Buon Natale … Merry Christmas!! There aren’t that many lights or decorations this year in Amalfi, but here’s the view of town on a very beautiful Christmas Eve morning. Wishing everyone a peaceful and happy holiday! xoxo Laura
The first taste of winter on the Amalfi Coast!
Yesterday morning we awoke to a wintry surprise … snow! A cold front blew down from the mountains overnight and left a light dusting of snow at the highest elevations along the Amalfi Coast. Even at the top of Scala the cars were covered with a slushy white covering we don’t see all that often here. I bundled up and went out first thing in the morning for a hair cut appointment in Ravello. I forgot to grab my camera before heading out the door, but I did snap a few photos on my phone. I know some of you get serious snow in the winter, but here it’s pretty rare and photograph-worthy!
A wintry view from Ravello
The sunshine was melting the snow quickly even with the cold wind ... brrr!
Definitely a day for a fireplace if you have one on the Amalfi Coast
Looking up to the mountains above Scala
Baking adventures on the Amalfi Coast
I love tea. I love scones. Yes, I’m American. (We’re allowed.) I usually keep my tea drinking ways to myself here in the land of espresso and cappuccino. Although I do go into a sort of giddy haze in London when I go in Fortnum & Mason or the original Twinings tea shop on the Strand. And my husband is very patient as the cupboard in the kitchen has been slowly taken over by tea. Frankly, I don’t even remember what used to be in there.
Now there’s black tea of various assortments from my favorite earl grey to a soothing Assam with the hint of jasmine from F&M to good ol’ strong cup of Yorkshire Gold. And since I don’t drink as much black tea as I used to, the cupboard is full to the brim (i.e., boxes fall on your head when you open it) with an assortment of Pukka herbal teas, chamomile tea and a big bag of dried peppermint from the erboristeria in Amalfi.
But the scones? There are so many tempting sweets here in Italy, but they’re all just a bit to sweet for me. Especially to face first thing in the morning since I don’t have much of a sweet tooth. Even the cornetti here, while very good, make me miss the slightly more savory croissants in Paris.
My first scones
I’ve thought about making scones many time. Last year in London I stopped in Books for Cooks in Notting Hill and picked up a little booklet with recipes that had a very basic scone recipe. That little cookbook has since gone missing. How rude. Searching online often turned up recipes that had too many ingredients that are hard or impossible to find here on the Amalfi Coast. Buttermilk? Eh, nope. (And I’ve tried the substitutes with Irish soda bread … it’s just not the same.)
This morning I did a bit of searching and came across this recipe on delicious:days that was beautifully simple, had very few ingredients and all ones that I had in the pantry. Scones! They became quite golden brown, but that was because I had to run to keep Toulouse from knocking over and breaking the bedside lamp. (Again.)
Ready for tea!
So how did they come out? Well, I’ve had four. Just to make sure, you know. Result: very good! I look forward to experimenting with different types of scones. And I need a cutter, because the glass I used was a bit thick and it was hard to get a very smooth cut so the scones would rise evenly. That’s OK, they still tasted good.
Check out the recipe I used here. Or please to share your own. I’d love to try it out!
Waking up to a colorful sky on the Amalfi Coast
I’m going to run the risk of offending all you night owls that may be reading and just say it. I love waking up early. There, now you know! The early morning is such a glorious time of day with the first light, the colors creeping across the mountains and the sound of birds fluttering about in their happy way. Before the noise and craziness of the day begins there’s a moment of complete peace.
Yawn!
This morning started a little earlier than usual, which meant I had a good look at Orion and the Pleiades in the dark, clear sky when I first opened the window. I took a look after breakfast and the sky had been splashed with pastel shades of pink and blue. Gorgeous!
A watercolor sky
Everything was pink. Looking out to the Bay of Salerno even the sea was tinted pink. Usually the sky is a bit more orange during the sunrise, but I’ll take pink for a change.
The sea tinted pink
Wishing you a beautiful day ahead … on the Amalfi Coast or wherever you may be!
One day last spring I was hurrying along the harbor in Amalfi to catch the boat to Positano. I stopped for a second when I noticed a photo shoot taking place at the end of one of the piers. I looked down at the prep area where all of the outfits were carefully arranged on racks and the ground was scattered with shoe boxes and accessories. There was tweed and more tweed and there were boots, scarves and other seasonally inappropriate gear. Ah … the fashion industry. Always working a few seasons ahead!
All the clothes and accessories ready for the fashion shoot
There was a sign on the truck that said Harmont & Blaine, a Italian clothing company with strong connections to Naples. (They presented their first show in Capri.) How appropriate to do this year’s Fall/ Winter photo shoot on the Amalfi Coast! I snapped a few quick photos and continued on my way to catch the ferry.
Models posing for a photo shoot in Amalfi overlooking the harbor
I had forgotten about the event until I was searching through my photos earlier this week and spotted them. I wondered what had ever happened with the photo shoot so I checked out their website. Ah … gorgeous photos! Their website is not only filled with beautiful styles, which are now most seasonably appropriate, but also offers a visual treat for those of you who love the Amalfi Coast.