The Roman Colosseum, the Forum, Angel Tours and a quintessential Italian lunch at Ristorante Mario's in the Piazza Del Grillo

A funny thing happened on the way to the Forum... the city wormed its way into our hearts and we truly fell in love with Rome.  On our recent trip to the Eternal City, the ancient hub of Roman society in addition to the neighboring Colosseum were on the top of my husband's "to visit" list.  Filled with history and the lore of ancient times, these ancient sites are some of the most recognizable remains of the Roman Empire, and we were there.  

Posing in the Forum with the Colosseum in the background

Waking early with anticipation on the second day of our Roman Holiday, my husband and I sipped our Italian Cappuccinos provided by our B and B, the Amaranto Romano, as we reviewed the schedule for the day.  Angel Tours was to provide the events of our day with guided tours of some of our most eagerly anticipated sites in our vacation.

Lindy met us with her angel umbrella at the pre-arranged meeting location and guided us quickly to the ticket line at the Forum (far shorter than the one at the Colosseum) and into the Forum grounds.  Extraordinarily knowledgeable and personable, Lindy treated us to stories of the era while filling us in on life in Roman times, architecture, culture and  art.  Her engaging personality had our attention held rapt throughout the tour and with our small group of 8 guests, questions were quickly answered.

The Roman Forum

With my knowledge of the Roman Forum being next to nill, the tour was absolutely fascinating and provided glimpses of a time long gone.  The remaining ruins, just pieces of what used to be, gave evidence of beautiful marble structures filled with treasures and opulence.  My husband, who has read at length about the Forum, was enthralled to be standing in such an historic location and thoroughly enjoyed being a part of history.

Beginning as a marketplace, the Forum became an economic and religious hub and the center of Rome.  Falling into ruin after the fall of the empire, much of the Forum that remains is simply columns and pieces of structures, but with some imagination (and a helpful before and after replica in a tour book), one can see what an amazing place this must have been.

Moving from the Forum to the Colosseum we were treated to glimpses of what a day in the life of a gladiator must have been like as well as those who sat in the marbled stands watching the fights that often ended in death.  Apparently well organized, the arena held some 50,000 spectators who sat in the tiered "stands" according to one's status in society, the Emperor and the Vestal Virgins receiving the best of the viewing areas, of course.  The seats and sections were numbered allowing one to know exactly where to sit, and I've read that the many entrances and organized avenues allowed the Colosseum to be emptied within 15 minutes of the conclusion of the day.  Seems to work much better than our current local arenas.

The wooden floor that was covered by sand is now long gone, however much of the hypogeum, or the elaborate underground structure, still remains.  The network of tunnels held the many workers, gladiators and exotic animals who would provid the "entertainment" for the crowd.  Filled with elevators, pulleys were used to raise and lower props, gladiators and the animals who then fought to the death in front of the deafening roars of the excited crowds.

Today the remaining ruins serve to give us a glimpse of what the arena must have been, however the marble, which covered much of the massive structure, is long gone having been plundered and used to create other structures throughout the city.  Imagining the structure as it must have been is simply fantastic, and truly brings a different world to life.

We simply can't thank Lindy at Angel Tours enough for bringing both of these Roman locations to life.  Her running narrative provided a delightful morning taking us back to Ancient Rome.  At the end of the tour we took her up on her offer for local restaurant recommendations, and ended up with a wonderful lunch close to the Colosseum at Mario's.

Located just a block from the Colosseum in the Piazza Del Grillo in Rome, Ristorante Mario's provided the quintessential Italian lunch... bruschetta, pasta, and tiramisu.  Also included: one handsome Italian server.

René greeted us and promptly brought a much needed 1/2 litre of red wine as we perused the menu selecting the bruschetta for a starter.  Fresh pastas and sauces filled the menu making selecting just one a difficult decision.

