local markets :: little upside down cake

hello there, sweet friends! having a good day? yes? great! well, if not i may help to turn that tuesday into something more delicious at least! it’s been a while since our last local markets feature (oh whow, a month!), but as you know so much has been going on here, that sometimes, some things fall behind! but though falling behind are not forgotten, so here we are with another amazing person! yes, this feature is all about amazing persons (and looking at that page, it reminds me that the logo must be changed soon!!). so first question of the day: do you like to cook? second question of the day: do you like to eat? (i bet a lot of you will answer a profound no to the first and one excited yes to the second!). well here is someone that likes to do both and is particularly good on the first… and i assume she’s also good on the eating part!

sanda is her name and though i’m kind of breaking the rule of only allowing portuguese people here, she resides here, speaks fluently and she is such a nice lady, so as someone said, rules are meant to be broken, so… let’s get to know sanda pagaimo, the lovely lady from yugoslavia, who is the food blogger/photographer behind little upside down cake, and i may say, also a talented cook!

“hello i’m sanda and i adore everything associated with cooking! i was raised in yugoslavia around a large family where food was our core. my childhood memories smell of fresh bread and vanilla and the best moments were spent alongside my mother taste testing… today, i live in portugal and my kitchen always takes me home again — it is where i can relax, be myself, and see those i love happily eating what i’ve prepared.”

to begin with sanda was already a guest here with a muffins’ recipe, second i have personally met sanda first when i was attending my very first crafty fair. she was nice to come over and introduce herself and i was both happy to finally meet someone i already knew online, but i was also happy for finding someone familar on such a special day! and later we met again for a small get together of a few online friends, that decided was enough of now knowing each other face to face! and sandra brought a package of chocolate cookies that were heaven! i will most definitely buy those and then i’ll share!

and now the real reason i’m having sanda over today, she’s really talented at what she does and strives to live her life in a simple, but very down to earth way, appealing to the most honest and truthful values of taking care of those we love, by preparing them good and healthy food. she one artist in the kitchen and i believe that this should be celebrated and shared! she shares some of her knowledge (she won’t share all of her secrets, of course!) on her blog little upside down cake and delights us with her food photography. in fact she is so good at what she does, that she was a nominee for the homies 2011 – best food photography on a blog.

she loves what she does and she wishes to improve the way she does it that much, that she invested and traveled to france to meet the most notorious aran goyoaga of canelle & vanille for a workshop. i adored her photos from this workshop, they were at the most beautiful house, among charming trees… and delicious food, what else?

so, if you wish to explore more about sanda and her cooking business, please check her blog, her facebook, and read this if you wish to order something from her! i have a few cakes in mind, that’s for sure!

images: sanda pagaimo via little upside down cake (click on each image for further details on the recipes)

what is local markets? a community dedicated to the very best portuguese talented & independent artists that strive for an original work and exquisitely executed handmade design & photography. once a week, there will be a special feature for these artists, to spread the word about their talent, to introduce you to new & fresh work. local markets is an original feature from a place for twiggs. you can read more about this feature here and join the facebook page for news on this feature!