Just returned from 4 nights in Sicily to Salerno. Visited wife’s relatives in Prizzi. Generally we take back gifts for family, my thing is Mens shirts, can’t have too many. Shipped home Morano glass bowl. Craziest thing I brought home not in a suitcase was a dog sled from an Alaska trip. 26 days left on our trip. Ciao
Oh, men's shirts is an excellent use of suitcase space. My mom always brought back beautiful shirts for my dad. I always want to do the same for my husband but I can never tell whether they'll fit him or not! Also: dog sled is the winningest answer yet. Enjoy the rest of your travels.
December 14 has a solid hold on my calendar- no one else may claim this day! Thank you for giving your loyal community a peek into this new book(I am positively dancing with excitement!!!) - AND the opportunity to for a new cookie to add to our holiday assortment. ❤️❤️❤️
I completely get you! I go to Italy with just a carry on and come back with an additional 1 or 2 checked bags every time. I’ve even surprised myself how much I can stuff in all of them. I bring a small scale (purchased at Brookstone many years ago) that hooks around the handle of the luggage to ensure that they’re not overweight. One year I managed to pack two cases of local wines that I couldn’t find here in the states and wanted to share with fellow Italian wine lovers. 🍷 Thank you, wine skins! Only once did I dare try bringing a whole guanciale… I know risky but I figured the worst they would do is take it away from me. Let’s just say I made a lot of wonderful pastas for friends and family 🍝 I can’t resist all the wonderful ingredients that are so easy to find there. Excited to try your take on fregola! I’ve only ever made it with clams but a friend just gave me some butternut squash from her garden so I’m going to give that a try. Do you think that will work? So looking forward to your cookie event on Dec 14th ☺️
I never thought of using a small scale. Brilliant! Also, I am now tempted to try to smuggle in some ventricina Vastese on my next trip (this is a spicy salami from southern Abruzzo that is my absolute favorite and is not available in the U.S. As to your question about using butternut squash: yes, it will work very well in this recipe. Enjoy!
I won’t try it again because now I have Global Entry and if you get caught you get disqualified from ever having it again 🙄 Will send you info on the scale I use - it’s worked for at least 20 years.
Here’s a packing memory that brings quandaries of WHY I bothered to carry something home from Italy to France to San Diego: in 1974, during a year and one-half in Palaiseau, France, outside of Paris, my husband and our three little children and I travelled to Italy for a short visit, during which time I fell in love with a chunky wine container surrounded with woven raffia.
The thing was almost as large as our 2-year-old son Paul. I then carried it home to France, after which, on the eventual flight I took alone with the kids to San Diego, I decided not to have the large wine bottle go in baggage…So, along with the children, I lugged the raffia-surrounded bottle onboard. I was hardly “packing” the item, although it was a labor of love to handle the children, other carry-ons, as well as the clunky item.
Not only did the bottiglia make it to San Diego in 1974, it remained with us in our suburban home there. And then, in 1987, I drove it north in California to Napa Valley where I have lived ever since!! The multi-stop empty container sits on the porch here, smiling at me and visitors when I walk onto the porch facing beautiful vineyards and blue oak trees. The kids are all adults now, and that “luggage” reminds me of travels decades ago….
This is a wonderful story, Toni, and a perfect example of why it is sometimes worth the inconvenience of lugging something clunky and awkward across the ocean. Think of how much joy that wine container has brought you and your family over the decades. Priceless.
For years, I had a rosary hanging above my bed that my mom and aunts told me was "blessed by the pope" (imagine my mom's accent as you read those words LOL).
Domenica, we are fellow travelers of the “Bring it Home” variety. I have returned home with large hand painted ceramic pieces, wine and various food stuffs. I was also stopped by TSA with home grown eggplant and parmesan cheese in my carry on. Fortunately Mr. TSA was from NY and got the need for bringing ingredients to my sister.
Looking forward to this year’s cookie adventure on 12/14. Can’t wait for your new book!
Ooh, you were lucky to get that eggplant through. I have often thought about trying to smuggle in salami from Abruzzo and other cured meats, but they are not allowed, and I don't want to end up on some TSA list. I did once smuggle in a big black truffle given to me by a friend, which we wrapped in many layers of foil and then stuffed into a jar, which I then put into my shoe bag. We let the bag go around a couple of times on the carousel while a trained beagle sniffed around (but did not flag it)!
Once I had the whole cheese counter convulsed in laughter because I accidentally asked if a wheel of pecorino toscano would *wear out* in my luggage. It did make it home safely but the sniffer dogs at Logan scared me out of doing it again ☺️
We definitely always come home with as much olive oil as we can carry! And duplo bars 🍫 although a friend did find them here this year.
HAH! But isn't aged cheese OK to bring back? My understanding is that cheese aged over 60 days (even raw) is OK, but cured meats are not. I've even brought back scamorza with no issues. Olive oil more than anything is definitely worth the weight. Well done.
