January Love&Inspiration

tammikuu 31, 2015 Sini│My Blue&White Kitchen

It's still winter and yet I can feel spring in the air. The light is changing which at this latitude mainly means that we're finally getting to see the sun more often. This week, I was totally amazed to notice that it wasn't dark outside at 2:30pm! I may or may not have danced a happy dance. Anyway, I'm looking forward to those sunny February days and walks on frozen lakes. After that, I'm ready to welcome spring.

I'm wishing you all a great weekend and to all my pals in North America a fun Super Sunday!

What has inspired me lately...

» Glorious, Green Minestrone with Kale Pistachio Pesto

» So glad I stumbled upon Renée Kemps' gorgeous blog! (Thanks to the interview she did on Food Bandits!)

» This Smokey Shrimp Chowder must be cooked asap. And this Oxtail Macaroni Gratin.

» Sarah of The Vanilla Bean Blog is working on her first cookbook! It's about baking. Obviously. *crazyexcited*

» Two takes on winter citrus: ricotta crêpes and an upside down cake + I have to make this blood orange marmelade (thanks, Suvi of Suvi Sur Le Vif!)

» Pure Green Magazine isn't only a really fabulous magazine about thoughtful, green, and sustainable living but they also have an inspiring podcast! So far, I've especially enjoyed the episodes with Huckle&Goose (they offer curated seasonal meal plans and I've been honored to work with; they're featuring my Nordic Pea Soup this week!), Lindsey Love of Dolly and Oatmeal and Laura Wright of The First Mess.

» Lindsey, one of the ladies in this food blogging community who inspires me the most, is also working on her debut cookbook! I'm 100% sure that I'm gonna madly fall in love with it. (no pressure, friend!)

» Awesomeness in a bowl vol. 1 by Reclaiming Provencial and vol. 2 by Fairing Well

» Please tell me you've already discovered From The Kitchen, a gorgeous NZ-based food blog

» Some recipes from the web that I've tried this month and that are worth mentioning: Turmeric-Miso Soup, Spicy Red Lentil Stuffed Bell Peppers, shakshuka (recipe can also be found in David Lebovitz's My Paris Kitchen), naan, and chocolate granola (that's what I'm having in the pics!).

» I'm a sucker for Irish Coffee, so this would be perfect for summer: Dublin Iced Coffee

» I want something like this

» GRANOLA!! Cranberry Orange Granola from Cookie & Kate & Granola with Earl Grey (!!) Flavor from What Should I Eat For Breakfast Today

» Love the feel of Ordinary Daze, a new, inspiring blog

» Are you trying to nail down the perfect sourdough bread loaf? I think this guide on The Clever Carrot is fabulous!

» Savoy Cabbage Strudel + a video to get lost in

» I love Belén's work and I'm beyond excited to see her on Freunde von Freunden sharing her gorgeous meals with us.

» Oy, Finnish followers! Be sure to listen to Helsingin Ruokaradio every Tuesday at 5pm on Radio Helsinki. This far, I've really enjoyed the show!

» Also mainly for my Finnish followers, check out the Finnish band ELE (the singer is Eva Louhivuori, better known from the duo Eva&Manu), who are bringing out their debut album this February, and their song Kun Kello Seisoo. I love it and am looking forward to seeing them live on stage.

And here follows the obligatory & most exciting question of all: what are you cooking/baking this weekend? I'm making pizza with Jim Lahey's no-knead pizza dough! Toppings? At least a variation of the following: prosciutto, chorizo, mozzarella, ricotta, and arugula. Maybe some caramelized fennel too?

December Love&Inspiration

tammikuu 2, 2015 Sini│My Blue&White Kitchen

Traditional Finnish Christmas Date Bundt Cake | My Blue&White Kitchen

Happy New Year, folks!

As I thought no one would bother reading a blog post on New Year's Eve, I decided to post my regular link love post a few days later than usual. Without further words from your's truly, I'll let you have fun with these links that made me so very excited in December!

P.S. Let's make this year worth a toast (not bread, booze), shall we?

P.P.S. Thanks for being there, saying "hi", making my recipes, and encouraging me in what I'm doing. Thank you, thank you, thank you. 2015 will be a year of changes and challenges, and, therefore, this space will occasionally take a slower pace. In this whirlwind called life, I aim for balance and hope to get better at it. A challenge for sure!

Okay, let's enjoy some links now!

» Ginger Sweet Potato Dal with Coconut Leeks – the perfect dish to welcome a new year

» I didn't manage to make Lindsey's chocolate barks this year but will totally make them another time! I mean, how could one resist a pairing of pomegranates and pistachios?

» For me, Sprouted Kitchen has always been one of the most inspiring blogs. Their first cookbook, The Sprouted Kitchen: A Tastier Take on Whole Foods, has been on a heavy rotation in my kitchen, and especially after this post (with a killer recipe!), I can't wait for their second book, The Sprouted Kitchen: Bowl + Spoon: Simple and Inspired Whole Foods Recipes to Savor and Share, to come out.