Clockwise from upper left:  Handsome Italian Server - René, Italian wine, Penne with Tomatoes and Basil, Fettuccine with Meat Sauce, Erin and Emily from our tour, the Bruschetta (I actually forgot to take a photo of the bruschetta, but you can see how good it was!!)

Choosing different dishes so we could share, we were extraordinarily pleased with the Penne with Fresh Tomatoes and Basil and a serving of the Fettuccine Alla Bolognese.  About the time we were finishing our plates we looked up to see Emily and Erin, another couple who took Lindy's recommendation and we spent the rest of our meal enjoyably chatting with them over our pasta bowls.

Also eager for pasta, the two followed our lead and chose two dishes to share enjoying the same Fettuccine as my husband and the fresh Gnocchi with Meat Sauce.  While I didn't take her up on the offer to taste, I duly recorded Erin's review with two thumbs up on the Gnocchi.

Deeming it improper to leave Mario's without a taste of the tempting dessert offerings, I had René bring me a slice of the Tiramisu.  Taking my first bite I had full intentions of sharing with my husband, however after he had a taste and offered to let me eat the rest I did just that.  Light and absolutely heavenly, the Tiramisu met all my Italian expectations and more.

Bidding goodbye to René we made our way back along the cobblestoned streets, past the historic Forum and the massive Colosseum to the Amaranto Romano, our home in Rome, for a traditional siesta.  Days of touring, leisurely lunches and siestas are not a tall difficult to get used to...

The perfect ending...

To be continued...

Rome, The Eternal City - Romance, the Amaranto Romano and Lasagna

Every once in a while moms and dads need to get away on their own.  Toss in a romantic, ancient yet modern locale, a mega yacht, Italian wine for lunch and you have one dream vacation.  Such was my reality just last week.

Some 22 hours and 6,000 miles after leaving home our spirits soared as our Boeing 767 lightly touched down at Rome's Leonardo da Vinci-Fiumicino Airport.  Passing immigration was a breeze and both pieces of our luggage landed down the ramp almost immediately.  Stepping outside, our prearranged ride was waiting and in no time we were zipping through the Italian motorway on our way to our "Home in Rome", the Amaranto Romano.

With our trip being somewhat last minute, accommodations were a tad hard to come by in the areas of Rome that we most desired.  A tip from a bed and breakfast contact sent me in the direction of Nadia's newly opened Amaranto Romano, and we couldn't have been luckier.  Set conveniently on the Via Nazionale in the heart of Rome, public transportation is readily available but not really needed.  In our four day visit out feet took us to all the major tourist attractions as well as delightful meals and of course a bit of shopping.

Situated on the 5th floor and set back from the street, the Amaranto Romano is truly a haven from the chaos of the busy Roman streets.  New and modern, the 5 rooms are tastefully decorated in light and airy colors and accented with the splashes of the pink flowers that the B and B was named for.  Nadia was a dream to work with and handled all of our transportation needs throughout our stay in addition to providing delicious dining recommendations and helpful tourist information.  The included Wi-Fi kept me in contact with home and the thoughtfully filled fridge and snack bar kept my afternoon hunger pangs in check with bananas, apples, yogurts, juices and teas and coffee.  Peaceful and comfortable, this B and B is the place to be and Nadia, warm and welcoming, is a pleasure to work with.

The Amaranto Romano.  Clockwise from upper left:  An elevator built for two (or one and two big pieces of luggage!), the snack area, day room in our room (this was my favorite place to sit and review photos from the day!), Nadia and me, and our beds.

With restaurant recommendations in hand my husband and I fought through our desire to lay our heads on the fluffy pillows and instead headed out to explore the city.  Siesta, not something that we are used to here in San Diego, is something to take note of as many of the restaurants and shops in Italy close for the afternoon only to reopen in the early evening.

