Caramel & Pear...

I went to Venice with my family as a celebration of passing my PhD viva.

These are the scenes from Venice, it’s a pretty city.

I baked a Japanese cotton cake before going to Venice & immediately fall in love with the light & spongy texture.

I baked it again when I got back to England but a plain & simple sponge cake wouldn’t satisfy my obsessions with photo & food styling.

I poached some pears with white wine then I whipped some cream with salted caramel I made from last time.

My decorating skills become worse… Luckily I bought some shimmer sprays last time when I visited a supermarket.

Shook the can & sprayed on, the cake was covered with a gold shimmer, the photo couldn’t really show the shimmering effect but it does look much prettier.

Scenes from Lake District & Orange Cheesecake for Summer

Recipe! I've finally got some times in the kitchen for cakes.

I've been away & also quite busy after the trip to Turin.

I went to Lake District for a short break with my family about a month ago.

Take a look at the videos I've made using the Animoto app.

It's a glimpse of the paradise, aren't the scenes beautiful?

Now it's July & it's summer, finally.

Everytime when I want to bake, chocolate is my top list.

As the sunshine finally out of the clouds in UK, I think it's time to have a more summery treat.

A chilled orange cheesecake, not so difficult to make & it will make a great dessert for barbecue.

City Walk in Turin

Night scenes at Piazza Castello

I went to Turin with my colleagues for a science conference in the end of May.

The science conference was held for 3 days & we got there 3 days earlier so that we could walk around the city.

I'm a loner so I didn't join my colleagues, instead I explored the city with my like-minded roommate.

Palazzo Madama, Mole Antonelliana

Piazza San Carlo, Eataly supermarket

Before arriving at Turin, I knew nothing about it, I still do.

I think it's a small city & not as pretty as other European cities I've been to, but it's a lovely & historical.

There're lots of museums, churches & palaces, 3 days weren't enough for us to visit all these places!

I adore Egyptian's culture & history so when I found out there was one, we went on a Saturday & it's very busy.

In addition to those landmarks & attractions, my like-minded colleague & I had tried some of the best food in Turin.

Garden inside Palazzo Madama

Museo Egizio

Restorante Sotto la Mole

Turin is rated one of the Top 10 places for chocolate by National Geographic.

As a chocoholic myself, I wouldn't miss it for the world.

We went to Cafe Baratti & Milano to try out the divine hot chocolate & bicerin - a layered concoction of coffee, hot chocolate and foamy milk, it tasted like mocha in my opinion.

One of Turin’s chocolate makers, Caffarel, combined hazelnut paste with milk chocolate - so called gianduja.

These chocolates are shaped like elongated triangles & wrapped in gold or silver foil.

Guido Gobino is one of the big names in chic chocolates in Turin, I also love the pistachio & chocolate ice creams. 

I had the pistachio ice cream again before I went back to London.

I left Turin with my pants feeling a bit tighter & a big smile on my face. 

Cafe Baratti & Milano - bicerin & hot chocolate

Guido Gobino

Real chiesa di San Lorenzo, Turin Cathedral

River Po, Restorante Manfretto

Restorante Pollastrini

Porta Palazzo market

Restorante Galante

Barcelona & A Recipe for Poire Vin Blanc

Last week, I went to Barcelona for a short  break with my sister.

I walked around the city just exploring & taking photos.

After the break, I made these pear & caramel entremets.

I saw the red wine pear entremets posted on Evan's Kitchen Ramblings & that reminds me of this recipe which I've designed a while back.

Finally got the chance to make these & it tastes absolutely gorgeous!

I really love the white wine poached pears & the caramel mousse.

Refreshingly tangy, fragrant yet rich & creamy.

I was regret that I didn't have another piece before heading back to London...

Scenes from Easter Break to South Wales

Sunset at Southgate.

Scenes from Tenby.

Scenes from Tenby.

Sunset at Angle.

Scenes from Talybont Reservoir, Brecon Beacon National Park.

Afternoon tea at Old Barn Tea Room, Brecon Beacon National Park.

Scenes from Clun Gwyn waterfall.

One Apple, Two Blueberry Cheesecakes & Three A Trip to Lewes

It’s my friend’s birthday and she had special request for a baked cheesecake.

So, the night before I met her, I baked, not one but two small cheesecakes.

The recipe was actually for a 8” cake but we’re going to a historical & lovely town called Lewes.

It’s not a good idea to bring a giant 8” cake around.

The little cheesecake turned out great with simple arrangement of poached apples & my friend loved it :)

I cooked some blueberry jam & simply spread over the other cheesecake which I brought to my mum the next day when we had lunch together.

Lewes was an adorable town, full of antique shops, cozy cafe & cute crafts stores.

There is also a big flea market & it's like treasure hunting :)

Floral tea cups & saucers bought from Lewes.

Travelling to Wales

Walking along seaside from Swansea to Mumbles.

Drank a mocha while waiting for my brother, we went to Caswell Bay for a walk.

The next day, we drove from Swansea to Snowdonia National Park, across the valley, across the seaside into the wood.

At dawn, we waited for the sun to rise at Barmouth.

After breakfast, we started a new journey to the north & drove pass a beautiful & quiet lake.

Arriving at Llanberis, we walked over an elevation of 1000m to Snowdon Summit, one place closer to heaven.

Some useful links to anyone planning to visit Snowdonia:

http://www.visitwales.co.uk/

http://www.eryri-npa.gov.uk/

http://www.star-attractions.co.uk/

All photographs are taken by Yue & all rights reserved.