Capture the Colors

Suzy @ Someday, Somewhere has included me in a fun Bloggy Meme that fits in perfectly with our Traveling Tuesday... and a little Blue Monday
This challenge is to find photos from my travels that represent the colors White, Red, Yellow, Blue, and Green.

I spent a quiet Sunday looking through years and years of travel photos, and came up with the one's that bring back the best memories for me.
That is the nice thing about taking snap-shots when you travel . . . to others, they are nice pictures.
To me ~ each is a memory of an event.

White ~ My 'White' photo was taken just recently at the beach. I do think we have the most beautiful white sandy beaches on the Alabama Gulf Coast. The white waves crashing and the early morning sunrise. This beach has been in my blood since I was a little girl ~ this is a memory I treasure.

Red ~ This 'Red' photo is from years ago, on one of my many trips to London.
The classic red phone booths always bring a smile to my face. Who can help but get that 'been to London' photo?

Yellow ~ You don't know yellow, until you have cracked open an egg from the area of Bologna. This is what makes their pasta that rich yellow color.
You see a photo of yellow eggs in flour... I am reminded of a great weekend with friends. Cooking, Eating and Laughter.

Blue ~ My choice for 'Blue' was harder, because I am always on the lookout for Blue Monday . This is a shot of the replica of The David in Florence. With this photo, the music of Italy comes to my mind. A cafe in the square surrounded by the chatter, sights and smells of Italy.
Bellisimo~

Green ~ I have to include a shot from one of the many markets I have spent time in. I love nothing better than to wander in a fresh market . . . whether it is in Alabama, or in Europe. Small farmers and business people, with produce they can be proud of.

Those are my colors~
The challenge is to :
- present 5 photographs from my travels showing the colours blue, green, yellow, red, and white
- nominate 5 bloggers to participate in the challenge
- complete the challenge and indicate you've entered by:
- linking to your blog post on your Facebook wall mentioning Capture the Colour and
tagging the TravelSupermarket.com Facebook page or...
- linking to your post via Twitter including @travelsupermkt and #capturethecolour in
The best Capture the Colour entries will be shared throughout the competition by expert judges and the TravelSupermarket social accounts.
Each judge will select their own colour category winners and will then combine to select the overall winner of the travel prize. For further information see Terms & Conditions here
Now to tag other bloggers ~ I hesitate to do this, because not everyone has the time to do this kind of thing.
If you don't want to . . . fine by me!
These are the friends I would love to see play ~
PalmaBella will have plenty of photos of Italy,
Jerry always has a camera handy when he is traveling, 
Val is planning a trip,
Jan  just got home from one,
Holledayz is always on holiday.
Happy Traveling y'all~
Sandi

PhotoHunt ~ Jokester ~

The PhotoHunt for this Saturday is 'Jokester' When we were on our Great Escape this year, we had a jokester in the kitchen.

'Lefty' has been known to get into trouble  . . . where ever he goes!

This year 'Miss Righty' had some tricks up her sleeve.

I really think it was just the bad influence of 'Lefty'

Jokesters?
But of course . . .

I'm thinking that Miss Righty has already booked a closet for Kitchen Capers in Tuscany next year.

Now . . . Check for all the other 'Jokester' Photos on The Saturday PhotoHunt
Happy Hunting y'all~
Sandi

~ 52 ~

Do y'all know Laura @ 52 Flea ?
When I was wandering around the backroads of Italy . . .
I saw several things that reminded me of her ~

I decided to make it a bloggy  '52'  scavenger hunt...

It's amazing the things you will see .  .  . if you keep your eyes open

It's almost like she was traveling with me.
That's another traveling tuesday~

Y'all enjoy the ride~
Sandi

PhotoHunt ~ Song ~

The PhotoHunt for this week is 'Song'

I have shared this place before  . . .  al Paradiso di Frassina
This is the winery near Montalcino where they play Mozart to the grapes.
It is a beautiful drive down a winding dirt road ~ with the sound of music coming from the Bose speakers that are scattered in the fields.

The wine is good too!
Maybe we'll be visiting Carlo again in May~

Check for all the other Photos on The Saturday PhotoHunt
Happy Hunting y'all~
Sandi

Travel Tuesday ~ How do You like to travel?

When I posted last week about our new Travel Adventure, Kitchen Capers . . . I started thinking about how people like to travel.
Not everyone is the same!
I remember seeing this group in Rome ~ and thinking that would be my travel nightmare.

30 people, On bikes, In the city . . all trying to hear a guide talk about the tourist sites.
Yikes!
To each his own  .  .  .

This is more my style .  .  . wandering a side street in the early morning.
What is your travel style?
Here is the Link to Our Great Escapes  ~

Y'all enjoy the ride~
Sandi

PhotoHunt ~Dance~

The PhotoHunt for this week is ~Dance~

This is a fun shot from the excitement of dancing at a wedding...
You can tell from the look on my face that I thought for sure she was falling~
It brings a smile to my face.

Dance on by and check for more Photos on The Saturday PhotoHunt
Happy Hunting y'all~
Sandi

A Special Announcement for Traveling Tuesday

I am super excited to make this announcement . . . it is a secret I have been holding on to for a while.
I've been about to bust!!!
This spring, I am joining up officially with my friend Gail Hecko. We will offer special tours of the Tuscany we have both come to love.
I have traveled to Italy with her for the past 5 years, helping with her tours.
Now . . .  we are going to make use of my cooking experience,
and Gail's knowledge of Tuscany.

" Kitchen Capers "

This May we are going to offer a 7 day trip to a historical villa in Contignano ~ we are limiting it to 6 people per week.  It will be the perfect Italian get-away.
Check the website for all the details of Kitchen Capers with Gail & Sandi.

