The Hugo Spritz - Recipe
I remember the first time I ever savored a Hugo Spritz. It was on a warm summer afternoon while at a lavender festival in Venzone, Italy. I had run into a friend at a local bar. Saw she was drinking something which clearly involved mint and lime. Mojitos are my absolute favorite cocktail so I had to ask. She replied, "This? This is a Hugo Spritz." Thus my new love was born. I asked the bartender how I could make one at home and he shared the
Hugo Spritz Recipe.
It's simple and delicious and contains a combination of elderflower syrup or liqueur and Prosecco.In Italy the phrase "bar" most often refers to a place you can get an espresso, usually consumed quickly, standing at the bar, or quick meal and a glass of wine, it's not like the bars here in the States. Kids are often seen enjoying gelato or sandwich while their parents enjoy a spritz, as did I on this special day when I sipped my first Hugo Spritz, and then my second. It was pretty hot as I recall. Making this the perfect simple recipe for a refreshing drink you can savor all summer long.
Alas, I am no longer in Italy and though I miss it every single day, there are still ways to bring Italy home to America. One of those ways is the wonderful aperitifs... Like this lovely and very pretty Hugo Spritz.
Authentic Italian Hugo Spritz Recipe
Ingredients:
1 ozSt. Germain or other Elderflower Liqueur (or syrup).
3-4freshMint Leaves
1small slicelime (optional)
2 oz unflavored sparkling water
4-5ouncesprosecco*, chilled
ice
To prepare:
Fill a wine glass with ice. If you want to serve it as it is served in Italy only add two ice cubes, three at the most. If your guests ask you for more give them the side eye and huff, "No!".
Pour one ounce of St. Germain directly over the ice and then add a few mint leaves and a slice of lime.
Top off the glass with 4-5 ounces of chilled prosecco.
Stir briskly for a moment and enjoy pronto!
*For a non-alcoholic version, swap out the wine for ginger ale or lemon/lime soda and use Elderflower syrup.
I Miss Italy - Balsamic Strawberries Over Ice Cream Recipe
I pretty much fell in love with Italy from day one, and lately I've really been missing my life there. In a place that changes little with the decades, each time I would go out, it often felt like a new experience because there was so much to see; even in the small little town I lived in.
I thought I'd share a super easy desert I enjoyed that is so quintessentially Italian, and yet isn't a tiramisu or cannoli. Fragole all'aceto balsamico or balsamic vinegar and strawberries pair beautifully; you'll see this pairing in their cuisine frequently. A strawberry balsamic vinegar reduction as a sauce over steak was a popular dish at a local restaurant, near where I lived. My favorite is a simple combination of the two. You could easily serve these strawberries over a white cake or perhaps even a chocolate cake, but since it's the summer lets do ice cream and be merry.This is the easiest thing in the world to prepare and it only takes a few minutes.
Ingredients:1 qt fresh strawberries (defrosted frozen strawberries should work in a pinch).3 tablespoons of sugar (or to taste)4 tablespoons balsamic vinegar2 tablespoons orange juice (optional)dark chocolate chips (optional)Vanilla ice cream or gelato.When it comes to choosing your balsamic vinegar try to use the best vinegar you can find and afford. For this recipe I used Colavita Aged Balsamic Vinegar because it's pretty good and it is made in Modena which is located in the Emilia-Romagna region of Italy where you can easily find this dish.To prepare the strawberries:Rinse and hull the strawberries, then slice them into quarters. Place strawberries into a bowl. Add in the sugar and balsamic vinegar (and orange juice if you're using it) stir until well combined.Serve over ice cream or a white cake (sponge, angel food, or a butter loaf would be nice...) Sprinkle with dark chocolate chips like I did or don't. Honestly, these strawberries are perfect on their own if you're looking for a refreshing light Springtime or Summer desert.
Buon appetito!
How to get tickets to a Papal Audience and Tips for Getting the Best Seat
I've been to Rome a number of times, for leisure and for religious reasons. Many visitors to Rome wish to see Pope Francis. Tickets are always free, and if you're an American, the best way to request tickets for either a Papal Mass or Audience is to contact the Pontifical North American College in Rome. This is where all the American men in seminary to become priests go for their final three years of study. 
The Holy Father holds a General Audience on most Wednesday mornings in Vatican City at 10:00 a.m. Audiences are usually held in St. Peter’s Square unless it's too cold, in which case the audience is held in the Paul VI audience hall. Tickets are for the chairs set out in St. Peter's Square, in order to get a seat, you must have a ticket. Though you can line up along the outside barriers, it is much better to have a seat.
