The traditional ITALIAN CIAMBELLONE in two colours

If you like to cook, here for you a unique Italian cake, the ciambellone. 

Have you ever tried this cake when you were on holiday in Italy?

This is an old traditional cake, usually prepared during the Winter time. Loved by children, but also by adults, the cake is perfect for breakfast or for an afternoon snack. 

So here the recipe for you!

INGREDIENTS

• 3 eggs
• 300 grams all purpose flour
• 200 grams sugar
• 1/2 glass of oil
• 1 glass of milk
• 1 teaspoon of baking powder
• some butter to grease the pan
• cocoa powder

Empty bowl 

Ready to go in the oven

Ciambellone 

And then.... what are you going to do?

Easy, here the INSTRUCTIONS

Preheat the oven at around 180 C, if not forced. First of all beat the eggs with the sugar until you obtain a nice zabaglione, then add the baking powder, the milk and the oil, and finally the flour and mix until evenly combined. You can either use a whisk, as well as a food processor. YOUR CHOICE!

Grease your baking pan with butter and then add some flour. Move the pan until all the surface is covered with flour to prevent the cake stick while it cooks in the oven.

Add half of the butter into the pan. Then add cocoa into the half batter still in the bowl and mix until blended, and pour gently over the other batter already in the pan.

Cook between 30 and 40 minutes, depend on the oven.You can check if it's ready by piercing the cake with a toothpick. If it comes out clean, it's ready!

BUT REMEMBER DON'T OPEN THE OVEN FOR THE FIRST 20 MINUTES OTHERWISE IT WILL COLLAPSE.

NOW... Try the recipe and then let me know what you think!

A presto!

The Italian ciambellone 

A day outside Rome: Hadrian Villa in Tivoli

If you have intention to spend a day outside Rome, Hadrian Villa in Tivoli is the perfect destination. This is an exceptional complex of classical buildings created in the second century A.D. by the Roman emperor Hadrian, who decided to combine the best elements of the architectural heritage of Egypt, Greece and Rome in the form of an ideal city, after having travelled to the eastern provinces of the Roman Empire.

Maritime Theatre in Hadrian Villa at Tivoli

The site is so big and the gardens are so beautiful, so if you have children and you love to have a unique experience, you have to come here! The complex was constructed outside Rome, just for him to escape the pressure of the city of Rome....and if you think this was really another city....it was completely independent and had a big library, the Maritime theatre, the palace, the temple of Venus, large and small thermae and much more...   

 Canopus at Tivoli

Tivoli is a special destination point for students and people interested in ancient history! It is a fantastic opportunity not to be missed! 

I was there in April with a wonderful group of students and teachers!

The weather was fantastic and it was very very relaxing!

Group of students from Australia

WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT SPENDING A DAY IN THIS AMAZING VILLA?

Alla prossima!

L'infinito

If you have a good knowledge of the Italian language and you want to practise here for you one of the most famous and beautiful text written by Giacomo Leopardi, estrapolated from the "Canti".

Brisbane

Sempre caro mi fu quest'ermo colle,
e questa siepe, che da tanta parte
dell'ultimo orizzonte il guardo esclude.
Ma sedendo e mirando, interminati
spazi di la' da quella, e sovrumani
silenzi, e profondissima quiete
io nel pensier mi fingo: ove per poco
il cor non si spaura. E come il vento
odo stormir tra queste piante, io quello
infinito silenzio a questa voce
vo comparando: e mi sovvien l'eterno,
e le morte stagioni, e la presente
e viva, e il suon di lei. Cosi' tra questa
immensita' s'annega il pensier mio:
e il naufragar m'e' dolce in questo mare.




NEED TO PRACTISE YOUR ITALIAN?

A presto!