Live in Presa

I know, I have been busy...

Our band will be in Piedimonte Etneo on the 16th of August for the "Cafe Concerto". If you're in the area come on by!

Where or where does the time go??

Yes, I am here!! These weeks have flown by while we've been busy enjoying the sicilian sun. I plan to sit down and get back to posting, as I have so much to share...

A presto... ;)

Our Second Anniversary...

On this special day, all the wild flowers of Etna were in full bloom for us!


For those of you who were able to join us two years ago, here in Sicily for our wedding, do you remember the yellow Ginestra bursting out along the streets? Today, on our motorbike, we drove the same streets and thought of that very day...

Auguri Debbi and Carmelo

Yesterday Debbi and Carmelo celebrated their 28th wedding anniversary. Thirteen of us dined on a fabulous feast!
Don't forget, Debbi and Carmelo offer a very relaxing Sicilian Vacation Rental Property. Their current guests joined us!

Auguri Francesco & Kelly Marie Russo

Here are some pictures from Kelly and Francesco's wedding...

Sagra delle nespole: Calatabiano (CT)

Time to gather the nespole! This past weekend in the town of Calatabiano, there was the Sagra delle nespole. Hoards of people gathered to taste nespole gelato, nespole jam, liquor, cream, crepes, and many more creations. To kick of the night the mayor of the town helped serve the guests slices of a 12 meter long nespole cake.



Next weekend the town is celebrating A CALATA DI SAN FULIPPU. Check out a video from a few years ago here. I won't be able to make it next weekend, but I've heard it is something not to miss...

Pellegrinaggio a Vena

This morning, bright and early, the town set off on their annual Pellegrinaggio a Vena, pilgrimage to Vena. Vena is a fraction of Piedimonte Etneo, just north 5km. The Sunday of the festa delle Madonna, devotees make this pilgrimage and share in a Church service all together. (I didn't take my camera out much today, unfortunately. I was busy walking... :)

Church service was held at 10:00 in Vena, and the church was packed! Afterwords, everyone gathered in the square and enjoyed the fresh Vena air. It was a glorious morning...

Back home!

That's right, back home in Sicily! We visited many beautiful places these past few weeks, but I must say that it feels great to be back. One thing is true, in my opinion, nothing can beat the Sicilian Simplicity!

Fresh from the garden vegetables, what can be better?

Beautiful plump fave beans...

Sweet, juicy peas...

May is here and everything is in bloom! What a beautiful welcome home gift...

Our neighbors were staying cool in the shade...

¡Adiós para ahora, regresaremos!

Barcelona sunshine...






It's now time to go back home, Sicilia here we come!

A Night in Tunisia

When in Tunisia...

A walk along the streets of Sidi Bou Said, Tunisia. This lovely blue and white village is perched on the cliffs overlooking the Bay of Tunis.

In the distance, the emerald sea with the mountain of Bou Kornine and the southern beaches of Tunis across the Bay.

It was a Sunday evening and the streets were full of locals. Family and friends gathered together in the cool evening air.

Along the cobblestone streets, we followed the sound of music and singing up to a small room. We discovered a group of women enjoying the afternoon together. It was here that I turned and noticed Alessia Marcuzzi and two of her frineds standing right next to us. They were also enjoying the celebration...

I met a friend and got to work...

So many beautiful things to see here... In Carthage, the museum displays mosaics, sculptures and artifacts from the period before Carthage was destroyed by Rome in 146 BC.

Saint Louis Cathedral (French: La cathédrale Saint-Louis de Carthage) is an old Roman Catholic cathedral located in Carthage, Tunisia. Situated on the peak of Byrsa Hill and near the ruins of the ancient Punic and then Roman city, the cathedral is no longer used for worship but hosts concerts of Tunisian music and classical music.

St. Louis Cathedral, built by the French in 1890 and dedicated to the 13th century saint-king who died on the shores of Carthage in 1270.

Ella Fitzgerald A Nigth In Tunisia

The moon is the same moon above you
Aglow with its cool evening light
But shining at night, in tunisia
Never does it shine so bright

The stars are aglow in the heavens

But only the wise understand

That shining at night in tunisia

They guide you through the desert sand

Words fail, to tell a tale

Too exotic to be told

Each nights a deeper night

In a world, ages old

The cares of the day seem to vanish

The ending of day brings release

Each wonderful night in tunisia

Where the nights are filled with peace

Né babà, quanto si’ bello!

Whether it's the gigantic Babbone, the Baba, or the little Babarini, here in Naples they are all good!

The sun was shining with all it's glory today as we strolled through the buzzing streets of Napoli... Our trusted viamichelin suggested a quaint little place to eat, Napoli Mia, via Schilizzi 18/20.

Napoli Mia, intimate dining serving genuine local dishes.

Villefranche

Villefranche is a wonderfully French village on the French Riviera offering a unique opportunity to experience everything French. You may not want to wander any further than this quaint fishing village, as the walkways of Villefranche's parks, historic district, and village are simply breathtaking.

Villefranche is just a stone’s throw away from Nice, Cannes, and Monte Carloso, so next week we might head over that way...

Buon viaggio

We're going to be away for a few weeks, but I hope to chime in from time to time... We will be discovering places along the Mediterranean coast!

A presto!

Buona Pasqua a tutti !

Yesterday we all got together to make our "Cuddura cu l'ova" for Easter. We had such a nice time making all different shapes and creating works of edible art!


Everyone was hard at work...










Buona Pasqua a tutti!!

Almond and Amaretti Cake

The other night I made an Almond and Amaretti Cake for dinner with friends. It was a big crowd pleaser...

Ingredients:
7 tablespoons of flour
7 tablespoons of sugar
150g of melted butter
200g of amaretti cookies
almond extract
100g of finely grounded almonds
3 eggs
1 tablespoon of baking powder
Puffed pastry (buy the premade variety if you are short on time)

Place the amaretti cookies in a food processor and grind them finely. Then add this to a large bowl with all the other ingredients. Line a baking pan with oven paper and place the puffed pastry inside the pan. Fill the pastry with the mixture and fold the extra pastry over the filling. Bake at 180° for 40 minutes, but don't open the oven for the first 30 minutes. Stick a toothpick in check for doneness.

Simple to make with an impressive presentation...