Thanksgiving dinners

Ciao Everybody! It is long time I don't blog so I thought Thanksgiving is a great opportunity to be back!
On Thanksgiving day with some dear friend we had dinner at "Fiori Oscuri" restaurant in Brera area, in the center of Milan and we had so much fun! Food was really great and the company too! Rachael and myself spent a fantastic evening with our new friends from Madrid, Spain, Mike and Maria Plonsky (Mike is my best friend David's brother that lives in New York), Emma (she looks likes my best friend Sienna Miller!), Aaron and Amie, and some other great people I sincerely do not remember the names.. you know how terrible I am sometimes in remembering names!
Yesterday, we had the second celebration for Thanksgiving at our great and very very dear friends Amanda and Zeno Tutino's and we had the best tacchino (turkey) ever! That was so yummy! There were nice friends and we really enjoyed it! I decided to start a diet tomorrow because I really need it after all this fantastic food! Anyway, tomorrow is tomorrow, and today is still today, so I say HI to all of you and I run to slice some pumpkin pie and buttermilk pie leftover Rachael made that is so good! Ciao belli e brutti!

Thanks Giving

Today in America most families will be gathering together around a really yummy meal and giving thanks for great and small things, this is yet again another holiday I really miss. However, it will not go uncelebrated! Tonight we are going to be dining in a restaurant with some other Americans giving our thanks (I think with a turkey too)! The fun will not end there- Saturday night we will be with friends sharing food (more traditional thanksgiving dinner), games, and fun!!! Since the holiday will last a few days for us I think I will take advantage of sharing my thankfulness on another post! A presto! Enjoy your day all!

what's another year?

Sunday (Nov. 23rd) was my 28th Birthday!!! yup I am one year older! It was a pretty normal Sunday: church in the morning and a little hanging out in the afternoon with some phone calls. Giovanni was acting a little weird, but I did not think much of it. He wanted pizza for dinner so I started the dough and thought it a little unfair that I was cooking what HE wanted to eat, I did not want to put in the time to bake a cake so I was trying out a microwave chocolate thingy and placing candles on when he hurried out of the house just before 6pm to take a rented movie back. In the mean time I took to sitting on the couch lounging and web surfing. A few minutes later he came back in saying that he had left something... then in walked about 15 people!!! I was really shocked- needless to say he really did pull of the surprise! I just wish I was not sitting in little stretch pants and a t shirt when everyone walked in!
There was all sorts of yummy things to eat and fun people to talk to! Thanks Giovanni for pulling it all together! I love you!

makeup mishap!

This morning I started getting ready, I pulled out my foundation and started to apply it.... but as you can see the color was WAY OFF!!! So much for Smart Shade makeup!!! I look like I am painting my face for a umpalumpa part in Willi Wonka's Chocolate Factory!

Oreo Truffels

I saw this recipe on another blog http://bakerella.blogspot.com/2008/01/grocery-item-turns-gourmet.html It was great!!! I can't wait to try it at Christmas with crushed candy canes! YUMMY!

Oreo Truffles

1 package oreo cookies (divided… use cookie including the cream center)
1 8oz. package cream cheese (softened)
white chocolate bark

1. Finely crush 7 cookies in a food processor or place them in a ziploc bag and crush into a fine consistency. Reserve for later.
2. Crush remaining cookies and stir in softened cream cheese. Use the back of a large spoon to help mash the two together.
3. Roll the mixture into 1" balls and place on wax paper covered cookie sheet.
4. Melt chocolate as directed on the package and then dip balls into chocolate, tap off extra and set aside on wax paper covered cookie sheet to dry. You can sprinkle the tops with the 7 crushed cookies for decoration. (I usually eat mine before they make it to this stage.)
5. Once dry, refrigerate and enjoy!

Note... Here in Italy I had a harder time finding Oreos, but found that Chocolate Ringos work just as well.

my mom

BUON COMPLEANNO MAMMALINA!!!!
Today is my mother figures birthday! My mom (Mother Teresa) is a fantastic person! She is easy to talk to (for this reason she easily makes friends), compassionate, willing to try new things (as long as heights is not too involved), non judgmental- but she will let you know clearly her opinion, creative and a GREAT MOTHER! I have am honored to have her as my role model for what a mother is. I love you mom and am so proud of all that you have accomplished!!! I am really looking forward to your arrival in January!!!
Enjoy today and know that although not there, we love you and are thinking of you!!!
(If any of you see my mom please pass along a hug and a kiss on each cheek from Gio and I, no doubt she will know who the hug and the kisses are from)!

