Our stay at Valdirose happened to coincide with the monthly antique market in Lucca. And being that we both love a great flea market we were all too happy to make a day of it!

After our stay in Venice came to an end, we traveled by high speed train to Florence. I had been dreaming about visiting Valdirose for what seemed like the longest time and was thrilled we had the chance to spend a few days at the incredibly charming bed and breakfast. If you follow Irene or Paolo on Instagram, everything you see is just what to expect. Their breakfast sunroom is straight out of a movie set, evoking warm fuzzies and instant "I want to live here forever" feelings.

Scenes from a morning spent wandering the stalls at the Rialto Market. It's an incredibly vibrant and lively place; overflowing with intoxicating bounty and delightful Italians. In my mind, this is always the best part of travel - mixing in with the locals and doing your best to chat it up using your broken language skills and awkward hand gestures. I can still recall the mushroom guy yelling to anyone within ear shot - "Funghi Freschi, Funghi Freschi"!

Every year I challenge myself with finding new ways to use all the oranges we have at our disposal. In fact, I have a secret Pinterest board dedicated solely for this purpose. I've saved all kinds of things; cakes, breads, glazes, salads, donuts, infused oils, cleaning products, holiday decorations ...you name it, I've pinned it.  I'm not sure I'll ever attempt making all of them but they're there as inspiration should the mood strike. With oranges being in season during the winter months, I figure those cold lazy days could be made useful by making a few things.

Since becoming a Certified Master Food Preserver from UC, I've been spending some of my free time volunteering to teach others the art of food preservation. It's been a rewarding hobby and I've learned so much through the experience. I recently invited one of my fellow alumni over for a day of marmalading. It was my very first time making it and I knew I could use her expertise during my first go round. My mom and niece came over for the afternoon as well and we put on our aprons, turned up the music, and got to work.

We arrived in Venice during high tide. Approaching the city on a slow moving boat felt almost magical. As the city crept closer through the fog, I remember imagining what it must have been like for those arriving here hundreds of years before me. I knew we were going to experience something amazing. Something our eyes had never seen. I will never forget the anticipation.

What better way to beat the winter doldrums than to immerse yourself in a beautiful book devoted solely to Citrus! My dear friend Victoria Pearson has filled it's pages with stunning images and well known food stylist and recipe developer Valerie Aikman-Smith provided mouth watering recipes you'll want to have on repeat in your kitchen. They offered to share a few recipes with us here and give away a copy of their new book - signed by Victoria Pearson.

Personally, I really love this Meyer Lemon & Thyme Hearth Bread. It's an easy focaccia that makes a stunning addition to a round of appetizers or along side a big green salad.