Gypsy magic

The snow fell thick on the colored tents but this certainly did not dampen the enthusiasm and vitality that could be breathed in that fascinating gypsy camp. Will and Joy were in Romania and, after having filled their eyes with the sight of incredible castles surrounded by dense snow-covered forests and steeped in legends that gave Will a bit of goosebumps, they were now walking in the countryside. The gypsy camp had attracted our two heroes for the sounds of party and bells that rose in the air, the people were cheerful despite the cold. To Will it seemed like a sign he couldn't possibly ignore. Perhaps that trip stage would prove more useful than expected! Will and Joy were immediately greeted with great warmth and were invited to participate in the dances under the snow. At one point, Will's attention was caught by a lady who, wrapped in an orange cloak, was looking in their direction. In her ears the lady wore large gold rings and jingling bracelets on her wrists. Will was told that she was a fortune teller, whom everyone turned to for advice. Will, who did not believe in these things, burst into a loud laugh and, to prove that there was absolutely no truth, decided to let him predict the future. The fortune teller with a smile signaled him to enter her tent. The interior was cozy, with a table, chairs, a few pillows and so many strange objects that Will had no idea what they could be used for. These, said the fortune teller, are the memories of all my travels. You know, she said with a wink, I too have traveled a lot, my dream was to know the human soul and I think I have learned something. Actually, she added, this is my job, I try to understand who I am in front of, what he or she really wants and what can make him or her happy. Are you disappointed? Did you think I was talking about magic? I use the cards only to better understand the person based on the given answers and the chosen figures, the real magic is reading beyond words. But please, sit down, let's get started. With expert hands the woman shuffled the cards and placed them on the table in front of Will who was invited to choose eight cards. The images were all fascinating and colorful, depicting towers, stars, sun. The gypsy asked Will a series of questions, she asked him which cards represented his present, which his past and which his future. Eventually, the woman looked at Will very intently. I can only tell you one thing, she finally whispered, and be careful to listen to me if you want to find peace, which is the best Christmas present anyone can ever give you, if you seek happiness too far, the true one, perhaps, you will not find. So saying the gypsy got up and disappeared leaving a poor Will, confused and puzzled, to mull over those words.

Cozonac is a typical Romanian Christmas cake but probably every party will be an opportunity to prepare this delicacy! Combine 500 grams of spelt flour, 2 eggs, 70 grams of brown sugar, 20 grams of brewer's yeast dissolved in 150 ml of soy milk, 80 ml of extra virgin olive oil and a small glass of rum. Form a dough and leave to rise for two hours in a warm place. Prepare the filling by combining, in a saucepan, 50 ml of soy milk, 2 tablespoons of cocoa powder, 100 grams of walnuts, coarsely ground, and 50 grams of brown sugar. Stir and cook over low heat for a few minutes. Pick up the dough and roll it out with a rolling pin creating a rectangle with a thickness of just over a centimeter. Arrange the filling on the rectangle of dough and roll up. Place the cake in a plum cake mold and let it rise for another hour. Bake in the oven at 175 degrees for 50 minutes.