Whenever I visit Paris: Verveine (verbena) herbal tea, Fleur de Sel, baies roses (pink peppercorns), saffron (so much cheaper in Europe), miel de lavende (lavender honey), various soaps, Genepi liqueur, Clairefontaine notebooks and a specific kind of roller pen. Very occasionally, I have frozen a chunk of salted butter, tucked it into a Tupperware, and brought it back with no ill effects.
YES! I meant to include that detail in the newsletter. I will record it and it will be shared for free with paid subscribers. Thank you for the reminder.
Luggage-smuggling foodies unite! When I leave Maine in the fall, you’ll usually find a bag of Macintosh apples, cans of One Pie pumpkin, and a jar of Marshmallow Fluff crammed in my duffle bag—New England essentials (!) unavailable in the southwest.
Best wishes with your cookbook writing journey. Bake on!
Thank you! "Bake on" is my mantra for the foreseeable future. Also: have made a mental note to pick up some cans of One Pie pumpkin (and maybe marshmallow fluff, too).
Ciao Micki, if you look at the top of that recipe, you'll see an option to print, with an icon of a printer. If you click on that, it should take you to a printable version of the recipe.
Have you tried copying the text and pasting it into a document? If you don’t want to copy the entire thing, you can just copy the formatted recipe at the bottom of the post. Maybe worth the extra bit of effort? Sorry the print function isn’t working for you.
I love reading all that you write...can hardly wait to meet you in May!!!! I marked December 14th down on my calendar, also.
I have decided to add Pumpkin Gnocchi to my Thanksgiving Buffet. I think it will be a special addition to my menu, and I know my family will love it!!!!
Ciao Dominica
Just returned from 4 nights in Sicily to Salerno. Visited wife’s relatives in Prizzi. Generally we take back gifts for family, my thing is Mens shirts, can’t have too many. Shipped home Morano glass bowl. Craziest thing I brought home not in a suitcase was a dog sled from an Alaska trip. 26 days left on our trip. Ciao
Oh, men's shirts is an excellent use of suitcase space. My mom always brought back beautiful shirts for my dad. I always want to do the same for my husband but I can never tell whether they'll fit him or not! Also: dog sled is the winningest answer yet. Enjoy the rest of your travels.
December 14 has a solid hold on my calendar- no one else may claim this day! Thank you for giving your loyal community a peek into this new book(I am positively dancing with excitement!!!) - AND the opportunity to for a new cookie to add to our holiday assortment. ❤️❤️❤️
Looking forward to seeing you on the 14th MaryLynn, and hopefully for lunch soon, too.
Have you seen the new collapsible luggage? Maybe fit two into your checked bag to fill up for the home trip.
I haven’t but will look into it. Thanks for the tip!
Fergola sounds like the cereal Grape Nuts.
I LOVED grape nuts when I was a kid (sprinkled generously with sugar)
We put hot milk or water over the cereal. Drain off the water if used.
Yum, yum and yum!!
See you in December.
Enjoy cooking!
Thank you, Christine :)
I completely get you! I go to Italy with just a carry on and come back with an additional 1 or 2 checked bags every time. I’ve even surprised myself how much I can stuff in all of them. I bring a small scale (purchased at Brookstone many years ago) that hooks around the handle of the luggage to ensure that they’re not overweight. One year I managed to pack two cases of local wines that I couldn’t find here in the states and wanted to share with fellow Italian wine lovers. 🍷 Thank you, wine skins! Only once did I dare try bringing a whole guanciale… I know risky but I figured the worst they would do is take it away from me. Let’s just say I made a lot of wonderful pastas for friends and family 🍝 I can’t resist all the wonderful ingredients that are so easy to find there. Excited to try your take on fregola! I’ve only ever made it with clams but a friend just gave me some butternut squash from her garden so I’m going to give that a try. Do you think that will work? So looking forward to your cookie event on Dec 14th ☺️
I never thought of using a small scale. Brilliant! Also, I am now tempted to try to smuggle in some ventricina Vastese on my next trip (this is a spicy salami from southern Abruzzo that is my absolute favorite and is not available in the U.S. As to your question about using butternut squash: yes, it will work very well in this recipe. Enjoy!
I won’t try it again because now I have Global Entry and if you get caught you get disqualified from ever having it again 🙄 Will send you info on the scale I use - it’s worked for at least 20 years.
That is a good point. I'm about to schedule an appointment to renew my Global Entry membership. Would not want to jeopardize that.
Ciao, cara Domenica!
Here’s a packing memory that brings quandaries of WHY I bothered to carry something home from Italy to France to San Diego: in 1974, during a year and one-half in Palaiseau, France, outside of Paris, my husband and our three little children and I travelled to Italy for a short visit, during which time I fell in love with a chunky wine container surrounded with woven raffia.
The thing was almost as large as our 2-year-old son Paul. I then carried it home to France, after which, on the eventual flight I took alone with the kids to San Diego, I decided not to have the large wine bottle go in baggage…So, along with the children, I lugged the raffia-surrounded bottle onboard. I was hardly “packing” the item, although it was a labor of love to handle the children, other carry-ons, as well as the clunky item.
