Carnival in Italia

Howzit

Carnival, or in Italian 'Il Carnevale', is a traditional Italian festival celebrated before the beginning of Lent. It is celebrated in many regions across Italy each with their own significance, the most popular being the Carnival of Venice (Carnevale di Venezia). A celebration with parades, masks, wine, fried pastries, all ending on Shrove Tuesday (Martedì grasso)  preceding Ash Wednesday (Mercoledì delle Ceneri) the beginning of Lent (Quaresima), a period of forgiveness, penance, fasting, prayer and new beginnings.

In short 'Il Carnevale' generally signifies revelries, entertainment and feasts which are given up during the Lenten period.

It's a tradition that dates back to medieval times, times when pagans wearing masks danced around fires, praying for rain and warding off evil spirits and curses. All that remains today are the masks and amusements.

Frittelle

I'm not getting into all that celebrations only enjoying some crostoli and frittelle, typical carnival pastries, and I will enjoy a pancake or two on Shrove Tuesday, (Pancake Day) which is celebrated in the UK, then for 40days I will give up some luxuries, like chocolates and reality tv :p

Happy Pancake Day to all! 

12Feb13

Banana Walnut Muffins

Howzit

So its my mother-in-laws birthday and I baked her one of her favourites Banana Walnut muffins
Happy Birthday Mamma
Enjoy xoxox

Ingredients

100g walnuts, toasted, chopped and cooled
230g cake flour
130g sugar
1tsp baking powder
pinch of salt
pinch of bicarbonate of soda
1tsp cinnamon
2 eggs, beaten
120g unsalted butter, melted and cooled
450g ripe bananas, mashed
1tsp vanilla extract

                                    

Preheat oven at 180°C

Grease a 12 cup muffin pan with butter or non stick cooking spray (or insert paper liners)

Bake for 20-25min

Makes 12 muffins

                                     

Toast the nuts on a baking sheet in the oven for about 10min, let them cool

Combine all the dry ingredients together

flour

sugar

baking powder

salt

bicarbonate of soda

cinnamon

cooled nuts

In a seperate bowl combine all the wet ingredients

eggs

vanilla extract

melted butter

mashed bananas

                                  

Add the wet mixture to the dry mixture and lightly combine together with a wooden spoon, just until the dry mixture is covered. The batter should be chunky NOT smooth.

                                  

Spoon the batter into the greased muffin pan. 

                                   

Bake in a preheated oven at 180°C for 20-25 minutes.

Check with a toothpick if the muffins are ready, toothpick should come out dry and clean.

                                     

Let the muffins cool

                                    

*When I mix together muffin batter I count 10-15 folds, this way the muffins do not end up dry.
*Grease the pan with some butter using wax paper
*Use eggs that are room temperature

Happy Days

Nutrition: 100g Banana 

Bananas are good for the heart, bones, digestion, and high blood pressure. Bananas are also a good energy booster.

• Vitamin C 14%
• Vitamin B6 19%
• Folate 5%
• Potassium 10%
• Manganese 14%
• Fiber 10%

% Daily Intake Value* (these are approximate amounts)