Autumn

It's not quite here, the days are still hot and bright but the evenings are cooler and the daylight is slipping away from us, I know it's not far off...the allotment is looking a little dischevelled and is pretty much done with the summer crop, the pull towards sweaters & socks is becoming harder to resist...we've got the vineyard harvest 'vendemmia' upon us now then it's straight into Autumn.
But we've still got a couple of weeks yet and plenty on our to do list:
Batch of Passata
Make Grandma Smails Piccalilli
Project Dog & Bone (more on that later)
Chair & stool flea market search

Plus we have our newest purchase to make the most of and enjoy our 8ft dining room table (spending some of our wedding gift money) hence the search for new chairs & stools...

Family time

After a week of shopping and friends I was so excited to head to Wakefield for some much needed family time...obsessed with my 31/2 year old niece who had me wrapped around her finger with the simple words 'Auntie Faye' my heart melts and now it aches missing then dearly nothing like the love of a big brother, and girl time with an angel.

NYC & beyond..

I feel as though I've been swept up in a tornedo visited Oz and come back down to earth with a bump! My sleep pattern is all over the place and I'm home sick for friends & family.

The first part of my trip was in NYC, after cramming in days of shopping (work related) the evenings were spent chilling with friends. 

I met the newest addition little Dottie Rose, who sensed my fear of holding little ones! She was briskly returned to Mamma - she is perfect.

A couple lovely surprises along the way and New York held it's own as always I can't wait to return (soon) with my husband in tow.

Normally I've got new restaurants to recommend but this trip was inspired by friends beautiful homes and a very warm welcome.

tinys giant nyc - nice lunch spot lower east side

the bowery hotel - hotel lower eastside

peels nyc - nice for late lunch

the smile nyc - breakfast, lunch dinner

Grilling out in Connecticut

With a drive to Boston and a quick lunch stop in Cape Cod for another warm welcome with friends.

We headed out of the city to Brimsfield for the giant trunk show, if only I had a container to ship back all the wonderful treasures there, but was super content with a few selective pieces.

Lobster Bisque a favorite when in New England

Fig Jam

As discussed in an earlier post it's Fig season, and what better way to celebrate that than to make some Fig Jam.

I'd heard many good things about my husbands Zia's Fig Jam, unfortunately she passed before I got the opportunity to meet her, but the care of the Fig Jam is now in the safe hands of Zio Enrico.

It's not complicated there are no secret ingredients just a simple Jam made from a sweet delicious fruit.

:: Zia Leda's Fig Jam ::

300gms sugar to 1kg figs

Wash and take stalks off and peel figs if the skin is tough (optional)

Put figs in a thick pan with the sugar and cook gently - aprox. 15 to 20 mins.

Stir frequently to stop jam sticking.

After 15 mins put a teaspoon of jam on a cold plate, push the jam with a spoon, if it  wrinkles up it is ready, if not continue is a matter of trial and error.

Zio Enrico suggests making a small batch to try out.

Sterilize by filling jars with boiling water then dry off in oven.

Fill the jars to the top, cover but do not seal until cool. 

I made half measures of the quantities above and came out to 3 little jars of Jam. Just right for a first trial, just have to wait to taste now.

BBQ

As summer begins to wind down and everyones lives seem to get busier once again, we decided to have a BBQ on Sunday with a gathering of friends before we all become unavailable in the Autumn months. The weather cooled a little for us and we welcomed a late afternoon breeze...with the excitement of a possible good nights sleep.
It was a pot luck affair, with plenty of food and wine...

:: Watermelon, feta & mint salad ::

Small watermelon cut pieces

handful chopped mint

black olives

1 red onion chopped

(marinated in apple vinegar & olive oil)

crumbled feta

toasted pumpkin seeds

Place all the ingredients in a salad bowl & serve

thailand part 1

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It's a little late in the posting stakes but here are some photos from my trip to Thailand with Kim B. It was just the trip & treat I needed having had a a couple of stressful weeks at work. Time to escape.

It was relaxing, theraputic and a little indulgent.

My first time to Thailand but the smells, sights and sense felt a familiar and welcoming taste sensation. 

The first 4 days were spent relaxing on the island of Koh Samui, and relax we did...spa treatments, fresh food, sleep and a little exercise.

Taking great advantage of our hotels spa treatments, sampling as many as we could the Indian head massage was fantastic, if I could have one of those everyday I'd been a seriously chilled out individual, and the Thai massage hit just the right spots.

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Flights delays hampereed both our attempts at Bangkok, but we had a fab couple of days exploring the temples, markets and canals of this vibrant city. 

Fajita night

Usually the last 5-10mins of my working day I start to think about what we might fancy for our dinner,

well this week I had the un-denying urge for Chicken Fajitas, how could I deny my taste buds this delight on a Wednesday evening...and it's dead easy & quick and creates feast, homemade chicken fajitas, I cheated with the tortillas, homemade gaucamole and get this a homemade version of sour cream...(almost impossible to find in Italy...I've heard rumors...but as of this moment I am yet to see it with my own eyes) We also treated ourselves to one of our 8 bottles of Magnums pear cider...we're rationing it due to the rarity.

I have no idea how I managed to even turn the stove on with the heat we're experiencing at the moment, but it was worth it and enjoyed a lovely evening with my husband...if a little warm.

It's pretty healthy too if you ignore the tortillas, cheese & sour cream...

:: Simple Chicken Fajitas ::

2 tbsp oil

1 red onion chopped

1 red pepper sliced

couple chicken breasts

1/4 cup coriander

zest & juice from 1 lime

pinch S&P

1/2 tbsp ground cumin

cayenne peper ( I substituted for a powerful hungarian paprika)

In a large skillet, heat the oil over a med. heat.

Add onions & peppers,cook through for a couple of mins.

Add the remaining ingredients(except the coriander)

Cook until the chicken is cooked through.

Add the coriander and cook for 1 min.

Serve with your toppings

(cheese, sour cream, salsa, guacamole, salad, tortillas)