Author: Christiana

Books! Gorgeous books…

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I think I’ve developed a serious addiction to…books! I’d never really thought about it and had refused to pay any attention to the uncontrollable urge that came over me, every time I passed Waterstones or approached an FNAC these last 6 years. I didn’t even worry about the fact that I’d go on city trips (to Paris, Amsterdam, London, Edinburgh) and come back dragging a stone-heavy luggage, half-filled with books (not city guides mind you) -instead of perfume, clothes, accessories or the usual souvenirs & local specialties you’d expect a normal person to buy. And through it all, the books kept accumulating and my collection of shelves and storage units grew proportionately. Moving back from Brussels I knew I’d had a good 6 boxes of books sent ahead, not to mention another couple dozen titles, still unread, back home. That, somehow, didn’t stop me from heading straight to the airport Press Point and making yet another little purchase 🙄 . Shortly after settling back home, I realized the city had a brand new, huge, international …

IGS Celebratory Reunion- 9/02/08 @ N’s Place

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To celebrate my brief return “home”, my posse organised an IGS cooking night. Hosted at N’s place (due to the fact she’s still recovering from her recent health adventure & -of course- putting me up), our little adventure was set to start at 19.30. K arrived first, bringing the fish for our main course recipe & SZ followed a few minutes later, bringing the dessert. Now a “full house”, the fun & frolics could finally start. Turns out the evening held the key to yet another, amazing salmon recipe (cudos to Delia Smith) and a gorgeous , light & fruity dessert you can actually enjoy without feeling (too) guilty 😆 And of course -as really goes without saying- the key to an absolutely marvelous time with precious company and loads of laughs… So, possibly for the last time, here go the evening’s recipes for all you fans of good food 😉 Main Course Roasted Salmon Fillets with a Crusted Pecorino and Pesto Topping Serves 2 2 skinless salmon fillets (150-175 grams each & about 2 …

IGS Third Meeting: 5/07/07@N’s place…

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[RIDICULOUSLY LATE, THIS IS FOR MY FAVORITE GIRLS BACK IN BELGIUM 😉 ] The third meeting of our little IGS Project took place this Thursday @N’s crib. SMcG was originally scheduled to host, but last minute complications made that impossible so N. graciously stepped in to save the day. By 18.30 we were all in place -ingredients lined up and ready to go. Myself and SMcG were to prepare the salad and main course, S. & N. would make the dessert and K. was in charge of keeping us all well liquored and snack-happy until dinner time…Apart from an ill-fated first attempt to prepare the salad (blame it on me never having cooked using gas before in my life…) everything went smoothly and our little feast was served amongst laughter and general merriment a couple of hours later. So, as promised, here go the recipes (complete with pics) for the hidden chef in all of you. Enjoy… Salad & Main Course Spinach Salad with Warm Lemon Mushrooms Serves 4 Olive oil 2 garlic cloves, crushed …

On my bookshelf…

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I’ve been meaning to do this for quite some time now. The idea came to me during my last trip back home, when I eventually managed to finish that dreaded “Historian” novel I’d been dragging around for the last couple of months (!!). It’s true, I’ve since read another 600 page book & am currently half way through a third one but…whatever. This is not the time to get into my procrastination issues 😆 So, instead of dwelling on the amount of time that has passed, I’ll just jump straight in & record my thoughts about my 2 latest reads. “The Historian” by Elizabeth Kostova Apparently a debut novel, this first made its way to the bookstore shelves around the summer of 2005. I, however, only got hold of it around the end of 2006. Which was just as well since, somehow, wintertime seemed much more appropriate for this modern twist of the Dracula legend. I briefly forgot all about my motto (“Expect the worse…”) and happily dove into the book as soon as I …