» Man, what a post!

» The ultimate podcast list by Sara of Cake Over Steak

» PICKLED GRAPES!!!

» I've never heard of this before but I definitely need pistachio aillade in my life

» So many hearts

» And another stunning cake (Naked Champagne Orange Cake!) to welcome 2015

» ...and another one

» Move over burrito, bibimbap and biriani, it's all about creamed cod roe. Oh and to love or to hate creamed cod roe? For me, there's only one answer: LOVE IT!

» What a beautifully styled and photographed shakshuka

» I'm really excited for Pure Green Magazine's round two of their inspiring #PGMinseason project which will be launched later this year. So happy to see Sanda of Little Upside Down Cake (her work is stunning!) being one of the community leaders!

» The most amazing cocktail of 2014...and probably 2015 as well: Passioned Green Tea Whiskey

» A day that starts with a breakfast like this one can only be a good one. [By the way, have I ever told you that Suvi of Suvi Sur Le Vif is one of my most favorite photographers? Just feel the mood in her pics!]

» For all my German-speaking followers: I was honored to be featured on NORR – Das Skandinavische Magazine last month. They even translated the Finnish Cinnamon Roll recipe into German!

Above, you see a traditional Finnish Christmas date bundt cake. No worries, I've marked in my calendar, in capital letters, BLOG ABOUT DATE BUNDT CAKE, so it will make a reappearance on the blog in late 2015.

November Love&Inspiration

marraskuu 30, 2014 Sini│My Blue&White Kitchen

Happy Advent Sunday, folks! November was full of delicious links, good music, and thoughtful posts. Below, you'll find some of my very favorites. I'm currently working on something special for next week and turning the quinces I brought with me from Spain into luscious membrillo. This is my first time working with quinces so wish me luck!

Some exciting things I would like to mention: the Almond Cookies with Amaretto were featured on Food52's 8 Food Blog Links We Love this week. And for all my German-speaking readers: I had the honor to be featured on Zeitmagazin's weekly Sonntagsessen series today. Hope you enjoy!

» Obsessed with these two songs (both discover via Turntable Kitchen).

» This Chocolate Chestnut Cake from Skye is on my to-bake list.

» Belén's Raspberry Cream with Buckwheat Crispies reminds me of Whipped Lingonberry Porridge which I made again a few weeks ago.

» Molly making lefse (traditional Norwegian flatbread made with potatoes and flour) for the New York Times!!! One word: epic.

» These Gingerbread Bundt Cake pictures from Linda Lomelino are insane! Pure beauty. I also loved this interview on Coco Cake Land. Nordic melancholy? Yes.

» So glad I stumbled upon Gather & Feast, a lovely Melbourne-based blog!

» This Fig & Anise Pull-Apart Bread is just killing me! (And I'm definitely not going to start on how awesome the elk story is...)

» Maintaining a Long-term Blog

» How haven't I known that Pumpkin Butter is a thing? Awesome!

» What a gorgeous Persimmon & Pomegranate Salad with Burrata

» Whole Grain Coconut Oil Pie Crust, y'all!

» I need these boots.

» Twice Baked Sweet Potatoes with Pumpkin Seed Dukkah – what a genius recipe and top-notch photography!

» This Chai Masala Pumpkin Pie with Black Tea Caramel is probably the most gorgeous pie I've ever seen.

» The post that made my day

» Malted Apple Tarte Tatin and Poached Pears with Pecan Granola

» Meg made Baked Oatmeal inspired by the recipe I blogged about last winter!

» I'm OBSESSED with the Serial podcast.

» Caramelized Fennel Bulbs with Goat Cheese

» He has all my respect. Also, can't wait to get my hands on his book, Hand Made Baking!

» Can't wait to bake this Savory Feta Cheese & Kalamata Olive Cake from Foolproof Living!

» Omg, omg, omg! The new Star Wars trailer!

» Made Beth's luscious Soft & Sweet Buttermilk Bread as well as Spicy Butternut Squash & Chickpea Stew from Amy Chaplin's At Home in the Whole Food Kitchen. These recipes are keepers!

>>><<<

And for all of you who, like me, still haven't got any Christmas presents yet, a reminder: with the promo code LOVEBLUE&WHITE you get 15% off from all STITCH products until January 31th!

Mama goat & baby goat(<3) or how I got traumatized
watching a goat giving birth.

October Love&Inspiration

lokakuu 31, 2014 Sini│My Blue&White Kitchen

Another month has come to an end and soon it's socially acceptable to bake Christmas cookies, make holiday plans, and decorate ones home with lights. It still feels like fall (probably cause it still is fall), so I'm probably waiting until the fields are covered with snow and I can smoke my breath before getting excited about the holiday season. To be honest, that could be any day now.

