Winter evenings...

Very rarely I find time for spend perfect, winter evening, but when I have a moment I have to it use in 100%. In today's post I would like to present some interesting ways to spend the depressing, winter evening, so as to turn it into a cosy and nice rest in your home.

At home:

1. Watch an italian movie, for example "To Rome with Love" or "Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow" without forgetting a warm blanket and wool slippers...

2. Make your favourite tea and add to it a lemon slice and hint of cinnamon. There are many alternatives, make mulled wine or pumpkin spice latte!

3. Light sweet and spice-scented candles or incense stick, which will make that you will relax before a stressful day and it will surround a magic aura.

4. Listen to relaxing music- preferably italian rhythms! Maybe Eros Ramazzotti or Laura Pausini?

5. Make a home spa! Apply an energizing face mask. What does it even matter if a snow is falling outside the window?! Additionally put on your hands gingerbread-scented cream!

6. Make a warming bath! Put on it a bath bombs and sweet oils.

7. Read some italian books of Alberto Moravia or Dacia Maraini...

8. Bake a carrot cake or ginger cookies. It will help you go out of winter dejection.

Away from home:

9. Go ice skating with your friends! 

10. Take a dog for a walk. Let the snow crunching underfoot ;-)

How do you spend the winter evenings?

Alberto Moravia

 

Alberto Moravia is one of my favourite, italian writers of the 20th century. I read many of his novels including for example: "The Woman of Rome" ("La romana"), "Time of Indifference" ("Gli indifferenti"), "Two Women" ("La ciociara") and "A Ghost at Noon or Contempt" ("Il disprezzo"). However I have to admit that "The Woman of Rome" deserves to be called my favourite book of this writer! A book presents the story of young girl, who is a courtesan. This story is told from the perspective of main character. Author can analyze in detail the psyche, mind of heroine Adrianna in an amazing and original way. He can also impersonate in this character and writes as a sensitive woman. This novel is very realistic image of relationship both people. The language of this book is also marked by sophistication and richness of different stylistic devices. Alberto Moravia besides being a writer was a journalist, who described his travels in many works. He wrote a psychological novel, focusing on the functioning of the human psyche and sexuality. In a very realistic way he can render the depth of discussed problem. Many of his novels were adapted for a movie, for example: "Two Women" with beautiful Sophia Loren or "The Conformist". Alberto Moravia was a husband of Elsa Morante- a known, italian writer. 

I encourage you to read one of very interesting books of Moravia!

J. 

 

 

Cappuccino/ caffè latte macchiato

Cappuccino and caffè latte macchiato are the symbols of Italy! 

Cappuccino is an italian coffee with foamed milk and powdery chocolate for decoration. This classic italian coffee should be composed of 25 ml espresso and 125 ml foamed milk. The foam should have 1-2 cm of thickness and the consistency usually is liquid and dense, creamy. This drink is given generally in the cup on a plate. The name of cappuccino coffee derived from the brown habit of Capuchins (Cappuccini). In 1901 was invented the machine for making cappuccino coffee by Luigi Bezzero. Cappuccino was known in Italy at the beginning of the 20th century. After World War II the coffee making machines have come to many italian café, which disseminated even more drinking cappuccino by Italians. After 1950 this kind of coffee became popular also in England. However Americans didn't taste a cappuccino immediately. Nowadays the famous coffee is improved version (in my opinion) of cappuccino that is caffè latte macchiato- the coffee which consists of a lot of milk (more than 200 ml of milk). Caffè latte macchiato hasn't so strong coffee aroma and hasn't typical bitterness for coffee. Usually this kind of coffee should drink in a high glass and is used a long teaspoon. My favourite coffee is warming caffè latte macchiato with whipped cream and a hint of cinnamon!

J.