Love Thursday : Pumpkin Love

Last weekend when we went apple picking, I saved a few favorite shots for Love Thursday.

It may be a bit of a stretch, but I thought this one looked heart-shaped.

But the kids had the best time picking out their favorites to take home. I couldn't resist showing you. These are the good 'ole American apple-pie moments that make everyone smile.

And if you thought that was cute, check this one out! I love the missing tooth!

Now that's lovin' your pumpkin!!

Happy Love Thursday everyone!!

Tour del Gelato: Pozzetto

Another stop on the Tour del Gelato is none other than Paris!?

Yeah, you can take the girl to Paris, but she can never leave the Italiophile far behind!

One of the first things I did when I got to Paris last year, was drop my bags and head to Pozzetto for some gelato in Paris. It was not very hard to convince Chris that this should be our first stop in the City of Light. He never refuses food.

Located in the Marais, Pozzetto is a tiny little store front tucked into the 4th arrondissement.

Though they have a bazillion flavors on their website, there were only a dozen on offer underneath the silver coffers at the walk up window on rue du Roi de Sicile.

I am used to seeing and appreciating (read drooling over) the rainbow of flavors in Italian Gelaterias, so I am always a bit disappointed when they are kept hidden.

I quickly shake off my chagrin and start perusing the selection on the board.

Classic flavors like Nocciloa, Pistachio and Cioccolato mingle with fresh fruit flavors like Fragola, Melone and Limone. Fig, Marrons Glacés (chestnut) and Panna Cotta are welcome surprises.

We decided on small cups, costing 3 Euro. Cones would have left us a drippy, hot mess.

The Gelateria girl (gosh, is there a better term for this, similar to a barista, maybe a gelaterista?) was friendly and entertaining. In Italy they seem to place the flavors in small clumps around the cup, but here, they just keep smooshing flavor after flavor, flat, on top of each other.

Chris chose Nocciola, Pistacchio and Melone and I had Yogourt Magro, Pesca and Fragola. If Panna Cotta and Fig (listed on the website) had been on offer that day, you can bet those would have figured into my selection- somehow.

The flavors were all delicious- you could tell that this stuff is made with quality ingredients, but I would expect nothing less in Paris.

What surprised me the most was how much I loved the Yogourt. I mean, I have never met a gelato flavor I didn't like, but this one had just the right amount of milky tang and subtle sweetness, and was so smooth and creamy. It earned the distinction of my favorite that day.

So, next time your in Paris and crave something other than the famous Berthillon ice cream, head to Pozzetto for delicious, authentic, Italian gelato.

You won't be disappointed!

***

Pozzetto

39 rue du Roi de Sicile

Paris, 75004

Travel Tip Tuesday : Tackling Foreign Menus

Contrary to what you may think, I am not one of those adventurous eaters. Oh, don't get me wrong, I love food- French, Italian or otherwise. I consider myself a foodie, but I just don't like to eat anything weird.

I tried duck when I was in France, which was a first for me- and I loved it! But it was duck breast served in a peach sauce. It wasn't like a duck beak with intestine sauce. There I draw the line.

One of my biggest fears when I first travelled to France and Italy was the food. Europeans have some different staples than Americans. They eat lots of things that I haven't. Or wouldn't, for that matter.

While I know a fair amount of French and Italian, definitely enough to get around, I don't know enough to decode every detail on a foreign menu.

Frogs legs, tripe, rabbit, brains, livers- you name it, it's all on offer.

So how do you avoid eating something that you don't want?

Marling makes terrific menu decoder books, specific to each country. They are small enough to fit comfortably in your purse or pocket and not seem too conspicuous if you need to slip it out at the table to translate your menu. They are organized by course, (appetizer, entrée, dessert) and give details like cooking preparations and ingredients, which is also helpful to those with food allergies. Versions for France and Italy cost under $10 and are well worth it , in this squeamish diner's opinion. I would never leave home without one.

If free is more your style, Budget Travel magazine also has a version of a menu decoder. It is available in HTML or PDF format, so you can just print it and go. This one is very basic, not quite as comprehensive as Marling's books. You may be able to translate the animal or bird, but not necessarily the part of the body, which may be a deal breaker.

Some restaurants and cafes may offer menus with English translations or separate English menus, so it never hurts to ask. But keep in mind, most places that have English on the menu may be catering more to tourists. Which is perfectly fine. Nothing wrong with that.