In the meantime, I'm going to take a break from the daily grind, jump on a plane to visit a dear friend, say "Buenas tardes!", and have a good time. Should you have any recommendations for places to visit or eat (mostly eat) in and around the Costa del Sol as well as helpful phrases in Spanish, feel free to leave a comment below or send me a note. Also, I still haven't figured out my holiday read... Any favorites?

Wishing you all a spooky Halloween!!

» This duck is what my dreams are made of.

» I want to have these for lunch! I'm so happy I stumbled upon The Clever Carrot! Such a nice space.

» A cocktail with a grilled cheese garnish? Bloody genius!

» Ridiculously excited about veggies + goji ginger tahini cream

» I mean... *speechless*

» What a beautiful scenery to enjoy a lazy Sunday breakfast with dear friends. Can't wait to get cooking from the Sunday Suppers cookbook!

» Boozy (Bourbon!) Cocoa Dumplings

» Made this, a recipe from David Lebovitz's phenomenal book My Paris Kitchen. Served it with braised lamb shanks and used orzo instead of Israeli couscous as it's immensely difficult to get here. Totally delicious!

» She sure knows how to write...

» Can you spell galaktoboureko? No? Well, you can still eat it.

» Speaking of Greek cuisine, I also want to make these. Okay, and drink that Japanese beer.

» She has a lovely new space and is working on her first cookbook! Got to love Yossy Arefi.

» This zucchini bread

» Have you already seen Joy the Baker's newly designed site? Love it! All those watercolors! BOOM!

» Eat (lentils) as the Romans do – Be sure to watch the video and stay tuned for more.

» I think everyone needs these Crispy Eggplant Polenta Bites in their lives.

» I finally got my hands on Kimberley Hasselbrink's Vibrant Food. This book is a gem! I've already made multiple recipes, such as the candied ginger granola. According to my mom, this is the best granola I've made in all these years. And believe me, I've made many.

» This fall harvest gathering. Make also sure to check out her delicious rabbit recipe.

» Shakshuka+Hummus

» I want to marry this soup. And this one. And this.

» Yesterday, after a day of mushroom foraging, I came home to read this fabulous guide to mushroom foraging by the ever so inspiring Aran from Cannelle et Vanille. (those pics!!)

» Mimi Thorisson's Médoc

» BATMAN PUMPKIN!!! + Apple Cider Crème Fraîche Caramels

» Can't work in total silence? Feel like you're most productive when working from a café? Coffitivity may be the answer.

» The cutest cookies ever: Chocolate Sugar Cookies with Pink Condensed Milk Frosting

» I've had the honor to test some brand new GIR products, such as their silicone lids. Hear me, these lids are phenomenal! This is your chance to get your hands on these great products before the holidays.

September Love&Inspiration

syyskuu 30, 2014 Sini│My Blue&White Kitchen

It has been a gorgeous September with an abundance of fresh, seasonal produce. Slowly summer fruit and vegetables, such as tomatoes, berries, and stone fruit, are replaced by children of fall. I'm especially looking forward to even more mushrooms as well as to pumpkins and chestnuts. Oh and to baking; lots of it.

I'm leaving Germany soon but will stop by the Viktualienmarkt in Munich before boarding my flight. I'm going to grab some amazing things and turn them into something delicious back home. Maybe I should buy some quinces or mirabelle plums; they're both are hard to find back in Finland. I also need to visit that stall with an impressive selection of fabulous preserves and condiments, such as jams, chutneys, and mustards. Thank you Nicky for the recommendation!

What fall produce are you most excited about? And what would you make with a bunch of quinces?

» I LOVE Ottolenghi's new book! It's, once again, a masterpiece. Seriously, get that book.

» And go get Green Kitchen Travels! It's as brilliant as Luise and David's first cookbook. Can't wait to feature a recipe from it, although, it's gonna be so hard to decide which one.

» Mimi Thorisson's first cookbook, A Kitchen in France: A Year of Cooking in My Farmhouse, comes out in October and I can't wait to get cooking from it. I'm sure it's going to be a gorgeous book filled with delicious recipes, lovely stories, and top-notch photography.

» Beautiful post. Makes me miss summer more than ever.

» I could have this for breakfast every single day. So eager to try that nut milk!

» About Finnish food culture on Honest Cooking

» It's not too late: Sea Salt Iced Coffee with Sea Salt Cream

» New blog love: Portland Fresh

» Latke Waffles, anyone?

» I have a huge virtual crush on this Caramel Cardamom Pear Jam.

» A new series on seasonal eating. Got to love Cookie+Kate!

» Made this delicious eggplant curry from The Bojon Gourmet. Highly recommended!

» Harvard Common Press on Twitter: "Looking for Scandinavian food in the States? Don't rely on IKEA check out @mybandwkitchen"

» Learn to make proper Masala Chai

» Totally obsessed with Brooklyn Tweed and their gorgeous patterns. Fall doesn't only mean more baking but more knitting as well!