another belly picture

This morning Gio and I got up extra early for our last ultrasound appointment! We were extra tired because we had been out pretty late at our neighbors for dinner, but made it early to the appointment and did not even have to wait! Our little girl is head down with her legs to the left, every time we have seen her she always has her ankles crossed! The tech while measuring her femur commented on how long it was, looks like she will be long! She weighs 3.8 lbs (1.7kg) and looks great! How fun to see her! You can see from my picture that she is really starting to "POP" out! This past week I have gotten bigger! Giovanni was feeling a little left out so here is a picture of him too!
We checked out another hospital this week! While there it was visiting hours and we got to see one of the nurseries! I counted 29 babies!!! I have no clue how many were in the other nursery, but they sure were cute, all with lots of dark hair, no blondes or baldies in sight! We really need to make a decsion soon on where to go come January!!!!

Pumpkin Swirl Brownies

These were really tasty!!! Recipe from marthastewart.com

Ingredients

• 8 tablespoons (1 stick) unsalted butter, plus more for pan
• 6 ounces bittersweet chocolate, chopped
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper (ATTENTION: I used less then half of this amount, it was plenty)
  
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 3/4 cups sugar
• 4 large eggs
• 1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
• 1 1/4 cups solid-pack pumpkin
• 1/4 cup vegetable oil
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 1/2 cup chopped hazelnuts or other nuts

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Butter a 9-inch square baking pan or dish. Line bottom of pan with parchment paper; butter lining.
2. Melt chocolate and butter in a heatproof bowl set over a pan of simmering water, stirring occasionally until smooth.
3. Whisk together flour, baking powder, cayenne, and salt in a large bowl; set aside. Put sugar, eggs, and vanilla in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment; beat until fluffy and well combined, 3 to 5 minutes. Beat in flour mixture.
4. Divide batter between two medium bowls (about 2 cups per bowl). Stir chocolate mixture into one bowl. In other bowl, stir in pumpkin, oil, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Transfer half of chocolate batter to prepared pan smoothing top with a rubber spatula. Top with half of pumpkin batter. Repeat to make one more chocolate layer and one more pumpkin layer. Work quickly so batters don't set.
5. With a small spatula or a table knife, gently swirl the two batters to create a marbled effect. Sprinkle with nuts.
6. Bake until set, 40 to 45 minutes. Let cool in pan on a wire rack. Cut into 16 squares.

sweet smells!

Today I have cleaned the house, thrown in some laundry and ironed. Giovanni comes home tonight instead of tomorrow!!! YEA!!!! He left last Thursday for NYC and yesterday had a short layover (3 hours) here in Milan before leaving for London, I went to the airport to see him and take the luggage that he no longer needed.
While he has been gone for me this past week has been really LONG and BORING with out him. However, being alone has given me time to think about all the things that will change in the next few months, the responsibility that will be mine (and of course Gio's), the happiness that we will feel as well as the anxiety of trying to protect a little child from the evils of the outside world! What is it really like to become a parent?
While I write this I am waiting for my pumpkin brownies to come out of the oven, oh what a sweet smell!!! If they are any good I will post the recipe!

Election Party

Last night Giovanni and I attended the Election Party hosted by the US Consulate. When we arrived around 10:30PM there was a 40 min. line outside to get through security and in!!! But lucky us, not only my current state of pregnancy but thanks also to Giovanni's friends on the "inside" we by-passed the line and went right through the metal detectors and in to the PARTY! It was totally nuts inside! There must have been at least 1,000 people there!!!! We hung out with some friends even had a little free massage and snacked while watching CNN and other news networks. There was much excitement in the air!!! In the taxi on the way there I told our little one that even though we live in Italy it is important for her to attend these events and learn about the USA!!! The decor was full of US flags as well as flags from all the different states! As you can see we found UTAH! We only lasted until 2:30AM or so... then I had to sleep, and poor Gio had to get up for work. We did not find out who won until this morning, although I was not so happy about either of the choices that were presented, Gio and I are looking forward to see what this new change brings for our country (Gio feels apart of it too)!
Tomorrow Gio will be traveling to NYC and Monday on to London for a few days. I miss him when he is gone. My days feel long and boring, but I am glad that he is happy with what he is doing and hope that in the new year we (little one and me) can travel with him! Is this wishful thinking on my part?

VOTE!!!!

I am sure you are all aware that tomorrow is Nov. 4th! Time to Vote! Here I am sending in my ballot, no matter who you support, it is important to be involved and let your voice be heard! Tuesday night we will be at an Election Party hosted by the US Consulate here in Milan, although it lasts till 6 A.M. I am sure Gio and I will be tucked in bed while the new president is announced. What will you do?