We got to sleep in for our last day in Italy. We had a leisurely morning before our driver arrived to take us into Florence. We checked into a breathtakingly beautiful hotel, Palazzo Guicciardini, and then headed out to explore Florence on our own.
Friday, October 10, 2025
Italy, Day 16-Food Trucks and Wine Widows
Crevettes aux Poivrons #EattheWorld
Shrimp and Sweet Bell Peppers stir-fried up in a savory mixture of onions, ginger, and garlic. Easy, delicious, quick, and colorful. A perfect weeknight meal.
Thursday, October 9, 2025
Bacon and Cheese Scones and A Book Review
These savory scones are a great grab-and-go breakfast for those busy days and a perfect treat on those lazy mornings when you can enjoy them with a hot cup of coffee and a glass of freshly squeezed orange juice.
Wednesday, October 8, 2025
Italy-Day 15, San Gimignano, Collette Farewell Dinner
This was our final day with Collette Tours. We spent the morning touring the historic (very) hillside town of San Gimignano, known for its medieval architecture surrounding a triangular town square. The village is protected by walls and towers built to keep it safe during the Middle Ages.
U is for Upside Down Cake
All the flavor you love in a Black Forest Cake without all the fuss and muss. This semi-homemade cake is made with canned cherry pie filling, a cream cheese layer, and a boxed cake mix baked up in a cast-iron skillet.
U is for Upside Down Cake.......
Tuesday, October 7, 2025
Italy-Day 14, Florence
We were up bright and early again to take the one-hour bus trip to Florence for a guided walking tour of the city.
Italy-Day 13, Siena
Siena is a Medieval Town in Tuscany, known for the famous bareback horse race, The Palio di Siena, which occurs each July and August, in the town square, Piazza del Campo.
Sunday, October 5, 2025
Italy-Day 12, Val d'Orcia, Artisinal Pasta Factory, Montalcino, and Wine Tasting
Another amazing day in the beautiful Val d'Orcia. Today, we started off at a pasta factory that prides itself on using ancient grains that are grown organically and then turned into pasta using nothing more than the ground grains and water.
Heading to the Farmers Market~~Time to make the Weekly Menu
Happy Sunday, Everyone. We got home last night, and I immediately fell into bed and started snoring.
That's not entirely true....I did have to give some loving to my babies first.
Leftover Kabob Fajitas #SundayFunday
This delicious meal starts with leftover kabobs. You can use chicken, beef, or a combination of both. Slice up the leftover meat and vegetables, place in a crockpot with a package of fajita seasoning and some water, and enjoy your day. When you are ready to eat, heat up some tortillas, and dinner is served.
Italy-Day 11, Dairy Farm and Pienza
We were up bright and early to head to Pienza. It was a beautiful morning for a drive through Val d'Orcia valley. The fog hung like a cloud over the valley, below the mountains.
Thursday, October 2, 2025
Italy Day 10 - Spoleto and Truffle Hunting
Day 10 started off quietly. We got to sleep in a bit. After a leisurely breakfast, we walked into town, passing the Roman Theater that still hosts performances to this day.