Easter in Italy! #calitri

Usually we visit our Italian mountain retreat in Calitri in the Summer months but this year, we booked to go in the Easter holidays!

The weather is cooler and the pool we usually go to in Summer isn’t open yet so the options available to us were different.

We were joined by my dad so it was a holiday of three generations!

San Fele Waterfalls

A short (ish) drive away is San Fele which has lots of pretty waterfalls in the mountains around.  It is a lovely place for a walk and at this time of year the temperature was perfect.

Hanging out in Calitri

The main activities in Caliri In April are coffee drinking, ice cream eating, park playing (getting a bit big for this one!), friend visiting (see Luna the dog pictured) and pasta eating!

The local speciality pasta dish is called “canazze” which is penne pasta in a ragu sauce with lots of cheese. You can add spice to it with chopped up chili or there is paprika powder too. Pasta is usually served as a starter followed by a main course of meat, fish and/or vegetables.

Thermal baths in Contursi Terme

Contursi Terme is popular for its thermal baths. It is located around an hours drive from Calitri. We visited Hotel Rosapepe which has an indoor thermal pool and there are also outdoor pools open in the Summer.

The water has healing salts in it that is good for your skin and it was very relaxing.

We had a lovely ten days of chilling out, playing games, reading books and TV watching (we finished our new favourite series Lemony Snickett’s A Series of Unfortunate Events.

Plans are afoot to return in the Summer if we can find dates that work but that will be more relaxing as it will be too hot to do much else!

We are always looking for more fun things to do in Italy and a guided walking tour in Florence sounds delightful – check out this lovely post from daiselikethese – of course icecream also has to feature!

What are your plans for holidays this Summer? Would love to hear! We still haven’t made it to Disneyland Paris and this is top of my list, especially after the amazing time we had in LA. When we go I will be reread this brill blog post with some tips on the fab accommodation.

Another place on our wish list is Majorca. Have you visited? There are some great tips on exploring the Spanish island over on Newcastle Family life’ blog.

 

Win an anchovies tasting box from @ciaogustoitaly #giveaway #win

We have had some amazing holidays in Italy and it has to be said that one of the things that have made them so good (as well as seeing Granny and Grandpa!) is the delicious food that the country is so good at producing.
The fruit and vegetables are all fresh, tasty and delicious and the antipasti is moreish to say the least! Fresh olives, cold meats, cheese and pickles combine to make a meal in themselves. Anchovies are an essential ingredient too adding a richness and flavour. They are also full of goodness!

We were sent a Delicius tasting box of anchovies flavoured with olive oil, capers, Italian herbs and chilli to try out. The perfect excuse to rewind the clock to our holidays in Italy and knock up an antipasti selection..

 

Anchovies can also be added to cooking to add that distinctive saltiness. We added the anchovies with chilli to a simple tomato sauce and also to pizza adding a cracking flavour to liven things up.

If you would like to try out something else you can try out some more delicious recipes here.

The anchovies tasted fresh and flavour packed. The selection of flavours worked really well and didn’t overpower the anchovies. Any lovers of Italian food would absolutely love Delicius anchovies as they make the perfect accompaniment to antipasti and many other recipes.

As well as Delicius anchovies, Ciao Gusto brings together over 30 of Italy’s most popular brands, including familiar names such as Fillippo Berio, Cirio, Lavazza and Riso Gallo as well as lots of exciting products new to the UK.

You can find Ciao Gusto at Ocado here:  http://goo.gl/9ExTcV

Here is your chance to win your own Delicius tasting box just like ours…

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Good luck!

• This giveaway is open to UK residents only.
• The winner will be chosen via Rafflecopter and announced on this page.
• The winner will be contacted by e-mail within 3 days of competition ending requesting their chosen date. If they do not respond within 3 days another winner may be chosen due to the timely nature of the giveaway.
• Your details will be passed to Ciao Gusto PR, but will not be passed onto any third parties by My Gorgeous Boys.
• The company reserves the right to substitute the prize for one of a similar type/value if the prize above is not available.
• Entries using any software or automated process to make bulk entries will be disqualified.
• Competition ends midnight Monday 19 December.
• Entry into the competition constitutes acceptance of these terms and conditions.

More competitions at www.theprizefinder.com

 

Rome in a day #italy #rome #family #travels @canvasholidays @ecvacanze

To round off our lovely family holiday in Italy we stayed for four nights at Camping Fabulous, just outside Rome.