However, if you are like me, or you want to eat where the locals do, this may be a bit of a turn off.

Armed with this information, I urge you to go forth and experiment. At least as much as your constitution will allow.

Now, if I could just get someone to rename sweetbreads- cause it sure ain't what you might think!

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Don't forget to click over to My Bella Vita for more Travel Tip Tuesday!

Apple Picking in the Valley

Here are some shots of our recent trip to Barton Orchards. We went with our good friends and their niece and nephew, who were more than adorable.

Easy transportation to the picking fields

Rows of apples against a gorgeous backdrop

Apple picking is more expensive than you might think. $18 a bushel bag is a bit much for me. We chose a half bushel for $9. MacIntosh, Red Delicious, Golden Delicious, Granny Smith, Honey Crisp, Cameo, Empire, Cortland, Macoun and Fuji are all gown and picked here. Talk about a selection!!

Not only did we pick apples and pumpkins, but we bought apple cider and my absolute favorite, apple cider donuts!! We bought a dozen and made short work of them before we even left the orchard.

Now the only thing I need to figure out is what to do with all the apples we picked!

Any requests?

What are your favorite things to make with Apples? Have you ever gone apple picking?

Say Hello to my Little Friend

You may or may not have noticed that some of my pictures might look at little different.

Though my other camera takes really good pictures, it is about 5 years old.

Since I have a new trip to Montreal and Quebec City coming up, and because I scored some new writing work, I decided to treat myself to a much needed upgrade.

So, say hello to my little friend: A Panasonic Lumix 9.1 megapixel digital camera.

Ain't she purdy? Just look at that big showy screen!

It is a tad larger and heavier than my previous camera,but it has lots of bells and whistles that so far, I like.

>>Intelligent Auto, which for a photography novice means it will adjust the flash and lightening in each situation to give you the best shot.

>>3 1/2 inch LED screen

>>Macro setting

>>An express zoom- hit one button and shazam!- it zooms to full capacity.

>>Scene selections- pick from scenery, portrait, sunset, candlelight, night portrait, night scenery, beach and starry sky to give you the best conditions. Even choices for pet and food come in handy for those close up blog shots. There are 23 in all! Can you say easy, peazy!!

>>10 x optical zoom with a wide angle Leica lens.

>>Face detection

>>Optical Image Stabilization- which means NO MORE BLURRY SHOTS! Thank you camera Gods! This is my personal favorite as my old camera did not have this.

I am feverishly reading the complicated manual and practicing like crazy so that come October 19th, I know how to manipulate the best pictures out of it.

I hope you benefit from this new purchase as much as I do!

***

What are your secrets for learning how to use a new camera? Do you have any tips for the girl that the point-and-shoot camera was created for?

Love Thursday: Morning Coffee

I am nothing until I have my morning cup a joe. And it just so happens that I love coffee.

Good coffee. Strong coffee.

Not that Dunkin' Donuts dish water.

I alternate between my cafe au lait and a good old cup of strong French Roast freshly brewed in my french press with a splash of half and half.

For an extra dose of love, I like to drink it outta this cup.

That's how much I love my morning coffee!!

How do you like your morning cup a joe? Do you have a favorite mug?

Happy Love Thursday everyone!!

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And how 'bout something to read with that cup of coffee? My new article, 8 Movies That Inspire Travel was just published today over at BootsnAll.

Tuscan White Bean Soup

Fall has arrived, with its chilly temps, crisp air and warm earth-toned foliage. With Fall comes the long-awaited arrival of hearty fare, like soups and stews.

This past weekend I had a craving for soup. I scanned the pantry and fridge to see what I could whip up. As luck would have it, I had the makings for a Tuscan White Bean Soup.

Keep in mind, I don't like exact recipes, I am cheating here by using canned beans and I have improvised by adding a few little touches of my own.

It may not be the traditional, authentic Tuscan recipe, but it's close and it was tasty just the same.

