that I am presenting is made in the old-fashioned way and is kind of traditional. It is simple to make, but has a great gustatory effect on those who have a bite of it! The walnuts add a "Brownie" taste to this chocolate "Fudge" and offer a punchy alternative to this candy. A delicious and dreamy journey back to our innocent and cherished childhood...

Ingredients:
2 Cups Castor sugar
1 Cup Heavy cream
1/2 Cup Unsalted butter
60g Unsweetened chocolate, chopped
1 Tbs Light corn syrup
1 Tsp Vanilla extract
1/2 Cup walnuts, toasted and chopped

Method:
1. Line the bottom of a 22 x 12 centimeter (9 x 5-inch) loaf pan with baking paper and grease the sides of the tin.
2. Stir sugar, cream, butter, chocolate and corn syrup in a heavy 3-quart saucepan over medium heat until butter and chocolate melt and sugar dissolves.
2. Increase heat and bring to a boil.
4. Without stirring, boil vigorously 5 minutes or until candy thermometer registers 112° C to 115° C (234° F to 240 ° F , soft-ball stage), or a small amount dropped into ice water forms a soft ball that flattens when removed from water.
5. Remove from heat and, without stirring, add vanilla extract.
6. Cool until 43° C (110° F) or pan is lukewarm and skin forms on mixture.
7. Stir fudge with a wooden spoon 5 to 10 minutes until it thickens and holds its shape 5 seconds after you stop stirring.
8. Stir in nuts.
9. Spread evenly in lined pan.
10. Chill 6 hours or until firm.
11. Invert pan, peel off foil, invert fudge and cut in 2.5 cm (1-inch) squares.

Remarks:
Instead of using corn syrup, I used either light runny honey or molasses spread ("Mélasse à Tartiner" only found in Switzerland).

Serving suggestions:
Eat "Fudge" like any chocolate, either alone or with a cup of tea, a cup of coffee or a glass of dessert wine/liquor (Muscat, Samos sweet wine, Porto, etc...).

(Fudge -Pic by www.chocolatesandcandies.net)

A KIND GIFT

One of my neighbors is a woman of 78 with whom I have become quite friendly within the last three years. We like to speak about nothing and everything around a cup of coffee. With her there is no generational clash although we have nearly half a century age difference. She is a very generous woman. Sometimes, as her health problems are a bit limiting her, I offer my help if she's in trouble or can't do something. She is always grateful for what I do for her and always gives something in exchange, even when I refuse her offerings, but never succeeds to make her change her mind! A sweet person...

I have met her daughter a few times and I think that she is happy to know that there is a kind soul around who can "keep an eye" on her and come in helpful if something goes wrong (even though she takes good care of her mother).

So, to my surprise, Friday the 23rd of December, a delivery man rang my doorbell and brought me a special case...

Firstly, I wondered what he had in his hands and if it was a joke as I knew that nobody I know would do such a crazy thing. After I questioned him on the origin of this mysterious gift, I understood that it came from my neighbor's daughter. Wow!!!

It seems that she appreciates the things I do for her mother and wanted to thank me for my presence at her side.

That's a beautiful and touching Christmas present!!!

Here's what this case contained:

• 500g Scottish smoked salmon
• Salmon eggs from USA
• Lump eggs from Danemark
• A bottle of French white wine: Domaine des Buissones "Sancerre" 2005

Sometimes life offers it's fair share of positive and totally unexpected surprises...

HAPPY NEW YEAR 2007

I wish you all a very Happy New Year 2007 and hope that your paths will be paved with a million stars!!! May luck, happiness and health be always on your side.

At the same time, I also would like thank you all for your faithful support and regular visits during the year 2006! I really appreciate your kind comments and virtual presence on this blog...

I'm looking forwards to seeing/meeting you again on "Rosa's Yummy Yums"!

"New Year's eve is like every other night; there is no pause in the march of the universe, no breathless moment of silence among created things that the passage of another twelve months may be noted; and yet no man has quite the same thoughts this evening that come with the coming of darkness on other nights."