Camping Fabulous is a caravan park owned by Elite Club Vacanze who own eight other similar sites across Italy. We booked our caravan through Canvas Holidays, after hearing of them at Blog On MSI.
Our caravan was basic but great for what we needed. It had two bedrooms, shower, toilet, kitchen and living area with air conditioning, a deck with table, chairs and gas BBQ outside and a parking space for one car.

We didn’t hire a car on this occasion but we were sent a fantastic holiday suitcase from icarhireinsurance who provide yearly car hire insurance excess. This means you don’t have to pay any excess on your car hire insurance in the event of an accident while you’re abroad. We actually used this on one of our visits to Italy when someone reversed into us and it was very useful as alternatives are very costly.

The site has everything you need for enjoying the sun!  There are two pools – one large pool for normal swimming (no inflatables allowed in here) and a huge paddling pool area with slides (inflatables permitted). Sun loungers are plentiful around the pool area and there is also a snack bar for refreshments. There is a volleyball area and table tennis is available next to a brilliant Gelateria and bar which also has evening entertainment.

There is a shop and Italian restaurant as well as takeaway pizzeria. In Italy you are really hard pressed to find any other type of cuisine. After two weeks of delicious pizza and pasta weloved having the BBQ for a change.

The biggest hit of our stay was the go carts that could be hired for 10 euros a day (subsequent days were 5 euros). The boys loved bombing around in them; following the little train that did a circuit of the park or just nipping to the shop on them for us.

We did venture into Rome as you could catch a bus from the main road close to the park which took you to the subway. This transported you directly into the centre of Rome. Tickets could be bought for €1.50 at the information point on site and were valid for 90 minutes from stamping at the beginning of the journey. We were lucky with timings of bus and tube and it took us about an hour to find ourselves at the Colosseum!

We had pre booked tickets for the Colosseum, Roman Forum and Palatine Hill so after not too much hanging around we found ourselves in the heart of historic Rome!

It was August. It was very hot. We knew there was a refreshing pool waiting for us at the campsite. We wandered around the amazing historic ruins but the boys were getting restless. Water and hats are essential!

After a yummy lunch (pasta again!) we headed to the Trevi fountain. The centre of Rome is all very walkable but I knew the boys wouldn’t be able to cope with much more.

We threw a coin in the fountain, as that would mean we would return, and headed back to catch the subway train.

There are excursions you can do from Camping Fabulous and i considered Rome at Night, where you leave around 8pm for a tour of the sights of Rome at night including a walking tour. It returns at 11.30pm which would just be too late for our English children who don’t understand the meaning of “siesta” or “lie in” and would be shattered! So perhaps next time…

Have you visited Rome? What are your highlights?

 

Monticchio Lakes and Monastry #calitri #italy #travel #adventures

Or to give it its Italian name of Laghi Monticchio is a beauty spot ideal to visit from Calitri in Southern Italy where we spent ten days of the Summer holidays.

The lake is surrounded my lush green trees and the abbey of St Michael’s stands on the hillside overlooking.

The mineral waters from extinct volcanoes in the area area also give the place a fresh, natural environment.

Peddle boats can be hired for an hour’s float around the lake. I let the boy’s take the driving seat!

 

There are restaurants and shops around the lake or you can also take a picnic or BBQ to eat in the surrounding woods. It is all very basic but good fun. The gelatto is very delicious!

We also hired these cute little pedal carts to cycle around the lake. It was hard going at times but fun to see the nature and lake from a different view!

 

We also visited St Michael’s chapel to get a glimpse inside the majestic building  that overlooks the lake.

It was ornate, yet simple, in the area behind the altar though the church was  surprisingly small. The monks who had lived here swore a vow of silence on entering. There were also some really cool models of some Italian churches such as The Vatican in Rome. The boys loved choosing which one they would live in!

Here is the view of the lake.

Afterwards we drive to Melfi castle. We didn’t look around but it was good just to have some culture and history after beach and pool fun.

We did sneak a look in the Throne room.,.

It was another great day out! What did you get up to over theSummer  holidays?

Silent Sunday 4/9/16

Making pasta in Italy – just like mamma makes!

Have you ever tried your hand at making your own pasta- and then eating it for dinner!

Well in Italy this is just what we did! Learning from the masters themselves!

Here is our video which pretty much covers it all…

First of all we started with the flour – semolina pasta flour. I’m not sure how much but a mound! We made a well in it and added water then mixed it with our hands until it formed a dough. We then kneaded and kneaded and kneaded into a ball. 

We were making Orecchiette or little ears shaped pasta. To do this we rolled it into thin sausage shapes then cut it into small sections. We then used a special technique using the three middle fingers to shape the “ears”. We then placed on the board to dry.

