Yarn Along - Italia

Santa Magherita, Ligurie

You know it's been a good holiday when you've managed to read a whole book (The Great Gatsby) and your knitting is visibly much bigger than it was before you left!  For our 12th wedding anniversary Richard organized a family break to Italy - a fantastic beach front hotel, perfect weather and to top it all off he did all the driving.

My Barn Sweater is coming along nicely.  I like that it is knit almost in one piece, for obvious sewing reasons, but this does make for long repetitive rows.

The sun rise from our hotel room balcony was beautiful...

...and the down town 'shopping district' so 'appetising'!

Santa Magherita

Oh, and I almost forgot.   Twelve or so years ago when we decided to get married we were building our house, and despite many well thought out arguments I couldn't convince Richard that a diamond engagement ring was as, if not more, important than a cement mixer/power tools etc.....
But now it's all finished, (is a house ever really finished), so guess what I got?

A delightful coffee cup! nah just kidding - a beautiful diamond solitaire ring!!! (my wedding band was my mothers).

Joining Ginny for this weeks Yarn Along.  

What are you creating this week?

My kitchen and beyond

Whilst walking to school this morning, Tino commented that summer was his favourite season as he doesn't have to wear so many clothes ( we're not even in winter yet buddy) but for me autumn is number one - I love the cool crisp mornings, the vibrant colours before the long white months ahead, and everything apple - apple sauce, pie, crumble and Matafan.

Such a simple, quick, few ingredients needed dish, it has to be a winner.  It's basically an apple (or pear) omelet!  Full of nourishing ingredients, a Matafan was a traditional 'casse-croute' (snack)  that farmers , in this alpine region known for it's apples and pears, would take out the fields with them.  Mine came out a little soft in the center and the under side was a tad well done but it tasted like a dream.   I finished it off under the grill but next time I think I will flip the whole thing over and cook it on a lower heat to make sure it has ample time to cook all the way through.

6 apples (or pears)

200g flour

100g sugar

75g butter

6 eggs

30cl milk

Mix together the flour, sugar, and eggs.

Peel and cut the apples into thin slices.

Melt butter 

Combine the flour mixure, butter and eggs and cook on the stove top in a heated, greased pan until set (about 20-30 mins)

* flip it over half way through cooking!!

Comprising of quite a few more ingredients than the Matafan, this Lat Mannsbrod (Lazy Man's Bread) is surprisingly quick and easy to make, and it keeps for days.  With a little homemade jam it makes for a delicious hearty breakfast or after school snack.

Last weekend Tino celebrated his 7th birthday and anything remotely healthy and nourishing in his cake was largely over shadowed by all the chocolate and 'bonbons' used to decorate it.  But hey, it's once a year so I say "let them eat cake"! 

We rounded off the 'gourmand' weekend with a visit to a local  sheep/agricultural festival, where I exercised much restraint by not purchasing any animals!!  Instead I spent my euros on delicious "Boungettes" - potato cakes!

30th foire aux mouton, Servoz

I'm working on my own version of the 'boungette' with the addition of a little garlic and perhaps some herbs...
I'll share it (the recipe at least) when I've perfected it to my liking!

Pumpkin Harvest

Two of my lovlies had already flow the 'patch' before I had time to do a little family portrait, (another is still thriving in a pile of manure!) but I've heard from a reliable source that they have finished up as soup, which if you ask me is quite a fine ending for a pumpkin!   This year however, as my recolt has been so plentyful I'm going to have myself some fun trying out a few of these delights.

 

  The question is, with what shall we start?