Dessert Days

These are days of sunshine and blue skies.

These are the first days after icicles and snow.

These are the days before skirts and sandals,

these are the days before bicicles and walks.

A warm wind has started blowing and trees are whispering.

It’s time for blossoms to be born.

The kitchen glows.

While I cook I can look at the bright sky outside.

My cat sleeps on the sunny tiles.

For me, these are also the days of cakes and puddings.

These are Dessert Days, did you know?

Days perfect for cooking and eating homemade sweet things:

that’s what Dessert Days means.

Let me suggest you something.

Let me suggest you to go outside for a walk, alone.

Do not take your i-pod.

Just listen to the birds, to the cars,

to the snow melting and to dogs barking.

Then go home.

Make crème caramel.

Eat it standing by the window,

repeating to yourself that life can be really beautiful.

Let me suggest you to watch an old movie.

One of those black and white ones.

A slow movie with good music and nice dresses.

In the meantime, bake a cake.

A fondant chocolate cake,

crispy outside, chewy inside.

I jus warn you: it’s not a classic chocolate cake.

It’s something more.

It’s everything you have dreamed about.

It disappears quickly, just so you know.

Let me suggest you to make love.

Slowly, in a calm way.

Do not hurry.

You have the whole afternoon.

And then, if you’re hungry,

eat tiramisù spoonful by spoonful.

It’s sexy, it’s creamy.

It’s Paradise before dying.

Let me suggest you to go to an open air market.

Stroll among stands.

Smell, taste.

Look at smiles and eyes.

Take photograph of vegetables and fruit.

Buy anchovies.

And, if you can already find them, strawberries.

This is a strawberry dessert

but you can also make it with other fruit.

It’s up to you.

The only rule is to make a dessert, and then eat it.

It’s a Dessert Day, remember it.