Tuscan White Bean Soup

good olive oil

a couple of carrots,chopped

a few stalks of celery, chopped

a small white onion, chopped

clove of garlic, minced

three tomatoes, chopped

can of white beans, rinsed and drained

several red swiss chard leaves roughly chopped

bay leaf

heel of parmigiano cheese

fresh thyme leaves

1 vegetable bullion cube dissolved in 4 cups boiling water

salt and pepper

***

In a large dutch oven, heat a generous amount of olive oil over medium heat. Saute onions until translucent. Add carrots and celery, cook until softened. Add garlic, cook for another few minutes. Add tomatoes, beans, thyme, salt and pepper. Pour the 4 cups of bullion infused water to the pot, add the bay leaf and heel of parmigiano to the pot, cover and simmer for about 15 minutes. Add chard, cover and let simmer for 5 minutes or so, just until the chard is wilted.

Ladle into bowls and serve with chunks of country bread.

Buon Appetito!

** Cooks note: If you add chunks of country bread to the soup, let it rest overnight and reheat the next day, you will have yourself a Ribollita- which is another Tuscan classic.

What are some of your classic fall favorite soups?

Travel Tip Tuesday : Agriturismo

If the thought of staying with a real Italian family, on their farm, while helping with chores like harvesting grapes or olives, or picking fruits and vegetables, and sitting down to dinner with an authentic Italian meal, comprised of local foods grown on the farm, you want to stay in an Agriturismo.

Let me be clear here, this isn't your typical vacation, this is a working vacation. But a unique, cultural experience you won't forget.

You'll get to learn about the area, the history, agriculture and more. Best of all, these Agriturismi are located in the Italian countryside, so picturesque farmland and stunning views will always be part of the deal.

Another bonus is that these farm owners know their area. They know the lay of the land and will offer up secret tips on little known, out of the way restaurants and activities, which aren't publicized.

Caution must be taken in selecting one though. Many offer delicious food, upscale accommodations and even swimming pools. Others are more rustic and offer a basic bare bones experience. These establishments are claimed to be regulated, but you could still wind up sleeping with the goats in the barn with an outhouse, if you are not careful.

Depending on what type you are looking for, at the very least, I would want to see pictures of the farm and accommodations, reviews of people who have stayed, maybe even the ability of talking to those folks and have direct contact with the owner/family member who runs the property.

Communicating by email back and forth or spending a few extra bucks on an actual phone call might be money well spent to prevent headaches (and maybe tummy and backaches) on your Italian farm holiday.

Here are several links of Argriturismi if you are so inclined:

Agriturismo Italy

Agriturismo.com

Italy Agritourism

Slow Travel Classifieds

Landscape Properties

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See what Travel Tips Cherrye has on offer today over at My Bella Vita!

My Inner French Girl

Last week it dawned on me that it has been a little over a year since my last trip to Paris.

*Sigh*

It is sad. I miss the city, I miss my friend, I miss the food and the language.

So, I have to get creative in order to bring back that lovin' French feeling. To get in touch with my inner French girl, if you will.

Here are some of my favorite ways to keep France alive in my heart:

Pop in my favorite French movie, Amélie, for a tour around Montmartre, like no other.

Practice speaking French.

Throw five French CDs in the stereo, hit shuffle, close my eyes and allow myself to be transported.

Make some crepes. Anything with Nutella.

Splurge on some expensive French wine.

Drool over a slideshow of my hundreds of Paris pictures, pausing to savour memories.

Delve into a new French Memoir.

Buy a bouquet of all-white roses or tulips for the kitchen table.

Visit one of my favorite local French cafés or restaurants for an authentic French meal.

Treat myself to some French skin care, Caudalie is my favorite.

Leaf through my many French Décor books and magazines, longing to make the changes in my own home.

Visit The Paris Apartment- she always has the best trade pictures.

Go shopping for stylish chic clothes, with that French flair.

Throw on a black trench and a scarf and go for a walk in the rain.

By a new French cookbook.

Take a trip to my local flea-market and scour it for Frenchie finds.

Visit gourmet markets, scooping up all the French products I can find.

But,the most exciting thing I am currently doing is planning a new trip, but not to France. I am going to Montréal and Old Quebec City. Three weeks and counting.

It's not France, but hey, it is French. French-Canadian counts right?!

yle="font-family: Georgia;">It is only a six hour drive, the dollar is actually worth something, I'll have no airline stress to deal with and it will be a great way to get in touch with my inner French girl. And hopefully it will hold me over for yet another year.

Hopefully.

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So, what do you miss most about France? What are some of the things you do to keep your Frenchness thriving until you can visit again?