MAGNOLIA'S WORLD: Me, Monika and the Kitchen

Monday, May 12, 2008

Me, Monika and the Kitchen

Dinner April 12th at my place

Some weeks ago, me and my friend Monika decided to spend a day in my kitchen sharing our passion for cooking.

Monika and I became friends through work as during her many visits to Portugal we wouls always ended up talking about cooking , marriage and life so we got closer as we had so much in common.

First she has a very happy marriage which immediately puts us in real connection and after she loves house affairs, gardening , flower arrangements and she is an excellent cook.

Because she lives abroad, she has always lots of news about cooking and great tips on hosting at home and she makes the worlds best Lemon Cake (with Portuguese lemons I must say...), she gave me the recipe for the best FOIS GRAS Terrine and Hummus and she also introduced me to Home Gourmets http://homegourmets.blogspot.com/ but more she is an adorable multi cultural girl and I believe that our story has only began.

We then spent the morning shopping at the Gourmet Supermarket at El Corte Ingles and once home we put our hands into work.

We asked my daughter Bia to make her famous Spicy Goat Cheese Paste, followed by:

Smoked Trout Mousse - because we could not find Trout , Monika used Herring and it was just perfect too!

Eggplant and Prawns Pie

Chocolate Demi-cuit with Red fruits Colis

BUT...

Nothing worst for a cook than to spend a full day cooking and nobody to appreciate it, so we decide to invite some friends to join us and share some of the delicious flavours we prepared.

We finished with a good wine and lots and lots of talk.

I will soon post the recipes of our menu.

We had a fantastic day and I believe that only people with same passion for cooking can experiment this feeling!

Thanks Monika!

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Me

I Love ... The blue shades of the sky and the sea, the fire and earth shades of Marrakesh,the smell of my garden in Arouca, figs and fig trees. I love Meryl Streep, Cafe Majestic , my husband's sense of humour, travelling ,Jo Malone scents,candles, my routes, Manolo Blanick shoes, Chloé , Celine, Fendi .I love going out with friends , Rio de Janeiro, Nina Simone and Vinicius , the respect for each other , the Taj Mahal , my La Mer , having my bag always ready, the strengh of my mother, to put my make-up in the car, always have a pashemina in my bag, the union of my family, cooking, brunches and singing with my daughter Bia, Christmas spirit, the trip of my life to India , Nepal and Tibete, the restaurant Yacout in Marrakesh, the buzz of NYC , Helmut Newton, earing my grand father stories.I love people that know what they want, the Dean&Deluca in Soho NY , I cry when I see the English Pacient and Pay It Forward,I would love to give up my mobile, I love hugging old people, I love living , sushi, I loved when I was pregnant , I would love to adopt a child from a needed country and I would love to have a Andy Warhol. I don't like ,judging , conflict ,betrayal ,stupid people , trafic jams and all other cues and I certainly don't like mondays

MY FAVORITES

Abahna - A daily bathing ceremony is one of life’s simplest luxuries. It is a chance to prepare yourself for the day ahead or reflect on the day just gone.
Finger in The Nose - a lot of authenticity and a touch of rock and roll attitude. This collection of jeans and sportwear for children sucessfully unites the look of an adult with a need for a child's confort.
MASON PEARSON is the worlds best hair brush . Founded in England in the mid 1860's . The brushes were made by hand. Mason Pearson invented the "pneumatic" rubber-cushion hairbrush. It took until 1905 to improve his technique, much of which was still required to be done by hand.
Valrhona Chocolate was created in 1924 and since have been creating exceptional chocolates with respect to natural aromas of the various cocoa origins. This chocolate is particularly desired and recognized by professionals and gourmets.
Voss Water - Voss artesian water from Norway comes from an aquifer in the untouched nature of Southern Norway, protected by pollutants by layers of rock, sand and ice producing pure water, bottled at one of the purest sources yet found in the planet.

MY CITIES NEWS

Munich Airport - napcabs are an innovative solution for waiting passengers at the airport. They are designed to provide a private hideaway from aiport madness, and allow travelers to relax and re-energize.
Barcelona Hotel 1898 - just found this lovely hotel. Hotel 1898, located smack in the Rambla of Barcelona, in the old building of the Compañía de Tabacos de Filipinas, has services of the highest standards intended to offer guests the quality and comfort best adapted to their needs. It has three different types of suites and four categories of rooms, all sound-proofed with top quality finishing, and equipped with high technology. Moreover, Hotel 1898 offers seven period function rooms, five meeting rooms, a business centre and two libraries that fully adapt to the needs of all its guests. To keep in shape and relax, clients may avail of a gym, an outdoor swimming pool with solarium, an advanced spa system and a covered swimming pool.
London - it is one of my favorite cities in the world and despite the weather, you can always have a fantastic time in London. My favorite hotel is The Hempel and peace, tranquility, unique and individual are all words used to describe this hotel created by Anouska Hempel, not to mention the wonderful fusion restaurant I-Thai.
Munich - LENBACH PALAIS - Conceived by Sir Terence Conrad and themed after the seven sins - ENVY - GREED - LUST - SLOTH - WRATH - VANITY - GLUTTONY, has quicky became a landmark on Munich's night scene and more than just a restaurant , is a place to be, with a busy calendar of music events.
Amsterdam - I have just been in a nice quite small restaurante called BLOEM GRACHT located in the canal with same name nr.47. My favorite hotel is HOTEL ROEMER with only about 10 bedrooms is located in the heart of Amsterdam in a beautiful manor house. They have great brasilian staff so you can speak portuguese and feel completely at home.