​There is something quite wonderful about baking delicious things around the holidays. This is not only about the pleasure we take in sharing and eating these little treats but also about the wonderful scent it creates at home.
And believe me, every time I bake these delicious Christmas treats, I wish I could encapsulate the smell into a little jar and open it every now and then to be reminded of this lovely time of year.

Another year, another mini weekend trip to London. 
When we were looking at ideas on where to go on holidays before the end of the year, a few places came up but we could not make up our mind on just one. 
So, we decided to split our time between two instead: starting with a weekend in London to catch up with friends we had not seen in a while and finishing with a visit to another European destination with a Christmas theme in mind (if you follow me on Instagram at @cremedecitron , you probably already know which city we picked).

For now, let’s talk about this lovely weekend in London filled with good times with friends and wonderful food. 

​Do you sometimes go on holidays or a long weekend away with a huge to do list of things to do and see, where to eat and drink, where to shop etc.? To do list as in you absolutely have to have done all of this before the holidays or weekend is over? 
If you are planning on waking up and getting out of the hotel/B&B/apartment where you are staying as soon as possible and focusing on making sure you tick everything off the list by the end of the holidays, the following probably will not suit your perfect type of holidays.

Because as much as I like to keep a handy list of museums, sights, restaurants, cafes, book shops and design shops, if I have not visited, seen, eaten and bought everything on it, it will not be the end of the world. It might even be the perfect excuse to plan to visit the town/city/country again.
The reason is that lately, I have enjoyed a slower pace on holidays and weekends away, especially when I really needed it. I might have had my eyes on a specific cafe that I read reviews about but on the way there, something more interesting would come up.
​An impromptu stop for a hot chocolate and pastries instead? A sign for a museum that was not even mentioned in guide books but looks intriguing enough for you to pay it a visit?A hidden design/book/clothes shop that looks wonderful and sells all the things you like? Just go for it!

Slow holidays and weekends away also mean that you get to take the time to observe your surroundings, appreciate the little things you would not have otherwise even noticed. 
I could really go on about it but I am sure you get the idea. So for now, how about I take you on a mini virtual tour of our latest slow weekend away?

Despite apple desserts being some of my favourites, I realised I have not shared many of those types of recipes with you here. This season being perfect for apples, I thought it was time to rectify this.
There are so many delicious varieties available at the moment and each has its own type: sweet, acid, firm, juicy, crispy, pink or red fleshed, there is a lot to choose from!
Obviously, choosing a type of apple also depends of what use you want to make of it: is it just for eating on its own or adding to a delicious dessert? Some can serve both purposes but some others might only be delicious as cooking apples for example.
My favourite for baking is of the Cox variety. I love its flavour and how easy it is to cook with. It is sweet enough that I never need to add sugar to it, especially when I make apple puree (also known as applesauce) to include in some of my favourite desserts: apple tart and apple shortcrust turnovers.

Bonjour and happy Saturday!
I am writing this short blog post wrapped in layers of warm clothes, a large fluffy scarf and a hot mug of blackcurrant infusion by my side. Autumn is truly here getting more on the side of Winter day after day. Which means more and more cosy weekends on the way. I won't complain, I love those!

This weekend will definitely be on the cosy side of things with some comfort food cooking and baking on the program. Add to this some good books, movies and a warm blanket to wrap myself in. Wonderful!
Here are a few things to enjoy to start the day before you move on to other plans.

What I love about Autumn is that some of my favourite ingredients are in season: leek, endives, celeriac, pears, apples, rosemary and hazelnuts. And one that I add to our grocery basket almost every week this season: butternut squash.
I really like the nuttiness and sweetness of this vegetable. My favourite way to cook it is to first peel it, then cube it, toss it with olive oil and spread it on a baking tray for roasting. It is perfect when tender and lightly caramelised on the edges. When cooked this way, it can easily be added to a pot of soup with seasoning, stock and whatever ingredients would go well with it. I have used it before in this miso soup with chestnuts and also not roasted in a simple butternut soup with blue cheese and walnut toppings.  
Among many recipe ideas, there is something else you can add it to: a delicious quiche.