Last post of the year.

Two days ago the earth trembled. A short but intense earthquake made my table shake, the chandelier oscillate and my heart skip a beat (it was just a matter of a few seconds). First thing I did after a family reunion and a quick look at the news about the earthquake, was to grab a cookie or two. Or 3. Maybe 4 cookies. Then we shared stories on the catastrophic earthquake that in 1980 hit Napoli and its surroundings (I was not born yet so I contributed to the discussion with a “what the hell”).

The 5 perfectly sweet and crunchy cookies I ate were my sigh of relief after a moment of fear. Even the ones I took from the batch I baked for too long, tasted wonderfully (can you spot in the pic above the burnt ones?). Whatever my mum may say about the lack of eggs in this recipe I took from a cookbook by Gina Steer, I would not change anything of it (except the baking time, which is halved in the recipe I report here).

These are crispy cookies from a dough that does not expand in the oven as much as the ones prepared with melted butter do. The honey flavor is distinctive and the chocolate – no surprise – is just too good as always. Well, you know, chocolate does not disappoint (it’s a simple cosmological principle).



This one is my last recipe of the year and also the first cookie recipe here (er… if I do not count these), on a blog that does not reveal much about my personal life and very private things but that I guess, in a way, tells a lot of me. For once I am going to be a little bit more open about what I like (aside from chocolate) and let this post be a sort of a notebook, like a page of a little book where I can scribble notes on the favorite and memorable things of the year. I have never been a big fan of lists and bullet points but I learned how much they can be of use when you just need to write down the essential, not to lose sight of what matters.

My Top 10 favorite things in 2013

As much as I love sharing my favorite things with you, I would really like to read about what you liked the most this year – may it be a book, a recipe, a song or whatever made you happy this year. I am glad you stopped by my blog and I wish you a terrific New Year.

Print Recipe Crispy Honey Chocolate Chip Cookies Ingredients 175 gr/6 oz all-purpose flour

1 tsp. baking soda

½ tsp. salt

75 gr/3 oz margarine

50 gr/2 oz caster sugar

3 tbsp. honey

2 tsp. vanilla extract

125 gr/4 oz hocolate chips Instructions Heat oven to 190ºC/375º F, 10 minutes before baking. In a small mixing bowl, mix together the flour, baking powder, bicarbonate of soda, and salt.

Cut the butter into small pieces and add to the flour mixture. Rub in the margarine with your fingertips until the mixture resembles coarse breadcrumbs.

Add the sugar, honey and chocolate chips. Mix together until a smooth dough forms (it will take at least 5 minutes).

Shape the mixture into balls and arrange on the oiled baking sheet, leaving enough space to allow them to expand. Flatten the balls slightly with the fingertips.

Bake for 6-8 minutes, rotating the cookie sheets after 3-4 minutes.

Cool on a wire rack. The cookies will keep in an airtight container for up to 2 weeks.

