Saffron and Pepper in English

Istanbul!!!

2008-05-05T16:56:00.004+02:00

Even if I'm a busy girl...I need a holiday sometimes so I went for a little break to Istanbul.
Great weather and wonderful moments shared with my P.
Usually I study carefully maps and travel guides before my hoidays. This time I hadn't the time so I studied the guide on the plane!!!
We were in a nice hotel in Sultanhamet, the old city so we visited the Blue Mosque.
It's so huge and striking especially at night when all the lights are on.
Aya Sophia is a big museum now but in the past was a basilica and then a mosque.
We spent a day inside Topkapi palace. It's strange to think that still at the beginning of the last century there were a Sultan living there and concubines and eunuchs. Fantastic treasures like a big diamond and the famous dagger with diamonds and emeralds.
Then a walk along the Bosphorus,
the fish market and an afternoon in the Bazar. You can get lost if you don't have a map.

Then kebab, pistachio and honey sweets, ottoman recipe, çai, turkish tea, pomegranate juice, simit.
4 days aren't enough for Istanbul, but very good for start!

Busy girl...

2008-04-29T16:12:00.002+02:00

Rainy day! I feel like in London today. It's a quiet day in office so I have time for writing something.
I want to thank Despina for telling me such wonderful words. I know she's in having a big change in her life, but I'm sure she will succeed in everything!!
So...come on everybody! It will be a Spring full of great news for all of us!
Kisses,
Saffron

Work in Progress

2008-04-08T16:40:00.002+02:00

Just a quick message...I'm still alive. My life is changing day by day and I am so busy that I work also on the weekend.
I'm sure all my efforts will bring me in a state of happiness and satisfaction.
Happy Spring!
S.

About birthdays, presents and...sauce.

2007-11-26T12:53:00.000+01:00

I had a great weekend!
On Saturday it was my birthday. My P. gave me a fantastic bracelet ( from the shop where all the girls would like to have breakfast!) and we had dinner in a resturant located in Central Rome, near the Synagogue. The food was delicious with typical recipes jewish and romans. If you happen to come in Rome, I suggest you to go there. I ate so much and I drunk a superb Novello!
Yesterday I celebrated again my birthday with my girlfriends. We went out for shopping but we preferred to relax in a tea room drinking some hot chocolate.
I have no ideas for the Christmas presents and I hate to go shopping the day before Christmas!

A few days ago I made a very tasty sauce!I like ti use it especially with meat or on bruschetta bread!

Battuto
10 dry tomatoes, 20 green stoned olives, 20 black stoned olives, 1/2 red onion in slices, 2 tbsp of e.v.o. oil, 1 tbsp of red pepper (grounded).

Put all the ingredients in the blender for 30 minutes. Pour the sauce in a little pot and warm it at low flame, whisking slowly.
Italian Version here!

Free Rice

2007-11-16T10:37:00.001+01:00

I like to read Naked Translations. This is a blog written by Céline, a professional translator from English into French and viceversa.
I like the way she writes about languages, words, expressions and about her job.
Last week she wrote a post about Free Rice, which is a website sponsored by United Nations with the aim to donate to poor people...free rice.
How can you do that?
You just need a little time to play. For each word you get right, United Nations donate 10 grains of rice to help end world hunger.
Have fun!

Italian Version here!

Coming back

2007-11-13T11:25:00.000+01:00

I'm back after a very long time.
I was so busy at work! This time of the year we have to attend many important events so I didn't have any moment for writing anything.
Furthermore my mum went to the hospital. I was so scared, but now all is ok!
It's a sunny day, although the air is a bit cold. The right time to go for a walk in central Rome, visiting a museum, eating a slice of pizza!
But...I have to work.
Last weekend I cooked a dish wich is very traditional at home.
My granny cooked it, my mum and my aunt Walkiria cook it and now...I cook it.
We use to eat it especially during winter holidays, when we are all together at home.
It reminds me wonderful times of my childhood.
It's a kind of lasagna, but we call it Timballo.