~ Hamilton Wright Mabie ~

(First Buff -Pic by Steven Kozar www.stevenkozar.com)

WEEKEND CAT BLOGGING #82

On this very last weekend before the New Year, it is Lisa of "Champaign Taste" who is kindly hosting this edition of Weekend Cat Blogging. To participate, give your permalink when leaving a message on her blog or send her an email with all the informations needed...

To end this year in beauty, the featured cat is a certain "Black Beauty" known under the name of Maruschka!

Maruschka is indeed a princess with a beautiful face and a sweet character, but she can also be a devil in disguise...
Today, she nearly drove me crazy; I could have strangled her, he, he!
You all know now how food-obssessed she is. Well, this beginning of afternoon was a real torture for me!
You see, I was preparing some "Cheese Straws" (the recipe follows soon) and of course, my activities in the kitchen aroused her attention and put her in her food related state of trance during which it is IMPOSSIBLE to control or to discipline her.
Nothing calms her.

She generally gets those immense crazy eyes, this terrible sad concentrated look on her face and starts to move over to a spot close to the kitchen in order to play the freakish voyeur.
And God, I can't stand that bizarre head position she adopts nor her eerie attitude as I don't recognize her. I swear she becomes someone else so much she behaves like a possessed kitty...
Aaaaaaaarrrrrrggggghhhhhh!!!

(Mad Kitty -Pic by http://tn3-2.deviantart.com)

XMAS FOOD GIFT

This year, as a Christmas gift, I made some goodies. As they were to be sent, I opted for some postable cookies and confectionary that would not suffer from the travelling around and constant banging occasioned by the post...

Needless to say that they met success and made everyone happy (without trying to sound too cheesy or self-imbued, he, he)!!!

From left to right:

• Vanilla Kipferl
• Spice bread (pain d'épice) chocolate chip cookies
• Lemon honey cookies
• Brazilian coffee cookies (see recipe)
• Old-fashioned chocolate walnut fudge
• Almond cantuccini cookies
  

The recipes will soon follow, so keep connected!

WEEKEND CAT BLOGGING #81

This pre-Christmas edition of Weekend Cat Blogging is gracefully hosted by "Tiggy The Tiny Tiger" from USA... To have a chance to see your cat(s) linked on her blog, don't forget to give your permalink when leaving a comment or to directly send her an email with all the informations needed.

For this very special event preceding the end of year festivities, Fridolin and Maruschka have dicided to surprise you!

Madam Santa Claus is dressed to kill and wishes you a
MEOWRRY CHRISTMAS!!!

Mister Raindeer hopes that you'll have a good time celebrating Xmas and the New Year, and that you'll not forget to be laidback like the zen kitty he is...

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

MERRY XMAS AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR 2007!!!

I hope that you will all enjoy your holidays, have a good time wherever you are or with whomever you are and eat all the things you love....

"The True Spirit of Christmas

Lots of people
Crowds everywhere
Rushing and pushing and shoving,
Going nowhere.
It's Christmas time again
Have to get all those things done
Hustle, bustle, quickly,
We must beat the sun.
Must get this and must get that
Maybe this nic, maybe that nak
When did it happen?
When did we lose track...
It's a race, yes it is
We are running, yes we are
But lets not forget
Before we get too far-
What is really really important
Doesn't take much to figure out
Take time to love and love from the heart."

~ Marajo Tenderass ~

(Xmas Tree -Pic by www.treenm.com)

WELCOME TO THEE MR. WINTER

Around Veyrier, the opportunities to have a pleasant walk are multiple. You don't need to go very far in order to find an interesting corner.

One of my favorite places is very close to home (10 minutes), along the river Arve in France. I had already blogged (see link 1, link 2 & link 3) about this special little paradise and will surely do it again and again and again. This spot is so beautiful if you want to witness the subtle changes of the seasons!...

A mysterious little path on the side of the Arve, in France...
My beloved Salève playing with the mist...
A rather dry Arve offering us a vision of it's winter look...
The grass is still green, but the air is now crisp and winter is timidly appearing...
In the distance, the church of Veyrier and a misty Salève are being looked upon by a shy, yet authoritative sun...