Not only did the bottiglia make it to San Diego in 1974, it remained with us in our suburban home there. And then, in 1987, I drove it north in California to Napa Valley where I have lived ever since!! The multi-stop empty container sits on the porch here, smiling at me and visitors when I walk onto the porch facing beautiful vineyards and blue oak trees. The kids are all adults now, and that “luggage” reminds me of travels decades ago….
This is a wonderful story, Toni, and a perfect example of why it is sometimes worth the inconvenience of lugging something clunky and awkward across the ocean. Think of how much joy that wine container has brought you and your family over the decades. Priceless.
I brought back rosary beads from Vatican City when I was a teenager. I’m not Catholic!
For years, I had a rosary hanging above my bed that my mom and aunts told me was "blessed by the pope" (imagine my mom's accent as you read those words LOL).
So excited for your book and following along the process , Domenica! xx
Thank you, Jolene. I'm excited about this project. So much still to do but no complaints!
Domenica, we are fellow travelers of the “Bring it Home” variety. I have returned home with large hand painted ceramic pieces, wine and various food stuffs. I was also stopped by TSA with home grown eggplant and parmesan cheese in my carry on. Fortunately Mr. TSA was from NY and got the need for bringing ingredients to my sister.
Looking forward to this year’s cookie adventure on 12/14. Can’t wait for your new book!
Ooh, you were lucky to get that eggplant through. I have often thought about trying to smuggle in salami from Abruzzo and other cured meats, but they are not allowed, and I don't want to end up on some TSA list. I did once smuggle in a big black truffle given to me by a friend, which we wrapped in many layers of foil and then stuffed into a jar, which I then put into my shoe bag. We let the bag go around a couple of times on the carousel while a trained beagle sniffed around (but did not flag it)!
Once I had the whole cheese counter convulsed in laughter because I accidentally asked if a wheel of pecorino toscano would *wear out* in my luggage. It did make it home safely but the sniffer dogs at Logan scared me out of doing it again ☺️
We definitely always come home with as much olive oil as we can carry! And duplo bars 🍫 although a friend did find them here this year.
HAH! But isn't aged cheese OK to bring back? My understanding is that cheese aged over 60 days (even raw) is OK, but cured meats are not. I've even brought back scamorza with no issues. Olive oil more than anything is definitely worth the weight. Well done.
Whenever I visit Paris: Verveine (verbena) herbal tea, Fleur de Sel, baies roses (pink peppercorns), saffron (so much cheaper in Europe), miel de lavende (lavender honey), various soaps, Genepi liqueur, Clairefontaine notebooks and a specific kind of roller pen. Very occasionally, I have frozen a chunk of salted butter, tucked it into a Tupperware, and brought it back with no ill effects.
Can’t wait for the bake-along!
Oh this is such a good list, Bonnie, especially the butter LOL. Hats off to you for that one! Also: Yes to always bringing back French soap.
H Domenica, I am disappointed that I can't attend the bake along. Will you record it for later viewing?
YES! I meant to include that detail in the newsletter. I will record it and it will be shared for free with paid subscribers. Thank you for the reminder.
Luggage-smuggling foodies unite! When I leave Maine in the fall, you’ll usually find a bag of Macintosh apples, cans of One Pie pumpkin, and a jar of Marshmallow Fluff crammed in my duffle bag—New England essentials (!) unavailable in the southwest.
Best wishes with your cookbook writing journey. Bake on!
Thank you! "Bake on" is my mantra for the foreseeable future. Also: have made a mental note to pick up some cans of One Pie pumpkin (and maybe marshmallow fluff, too).
I’ll send you a supply list for the bunker
Buongiorno Domenica! Vorrei fare la tua ricetta per Sweet Potato Gnocchi ma non posso stampare🤷🏻♀️. Cosa posso fare??
Ciao Micki, if you look at the top of that recipe, you'll see an option to print, with an icon of a printer. If you click on that, it should take you to a printable version of the recipe.
I did see the print icon and pressed it but it didnt work. Tried twice. Niente:-(
Sorry about that. Not sure what's amiss, as I just tried to do it myself and it worked.
I think its me but I have no idea why. Its too bad . I have a few farmers market sweet potatoes longing to be your gnocchi. Ah well…
Have you tried copying the text and pasting it into a document? If you don’t want to copy the entire thing, you can just copy the formatted recipe at the bottom of the post. Maybe worth the extra bit of effort? Sorry the print function isn’t working for you.
I’ll have someone help me with that. Grazie
I love reading all that you write...can hardly wait to meet you in May!!!! I marked December 14th down on my calendar, also.
I have decided to add Pumpkin Gnocchi to my Thanksgiving Buffet. I think it will be a special addition to my menu, and I know my family will love it!!!!
I am amazed at all you do!!!!!
Hi Lucrezia,
I just ordered your Book
I am also signed up for the May trip, looking forward the trip
Thank you, Lucrezia. What a kind thing to say. I'm looking forward to meeting you in May as well! Piemonte, here we come...