Christmas in Bologna

This is the first year in all of my life to spend Christmas away from "home" in Minnesota. And for not being back in Minneapolis for the holidays, I couldn't have imagined or asked for a better way to spend this time. It had been a crazy time of year with the school semester coming to an end, seeing friends and family, and getting ready for my parents to come to Bologna! 

A few weekends ago we went to Poggibonsi to visit Lucas parents. On the way back we went to the Fiorentina vs. Bologna soccer game at the stadium. We chose to see this match because Luca has been a long time fan of La Fiorentina and some of our friends from Bologna were supposed to come too and cheer on our city. As much as I really don't like the obsession with soccer here, there is just something exciting about being surrounded by fans. There is an atmosphere in sports stadiums that you can't find anywhere else. Luca bought me a purple and white striped scarf to show off my support for La Fiorentina and we enjoyed watching Bologna get defeated. 

 Afterwards we wandered around Florence until I had to catch the train back to Bologna. Any city in Italy around Christmas time is beautiful. The christmas lights make the already charming city even more romantic. 

And the following week my parents arrived to spend Christmas with us! It was so incredibly wonderful to have them here. For them it was also their first Christmas away from home, and also the first time for Lucas parents to spend Christmas away from their home in Poggibonsi. 

Of course as soon as my mom arrived, we got to baking, and made some of my favorite Christmas time treats like Russian Tea Cakes, Lemon Spritz cookies, Peanut Butter Ritz dipped in chocolate, and chocolate covered pretzels-- yum yum yum!

We headed back down into Tuscany for the weekend for a friend's wedding in Lucca, and we couldn't help but stop in Florence again and show my parents this enchanting city in winter. We practically had the whole city to ourselves. We were able to walk from Chiesa Santa Croce up to Ponte Vecchio, through Gli Uffizi, and into Piazza della Signoria without hardly seeing a single person. It's definitely breathtaking compared to the overcrowded streets overflowing with tourists in the summer months. 

Of course we made it back to celebrate Christmas on the 24th with both of our families in our tiny apartment in Bologna. Luca prepared a delicious dinner and we spent the evening opening presents, listening to christmas music, drinking wine, and enjoying each others company. The day after we walked around the city enjoying the festive atmosphere. To our surprise the tower was open to climb, and so walked the 498 steps to the top. 

Unfortunately the video is turned, but we definitely had to take the opportunity to wish everyone a Merry Christmas from high up above Bologna.  

As always, time spent with family is never enough, and the time with my mom and dad here flew by. And I can say without a doubt that this was a fantastic way to end the year. 

The Holiday Season

This year I pulled off  hosting my first Thanksgiving. Last year was Luca and I's first Thanksgiving together, but we played it real small with just some roasted chicken legs, vegetables, and of course pumpkin pie. But this year we invited over 10 of our friends, ordered a 12 pound turkey from the butcher's shop up the road, and had an Italian Thanksgiving. I would say it was a great success! 

We wanted to of course celebrate on the actual day, Thursday, November 28th, but no was able to come because of work. So we had it just one day later. Unfortunately I had to work until late as well and I knew it would be impossible to get everything done. So I divided up the work and delegated our friends to bring over vegetables, wine, soup, and desserts. Luca was fantastic and helped get the turkey ready by stuffing it, tying its legs together, and putting in the oven. 

It was a tight fit in our small apartment, but it just made for a nice cozy atmosphere. By the end we were absolutely stuffed. 

 Since Thanksgiving was so late this year, and Christmas is right around the corner we decided to put up our Christmas tree too. Bologna put the Christmas lights up and the city is absolutely gorgeous. I love walking around in the evening this time of year. 

Piazza Minghetti

Piazza Maggiore

Holiday Festivities Have Begun

It has been quite the start to the month of December. Luca and I put up our first Christmas tree together just a few days ago. We went to the large local grocery store just outside of town to get a nice big fake plastic tree ( a tree is better than no tree). His parents were kind and lent us some of their old decorations  and they remind me of my mom's old ornaments that were passed down to her. We stuck to my family's tradition of having pizza and putting the tree. Luca tackled making a deep dish pizza by hand, and I have to say it turned out delicious enough for seconds! 

Then this weekend we had the annual "Cooking Contest." A fun contest between friends, however taken quite seriously. This year there were two categories, has everyone had decided it was just too easy to win a whole contest with a dessert. You could make an "antipasto"(appetizer) "primo piatto" (first dish such as pasta or risotto) or a "secondo piatto" (second dish of meat) and of course a dessert. 

Luca and I both participated in both categories.

 Luca made Paccheri Rusticano, large round noodles stuffed with a leek, sausage, ricotta filling topped with beschemel and placed in the oven to make a delicious pasta bake. I made gorgonzola chicken cooked up with some white wine, rosemary, and olive oil, tossed in melted sweet gorgonzola and sprinkled with green peppercorns. For dessert Luca made molten chocolate cakes, and I attempted my first cheesecake ever- brownie cheesecake with a chocolate ganache. 

There were 15 people at the contest, however 8 people were there just to judge, because we couldn't have those cooking voting with biased opinions ;) 

Appetizers 

Matteo introduced Corn Dogs with French Fries to Italians
homemade and delicious!

The picture may not be the best but Barbar's "Sformato"
of potatoes, bacon, and cheese

Not pictured: Giani's Pastry Puffs filled with prosciutto cotto, zucchini, and cheese.
Primi Piatti 

"Paccheri Rusticano" Luca's pasta bake, the picture doesn't
give it justice  

"Orecchiette broccoli e bacon" 

Lorenzo's "Pasta Risottato" pasta prepared like risotto
with heavy cream and spinach

Not Pictured: Leopoldo's Vegetarian Cannoli with cauliflower , nutmeg, and cream
Secondi Piatti 

"Spezzatino di Pollo alla Gorgonzola" - My chicken 

"Triple Chicken" - Vittoria made three types of chicken
Curry, Almond, and Mint

Desserts

Matteo's Classic Italian Tiramisù

The 4 German girls who were visiting made a Macedonia
Fruit Salad

Brownie cheesecake with Chocolate Ganache

Not Pictured: Luca's Chocolate Molten Cakes, the German girls Apple Crumble, and Vin Brûlée. 

And there was the judging. The guests who took part of the jury were each given a piece of paper with all the listed dishes. They had to wait until the very end to vote. Once handed in Paola sat down and added up all the votes and it was announced that Luca won first place for the  Main Dish category which also means a very nice dinner out at Osteria Broccaindosso, and my cheesecake won first place for the Dessert category! Luca and I both won and are becoming one exceptionally culinary family!