How did January go by so quickly?

Dad and V do Italy Itinerary: (December 30th-January 8th)

Verona

Bologna

Florence

Radda in Chianti

Cortona

Rome

(Vatican City)

Florence

Trieste... (Breathe)

Other Country Counts: 

Slovenia: Lbjujana and Postonja

Croatia: Rijeka

Trieste: All around...

Landmarks:

-First Class on a train (haha)

-St. Peter's Basilica, DOME- ON TOP!

-Verona-Roman Arena + Roman Theatre (Romeo + Juliet something...)

-Florence-YUMMY FOOD

-ALL THREE David's by Micheangelo (Florence)

-Rome

-Cave hopping

-People Watching (More like Fur Coat sightings)

-Bolognese sauce

-Tuscan Soup

-Wine

-Vatican... Vatican... more Vatican...

-Nice people :)

Trevi Fountain... after Dad said he didn't want to come back :)

New Years Frog... that's the old year... about to be burned!

Me and Dad lit up from the fire light of the burning frog :)

The Burning Frog... Good bye 2010... Hello 2011!

Verona... Oh... Fair Verona... Loved that place :)

Wine Tasting "Castello di Albola" Radda, Chianti... YUMMY!

Caves in Postonja, Slovenia (SO COOL!)

Roman Arena (I think this was the one in Verona)

Cool shot in the Roman Theatre

On top of the world... (On top of St. Peter's Basilica! = highest point in Rome!)

Trieste, Sunset

Happy Birthday LIZ MARTIN WOOD!

Love that lady!

Third time's the charm and making Breakfast for my Papa!

This morning I woke up and remembered I started to make a third loaf of bread on the morning of my dad's arrival and never baked it.  Now... this would be try number three at bread... maybe if two burned me, three would turn out better?

So I snuck downstairs, put the ol' loaf in and made a loaf for breakfast in the morning. AND it was/is really good! (sigh. relief!) I am actually going to make some french toast out of it i think.... but also leave some slices so Dad can have bread and butter with his coffee (like we Ricans like it!)

I am so glad dad's here. I am totally in one of those God ordained, "love-bombing" missions to just love the heck out of my dad and serve him while he's here. I hope he likes the french toast... and the italian coffee....

ok cooking and getting ready for the day...

Bread Making

Thoughts on Bread Making

(and making things twice)

So I have found that in my learning to cook… I have gotten really good at producing an excellent Bread or popcorn batch (on stove)… or cookies… or _________________ (insert what you will) on the first try without really thinking about it. 

My second attempt has proved a little smokey. I’m trying to wonder why that is… maybe I rush through the second time… maybe I …. Maybe I really don’t know…Anyhoo… posting pictures of my Christmas eve breadmaking. 

Bread #1 was perfect! Absolutely beautiful and tasty. 

Good Bread... but not in good lighting...

The Good Bread: Isn't she a BEAUTE?

Proud Bread Maker

Bread #2, I took risks. I tried replicating a Lizzy recipe that I didn’t really see her do, but ate the results. Somehow, I didn’t think about safely securing ALL the honey I inserted in the bread. So 25 minutes later when I saw smoke coming out of the oven, and the honey oozing out from all sides of the bread (10 minutes prior thinking the small amounts of oozing honey could be a good sign), and  trying to rescue the bread out, only to be spattered by a boiling hot bursted bubble of honey coming after me for being naughty… I think second tries just don't work out for me.... how about third time? I haven't gotten there yet...

Bread #2 in Dough Form... it was such a good idea...

Remnants of Boiling hot honey that oozed everywhere

Red area: 2nd degree burn... Later this would blister and look ugly

Bread #2 didn't look so bad either when it was finally out.
And you know what... it tasted good :)
(Sticky, but good)