Discovering a delightful restaurant, Gli Angeletti Ristorante, only a few blocks away we ordered the most Italian thing we could think of and within minutes a 1/2 liter of red wine arrived accompanied by a plateful of Bruschetta and a pail of Italian Salamis.  Toasting the beginning of our vacation we clinked our glasses, smiled with anticipation and dug in to our first real meal in 24 hours.  Fresh flavors of tomato, local olive oil and spices had us gushing to no end and fully enjoying our first taste of Italy.  Thin slices of salami topped the remaining bread and we leaned back, already content.

Minutes later more Italian delights were delivered in the form of steaming, cheesy lasagna.  Choosing two different varieties to share we smiled with pleasure at our first bites and knew we were not in San Diego any more.

Dinner finished and with the sun setting, we made our way in the direction of one of Rome's most recognized sites, the Colosseum.  With vehicles zipping past at amazing speeds we took care to cross the streets teeming with scooters, motorcycles and cars as we made our way across the cobblestones.  Turning the corner of a busy street we both gasped in awe as the street ended in the glow of the ancient Colosseum bathed in the golden hues of the setting sun.

I think this is when it really hit us that we were genuinelty in the Eternal City.  Meandering around the site we took in the arena as well as the Arch of Constantine which is situated between the Colosseum and Palatine Hill.  Fantastic structures in an amazing setting.

With the sun dipping below the horizon we made our way back through the busy streets just as most of the locals were headed out for the evening.  Back at the Amaranto Romano we finally laid our tired and jet lagged heads on those inviting pillows with dreams of gladiators and Italian wine soon to follow.  Tomorrow the Colosseum would be ours along with an eagerly anticipated tour of the Roman Forum. 

To Be Continued...

The Joys of Flying, and some In-flight Entertainment...

Jerry: Elaine, have you ever flown first class?

Elaine: No.

Jerry: All right then. See? You won't know what you're missing. I've flown first class, Elaine-- I can't go back to coach.

Seinfeld, season 4, episode 12

Liv and I returning first class from the Bahamas a few years ago!

Jerry was right.  Due to a surprise upgrade a few years back I do know what is beyond that blue curtain.  I know the plush seats, the neat little bag they give you with the cute little toiletries, the nuts warmed to perfection, the glass of champagne even before the push back.  And best of all?  That seat that lies way back with leg room galore.  My last few flights, however, did not include any of these niceties as I flew with the rest of the herd in... yes... coach.

Over the years I've flown a number of legs around the world, some very pleasurable while others were not so comfortable and a few downright miserable.  I do remember the days, though, of dressing up to fly.  When I was little my mom always got out our nice clothes for the flight back to Grandma and Grandpa's in Minnesota.  We gawked at the pilots, just like those girls gawked at Leo in Catch Me if You Can.  The pilot would give a little wave, then head into the cockpit for the flight.  The flight attendants, or stewardesses in those days, would smile and show us to our seats.  Shortly thereafter they would bring a drink and the peanuts along with my own set of Jr. Wings.  Soon a meal would be served in one of those compartmentalized servers along with another round of sodas.  People were respectful of one another and careful not to push the seat back too far so as not to impinge on the person behind them.  In those days, however, there was more room between seats so the push back didn't really matter as much (or maybe it just seemed that way because I was only 10?).

Today the world of flying is a whole new ball of wax.  "Dressing" for the flight is nonexistent and the way of the in-flight meal is long gone.  Well, unless you count the $6 "dog in a blanket" that is wrapped in cellophane and heated until droopy.  If you are lucky you may get peanuts and a partially filled glass of soda.  Heaven forbid they give you the entire can, however you are welcome to enjoy the eye roll you receive when you ask for it.

Two weeks ago my husband and I once again boarded a plane as we headed out for a much needed vacation.  The blue curtain eluded me, but I was thrilled to find my economy comfort seat in an exit row with extraordinary leg room as I zipped my way across the Atlantic.  With an international flight I actually did receive a meal, and it was amazingly really not bad.  The flight attendants actually smiled and were friendly throughout, though how they held back the eye rolls was beyond me.

