This new year started slow and relaxed as it ended. After the final mad rush that built up to Christmas Eve, everything assumed a more natural pace as soon as we landed in Venice to spend the holidays with my family.
Friends were seen, indulgent festive food was eaten. I read a whole book in a few days, snugged on the armchair next to the fireplace with my brother's cat purring heavily on my lap. I haven't read in such abandoned and uninterrupted way in years, my mind finally free from distractions and anxiety. I realise now how tired I was by the amount of hours I have been sleeping if left undisturbed (eleven) and tried to second this inclination as much as I could, with a little help from one too much glass of celebratory bubbly wine.
I write this as the Christmas tree sparkles in front of me, a clear morning sky and a bright sun in the background. The air is cold and pungent, perfect to wake you up after a long sleep. One more day off before we get back, a few more hours of festive celebrations. We haven't quite given up sweets and rich foods for the January detox regime just yet…there is still some panettone left for breakfast, good for dipping into a steamy cup of coffee. There is still Epiphany today, the last day of the holiday season, when stockings are filled with sweets and citrus and nuts.
One more sweet recipe, then, before we switch to salads and soups. It's a dark chocolate bark with sea salt, indulgent but quite forgiving – a good in-between treat from everything sweet to no sweets at all. A good compromise that doesn't taste like compromise at all shall we say. For toppings, I went with citrus and almonds, both always unmistakably present in my stocking when I was a child – citrus for bulking up the content, and candied almonds picked up from the Christmas market between shopping errands. Also, some pistachios for colour, and sea salt for crunch and a savoury note. It is so easy to make you might be tempted to make it again and again: you can then swap the toppings with whatever nut or dry fruit you have in hand, but don't skip the salt – it's what really brings its flavour to another level.
And oh, friends: a very happy new year!
