by Krista | Mar 13, 2014 | Summer
The weather right now boasts cool mornings and gloriously hot, sunny afternoons, just like Tuscany in late Summer. So today I want to don a favorite sundress and strappy sandals and join you in an amble through the shady streets of Montepulciano, Italy.
Our first stop will be for coffee, of course, thick, dark and strong with luscious crema swirled on top just so. Or perhaps decadent Italian hot chocolate, so thick and lustrous you can spoon it up. We need such fortifying beverages to strengthen us as we climb the steep, cobbled streets.
We will go anywhere we like, turning off down side alleys, some dark and cool, others brilliant with sunshine warming hanging baskets of red geraniums.
I will have to stop at the scarf shop for I cannot leave Tuscany without a soft, beautifully patterned scarf to take with me. Scarves are my memory carriers, the items I turn to on hard days when I need reminders of wonderful moments.
With many stops to catch our breath, we will finally emerge at the summit of Montepulciano and find a cool spot under the trees to take in the stunning vistas of shimmering green hills, cypress spires, and tidy vineyards.
After all that happy wandering, it is high time to rest our bones and do a wine tasting of Montepulcianos finest bottles.
What would you like to do on a day of meandering through a Tuscan town?
by Krista | Aug 9, 2012 | Bits 'n' Bobs
Bread is rising on the counter, beef simmering in the crock pot, and a Christmas pudding cooling on the stove. Yep, a Christmas pudding in August. I had a hankering. 🙂
After bustling about the kitchen most of the day, I am more than ready to find a good place to sit where I can be warm, put my feet up, and rest.
Like this lovely spot at an agriturismo near Montepulciano, Italy. Add a good book and a chilled glass of limoncello and I’d be a happy girl indeed.
Or this sun-warmed wooden bench just across the valley, with a vista of Tuscan hills and clear blue skies.
Perhaps this one, clustered around a little wrought-iron table with a few girlfriends, laughing and talking as we sip chilled Sangria and enjoy stunning views of Montepulciano perched on the hill above us.
Maybe this spot would be best of all.
How I’d love to curl up on this wicker lounge bed and have a luxurious nap in the glorious Tuscan sun.
How about you? Where would be your ideal place to sit in the sun?
by Krista | Sep 22, 2011 | Plucky Thursday
After a lovely amble through a Tuscan farm in the early morning light, my family and I headed over to my brother and sis-in-law’s villa at San Gallo for breakfast and a visit.
How beautiful it looked, the bricks golden and russet in the warm light of mid-morning, .
There were hugs all around and then we tucked into delicious cold sausages from our Tuscan-style BBQ the night before, and a plate of fresh peaches and warm figs picked from the yard.
It was so nice just being together, everyone in comfy summer clothes seated on couch, creaky wooden chairs, and the cool tile floor, visiting happily and discussing wedding details as we noshed.
After breakfast the others had some work to finish up, so I went off for a ramble around the property.
The countryside may have been baked brown by the intense August sun, but it was still beautiful, the sky a stunning blue.
The pool looked so inviting, especially the next day when temperatures soared and we all eagerly plunged into the icy water.
I loved this shady arbor next to the pool, perfect for snoozing and reading and catching up with friends and family.
I wandered further and found this solitary bench with splendid views of hillsides to the front and gorgeous Montepulciano to the left.
At last everyone’s projects were completed and we headed out the gates for an afternoon exploring the wonderful city of Sienna.
What is your favorite summer breakfast?
(For more information about San Gallo Agritourismo, visit their website here.)
by Krista | Sep 20, 2011 | Gulliver Tuesday
My first night in Montepulciano, Italy I found myself sitting at the train station in the glow of the setting sun, watching the local gang of old men assemble at cafes and under trees for their evening ritual of chit-chat with their mates.
My family arrived just as the sun disappeared and whisked me off to a stunning old villa rented by our friend Pia. She had invited us all over for a Tuscan BBQ to celebrate our first day in Italy.
It is a splendid place hidden far down a maze of gravel roads so twisty and turny that we couldn’t actually find it until Pia rode out on her bike to lead us in. It was well worth our haphazard journey though. Peaceful, secluded and so welcoming you really felt like you’d arrived home.
We were entranced by the splendid old wood-fired oven that was just perfect for grilling plump sausages, pork chops, chicken breasts and steaks. My brothers, Ryan and Dana, were grill masters for the evening, churning out massive platters of succulent meats that smelled heavenly.
We sipped glasses of Prosecco and nibbled on marinated beans and crisp potato chips while Pia and the others whipped up one delicious veggie dish after another: raw fennel drizzled with olive oil, red wine vinegar and salt and pepper, fresh tomato salad, fresh cucumber salad, oniony steamed spinach, pasta with sausage, green salad with radicchio, on and on it went.
When everything was ready we piled our plates high and sat outside to eat by candlelight under a moonlit sky, marveling that we were really, truly in Tuscany.
After thoroughly stuffing ourselves, the makers of our feast relaxed with Prosecco or played wild games of Foosball while the rest of us clustered around a couple sinks to wash up mounds of dishes and wrap up leftovers.
It was a grand evening, a splendid way to get acquainted with new friends and soon-to-be family members as we started our week of wedding festivities.
What is your favorite must-have dish at a BBQ?
by Krista | Sep 16, 2011 | Fabulous Friday
I love old doors. Absolutely love them. 🙂
One of my favorite things in Italy is the abundance of beautiful old doors set in crumbling stone walls weathered by centuries of sun and wind.
The town of Montepulciano is no exception. While there for my brother’s wedding I loved heading up to this lovely old town to wander the streets with my family, eating gelato and popping into any little shop that took our fancy.
We explored hidden alleys, jostled to take pictures of laundry billowing in the wind, and sighed in unison as we glimpsed old churches, beguiling cafes, and adorable dogs waiting patiently for their owners.
After our wanderings we were famished, so we scoured various alleys to find the perfect restaurant for lunch. We found one tucked away in a darkened doorway and happily perused the menu. I was craving vegetables so I ordered grilled chicory and delicious Tuscan-style peas cooked with bacon and onions.
When I got back to Amsterdam I was missing Italy so much I had to recreate the peas. Bacon in Italy is nothing like the bacon we’re used to in Canada and America. It is more akin to the Canadian Bacon we’re used to seeing on pizza, much leaner and usually round instead of in strips.
It’s such a simple dish to make. Heat olive oil in a pan, fry the onions and bacon, add the peas and heat through. Add a bit of salt and pepper and you’re done!
I love it. 🙂 A little bit of Italy that cheers up a stormy day in Amsterdam.
What is your favorite vegetable dish?
We will go anywhere we like, turning off down side alleys, some dark and cool, others brilliant with sunshine warming hanging baskets of red geraniums.
I will have to stop at the scarf shop for I cannot leave Tuscany without a soft, beautifully patterned scarf to take with me. Scarves are my memory carriers, the items I turn to on hard days when I need reminders of wonderful moments.
With many stops to catch our breath, we will finally emerge at the summit of Montepulciano and find a cool spot under the trees to take in the stunning vistas of shimmering green hills, cypress spires, and tidy vineyards.
After all that happy wandering, it is high time to rest our bones and do a wine tasting of Montepulcianos finest bottles.
