Panettone - italian sweet for Christmas

Panettone is a large cylindrical bread which is traditionally served around Christmas in Italy. Pan means bread, but by adding tonethe word means large bread. Panettone is originally from Milan and recipe has at least 500 years, but wasn’t widely produced until the early 1900s. 

Unlike the quicker made recipes where fresh or dried yeast are added to ingredients, 

authentic panettone uses a starter, similar to a sourdough starter, to raise the bread. The dough goes through 3 different leavening stages, and it takes two days to prepare one panettone.  Due to the unique leavening process, it’s difficult to make panettone at home.

 The dough for panettone is quite rich and contains plenty of butter and eggs. Aside from the butter and eggs, most of the flavor of the panettone comes from the add-ins. The most traditional have dried fruits, candied citrus, lemon and/or orange zest and may be doused with amaretto before serving.

If you buy an artisanal Panettone you will notice immediately the difference with an industrial one: the freshness is what makes it delicious.  This year we found one pasticceria (pastry shop) where they make artisanal panettone with traditional recipe. It’s so beautifully packed so I'm sorry to unpack it.  

As it contain butter a piece of this panettone should be served warm. I put it for a few seconds in oven and it was so delicious!!!
Yummy!!!
Happy Holidays!

Free printable Christmas gift tags

Only a few days left before Christmas. In Italy Christmas is a big family holiday when all family band together usually in the hous of granparents. At midnight we open gifts and It's often difficult to find your gift becaise all packages and bags seem equal. Thats why this idea suggested itself to me - to print gift tags and write on the back side the name of person whose gift is, and maybe some words.  The tags are also a great way to personalize any gift.
Save and print these tags is a really easy way to save money at the holidays .
You can use these tags also in your scrapbooking project. I made them from vintage greeting cards that's why these Christmas gift tags looks so amazing and cute.

The size of the tags is 2x1.25 inch 48x32 mm and it's for standart 2" puncher. 

Make right click and save the image. Print it easily on home printer.  I recommend to print the tags on laser printer on 100 lb card stock. It's 8.5x11inch digital file which is standard letter size. Then cut off with scissors or puncher and make a hole. Then take nice atlas or organza ribbon, or maybe red yarn (like me) and pass it through the hole. With this ribbon you can attach the tag to the gift and make a beautiful bow)

Please, be aware that the digital collage sheet is not be sold as digital or printed collage sheet.

Happy holidays!

New collection of neclaces

Today I don't want to write anything, just post photos of my new collection of necklaces. They are absolutely romantic and femminine!

 Fabric necklace brown blue, white and red PLAID

 Brown fabric necklace

 Grey fabric necklace

 Light blue fabric necklace

Mint fabric necklace

Light brown fabric necklace

And that's not all. To be continue...

Ideas for new pillow covers!

This week I finally found a time to realize some ideas I had in my mind for many time. I made 3 new pillows and I hasten to write about them. These are tutorials for pillows I made and some I dream to make or buy)

1.   Pillow pillow decorated with crochet doilies

Tutorial I found here. but I decided to take one big doily and attaché it in the center of the pillow I already have.

  

2.   Upsycled sweater pillow

Use sweater out of your closet that has seen better days or find one on the local market or on the sale. Measure the insert to determine the size of the pillow adding 1/2 inch to each side for seam allowance . I cut off the sleeves and then cut off the top and bottom. Pin right sides together and sewed up all the seams, leaving a small opening on the bottom to stuff the pillow in.  Turn right side out. Add the insert and hand-stitch close

So cozy!

3.   Taffeta pillow

One more pillow I made from a piece of amazing taffeta fabric found about year ago in the shop. The photo can’t show how it’s beautiful!

4.   Shag pillow or ruffled pillow

You can also made pillow decorated with ruffles like here

This one is next to make))

5.   Boho pillow

Pillow made from vintage Uzbek rug is absolutely amazing! It is soft and silky, and feels like rayon. I dream to buy this one:

More about my ideas and my creations you can read in News section of my site: http://www.katrinshine.com  Last article: Winter crochet skirt 

Rings on SALE!!

