Little Italy 26

[Rosa]

Siamo qui ... Ciao a tutti !

[Rosa]

Due to rain end of the week so washing sheets, mattress covers just as much as I can !!!
It is certainly warmer in the day now but cold in the evening.
Vado a fare la pizza ( brava mamma ) all by hand as well.
Gio certainly looks as if she is having a fantastic time with her parents!

[Francagoestohollywood]

Yes, she does, doesn't she

Lol, I have washed bed linens etc too, making te most of today's sunshine, tomorrow is supposed to be crap again.

I am having lots of people on saturday for an aperitivo, any ideas of quick stuzzichini you want to share?

[Rosa]

Where do I start?
Get a pack of pasta di sfoglia. Cut into strips , place strips of pancetta / crudo / egg wash and sprikle with parmigiano. Then twist and bake hot for about 5 minutes.
Mince , curry paste and finely chopped onion, cook . Get circles of sfoglia like the size of a small glass. Put some of the curry mixture in the middle , seal and baste with egg. Serve with sour cream.
Mini sausage rolls - make your own using good sausgemeat
Gamberi grande ( sugelati then de frosted) make an easy batter with a bit of chinese 5 spice dip in batter and fry . Serve with chilli sweet sauce .

Need any more ..I do dips as well!!!!

[Francagoestohollywood]

I love you rosa

[Rosa]

I have my uses....... Wonder when Merlin is back she is the chef!!!
My kids love the mini quiches as well but it depends on how much you want to do !!!

[Francagoestohollywood]

I am obviously trying to cut corners and desperately missing Sainsbo's hummus!
I bought 2 polpettoni at esselunga today, they are usually quite nice...

She is in Itly, isn't she?

[Francagoestohollywood]

I love the idea of the gamberi... I might do those for the whole family, dc love them.

[Rosa]

Cutting corners= packet puff pastry is your friend !
I know its times like this that M&S and Sainsbos need to be round the corner.
I am taking the girls to zumba for kids this pm ...Have no idea if they will like it . I think dd1 will but minirosa likes to do the more sedate dances!! ( or watch study and then amaze everbody when she comes out with it !!)
Think I need a t shirt as I have this funny feeling I will be getting involved in it !!

[BananaGio]

hi from me. parents gone back now. had lovely time.
Reading about your food ideas is making me peckish Rosa!
Despite having rather strong opinions about MT I have avoided posting on the threads as well as so many of them seem to be of the Dance on her Grave vs she was the Sainted Margaret both of which viewpoints seem to be stifling any debate re Thatcherism.
Lovely sunny day today and have booked Aug at our usual haunt today so am happy.

[Francagoestohollywood]

Ciao Gio! Yes, I know you have strong opinions re MT, which I share, in a milder way, possibly, as I wasn't living in the UK then, and I can't imagine how it was before and during her PM years.

How did it go at Zumba Rosa? Tomorrow afternoon me and dd with other mums and dd's friends are going to a mother and daughter yoga session, I am very curious!

Yes, this is exactly when you wish there was an M&S round the corner. Their tuna patéééééééééé... mmmm
And today I went to a caramellaio near us, who sells wonderful caramelle and I was looking forward to also buying some Bendicks (which I love) and they were sold out. I don't think there are other places who stock them. Uffa!

[embles76]

Hello everyone! I'm sorry to butt in. Is it ok if I ask, are any of you living in or near Torino? Can anyone give advice re schooling there? Thanks!

[Francagoestohollywood]

Hi Embles, none of us lives near or in Turin, unfortunately. I have no idea re schools there, but if you are thinking primaries, I'd say that in general state primaries are good in Northern/central Italy. I also know that in Turing there is anumber of international schools (private), but I don't have a clue!!

[Francagoestohollywood]

Sorry about typos. Are you in Torino or near?

[BananaGio]

Hi embles I dont think any of us are who are regulars here. I'm sure there was a poster from Torino at one point with us though so may be worth doing a post in the living overseas topic incase she is still around.

[Francagoestohollywood]

Oh yes, you are right Gio! I think she was somewhere nr Turin.

