Category Archives: Spirit of Place

New Curated Recipe for the Fall/Winter Festive Season! 🧡

“Festive Maple Pumpkin Bread”
A crowd-pleaser that is tender, moist and rich in flavor. Easy to make, too!

I have been making this pumpkin bread recipe since my restaurant years, and have recently revamped it and made it more festive with the addition of cranberries, pecans and a rum glaze.

$4 - link in profile to purchase the downloadable PDF e-book

In there you will find:
- exact recipe that is fine tuned and perfected
- recipe-specific tips for optimal results
- overall baking tips for the less experienced
- essential steps images
- steps summary
- live Amazon links to special ingredients & utensils (just in case)

AVAILABLE IN ENGLISH AND ITALIAN

Happy Baking!
🧡
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#curatedrecipes #pumpkinbread #bakingforfall #bakingfortheholidays #pumpkinseason

New September ’26 Calendar Wallpaper

I will give into being cliché and say: “Can you believe tomorrow is September already? Because I can’t!”

Don’t get me wrong, I love September - it’s my birthday month after all, and when the weather holds (which it does here in California - though not necessarily in my area of Italy) it can feature a very pleasant, softer summer.

But then comes October, which is still ok, except it’s the beginning of socks and coats weather.
THAT is what I don’t like, as it goes on and on and on and on and on and on….

My ideal weather is Honolulu, by the ocean: 82°F max during the day, 75°F min at night, and trade winds to keep the humidity and mosquitoes away.

Which is why September’s calendar wallpaper looks refreshing and spring-like, with this lovely bunch of chamomile daisies that I could not resist at the store.
I hope it will lift your spirits as it does mine.

Go to the link in profile @lifeoutofbounds for the free download (for all your devices) and have a wonderful September!
xoxo
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#calendarwallpaper #chamomile #flowers #daisies #freebie

AUGUST ’26 FREE CALENDAR WALLPAPERS

Have you ever made home-made butter? It is so easy and so good!
Swipe the carousel to find out what you need and the 4 simple steps.

And fresh, home-made butter is featured on the new Calendar Wallpaper for August. And I can’t believe it’s already August, can you? We are already halfway through summer, when I could have summer (though maybe not quite so hot) all year round.

As always the digital wallpaper is available as a free download for all your devices through my links in profile @lifeoutofbounds

I hope you will enjoy it and have a fantastic August…. and maybe make butter (see quick recipe below).
xoxo
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What you need to make butter:
1) fresh, heavy whipping cream
2) electric mixer (hand held or stand up)
3) only if desired: sea salt and your favorite fresh herbs for flavoring

Steps:
1) whip the cream till it separates from the buttermilk (about 10 minutes)
2) press together the butter and remove it from the liquid (which you will filter and save for another use), and wash the butter well in iced water (3 times)
3) if desired, season it with salt (go easy on this) and/or herbs
4) make a log and wrap in cling wrap, or place it in a serving bowl, and refrigerate
😋

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#homemadebutter #butter #recipe #homemade #calendarwallpaper

🍑 NEW CURATED RECIPE 🍑

Italian Pesche | Filled Cookies in 3 Versions: Classic, Lemon & Tiramisu

Pesche (pronounced paeskae) are an Italian classic that is made in two different ways depending on the baker and the area.
The main difference is in the base “structure” that will hold the filling: this base is either composed by two “pasta frolla” (Italian tender short crust) cookies, or two brioche buns.
But no matter the technique, they are always, always moaning good!

My favorites, and the ones I share in this recipe, start off as cookies, but by the time they are done, they are transformed into tender pastries, or pasticcini, that will disappear fast. Yes, everyone looooves them!

They are called Pesche, or Peaches, because they look like, and often are the size of, peaches.

They are not difficult to make, but they are multi-step, so rather labor intensive, especially if you choose to make them in assorted flavors like I often do.

As always, the downloadable PDF includes:
🍑 exact recipes (in grams) that are fine tuned and perfected
🍑 my own recipe-specific tips
🍑 overall baking tips
🍑 images for essential steps as needed
🍑 summary of prep steps
🍑 live Amazon links to special ingredients and equipment

🍑 Available in English & Italiano

Price is: $5.50
You can find the link to the shop in my profile @lifeoutofbounds under My Curated Recipes
Or you can comment PESCHE and I’ll be happy to DM you the link.
Happy Baking!
🍑
M

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#peschedolci #italianpeschecookies #filledcookies #baking #curatedrecipes

pesche dolci, ricette, biscotti, tiramisu, lemon curd, crema al limone, crema al cioccolato, alchermes,
limoncello, coffee, caffe, sandwich cookies

Have you ever seen the movie “Jumper” with Hayden Christensen (2008)?
I must have watched it about 8-9 times because of the instant teleportation abilities he had just by focusing on a postcard or image of a place.

Honestly, I can’t wait until that becomes the normal way to travel, as I could use some time at one of my favorite Hawai’i beaches without the major hassle that airline travel has become.
Can you guess which one this is? Or maybe you know…
Tip: it’s on the Big Island.

Can you imagine? Just focusing on this image and projecting yourself there for a few hours, no luggage, no airport, no TSA… and then pop right back home for a shower. Bliss!

While we wait, I hope you will enjoy the view in this month’s Calendar Wallpaper.
Download it as usual for free at the links in my profile @lifeoutofbounds or in the highlights.

Happy July!
xoxo
M

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#calendarwallpaper #hawaii #bigisland #beach #travel