All who attend have the unique opportunity to pray with the Holy Father and receive his blessing, which is offered to all who are present and to their families and friends back home.When you send your request via email, you should include the following information:
- Your name and the name of those attending
- The date you would like to attend
- The number of people in your party
- It is also a good idea to include information on your parish involvement if Catholic or for the reason you wish to attend an audience.
A few tips on getting the best seat:Though the audience begins at 10:00 the security gates open at 8:00 a.m., I would suggest beginning to get in line at least by seven o'clock, especially during peak seasons. You will not be allowed to bring in any bags larger than a back pack. You'll have to pass through a metal detector, so being prepared in advance with your electronics and such helps speed things up.If you wish to get a good view of the Pope, once inside the gates, try to get a seat along the perimeter. At the end of the audience he will usually drive around a few times and this is the best opportunity to see him up close.For religious items you wish to have blessed you need only have them with you, and have the intention for the Pope's blessing to be bestowed on them.Bring snacks and water... If you get there early enough the wait can be a long one. The audience itself usually lasts about two hours, and having a rumbling tummy or a parched throat will only be distractions from the Pope's message. There are restroom facilities on sight, and a few snack stands just outside of Vatican City in front of St. Peter's Square, that sell: water, gelato, chips, and hot dogs- I think; but they are pricey, so coming prepared ahead of time will save you a few euro. Dress appropriately according the season and weather. I've attended audiences in both warm and cold weather and being prepared helps make your experience even more amazing.The Pope will speak in Italian, and there will be guest speakers usually bishops, from various parts of the world relating a part of his message in various languages, however if you wish to read his full message on the day of your visit, check the Vatican Radio website a few weeks after your audience for the complete transcript.
The Spanish Steps at Night - Rome
The Spanish Steps and Trevi fountain recently reopened after being spruced up. I was so happy to get to see them on my last couple of visits, that I wanted to go back and get a view of them at night. Lucky for me, we had some family visiting and on their particular visit, visiting the steps at night was the only option to show them this historical landmark. The Piazza di Spagna at where the steps are located is named after the Spanish Embassy so naturally, the name extended to the steps. The steps connect the Embassy and the Trinita dei Monti church.The area surrounding the Spanish Steps is full of posh stores and other shopping (including a Sephora). Directly in front of the stairs, you will find the Barcaccia Fountain, a lovely fountain for sitting and people watching. It is the work of Pietro Bernini and his son, Gian Lorenzo. Lorenzo is also the designer of some of the major Baroque art in the Rome, including the renowned baldachino of St. Peter's Basilica Climbing up to the top of the steps affords you a lovely view of the surrounding area and you get your stair climb in for the day however don't grab a panino and expect to be allowed to picnic there. Having your lunch or dinner on the steps is forbidden.
St. Peter's Basilica, Vatican Museums & the Scavi Tour
Living in Italy and being a Catholic is an amazing thing. Getting to be up close and personal with the home of my faith has truly been a wonderful experience. I feel beyond blessed to have been able to not only see the Pope three times, but also to have had the opportunity tour the Vatican multiple times has inspired me to pinch myself to make sure I wasn't dreaming.
St. Peter's Basilica at night, is empty for the most part of the hustle and bustle of the day time. It's quite lovely and peaceful. 
Standing outside of Vatican City (i.e. in Rome) it is impossible to not be approached by one of the tour guide services. I've done the tour guide thing, and it was great, but depending on which tour you purchase they can be pricey, and often you miss a lot. It's practically impossible to see all the incredible art the Vatican has, most tours and tourists go to see only the most famous pieces of art think Raphael and Laocoön,...
However the Vatican has so much to offer, that in a smaller museum would be the reason why you'd visit. I'm talking Salvador Dali, Rodin, and even Van Gogh. This painting is his Pietà. 
Yes. The Vatican is full with art from the Egyptian era to our current time, but spying one of Rodin's "The Thinker" pieces took be straight back to my high school World Literature class where we learned about this sculpture and his famous thinking man.If you'd like to or are able to dedicate a full day or at least half a day to touring the museum you can certainly do so with out the aid of a tour guide. The museum offers a map and audio tour guide thing-a-ma-bobs for a small fee, you can plug into your ears and learn yourself. I will say the benefit of a tour guide is a lot of the behind the scenes history of the pieces etc., which I did enjoy when I toured the the museum the first time with a guide.
Here my son Michael and I are pictured in the Hall of Maps.Another perk of having a tour guide is that you can enter St. Peter's Basilica without having to go out and make the line to get in. This you do after the Sistine Chapel. I may know of a certain family, short on time who followed a group with a tour guide out and made their way into the Sistine Chapel with no problems... this is however, against the rules...
