First gym, then a cake!

Date ottobre 2, 2009

Yesterday was my first day at the gym. After a visit with a dietitian, a nutritionist, an endocrinologist and a psychiatric (it was all included) to understand why it was so hard to loose wight for me, the answer was only one: movement, movement, movement. I eat in a very healthy way, varying my diet, taking proteins, carbohydrates,  vitamins and mineral salts.  Once in a while a sweet or a cake, that’s all!

I’m doing exercise bike every day (or almost every day). I put an end to my swimming lessons because it was getting boring, after 3 years, and I’ll go swimming once in a while. What’s left? Gym with friends.

It was 10 years since my last time in the gym. Last time was last millennium. I used to listen to Celine Dion and Boyzone, my beloved actor was Tom Cruise and I used to study Greek and Latin at high school. We used to go to the gym with long tight pants and large, very large T-shirt. Looking at myself into the mirrors I had a terrible deja vu… I was so out of fashion! With my hair combed in a ponytail I was so similar to an high school student!

Then, the music. I’m so good when I move into my kitchen: bake, whip, blend, stir and smell, I’m harmonious and nice to see. But when I dance, or do gym, or step… oh My! I’m not like Madonna on a dancefloor, not at all! All I was thinking was an old Italian comic duo, Cochi and Renato, have a look here if you wanna have an idea! I DEFINITELY NEED A SLICE OF CAKE, A RICOTTA TART PLEASE!

Ingredients for the short pastry:

  • flour, 300 gr
  • sugar, 150 gr
  • softened butter, 150 gr
  • egg, 1
  • baking powder, 1 teaspoon
  • grated orange peel

Ingredients for the filling:

  • cow ricotta cheese, 250 gr (soft cheese as cottage cheese)
  • icing sugar, 100 gr
  • grated peel of 2 limes
  • juice of 2 limes
  • eggs, 2
  • pine seeds, 50 gr

Making short pastry. Beat the egg in a dish. In a bowl sieve flour and baking powder and make a well. Add softened butter, sugar and orange peel. Then pour in beaten egg. Combine all the ingredients with your hands: the dough will resemble breadcrumbs. Keep on kneading and form a firm ball dough. Wrap in cling film and keep in the fridge for a while.

Making the fillin. Whip eggs, ricotta cheese, sugar, lime peel and lime juice.

Making the tart. Use a large round baking tray and line it with short pastry. Prick tall the surface with a fork and pour in ricotta mixture. Sprinkle with pine seeds. Bake in preheated oven to 180°C for 40 minutes, until it will be firm and deep yellow colored.

Now I’m feeling better, even tough my legs are in pain! Next week will be better!

You should be interested also in:

  1. A cake for dummies
  2. Grandma Menna’s Kitchen: rice cake
  3. Crepes Cake
  4. The Tuscan pine nut cake – a recipe with a story
  5. Lemon & White chocolate cake

8 Responses to “First gym, then a cake!”

  1. flyfra said:

    yuuuuummm!!!

    [Rispondi]

  2. Myrtille said:

    I love ricotta tart. I have the same problem as you…my family and friends keep telling me I should stop eating cookies and cakes. I go to the gym 3 times per week but I hate diets!!!

    [Rispondi]

  3. The Duo Dishes said:

    As long as you’re active, there’s nothing wrong with a little…or a lot…of cake!

    [Rispondi]

  4. Kristen said:

    MMM the addition of pine nuts is brilliant. And as long as you are moving, no reason to cut out the things you love :)

    [Rispondi]

  5. Giulia said:

    @ Flyfra: Missing Italy? =P

    @ Myrtille: I know.. I know… how to loose weight if I keep on cooking? but it’s my passion, it’s part of me, as my soft body! =P

    @ The Duo Dishes: I’ll try to be active as much as I can!!

    @ Kristen: RIGHT!!

    [Rispondi]

  6. meatlessmama said:

    Your posts always make me smile. And pine nuts are genius!

    [Rispondi]

  7. Amber said:

    This tart looks and sounds absolutely fabulous! I’d love to try it someday. A great alternative to key lime pie or cheesecake.

    [Rispondi]

  8. twinky said:

    favolosa! so yummy! ciao!

    [Rispondi]

Leave a Reply

XHTML: You can use these tags: <a href="" title=""> <abbr title=""> <acronym title=""> <b> <blockquote cite=""> <cite> <code> <del datetime=""> <em> <i> <q cite=""> <strike> <strong>