Recipe for 4 ( or 2 very big):
4 pasta sheets
350 gr minced meat
250 gr peas
1 lt tomato sauce
bechamelle
grated parmigiano reggiano cheese
1 mozzarella
butter
1 onion
e.v.o. oil
1 glass of red wine
salt

Start with the sauce.
In a large saucepan pour 2 spoons of oil and add a sliced onion and minced meat.
After a couple of minutes put inside peas, pour a glass of wine and add salt. Stir the sauce and cook it for 30 minutes at low flame.
Meanwhile cook for 2 minutes in boiling water all the pasta sheets, cut a mozzarella in cubes and warm some bechamelle.
In a pan pour some bechamelle, then put a pasta sheet, dress with tomato sauce, cubes of mozzarella, bechamelle, grated parmigiano. Then cover with another pasta sheet and continue to dress until you finish all the pasta sheets.
Put in oven at 180°c for 30 minutes.
Buon appetito!
(Sorry, the pic is not great!)

Italian version here!

Which Austen heroine are you?

2007-10-03T15:28:00.000+02:00

Lately I'm so busy that I can't find a moment to write something in my blog.
I hope all will be the same soon.
Meanwhile I answered a quiz about Jane Austen's charachters and this is my result:

Take the Quiz here!

Actually I like "Emma" and also the movie with Gwyneth Paltrow.
And you? Which Austen heroine are you?

Italian Version here!

Free Burma!

2007-09-28T09:50:00.000+02:00

http://www.burmacampaign.org.uk/

Saffron in Springfield

2007-09-25T16:33:00.001+02:00

Introducing myself.....
On Sunday evening I went to the cinema to watch the Simpson's movie. It was great fun, especially Homer with his new friend Spiderpig! So, this is me in the Simpson's world!
www.simpsonmovie.com

Inverness: K's Tea Room and Hootananny Ceilidh Cafè Bar

2007-09-22T16:36:00.002+02:00

Inverness is the Higlands capital, a little modern city, rich of museums, a Jacobite Castle, a river and shops, resturant and pubs.
We stayed at "The Alexander" , an elegant b&b along the river Ness. Mr. Nisbet welcomed us with kindness and suggested to choose every evening our menu for the breakfast. A very big breakfast: we could choose between full Scottish breakfast, salmon and scrambled eggs, fresh fruit, cups of redberry, blueberry, juices, coffee, tea and many more.
We could easily carry on with our tour until late afternoon without eating anything else!Returning to Inverness after a trip to Loch Ness, we were a bit sad because Nessie din't show up, so we went to the Victorian Arcade. This is a Victorian shop with jeweleries, gift shops, collector shops and a Tea room: K's. It's a little shop in 2 floors. All the tables have different tablecloths and pottery The waitresses wear black uniforms with white apron. You can eat fresh sadwiches, various scones stored in this pantry mouthwatering cakes, juices and, obviously, tea!I chose this perfect White Chocolate Cheesecake.
At night, after the dinner we went to the most famous pub of Inverness: The Hootananny.

Here you can drink great beers while listening to the top Scottish musicians. We attended the Sarah Macbeth show. She was amazing and we enjoyed very much the night.
HOOTANANNY INVERNESS
61 Church Street, Inverness. IV1 1ES
(the pictures of Hootannany are from www.hootananny.com)

Italian version here!

The Oak Tree Inn: Loch Lomond

2007-09-18T11:23:00.000+02:00

I carry on with my travel in Scotland! Another stop was in Loch Lomond. It represents the largest surface area of fresh water Loch in the UK and has got the best surroundings.
We spent our day in the little village of Balmaha, on the right river of the loch.
In the morning we walked on Conic Hill across fairy trees and torrents. Suddenly we met a little deer, unfortunately I hadn' t enough time to take a picture!
Then we went to the pier to see the Loch.
It was so relaxing! Then it was time for lunch and we went straight to the "Oak Tree Inn". Obviously I chose to come to Balmaha for this restaurant. I read so many good reviews about it that I couldn't miss it!
The "Oak Tree Inn" stands in the shade of a 500 years old oak tree and Sarah and Lucy Fraser are the owners.
They serve fresh food with recipe of the Scottish tradition. We were quite curiuos about the Atlantic Char. It is both a freshwater and saltwater fish in the Salmonidae family, native to Arctic, sub-Arctic and alpine lakes and coastal waters. No other freshwater fish is found as far north. It is one of the rarest fish species in Britain, found only in deep, cold, glacial lakes, mostly in Scotland.The Atlantic char is closely related to both salmon and trout and has many characteristics of both.
So when we ordered our lunch we asked for Artic char and...look how it looks delicious!
It was very tasty without useless sauce but with fresh vegetables. Great choice!
And then was time for dessert, time for my favourite British cake, Banoffee Pie, perfectly made by the Fraser Ladies.
We ate in the Bar room, covred with the wood of and old elm and with a big fireplace in the centre.
I wish I could go there again, maybe in winter when outside it's snowing and you can relax in front of the fireplace! Maybe one day...
The Oak Tree Inn
Balmaha
Loch Lomond G63 0JQ
Tel: 01360 870357
Fax: 01360 870350
Italian Version here!

