This week~

..5 years ago..  this week..we were in Italy..and I loved it.I am so glad I got to see it..The benches in the photo were built by the son of the original   owners of the villa we stayed at..their spots to gaze onto  Assisi.
I loved walking in their olive grove..sitting on those benches..having a glass of wine at the front where the sun set.
We stayed in the smallest annex of it.. yet it was LARGE ..spacious..spotless..Beautiful bedroom w/iron bed and huge windows..combined living room/ dining room..kitchen with gas range.. spotless.. updated with charm bathroom..
This villa is divided into 3 I think..a dream would be to go back w/ the WHOLE family when the children are much older.
Nowhere else did we go..  the whole month in France and Italy..that upon entering..there was a home  made cake..jam.. wine..olive oil..all beautifully presented on the table for us.
I don't like glitz.I love home..
This felt cozy. ..and honest.

Magical.
I have to say..it's the countryside that appeals to both Jacques and I most..it's our comfort zone.. and yes..Venice ..:) Seemed like country to us..compared to Rome..  etc..

And really? Here..at home.. fits me best.

This week..now in real life ..

There was an apple pie  on the go..found here. where a beautiful little princess resides..different than my others..this pie is...I enjoyed making it and tasting it~with sour cream..crumb tops are enjoyed here so I knew this version would be pleasing~
It is there that I have purchased my patterns for my Christmas ornaments~  The tea cup..the gingerbread girl..skate..  etc.. I think I have 2 sets...of patterns.. a new set should be coming out soon..I have started set #2 to give out this year~

And "gnocchi maison"..thus the memories of Italy:)

I never watch TV in the day..from 8 till 10 PM.. I do..but I am not interested in the day..I like to stand up not sit down..
In that time slot..I have favorite shows and my tastes are eclectic to say the least:)

A lot of Netflix...PBS...  Showtime..My fave French shows..

I WILL be tuning into this  ..  tonight..Thursday..because I am a  HUGE  fan..read his books saw him fall in love w/ his wife  on TV ..

and fell in love w/ At This Moment:)  Okay..I still love it..and I am..on the very brink of 60.
He's a great treasure for all of us~ and yes so is she.

anyways..or way.. I happened to catch a show America's Test Kitchen..And she was making Gnocchi..I had tried 20 some odd yrs ago,and now see what I had done wrong..as this time..it worked and is delicious.I wish I had seen so many episodes of this show and would love to watch as often as I can..

You can watch the segment on line..the measurements are just right..no fail..don't overwork.I think I only have a 14 day trial membership..so you can try also:)

The video is here..
I have bought Gnocchi vacu packed in Little Italy..  there is no comparison..the other is chewy and a bit rubbery...this  is so tender..You need to have the little pouch on the flip side..the sauce finds it's way in.
I served it with the brown butter sauce..sage..shallots..
It is great with a pasta sauce etc...even in escargots dishes..
I even enjoyed rolling the little morsels on the tines of the fork..one by one..
It's not something you do in 20 minutes..  ..But it goes well and smoothly.
Will make again!

Here the leaves are changing as I breathe..puts us in the mood for  a nice soup again.. :)this one..

We ate all the trimmings..:) the day I made it..so this is my usual topping when no shrimps are involved:)
Go see Chris' for the original version.
Love the coconut milk addition..my carrot ginger soup has it too:)
If you don't want the toppings.. you can use Spring onions as above..or add some ghoulish embellishments ..

I still remember some photos my daughter and I  took one day when  Oli was a bit younger..they were on this computer and as I transferred many to an external hard drive..I kept a few on the computer:) He loved blowing the milkpods into the air..
I'll have to see if it's lost it's charm on a 4 yr old~

Autumn carries more gold in it's pocket than all the other seasons~

Footnote..
I watched the 2 first episodes..of the new MJF show..and I say Kudos to all..real life is not..all about perfect people functioning in perfect ways..
But about brave ..courageous people..functioning in challenging ways..
All we see when all is good..is beautiful..
With time..or even without things can change in a heartbeat..
Bravo.
Hope the show becomes a hit..
























Have a lovely Weekend~