Sometimes I am simply amazed at my fellow humans and their lack of consideration for anyone around them.  Such was the case when the young couple and their 1 year old daughter sat down in front of us.  The couple arrived late, with no rush about them and pulled down the overhead bin above their seats to find it already full.  The husband, a very slight man, attempted to then remove the luggage that was already above him, but was not able to get the case out.  At that point he turned to the passengers and began asking whose case it was and then proclaiming at large that it needed to be moved so he could put his up there.  The smiling attendant jumped in and helped him locate a space a few rows away and he reluctantly allowed her to do so.

At this point the young daughter began to fuss, so the mom simply plopped her onto the floor and turned her back.  The baby tottered across the aisle and found great interest in the oxygen bottles and tubes sticking out of them.  Within minutes the same smiling attendant returned, scooped up the baby returning her to her parents and mentioning that the oxygen bottles might not be an appropriate way for her to entertain herself.  Nearly 30 seconds later the baby was back on the floor as the mom continued rifling through her backpack.  Tottering up the aisle the baby found an older woman's handbag and began pulling it out from under the seat where it was stowed.  The older woman said "No-no!" but to no avail.

Eventually the doors were closed and the smiling flight attendant announced that the Captain had informed her that the plane was ready to push back, however the several people standing in the aisles (including the baby) were not allowing the airplane to move.  Looking over my shoulder to see who was standing I was surprised to see no less that 10 people shuffling about the aisles!  Two were literally arguing over seats causing a flight attendant to intervene and the flight was delayed until people finally sat in down.

Taxiing went well and the Captain announced that we were indeed next in line for take off.  He rounded the corner to take the runway and my eyes widened as a lady 3 rows up unbuckled her seatbelt and decided it now was the time to head to the loo.  The smiling attendant jumped up and kindly demanded she return to her seat just as the engines powered up and the plane began its race down the runway.

Finally in the air, my seat reclined slightly and my book on my lap, I took a great sigh as I settled in and closed my eyes for a few moments only to have my book pulled from my lap and dropped onto the floor as the little 1 year old once again began her roaming of the cabin.  I pretended not to notice, hoping she would wander elsewhere and luckily she did.  Hours later I noticed she was bouncing up and down on her mother's tray table as she snatched at the sleeping older gentleman's hair in row in front of her.  Amazing... I simply don't know how to respond to something like that.

The sun set and then shortly thereafter began to rise as we made our way to the continent.  Excitement ran through me as I wiped my eyes and took a stretch.  Returning to my seat I was shocked to find my attempting to sleep husband accompanied by the sister of the young couple in front of us.  She was standing in our row swinging the baby back and forth as she screeched "Wheee!" on each upward swing.  I stood in shock for a moment before asking if I could step back into my row and reach my seat.  She did indeed step aside only to re-enter as soon as I had my belt buckled continuing with the "Whheee" and the swinging.  My patience depleted I asked her to please step out of our row as my husband was attempting to sleep.  Flashing an eye roll along with a sigh she plopped the baby back into mom's lap walking away as the still smiling flight attendant pushed her breakfast cart up the aisle.  Overall not a bad flight, just not quite the in-flight entertainment I was looking forward to.  But it does make a good story!

Some 6,000 miles behind us and more than 22 hours since leaving home, my husband and I felt the excitement course through our bodies as the Boeing 767 descended softly to the ground. 

Destination:  The Eternal City of Rome!

To be continued...

Our Guest Post on Learning Patience

Bora Bora - 2010

The distant pop of a champagne cork drew me from my drowsy state back into reality.  Evening out my tan, I flipped from front to back just in time to have the friendly server ask if I would like a glass of the bubbly.  Responding with a resounding, "Yes, please!" I reached for the chilled glass and sipped with a sigh...

Ahhh... to be back in the South Pacific.  But today we are actually on the other side of the world in the Caribbean - Trinidad to be exact, with Corey from Learning Patience.  Take a cruise over to her blog to read about the rest of our idyllic vacation in French Polynesia.