Glasgow and Charles Rennie Mackintosh

2007-09-12T20:18:00.000+02:00

When in Glasgow, we decided to spend our lunch times visiting and eating in two of the most important buildings designed by Charles Rennie Mackintosh.
He was a designer and architect born in 1868 and died in 1928. He studied in Glasgow School of Art and, together with Margaret Mc Donald (his future wife), her sister Frances and James Herbert McNair, created the "Glasgow Style".
His ispiration cames from Art Nouveau and Japanese style together with the Scottish Tradition. It's quite easy to find his distinctive signs while walking down the streets of Glasgow.
During his life he worked also for Kate Cranston, the most generous patron.
He created interiors for her and two tea rooms, the Willow's, one in Sauchiehall Street and another in Buchanan Street. So, during our walk in central Glasgow, we stopped at "The Willow Tea Room" in Sauchiehall Street. If you happen to be there, I suggest you to try one of the delicious cakes made every day by the staff.
Inside every piece of furniture makes you feel like in 1910.
The Room de Luxe is the main attraction with its silver furniture and mirrors.
The following day we visited "The House of an Art Lover"
Mackintosh made this project in 1901 for a German competition. He submitted his work too late so he was disqualified from the competition. Maybe he could have won!
He hadn't the chance to see his project come true. The house has been completed in 1996 in Bellahouston Park.
All the distinctive signs of the Mackintosh's style have been represented in the house.

After the visit we spent lunch time in the restaturant at the first floor,a relaxing white room with a view of the garden.
We chose the "Soup of the day" and I decided for "Trout with Sauted Juniper and Kumquat Potatoes"
while Pepper chose "Roasted Topside of Lamb, Sardalaisse Potato with Green Lentils and Smoked Bacon".
Nice place, nice food!
Italian Version here!

The perfect Fish and Chips. “The Ashvale Fish Restaurant”.

2007-09-08T12:29:00.000+02:00

When in Aberdeen, the first place we wento to was "Ashvale Fish Restaurant".
The time was perfect for a good lunch, maybe a bit late...3 p.m.
We knew this place for the mazing reviews I found in magazines and tour guides.
It seem that Mr. John M. Low opened this restaurant in 1985. His dream was to give Aberdeen, famous for his qaulity fish, the first traditional fish and chips restaurant.
He just wanted to buy daily fresh fish and cook it in a special batter recipe: good quality and right price.
He achieved his aim: the "Ashvale" has had a huge success since its opening and has been awarded for many years as the best fish and chips restaurant in Scotland.
I ordered the "Fisherman Feast" while P. chose "Haddock and chips"
Eating this fish was a great experience, the batter was very crunchy, not oliy nor smelly (typical when the ingredients are bad!). All perfect! We drunk Saint Andrew's beer. Unfortunately there wasn't any room left for my daily slice of cake! But it was worth it!

Ashavale Fish Restaurant
42- 48 Great Western Road
Aberdeen

Italian Version here!

Greetings from Scotland

2007-09-04T10:00:00.000+02:00

As I told you one month ago, Pepper and I went to Scotland for our holiday!
It was so amazing: 1.500 km touring by car from Glasgow to Loch Lomond, Inverness, Loch Ness, Aberdeen, Saint Andrews and Edinburgh.
Here we are with some pictures of our holiday.
Enjoy it!
Inverness...
....Aberdeen....
...Urquhart Castle...
...Edinburgh....
....Nessie...
...Loch Lomond...
...Glasgow.

Italian Version here!!

Saffron and Pepper in English

2007-09-04T09:54:00.000+02:00

I don't know why, but every year in September I think of my life and I feel ready to start new projects and make changes.
So, I decide to open this blog only in English.
Maybe it will be a good way to improve my skills in English!
Have a nice week!
Italian Version here!!!!