Natalia Vodianova in Marie Claire 2001

I really don’t know why Lolita became an inspiration behind this photo story because, frankly, that’s the last thing I would think of. On the other hand, I do love the editorial shot by Jacques Olivar for Italian Marie Claire back in 2001. It’s one of those perfect ones you would want to keep forever.

Photo source: Marie Claire Italia March 2001

Sweet Sunday: French flourless chocolate cake

I found a recipe for this cake in Michel Montignac’s book several years ago and it became one of my favourite recipes to use whenever I crave something delicious, light and healthy. There are quite a few good things about this cake. This impressive dessert with a mousse-like texture is easy to make and has a low glycaemic index, which basically means that it won’t affect your blood sugar and figure the way most other cakes would (subject to portion control – still no miracles here, I am afraid). It’s not only flourless, it’s also made without added sugar, butter or cream. All you need is chocolate and eggs. That’s it.

FLOURLESS CHOCOLATE CAKE

INGREDIENTS

310g dark chocolate (70% of higher) plus

100g dark chocolate for topping (sometimes I replace it with cocoa powder or ground walnuts)

broken into pieces

10 large eggs, separated

YOU WILL ALSO NEED

20cm round spring form tin, baking paper, two very large mixing bowls and electric mixer

IMPORTANT

The secret is to have your own as hot as possible and to work quickly once your chocolate has melted. Use the best quality ingredients for a rich but not overpowering delight.

TIP

This cake can be frozen to up to a month. Slice before freezing, so you can defrost just enough for a delicious dessert.

DIRECTIONS:

• Line a 20cm (8 inch) round spring form tin with baking paper, both the bottom and the side. The collar lining the side of the tin should rise a few inches above the top of the tin. Preheat oven to 250C (gas mark 9).
• Place a large clean dry bowl over a saucepan of simmering water, making sure the bowl does not touch the water. Put 310g chocolate in the bowl to melt, stirring often.
• Put the egg whites in a large bowl and, using a hand-held electric mixer, beat until stiff peaks form. Do not overbeat.
• Transfer the bowl with the melted chocolate from the pan to a work surface. Gently stir the beaten egg yolks into the chocolate. Add a couple of tablespoons of the egg white and stir just to combine. Quickly and gently fold in the rest of the egg white until the mixture has the consistency of a soufflé or light mousse. Do not overmix.
• Pour the chocolate mixture into the tin and bake in the oven for 8 minutes exactly. Remove the pan from the oven and cool for 30 minutes, then chill in the refrigerator for 12 hours or overnight. Do not take it out of the tin yet.
• To finish, take the cake out of the refrigerator and turn out onto a large plate or a piece of cling film on a flat surface. Melt the extra chocolate in the same way as in step 2. Pour a thin film of chocolate over the cake and spread evenly with a spatula. Chill in the refrigerator for 5 minutes. To serve, dip a sharp knife in hot water and use to slice the cake.

Bon Appetite!

P.S. I promise to replace a picture of chocolate with a photo of the actual cake later today.

Weekend sign off

It’s been a very good week even if I say so myself. Now I am planning to relax, prepare a special dinner, make a delicious chocolate cake (check the blog tomorrow for the recipe), do a bit of shopping and, of course, browse the latest collections on style.com.

Wishing you a wonderful weekend!

Always yours,

Photo source: Elle France 2004

Outfit inspiration: London fashion week

Moving swiftly to London now and celebrating the start of the fashion week with a new outfit. Unlike the previous one, this look is a mix of high street and high end designers because that’s very British to me. “The local” high street is known for beautiful pieces and accessories, so it would be a shame not to use any.

On a P.S. kind of note. A couple of days ago yours truly bumped into a group of models rushing to their castings. Frankly, have never seen so many gorgeous girls at once. How designers manage to choose just a few? It’s seems like a very difficult task.

Felt-panelled wool dress & woven wool coat, both by Nicole Farhi, beaded bib necklace by Jaeger, Aviator Beatty platform sandals by Burberry London, Romeo quilted chain shoulder bag by Reiss, Fleur Oriental EDP by Miller Harris, lipstick in Sonnet by Illamasqua, nail varnish in La Moss by Butter London.

Photo source: lightstalkers.org

NYFW: simply red

There was so much red on a Fall 2012 catwalk… So much red… that it deserved a separate post. As I was browsing through the looks, my mind-based player kept switching between immortal “Lady in Red” and more morning appropriate and still quite recent “It’s beginning to look like Christmas”…

Designers took care of everything - daywear, evening wear, coats, dresses, gowns, skirts and knits that can find new happy homes comes autumn.

As for me… I don’t wear red, I am too shy and too Eastern European. I love it, but it makes me look quite unwell because my Slavonic complexion isn’t suitable for such a vibrant colour worn head to toe. I also believe that red clothes, just like red lipstick, require perfect skin otherwise every single pimple will stand out even more than the frock, so if you do love red, you’ve also got to love your skin and art of make-up.

This morning I am craving some extra energy and red colour works just as good as an intravenous shot of espresso.

Photo source: Vogue China October 2010, Carmen Mark Valvo, Catherine Malandrino, Diane von Furstenberg, Christian Cota, Victoria Beckham, Donna Karan, Herve Leger, Lela Rose, Jason Wu, Jenny Packham, Christian Siriano, Rebecca Minkoff, Rachel Zoe, Monique Lhuillier, Carlos Miele, Carolina Herrera, Narciso Rodrigues, Preen, Karen Walker, Rachel Comey, Reed Krakoff, Sophie Theallet, St John via elle.com and style.com

Stylish quote

 

“Fashion could be more relevant. It needs to be understood rather than just consumed.”

Stefano Pilati

Photo source: Vogue Turkey February 2011

NYFW: textures and silhouettes

Just a few looks from the Diane von Furstenberg and Victoria Beckham Fall 2012 collections that I really liked so far. I’m getting a feeling that I’m very much a dress kind of girl. Well, you know, some girls are a trouser type and others are the ones who feel and look better in a dress or a skirt. Of course, I wear trousers and jeans, too, more it’s got more to do with the situation and comfort rather than love and it’s another story…

Photo source: Diane von Furstenberg Fall 2012, Victoria Beckham Fall 2012 via elle.com