Friday, July 17th

Friday has arrived and our last day of cooking school! We had the morning off before we began our final preparations for our farewell meal on Friday evening. Holly, Beth, myself and a new friend that we met named Erica decided to go into the town of Poppi to visit the castle of Poppi. You know, it really amazes me how much history there is and how well things are preserved and not bulldozed down when they are 100 years old. We spent all morning in Poppi just touring the castle and going up in the tower. Most of you that know me know that I am deathly afraid of heights. I was determined to go up to the highest point in the tower and I did so but I will also say that my breathing level changed drastically in the process. I made it—I looked around, shot some photos and decided to head back down before the rest of my group as I KNEW it would take me a while to get down. The stairs were extremely steep and very narrow. Once we were all down, we wandered around the grounds for a bit and down into the town. We didn’t have a lot of time so we wanted to make the most of it. The thing that stood out the most in my mind about the castle was the fact that there are still beautifully painted frescos (originals) still there. They were absolutely beautiful!

Back at Casa Ombuto, we arrive just in time for our lunch. Laura, our chef, has prepared a wonderful lunch for us. Beth has come down with a really bad headache and decides during the middle of lunch to go and lie down. I was worried that she was coming down with something. It was so hot that morning, I thought she may have been overheated. We couldn’t seem to get enough water.

Preparations for the farewell dinner were beginning. Each of us were making something different as our dinner was a buffet. My item was a Tarte Tatin, or an Apple Tart (French). It turned out absolutely beautiful I must say. Holly was making Tomato Farcies (stuffed baked tomatoes) and they too turned out beautiful. Beth was to help one of the other students with the lamb skewers. When she was well enough to get up, she came down and helped with the final preparation of them. Dinner was to be at 8:00 and we finished up about 7:30. Talk about having no time to get cleaned up and presentable—

We did it though; rushed back to our room, cleaned up a bit, changed and headed down to dinner. We were dining under the stars and the weather was just perfect. We thought we might get rained on as a few sprinkles came down but it held out until we were done eating. At the end of our meal, Laura got up to do the presentations to the students. Each received a diploma. She saved the best for last (in my opinion of course) and presented myself, Holly and Beth our diplomas with a little story to go along with it. She was so sweet the first night when we were sooooooooo very late arriving due to all the rental car issues that she said she felt like we had made such an effort to arrive that it was the least she could do to stay late and serve us a hot meal. She is a new lifelong friend to all of us. You couldn’t help but just fall in love with her. She didn’t think her English was very good but she did a great job. She even got in on the act of “joking” when the olive oil guy Francesco was trying to become friendly with Erica. We kidded her about that the whole rest of the trip. Laura even got in on it as well. Of course Beth was putting her up to it as well.

Dinner was over, presentations were made and it was time to take a class photo and say our farewells. I’ve never been good with them and never will be so people should know that about me up front. When people mean something to me, I cry. No, that’s not even a correct statement. Shoot, sometimes I even cry at a McDonald’s commercial!! However in this instance, these people had become new friends and I hate leaving friends. Many tears were had and many hugs and kisses. To the following people I’d like to say I truly had a wonderful time and I so enjoyed getting to know each and every single one of you:

Thomas & Ivana, Linda and Elizabeth, Nan, Sally, Erica, and Vinita, I hope to see you all again and if not see you, at least hear from you from time to time. You will forever be etched in my mind and heart. Last but not least to Laura: the most wonderful lady I think I have ever met. A person so genuine, true, caring, loving and beautiful!!! You are an inspiration to me and I’m sure to all who attended the school this week.

We have a rental car to return and a drive ahead of us back into Florence so an early evening it is for the three of us. Early by standards of how late we had been staying up all week. I believe we were in bed by midnight and we were to pull out at 7:00AM. I am feeling very sad about leaving Tuscany. Most of my adult life I have wanted to go there and I only got a small taste of what it was like. Tuscany is somewhere I will definitely return to!!! Good-bye Casa Ombuto. Ciao----.

Wednesday, July 15

Wow! What a day we had. Since our cooking school is advertised as Mediterranean Cooking, Wednesday was Spanish & French day. One of the days that I was really waiting for. Our day started off early. For lunch, we were to prepare Paella Valenciana, Sangria (yum, yum) ,Gazpacho, and Crema Catalana which is the spanish version of Creme Brulee if you know what that is. For the Paella, we did everything from actually cleaning the fish and seafood, chopping the chicken and de-boning it, to cooking it!!! I'm so very proud of myself because I actually cleaned a whole squid and even learned how to pop the eyes!! Never in a million years did I think I would do that. The pictures that will be posted with this entry will show you how well we did with all of the menu. My sister Lisa and I have been wanting a great Paella recipe for a very long time so I'm excited to make it for her and the rest of my family when I return home!!!

Lunch--oh my gosh!!! How delicious!! The gazpacho was absolutely to die for but we now need our own Siesta!! That isn't going to happen as we are making French Provencal for dinner. We have about a 30 minute break before we are to begin again.