Upon entering the Sistine Chapel, one of the first pieces of art you will encounter is Michelangelo's Pietà. You can also pay to have a tour guide show you around the Sistine Chapel, however I strongly encourage you to contact the Pontifical North American College in Rome, to schedule a tour with one of their seminarians. American seminarians are available for free tours of St. Peter's Basilica on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, & Friday at 2:15. The tours are free, but since they don't really earn any money while studying it's nice gesture to offer them a tip.
Another lesser known tour available is the Scavi tour. This tour will take you to the excavations of the necropolis beneath Saint Peter’s Basilica and the burial place of Saint Peter himself. I had an amazing experience when I went on this tour. The Vatican only allows only a very limited number of people on this tour per day, and the minimum age is 15 years. If you wish to go on this tour, make reservations a few months ahead of your trip. You have to request tickets from the Scavi tour office itself. Information to do so can be found on the Scavi and Catacombs information page of the Pontifical North American College.Do you wish to see the Pope? For information on how to get your tickets for a papal audience or Mass, please check out this post: How to get tickets to a Papal Audience and Tips for Getting the Best Seat
Trevi Fountain at Night and Visitor Tips
The Trevi fountain is a gorgeous beast. It's Baroque style is breathtaking, I dare say there is no other fountain more gorgeous, it is even more beautiful at night. The Trevi fountain is open 24/7 and it is absolutely free. You can sit and gaze at it for as long as you wish, though it's usually most crowded from around mid morning through the evening hours. The best time to view the fountain if you'd like to have it more to yourself is either after Midnight or in the very early morning hours. There are lots of vendors selling stuff, guys handing you roses (they're not free so just say, "No grazie", unless you wish to purchase one.) and photographers selling photos. As with any heavily populated tourist ridden area in any city in the world, be sure to guard your belongings and be smart. Have your coins ready to be tossed before you get to the fountain to avoid having to dig through your wallet.
If you're a fan of the film Roman Holiday staring Audrey Hepburn and Gregory Peck or Three Coins in the Fountain,then you're familiar with the legend surrounding the fountain. I've heard of a couple of legends the first being that if you toss a coin with your back to the fountain using your right hand over your left shoulder then you will return to Rome one day. A newer legend says the first coin you toss into the fountain will ensure you're return, a second coin will mean a new romance, and the third that your romance will lead to marriage. Both legends stipulate having your back turned, and tossing the coin over your left shoulder using your right hand; however if you take a moment to watch other tourists they seem to use both hands... I'm not sure if this is an unfamiliarity with the legend, or if I'm the one who is mistaken.The best part of the coin toss is how the money is used. Nightly about €3,000, is collected and given to a local supermarket which serves the poor, and other local charities like the Italian Red Cross. 
There are lots of gelato places and restaurants around the fountain, but they can be pricey and sometimes the quality of food isn't the greatest. Be sure to check reviews if possible before making a decision to dine.The Trevi Fountain is easy to get to, if you're traveling by the metro use the Baberini stop on line A.
A Day in Venice
One of the most amazing parts about living in Italy has been being able to take a short train ride for a day in Venice. We love it and still find it as magical as the first time we visited this floating city, though we get lost a lot less frequently these days. This weekend my family decided to take such a day for ourselves to enjoy each other's company while in one of the most amazing places on the planet. Here are a few snapshots from our latest visit to Venice.
The Chiesa San Simeon Piccolo is the first building you see when exiting the Santa Lucia train station in Venice. It's one of the "must get" photographs when touring the city, especially if you come in through the train station.
There is so much to see. We've visited Venice so much, and each time, even if it's something I've seen before, I fall a little bit more in love with the city.
My favorite time of year to visit Venice is in the Fall and Winter when there are less tourists. As you meander through the many canals and little alley ways you can get a sense of how quiet the city can be with out the hustle and bustle of cars, and horns and such.
I've visited Venice on hot sunny summer days, in the rain, and the cold. There's always something new to see and experience.
My husband and I feel so blessed to have been able to live this Italian life these last four years, and for the experience this has offered our sons.
This time we wanted to wander deeper into the city, away from the major touristy areas like Saint Mark's Square, and such. It was so nice. We had lunch in this little restaurant, and took our time stopping to take it all in whenever we could. I guess we're beginning to realize these trips taken whenever we have the whim to do so will be coming to an end soon and we wanted to savor these simple parts.
My son Evan loves to do this. It drives me nuts, but it's a great image of some of the narrow alleyways in Venice.
Prepare to walk. A day in Venice could easily rack up lots of steps and stair cases if you like to track those sort of things.
There's so much antiquity and age. I love it. The Italians can be so blasé about their old things, I love that too.As in pretty much all of Italy art is everywhere.
This trip we made it a point to peak into a few churches to light a candle and say a prayer.
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