First, I made a stuffed meatloaf with roasted potatoes. Basically, you flatten out the hamburger, put an omlette, spinach, ham, and cheese on top and roll. Bake it with the potatoes and enjoy!
When my mom was here visiting, we went on a tour of Italy. The food in Tuscany was amazing, though they don't salt their bread. Basil ravioli, gnocchi (potato dumplings), and big, thick sandwiches from the butcher shop. Mom loved the gelato, so we ate it often. Our favorite came from San Gimignano (a small Tuscan town made up of mideval skyscrapers): Raspberry Baby (raspberry and rosemary), and gorgonzola and walnuts. Just as a side note, my mom LOVED the coconut, so she had it every time.
Everything else in May was boring, so we'll skip to June and our trip that included Amsterdam, Bruges, and Brussels. After living in Italy so long, we didn't realize what fantastic variety other countries have in their food products. We went to a grocery store in Amsterdam to buy some sandwich stuff and ended up with cheese & onion Lays, authentic Dutch cheese, chocolate-covered waffles, and curry mango sauce, all of which were completely out of this world tasty. That sauce was so good that we squeezed it onto rolls and ate curry-mango sandwiches. Belgium is known for four things: fries, waffles, beer, and chocolate. The fries, served with a variety of sauces (we chose green pepper sauce), can be a meal in themselves. True Belgian waffles are actually a dessert, not breakfast. They are covered with chocolate, sprinkles, or powdered sugar. We had one with strawberries and whipped cream. The beer and the chocolate? All I can say is excellent.
And finally, before I go, let me tell you that since school is finally out for the summer, I plan to cook more, try new things, and keep you posted. Maybe I'll even share a recipe or two. For example, yesterday I marintated chicken in barbeque sauce and some strong red onions (from my garden!), then threw them on the grill. The result was fantastic! I plan to do it again and use it it in a variety of ways: salads, pasta, etc.
Have a great summer and I look forward to making you hungry!
