Captures from my walk yesterday

I was out walking all day long yesterday and saw so many lovely things to capture with my camera, here are a few for you. I hope spring has arrived at your place by now and that you are enjoying every moment :)


And yaay - by the way, I have a free shipping worldwide coupon code for my etsy shop (valid until the end of May) - just use the code YAYSHIPPING when checking out.























Isn't spring so beautiful? I just LOVE it so much.


Have a wonderful day!
xoxo,
Maria

Spring happenings

There is a lot going on outside right now, it is spring happening :)
The snow is gone, the birds sing and build nests, the ants are repairing their anthills, the earliest flowers are in bloom and I even saw two butterflies today.



Glory of the snow (Chiondoxa forbesii baker)



Glory of the snow and Hoverfly



Fresh green grass



European Peacock Butterfly (*yaay* my first one this year :))



Ant with Isopod



Wood Pigeon building nest


Oh, how I love this, everything is awakening. And it all happens so fast. It is hard to understand that there where a lot of snow just two weeks ago.


Happy spring to all of you!


xoxo,
Maria

Chocolate Butter Cream Macaroons

Recipe (about 30 cookies)

CRUST
400 g of Almond paste
2,5 deciliter of sugar
3 egg whites

BUTTER CREAM (FILLING)
300 g unsalted butter or margarine
2,25 deciliter of icing sugar
3 teaspoons of vanilla sugar
3 egg yolks
1,5 tablespoons of coffee (instant coffee is fine)
2 tablespoons of cocoa

GARNISH
225 g of chocolate (I used dark 70% but you can pick which one you like the most)
30 g coconut butter

CRUST

1. Grate almond paste on a grater. Mix it with sugar and egg whites. Whisk until creamy, preferably with an electric beater.
2. Pipe the batter into flat round cakes, about 4 cm in diameter on parchment paper. Let them stand on the plate about 30 minutes at room temperature.
3. Bake cakes in middle of oven at 175ºC (347º F), for about 15-20 minutes (they will be golden brown). Allow them to cool on the plate.

FILLING

1. Let the butter/margarine stand in room temperature for 10 minutes. Stir butter/margarine with the icing and vanilla sugar until creamy. It is best with an electric beater. Add the yolks, one at a time. Season with the coffee and cocoa.
2. Spread the cream on the underside of the crusts.
3. Place the cakes in the refrigerator (30 minutes) or in the freezer (15 minutes) until the butter cream hardens.

GARNISH

1. Melt the chocolate and coconut butter.
2. Dip the creamy part of the cake in the melted chocolate once or twice. Let the chocolate harden in between.

STORAGE: Refrigerator 6-8 days, in freezer about 3 months.

Finished already? Then enjoy - yum!

Signs of spring

Finally some signs of spring here, oh how I have been longing for spring this year, the winter have been too long and dark. But now the birds sing, the sun is shining most of the days and the snow is almost gone. How can you be anything else than happy this time of year?



Spring is getting closer each day...



The snow is melting



The tulip leaves are coming up in the garden *yay*...



...and the pussy willow - these are so soft and cute like little kittens :)


Happy spring hugs from me!


xoxo,
Maria