I make special SALE for crochet and leather flower rings! Now you can buy one only for 10$!!! Take your chance!
SALE section of my Etsy shop

Trip to Ovindoli, Abrizzo

November is a time to go in the forest and take chestnuts. Last year we gone in Calabry and this year we made long weekend in Abruzzo. First days of November we prepared our suitcase, put them in the car and gone in Abruzzo, in the small town Ovindoli. When we arrived (of course my husband did not ask before if there are chestnuts) it turned out that the town is on too high altitude from sea level (chestnuts grow at an altitude of approximately 700 meters) . The nearest place where they grow, 30 km from the city.

Иut that will not stop us)
Was unearthly beauty around, all the trees weared autumn colors (this is what I miss in Brindisi, where almost all of the trees are evergreen). We decided one day just to walk in the surrounding mountains.
So I present to you a few pictures that I took while walking.

Risotto with zucchini flowers and saffron - Risotto con fiori di zucca

Today I wrote about new recipe. It's Risotto with zucchini flowers. A few days ago I gone at the local market to buy a piece of pumpkin. After I bought it I saw fresh zuvvhini flowers and decided not to miss opportuniti to make this risotto. The piece of pumpkin I left for other day. So, let's begin!

It's easy to make recipe and need about 20 min. 

You will need :

about 200 gr of zucchini flowers,

300 gr of rise

1 onion

1 l of vegetable broth (you can use also water)

a sachet of saffron

70 gr. grated Parmesan cheese

butter

pepper

50-70 ml of white vine

 Wash the zucchini flowers, dry them with a paper towel, remove the pistil. Thinly slice flowers:

 Cut the onion finely. Put butter in one sausepan and saute the onion.

 Add the zucchini flowers

After a few minutes add the rice and toast it, then pour white wine.

Start adding gradually the ladles of vegetable broth, as soon as you see that the water is absorbed. Melt the contents of a sachet of saffron to the pan and stir well, so that mix well with rice. Continue to add broth, until the rice will be cooked. Don't forgot to add salt and pepper.

Before serving add Parmesan cheese and let stand for 5 minutes.

Black friday Cyber monday sale!

Take the occasion! Black friday Cyber monday sale!
You can receive 20% off in my graphic shop KarisaGraphic.etsy.com and
15% off in my jewelry and accessories shop Katrinshine.etsy.com!
Use coupon code “Katrinblackfriday” at the check out.
Coupon code will be active from November 23, 2011 to November 26, 2012 only.

Fall giveaway winner!

I'm happy to announce the winner of Fall Giveaway!

Entry #74 from Oksana V. was choosen as a winner! Congratulations!

Your necklace will be packed and sent to your address in a next couple of days!

Congratulations and thank you for participation and comments, everyone! I'm do apologize for not responding to individual comments, but I highly appreciate them and very grateful to all of you!

Wedding accessories

I like white color, especially in summer. But it's also color for wedding. 
If you look for in a great wedding, you should pay attention to details.  The dress may be the latest and greatest piece from Vera Wang's exclusive collection, it doesn't do much if there aren't the perfect accessories (or intricate details) to play it up. So I present to you this set of white broosh and shoe clips. They are available in my Katrinshine shop.

These shoe clips designed for your wedding day or any special occasions. The center of every flower is decorated with white and gold  seed beads to make it more shiny. There is a professional shoe clip on the back for security. So you can clip this beautiful accessory onto any of your lovely shoes or purse with no problem. With these shoe clips you can save money on wedding shoes, because one of the easiest ways to make it is with shoe clips! These white shoe clips are embellishments designed to change the look of your favorite pair of shoes.

Brooches are one of those exquisite and timeless accessories. You can attache this brooch to your wedding dress or party outfit.

Trip to Halle (Saale)

Today I post remained photos from my trip to Leipzig and Halle (Saale). 
Welcome in Halle:

In the end I tasted local beer) It was good!