The menu for the evening meal is as follows:

Salade de chevre chaud (Baked goat cheese salad)

Loup en croute de sel (Sea Bass baked in a crust of salt)

Ratatouille (mixed Provencal vegetables)

Fondant au chocolat (Molten chocolate cake)

Glace a la vanilla (Vanilla ice cream) and we added a lavendar flower to it as well

I have to say that the Salade de chevre chaud is now one of my all time favorite salads!!! It was absolutely incredible. Everyone worked so well together--it's sad because the week of cooking is almost over and we are all now really meshing together. It was another late night as it seems we don't eat dinner until about 9:30-10:00 and by the time we drink our wine and visit, before we know it, it's 2:00 in the morning Italy time!!! Oh well, when in Rome--------

Tuesday, July 13

Yesterday started out very early. It was our "excursion" day and the bus was picking us up to leave at 8:45. We rushed around in the morning getting ready so we could at least go have our coffee (espresso) and small breakfast. I think the hardest part was deciding what to wear for the day. We were to visit the town of Arezzo which is an old Medieval town and a home that has been standing for centuries and is now the home of a very small winery. The family that owns the house are a husband, wife and daughter of 20 yrs old. They are all doctors. He only makes two kinds of wine and this year, he took a silver in the very prestigious wine festival in London, England. He is very proud of it and I can certainly understand why. It's so good, Beth and I both bought a case of it!!!!!!!!!! He even passed around small bits of belgian chocolate to try with the second. Yum, yum!! Just what I need--another way to drink wine. Oh well, in Italy, as in France where I've also spent quite a bit of time, they drink wine to enjoy the wine, not to get drunk as we Americans have a tendency to do. It's a whole different mindset in regards to wine.

The grounds of the home are surrounded by vineyards, italian cypress trees, olive trees, and a few orange trees. Man I tell you, it just doesn't get any better than that!

We're off and on our way to walk around the town of Arezzo. I will definitely be coming back to this region of Italy. I could spend days in Arezzo just looking at all the history and feeling as if I were going back in time. I don't think as an American we fully appreciate the truly "old" things.

From Arezzo, we make our way via our bus to a family run olive mill. What a charming little place. A table is set up outside for us and after the short tour and explanation of how the olives become oil, we sit down to a little oil tasting. They also make balsamic vinegar so I am in heaven. Small pieces of bread and pecorino cheese (again my favorite cheese) are passed around so that we may try the true taste of the products. This place was also where we were having our lunch. Thank goodness today's lunch is not really a 4 course lunch!

Back on the bus we go to our next destination. This time, it's to the town of Anghiara which is another Medieval town. It takes us a little bit but we arrive at the Busatti textile mill. It is another family run business. It seems to me that there are a lot of businesses over her that are passed down from generation to generation. The products are quite expensive and I don't think anyone purchased anything. One kitchen tea towel was E20 each!! There are other things I'd prefer to purchase---off to a walk around the once-again charming town. So much history and sooooooo much to take in. We came upon this little old man sitting in the entry of his home down one of the alleys. Of course I stopped to photograph the alley and he watched for a few moments and decided he was going to get up and tell us something. He wanted us to know and be sure to look down this certain well. He posed in a photo with me and I honestly thought he was going to hang on to me forever. Each time I tried to pull my arm out, he would squeeze it tighter. We had a good laugh about that.

Holly has been doing great on the bus. I thought I would mention that because she usually gets car sick and we have been going around some CRAZY roads that are more than just an "S" curve. She even fell asleep at one point. And you know Italian drivers!!! The word slow in regard to driving does not exist. This is another town I could spend days in just exploring. No shopping today. Just a little window shopping.

We're off to visit a sheep farm that makes cheese. We are showed how the cheese is made and once again, it's another family run business. It's actually in the back of the home of the family that owns it. They little couple come from Sardinia where according to them, are too many sheep farmers so they moved to mainland Italy! Quite a story they tell. They speak no English so our tour guide for the day interprets for us. They make three different kinds of cheese. The first I can't remember the name of but the second is riccota and the third, you guessed it, pecorino!! I'm in heaven. She takes us in to the little room in her home where she has prepared a table with all three cheeses for us to sample, along with the yogurt she has made also. For me, it was the best yogurt I've had since I was in France in 2004!! I topped mine with a little bit of honey that, you guessed it, they also prepare. It is a very light, almost white, honey. When I inquire about the color, it's because the bees are getting their stuff from white flowers. It has a totally different texture than what we buy in the states. She has also prepared a little cake with riccota (cheesecake) and another type of cake that she calls a breakfast cake which is also made with riccota. It is heavenly. She agrees to give me the recipe. I will share it on my blog when I return home from Italy. I think my new favorite dessert is small slices of pecorino cheese drizzled with honey and nuts. I will be serving it for my family I can assure you.

When we are finished, the little lady takes me around the front so I can purchase some of her pecorino cheese. I am told that you should never store cheese in a plastic bag. Always store it in a brown paper bag!!!!!!!!!! So, I am passing that information on to you.

Back on the bus for the hour ride back to Casa Ombuto. Ahhhh, home. The grounds here are so very beautiful. I can definitely see why Frances Mayes, the author of Under the Tuscan Sun, decided to move here. I would too. I'm even beginning to think I like Italy better than France and I didn't think that would EVER happen. It's just a totally different style of life. One that is definitely enjoyed and not rushed through like we do back in the states.

Once we arrived back to Casa Ombuto, we had "left-overs" on the counter waiting in case we were hungry. None of us really were but I decided that I wanted some vegetables so ate many cherry tomatoes, grown here on the grounds of course, and dipped them in the salt. So good!!!!! Later, I had one piece of pizza that was prepared for us the night before. No wine for me last night. I just drank water. Off to bed. It will be another long day for us on Wednesday as it's Spanish day and we will be making Paella. I can't wait for that lesson. Since I lived in Madrid a long time ago, I fell in love with Paella. Now I'm living out my dream!!