A local friend that has origins in Napoli asked if we wanted to go on a Food tour of Napoli you know the answer was a resounding “yes!” So we took the 6:58 am train from Nettuno heading to Napoli. We met our friends in route and two and a half hours later we were disembarking at the Naples train station.
Today on my morning run I noticed a subtle change in the seasons. The streets of late August that had been teeming with beachgoers in bathing suits are now replaced by fully clothed individuals.
We were invited to the beautiful area of San Felice Circeo about an hour south from our house along the coast to have dinner with friends. The evening started at 5:00pm as we drove into the scenic area of San Felice Circeo and parked along the harbor.
Today we visited the area of Castelli Romani with the lakeside towns of Castel Grandolfo and Nemi. Castel Grandolfo is considered by some as one of the most scenic places in Italy and is the site of an ancient volcanic crater that is now Lake Albano.
Today we have taken a morning off and are currently sitting outside at a cafe right around the corner from our house. We come here often for cappuccino and a pastry, that is the normal Italian breakfast, Jeff is loving it. Today Jeff had a pear and chocolate croissant and I had a cappuccino, I have my jogging clothes on and am trying to will myself to go on a run.
I love Vietnamese food, and here in Italy is impossible to eat at a Vietnamese restaurant. So if I want to eat Vietnamese, I must make it. Fortunately I can find the ingredients pretty easily. So I pick up a package of celophane rice sheets and an array of vegetables in my shopping bag and head home to whip up my own Vietnamese Spring Rolls.
Whole wheat waffles are one of my favorite breakfasts. This summer we have celebrated each fruit on a Sunday morning under the cherry tree in the cool of the morning. We walk outside with our plate heaped high of crisp waffles while the scent of vanilla waifs through the air behind us.
Several months ago when I was up to my elbows in cherries, I came across a recipe that was mind blowing for me. It was for Noyaux (pronounced Noy-you). Noyaux is the French word meaning “stones” and is referring to the little kernel inside the pit of stone fruit such as cherry, peach and apricot.
While we were living in Corn Island, Nicaragua I got pretty desperate for any food from home. One day my niece mistakenly bought powdered milk while on a grocery shopping errand. It can be pretty crazy buying groceries in a third world island store. I thought “What am I going to do with all of this powdered milk?”
Homemade Cannoli
(You will need cannoli molds and pastry bags to make these, I ordered mine at Amazon.com and they were under $10 and arrived in a few days. You can fry the shells a few days before filling them so it’s a great “do-ahead” recipe and a real crowd pleaser!