[embles76]

Thanks guys I posted in there as well. We are possibly moving there and I wanted some advice about schools, more specifically the international school. We have lived there before but the children weren't school age then. Thanks!

[Rosa]

The loved zumba .dd1 did really well. minirosa is a bit small as some of the moves were fast. Another free practice next week.... Then we will see if they do a short course ( and how much).
I don't know Turin very well apart from a fantastic restaurant but it was ov 20 yrs ago. Come back and let us know how you get on.
Lots to do ...rain is hanging around . Had an idea to go to disneyland Paris for a few days over the ponte, well the day they have off. Between yesterday and todaythe flight prices have tripled...so guess its back to possibly emiglia romagna but it all depends on dh lavoro.

[embles76]

thanks, will let you know. It's raining here (UK) too but going to be 18 degrees on Sunday apparently! Positively tropical!

[Francagoestohollywood]

Embles, same here (milan), we have had an awfully long winter. I fer that we'll jump from freezing temps to 32 degrees and humid. Let us know if you move to T.!

Wow I am impressed by your zumba abilities the rosas!!

[Rosa]

This afternoon its hots FGS....you are right right Franca Its gone from winter to summer in a day!!!!!!

[LakeDistrictBabe]

Hello everybody!! I'm finally back!!
Weather was crap in Italy all time but for me and DH was like being in Africa, tropical weather!
We had just one sunny day (Sunday) and we spent it touring Siena and its province, wonderful! But 5 days were mostly spent seeing relatives of mine and my friends, they had never met my DH either so they were all excited. He wasn't that excited though because despite a few Italian lessons he could only say 'piacere' LOL So he spent five days asking me stuff and me translating....
What can I say... it is a pleasure to visit Italy as a tourist! People were overly nice in shops (given that I was always speaking English so they presumed I was British too) and all the rudeness and impoliteness was gone :D
I had a bit of trouble driving though, because I can't cope with cars and scooters jumping in front of your car anymore!! :(

When I was back, I went to Scotland and it took me a total of 26 hours to get home since the moment I landed... just a fekkin' nightmare!! DH was already home after three...
So I came here and weather was miserable, thought it was going to change and my hopes were up yesterday morning when the sun was shining... then the usual, unbearable wind started to blow at lunchtime and goodbye nice weather :(

How are you all? xx

[Francagoestohollywood]

Hi Merlin! Glad to hear you had a nice time in Italy, despite the weather. Weather has changed btw, and it's now sunny and warm. I hope spring's on its way in Scotland too!

I am ok, we had lots of friends around on Saturday, and it's been so good to see people we rarely manage to see. Plus it's sunny and my mood is lifted!

[Rosa]

Gald you had fun (maybe you can persuade your dh to take Italian classes whilst you are apart )
Yes sun here today as well . Forecast changes over he weekend so making the most of it now . Can't do anymore washing as can't get anymore out. Still have the copri mattress things to do ..DOmani !
DId a sports day on Sunday took dd1 who did kids things and went off in a dragon boat and also a big gondola. She had a ball. I did too many exercise classes and am now paying for it . I also went as I usually do on a monday and had to take it slowly ..I had aching muscles that I diddn't even know existed. Still haven't lost much weight though !

[Francagoestohollywood]

Wow Rosa you are sporty! How are you feeling today?

I am off to make spezzatino now...

[spaghettina]

ciao!

very impressed at your aperitivi ideas Rosa!

Franca - glad you enjoyed your trip to Martina Franca. We just spent a couple of weeks in Puglia too, still nothing finalised about where we'll actually be living though. It all seems to be taking a very long time! It was good to escape the grim weather here.

I miss Sainsbury's hummus too. And hummus in general...must get round to making some soon (it's not actually that hard if you can source the tahini!).

Agree about MT - I am no fan, far from it, but I didn't like the street parties etc. very bad taste. A lot of those people can't even have been old enough to remember what it was like when she was in power.

Finding it a bit hard to cope with the sudden heat in Milan - ok it's not that hot but I'm unprepared in terms of wardrobe cambio di stagione (still haven't done it as we've been away). But there are people still going around in woollens, tights and padded jackets, I honestly don't know how they do it! Would be nice if the temperature could stay this way all summer instead of the dreaded "afa"...