It will be a fun filled week  ~ where we will have plenty of thyme to cut up in the kitchen.
We'll be using basic Tuscan recipes from my friend Judy ~ The Divina Cucina . . . and maybe even a few from my Pomodori e Vino days ~ cooking with Marcella Hazan.
For those who want to get into a little pasta making, we will have cooking classes.
If you aren't into cooking in the kitchen, you can sit back, sip wine and enjoy fruits of our labors.

We will also have a tours of the nearby villages, local wineries, and olive oil farms.
We will also include watercolor classes with Liz Cochrane.
Contignano is a small village in the heart of Tuscany
. . . the perfect home base for an unbelievable week in Italy.

If you have ever thought about taking a trip to Italy ~ now is the time!
This trip will be perfect for sisters, girlfriends or even couples.
Small enough for personal attention, but with plenty of free time to fall in love with Italy.

Y'all enjoy the ride~
Sandi

Blue Monday ~

This is the only way to beat the heat . . .

And perfect for Blue Monday.

Don't forget to check in at Smiling Sally for more blues.
y'all enjoy~
Sandi

PhotoHunt ~ Zany

People in Florence are familiar with Caterina Bellandi . . . the Zany taxi driver.

 I say 'Zany' ~ but only because of the image she presents as she is driving around town with her big flowered hat and painted up car.
This article tells her story. How her life became a mission to help people and brighten the lives of others.

. . . and that she does!
One day I might just grow up to be Zany too.

Check for all the other Zany Photos on The Saturday PhotoHunt
Happy Hunting y'all~
Sandi

Cooking Light ~ Red, White, and Blue Day

This month our Cooking Light Virtual Supper Club is celebrating Canada Day~ one of our Canadian members got to pick the theme.
Since we are posting on the 4th of July ~ I will call this a red white and blue day.
Any reason for a picnic!
I found a great recipe Here on Cooking Light that might work well for a picnic. If we weren't planning to fire up a grill at the picnic (virtually of course), I could have grilled the zucchini at home and kept them for a day or two.

I am using my favorite basil (I think it is called box wood basil) . . . it has itty bitty leaves and grows easily in pots. The flavor is great and it is so simple to add to everything!

Grilled Zucchini with Caprese Salsa

2 teaspoons extra-virgin olive oil
1/4 teaspoon coarse sea salt
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
2 medium zucchini, cut diagonally into 1/2-inch-thick slices
1/3 cup diced tomato
2 ounces sliced fresh mozzarella cheese
3 tablespoons chopped fresh basil
1 garlic clove, minced
1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
1 teaspoon red wine vinegar
1. Preheat grill pan over medium-high heat. Combine first 4 ingredients in a bowl; toss well to coat. Arrange zucchini in a single layer in pan; grill 4 minutes, turning after 2 minutes.
2. Combine tomato, fresh mozzarella cheese, basil, and minced garlic in a bowl. Add olive oil and red wine vinegar to tomato mixture; stir gently. Divide zucchini evenly among 4 plates. Top zucchini evenly with tomato mixture.

They were perfect! The grilled zucchini is a great gluten free option for slices of bread.

Now let's see what everyone else has brought for our ...
Jerry has dessert this time ~ Strawberry Parfaits
Val is bringing a Marinated Mozzarella Salad
Giz has a Thai Seafood Salad.
Since we have lost some of our members... we have invited Bloggers to join us every month. If you are interested let us know!
Helene was a Cooking Light member years ago . . . So she fit right into our Virtual Supper Club. She is squeezing lemons for some Fresh Lemonaide.
 Shelby is also back again after escaping the Supper Club for a bit... she brought awesome Lobster Rolls.
Y'all enjoy ~
Sandi

Traveling Tuesdays ~ Spending the 4th at the Beach

I WISH we were going to spend the 4th at the beach.

For years and years we would make the trip to the gulf for the 4th of July.
I have made the trip with babies in carseats, kids with kites, and teenagers in bikinis.
One year I even made the trip with a Wedding Dress . . . Bill and I were married at the beach on July 2nd.

The years have gone by and life changes... The annual trip to the beach has been delayed for a month. We will still have a wonderful time and I am looking forward to the trip.

But . . . I have to admit, I miss the matching 4th of July t-shirts, the fireworks over the beach, the ketchy country songs and the super kite flying Gekie and Papa.

Happy 4th of July Y'all ~
Sandi
*for those of you who played the linky with me . . . you'll notice I no longer have the subscription*
We can still travel together.
Leave a comment and we'll visit!

Dijon Asparagus with Balsamic Glaze

The one thing I am always reminded when I spend time in Italy is that the most important thing when cooking, is quality.
semplicemente
Simply
the
Best.
You'll see that the recommended 'flavors' have been capitalized.
Dijon Asparagus with Balsamic Glaze
1 Tbs BALSAMIC VINEGAR
1 tsp OLIVE OIL
1 tsp DIJON MUSTARD
1 tsp SALT
2 lb Asparagus spears
2 Tbs grated parmiggiano CHEESE (the good stuff)
In a skillet, heat oil. Cook trimmed asparagus until just tender. Sprinkle with mustard and balsamic. Salt as desired. Toss gently until spears are evenly coated. Remove from heat.Place asparagus on a serving plate. Sprinkle evenly with cheeseI toasted this for a smidge to melt the cheese.
Yum!
It was a group decision to call an end to the 'Flavor's project'.
I had worked hard to get ahead for the summer . . .  so, I'm going to post my recipes anyway! .
Happy Cooking y'all~
Sandi