And....

Happy Birthday Dad!!

XOXO

Oatmeal Roundup including Vanilla Oatmeal, Pumpkin Oatmeal, Baked Pumpkin Oatmeal and Irish Oatmeal

Steamy bowls of oatmeal were not part of my food repertoire as I was growing up.  Words like "porridge" or "mush" were associated with the bubbling pot, and for me the oats were simply not appealing.  Then I stumbled upon the realization that perhaps the issue was not the oats, but me who didn't know how to cook them correctly and I set to researching the subject.  I even began a thread on my favorite foodie message board asking how to make oatmeal, and after receiving a few chuckles along with the some basic tips I started anew and have been a converted oatmeal fan ever since.

Today, oatmeal is nearly a daily occurrence in our household no matter the season.  For the most part we serve it plain, simply adorned with a few raisins, walnuts and a sprinkle of cinnamon, however on occasion branching out and mixing things in brings a spiced or flavored bowl to the table.

Each time I've posted an oatmeal recipe I've been surprised at the number of enthusiastic responses.  From the comments it seems many people only eat oatmeal in the colder, winter months.  Many people, (like me) never thought to add different spices and toppings, and a good number of people view Irish Oats as either too difficult or too time consuming to make.

With cooler weather on the horizon and a good amount of oatmeal searches showing up, a round-up of our favorite Oatmeal recipes seems to be in order.  Whether it be a simple unadorned bowl or a Baked and Spiced Pumpkin concoction, these oats are good for you.  Oats, via their high fiber content, are known to help remove cholesterol from the digestive system that would otherwise end up in the bloodstream.  So break out those heart healthy oats, warm yourself up with a steaming bowl, add a few mix ins and enjoy!

Vanilla Oatmeal with Spices

Basic rolled oats stirred with a touch of brown sugar, cinnamon and nutmeg received just the flavor boost they needed with a simple sprinkle of floral vanilla powder.  Regular vanilla extract would indeed work the same magic, bringing a boring bowl of oatmeal up to a new level and sending a tropical feel to your chilly morning.

Irish (Steel Cut) Oatmeal with a Ginger-Orange Cashew Topping

I am surprised at how many of my friends won't make Irish, or steel cut, oatmeal as they say it "takes too long".  Many of them love it, but buy it frozen at Trader Joe's or simply don't make it at all.  I have a trick!

Before you go to bed heat 4 cups of water in a sauce pan.  When the water reaches a boil, add the steel cut oatmeal and turn off the heat.  Cover, and go to bed.

When you wake in the morning the oatmeal simply needs a quick heating and maybe a few minutes of cooking, but your prep time will be cut down considerably making this healthy bowl of goodness an easier and much quicker start to your morning.

Spicing it up, we topped our oatmeal with ginger and orange enhanced cashews, finding the orange permeating nearly the entire bowl and giving lending a lovely fresh flavor.  Finishing off with diced banana and mango (just what we had on hand, any fresh or dried fruit will do) the kids started their St. Patrick's Day morning with a nutritious and somewhat Irish breakfast.

Left over steel cut oats?  Try this Irish Oatmeal Bread!

Oatmeal Soufflé

Marrion Cunningham's, The Breakfast Book, provided us this wonderful recipe.  However, Ms. Cunningham's version was a bit too rich for our tastes with a 1/2 cup of sugar, 3 eggs and butter, but by simply reducing the sugar and butter and replacing an egg with egg whites we produced a healthier yet still tasty soufflé, perfect for our weekend morning.

Pumpkin Oatmeal

This stove-top version gives a nice steaming bowl of hearty goodness in about 10 minutes.  Flavored with pumpkin and pumpkin pie spices, studded with plumped raisins and dried cranberries and topped with a generous scoop of walnut pieces, this steaming bowl is sure to warm you from head to toe.

