Whoa!

What a whirlwind today has been thus far. I don't know why I'm always surprised by how full-on it is when both kids are home but T is not. They have been well-behaved, and we hosted a fun playdate, but still. I am super tired right now, haven't eaten lunch, and it's nearly 2p. Oliver is resisting his nap, J is on his 4th outfit change of the day, and I desperately need 10 minutes of total quiet. Everyone's just going to have to stay put right now while I eat and get back to some sort of stasis. At the farmers market yesterday, I bought a bunch of stinging nettles which I plan to use in a pasta tonight. That poison ivy ravioli I had in Florence was absolutely remarkable, and I thought the nettles might be a decent approximation in an attempt to replicate that beautiful creation. I have just enough ricotta left over to complete the filling. Hmm... will keep you posted.

Speedy Saturday

I can't usually say this for Saturdays, but today has been positively zippy! We went to a wonderfully lovely, fun Easter egg hunt this morning which both delighted and exhausted the boys. It's a gorgeous day, and I got a great workout in too. I am so excited about the newly seasonal foods hitting the markets. Yesterday I discovered parsley root which I've never seen before but imagine to be lovely and delicate. On tap for this evening and tomorrow are MB's potato salad, yogurt- and cardamom-roasted chicken and salmon on the grill, probs with a fab maple reduction glaze that I love!

What are y'all cooking? Special Easter or Passover recipes to be made?

Perfect last evening in Firenze

What a perfect way to bid Italy goodbye: this evening couldn't have been better. Drinks on a rooftop bar overlooking the Arno and Palazzo Vecchio first, and then a feast at one of Elia and Michele's favorite restaurants, Bireria Centrale, a former brewery refashioned as a Tuscan/Northern Italian place with amazing food, wine, service and ambiance. Tom ordered pici con cinghialle, boar, and I almost cried when I received my tagliatelle al tartufo. It was so incredibly good and gorgeous.

These pics are too bright and don't nearly do either dish justice. Six of our group shared this bistecca alla Fiorentina, about which they raved. Can you believe the size??