Noah was really good at pasta making! It took lots of patience and stamina as it was quite repetitive.

We then took the pasta home and boiled it in salted water for about 6 minutes. It was delicious with a tomato sauce (made by Dad!) and lots of Parmesan cheese. Much nicer than the dried stuff out of packets!

Why don’t you give it a try!? 

Having a coffee moment @caffecagliariuk

Caffe Cagliari, a 100 year old Italian family company, now make coffee capsules which are compatible with Nespresso machines. I don’t own a Nespresso machine unfortunately but I do have a rather lovely coffee maker that I bought in Italy. I love the retro design and it makes delicious espresso. that I mix with warm frothy milk for latte and cappuccino.

I think the best place to drink coffee is in Italy, so my little coffee pot transports me back there for 10 minutes a day.

It reminds me of hot sun, refreshingly cold swimming pools, fun and frolics in the water with the boys and lazy lounging reading by the pool (with one eye on children obvs!) . At some point we would head to a cafe for delicious cappuccino, water and ice cream. The perfect pick me up to kick start the day or revive you after a day at the pool!

Last year Ethan thought he was very grown up to have a taste of my cappuccino. I think he mostly got the milky froth but loved it regardless.

I have now become a bit of a coffee snob and bland, tasteless instant coffee holds little appeal. Taking the time to make a pot of coffee and relax to drink it has become a treat I relish.

My favorite biscuit to have with coffee has to be squidgy, chewy, yummy almond cookies – Amaretti. I have never actually made these myself but now I have found the recipe I plan to (though think I will have to double or triple these quantities!)

1 egg white

75g caster sugar

85g ground almonds

1/4 teaspoon almond extract (or you can use  Amaretto almond liqueur) 

Pinch of salt

1. Add egg white to a mixing bowl and beat till double (it doesn’t have to be firm).
2. Add sugar and whisk till combined
3. Fold in ground almonds cutting the batter carefully with a spatula
4. Add almond extract and salt and keep folding to combine
5. Make small balls with your hands and place the cookies on parchment paper
6. Dust with icing sugar and bake for 10 minutes or until golden brown in a hot oven (200 degrees)

I found this recipe here.

Are you a coffee fan? How do you enjoy yours?

 

Disclosure: I was sent complimentary coffee cups, sweets, mini biscuits and nespresso sachets which inspired me to write this post. 

Summer in Italy: Medieval night at Rocca San Felice

The boys are fascinated with anything to do with swords and fighting. Whilst in Italy we went to visit a neighbouring town, Rocca San Felice, which holds a yearly Medieval Festival. The town itself (as indeed the whole of Italy is!) is steeped in well preserved history and it is beautiful to walk around.

We went up the steps to the beautiful castle which gave amazing views in the sunset. There was medieval entertainment, fire juggling and eating, hog roasts, medieval pizza (of course!), birds of prey and even fire breathing dragons.

As with all things Italian the fun doesn’t really get going until after 10pm so we were leaving just as it got busy but nevermind!

 

Linking up with The Gallery where the theme this week is Faces (and I love Ethan’s smiley face as the face-less executor chops off his head!). To see more interpretations on Faces click here.

And also Magic Moments, to see more click here..

Summer in Italy: Laceno

Whilst holidaying in the Campania area of Italy we visited the pretty mountain hamlet of Laceno for the day.

In winter (Dec to March) Laceno is a ski resort but it is open in the summer with a working skilift taking you to the mountain summit for spectacular views.

The chair lifts were a bit frightening, You sit in twos and there is just a guard that you pull down over your head to go across you both. It is especially scarey if you are sat next to a small boy who insists on sitting cross legged, leaping about and asking ” will we die if we fall?”…Luckily Grannyh and Grandpa helped with them!

There are two chair lifts you need to take to the very top but the first one stops at a restaurant and play area for kids with a zip slide, inflatables and wooden toys as well as “tubing” which Ethan had a go at.

 

For more information on Laceno ski resort check out this link. We would love to go back and try it when the boys are older.

Linking up with Country Kids.

 

Meeting the wildlife in Italy #bughunt #nature

This was the day Noah met a praying mantis which was sat on our terrace in Italy.

Isn’t he brave! There was no way I was touching it.

The insects in Italy are generally bigger and stranger looking than the ones we are used to at home but he wasn’t put off.

These photos were taken the in the morning but he had actually met this little fellow the night before though the photos didn’t come out very well as it was dark. Luckily it was still in the same spot the next day so he could see his pet!