Baked Pumpkin Oatmeal with Walnut Streusel Topping

Mixed and baked the evening prior, this baked version is stored in the fridge overnight and reheated in the microwave for a quick, flavorful and heart healthy start to your day.  The Walnut Streusel gives a nice crunch and an welcomed autumnal flavor boost

These are a few of our favorites... what are yours?  Feel free to leave links below, we love hearing what everyone is making.

White Chocoalte Macadamia Cookies (Secret Recipe Club)

Once again my Secret Recipe Club assignment has introduced me to another delightful blogger.  Julie, of Julie's Eats and Treats, lives in West Central Minnesota and I feel a little bit of a connection with her as my Dad's family hails from Red Wing, MN, which I'm guessing is not all that far away.  With relatives still in Minneapolis I get occasional winter weather updates and with my San Diego-Sissy skin I'm always somewhat thrilled that I'm not knee deep in snow with wind chills below zero.

Perusing Julie's blog I didn't get far before I stumbled upon her White Chocolate Macadamia Cookies.  Loving of the buttery mac nuts like I do, my hunt for a recipe ended nearly before it began.  Now, that's not to say that there weren't many other recipes that I have tagged to try... just that I couldn't get past this one featuring my favorite Hawaiian nuts.

Remembering Debbie Fields introducing her little cookie shops I have fond memories of discovering how much I love these flavors together.  A job at a department store funded my college education, and I spent many a break popping into Debbie's stores where the cookie I usually purchased was the White Chocolate Macadamia (with the occasional Oatmeal Cookie on the side).

Since those college years I've been on a search for as many mac nut recipes as I can find and I simply couldn't pass this one up.  And... I'm really glad I didn't.  Not really on my pre-vacation diet, I probably shouldn't have made them, but I did cut the recipe in half so as not to overly temp myself with the sweet treats that disappeared from our cookie jar in a flash.

Being a little impatient I have to admit to not following the recipe as I should have and I performed that ever dreaded mistake of reaching for the baking powder in place of the baking soda.  Luckily catching my error before dumping the entire spoonful into the mix, I only dropped about 1/4 of a teaspoon into the dry ingredients.  However, I'm thinking that with the beautiful rise I got out of these guys it may not have been a bad idea.

Slightly crunchy on the outside and chewy inside, these cookies had me reminiscing of afternoons spent with Mrs. Field's.  Julie, truly a pleasure to meet you, I'm so glad you were my assignment!

Spinach and Sun-Dried Tomato Frittata from Epicurious

Ahhh... eggs.  I think I could live on nearly eggs alone, however my heart would most likely not approve.  As such, I serve the organic, protein-rich food to my family in moderation and enjoy the additional health benefits including vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and lutein along with a serving of whole grains and fruits and/or vegetables.  In the past eggs have been avoided due to cholesterol issues, however recent studies are now claiming that not only will the egg (in moderation) not increase most cholesterol levels, but it may actually help improve one's blood lipids profile.  With that info, I say, sign me up!

According to a study published in the Journal of Nutrition, lutein is "best absorbed from the egg yolk - not lutein supplements or even spinach".  With a history of Macular Degeneration and cataracts in our family, I welcome the lutein-laden egg yolks and often try to pair them with additional lutein filled foods such as spinach with hopes of providing additional nutritional support to our precious eyes (and skin).  With such health benefits in these two foods, the pairing in Epicurious' Spinach and Sun-Dried Tomato Frittata, by Golden Door executive chef Dean Rucker, was a match made in heaven.

With the kids at school and my husband on a day off from work I set to preparing a nice lunch for the two of us.  It was the photo of the frittatas on Epicurious, each in individual ramekins, that drew my lutein supported eye and shortly had me chopping onions, sun-dried tomatoes, mushrooms and spinach for our meal.  Easily put together with whole eggs as well as egg whites and then baked in the oven, these little individual (my husband called them cute) frittatas were a real step up for the plain PB&J.  Served with melons from the farmer's market and a slice of whole grain bread our bodies were fueled and ready for the after school chauffeur duties to begin.