Now the days are shorter and, honestly, they can feel a little melancholic—so I do the one thing that always brings me comfort on a gloomy day: I bake. In this slow living vlog from our mountain house, I make a cozy chestnut cream cake using the sweet chestnut cream (some people call it chestnut jam) that I preserved last time. I share the simple cocoa batter, how I layer in the chestnut cream, and a little note to my future self: next time I’m doubling the ingredients because this cake was absolutely amazing. I’m also tempted to experiment with a cocoa chestnut cream… hehe! While the cake is in the oven, I unbox a few cozy kitchen finds—especially the solid walnut serving boards I’ve been dreaming about for the mountain terrace table, piled with traditional goodies. I’m in the mood for earthy tones (browns and greens), and I’m already thinking about how to make the mountain decor even cozier. Then it’s all the little mountain rituals: moka pot coffee (older really is better, especially on the cast-iron stove), fresh air, wood for the fire, and the simple joy of living without all the modern comforts for a few days each month. I also share rustic gifts from my uncle—an old curvy knife and a copper cauldron—and how I restored the cauldron with dish soap, distilled vinegar, and coarse salt. And of course, comfort food: my “fagiolata” (beans + garlic… lethal, hahaha!), a leftover-style soup with potatoes, leek, and salmon broth, plus bruschettas with buffalo mozzarella—yes, even with fish. Trust me, it’s incredibly tasty.