Samuele looks like...

Look at this, he is in the middle, too. And I won again with 7 %!!!

Giacomo looks more like...

Soooooo, I won!!! The difference is only 5 % though...he is really in the middle!

Stuffed tomatoes

This is one of our favorite summer dishes. There are other versions of this recipe, you can make it also of zucchini - I learned this one from my mother-in-law. You can eat it warm or cold, as an appetizer or main dish or as a side dish...Try to prepare it, it is very easy!

Ingredients:

tomatoes - 2 or 3 per person, 2 cloves of garlic, 1 handful of fresh parsley, breadcrumbs, a handful of grated parmesan cheese, salt, pepper, olive oil

Preparation:

1. Cut the tomatoes in two and take out the seeds. Pour salt on them.

2. Mix the breadcrumbs, with the crushed garlic, 1 teaspoon of salt, a pinch of pepper, parmesan and the chopped parsley.

3. With a spoon put the breadcrumbs mix in the tomatoes, set them on baking paper, drop some olive oil on the top of them and bake them at high temperature in a preheated oven until the tomatoes separate from their skin.

Blowing the candle

Yesterday evening we officially celebrated Giacomo's birthday. In the afternoon we went to the lunapark that is here for a few weeks. They tried some games, then we came home and bith of the kids took a shower. that's why they are in their pijamas. When I asked Giacomo what kind of cake he wanted, he answered: The one with Spiderman! Well, that one I will make for his party, but for now I just make a cake for us. So?? Ok, then straciatella! And who knows how to make that one? Obviously, I improvised...and it turned out very well. Here are the pictures and a short video:

Happy birthday, Giacomo!

Giacomo is 4 years old today!

Happy birthday to you, Giacomo!
I will show you pictures of the cake and the candle tomorrow...for now, check out these ones of his past 4 years:

11. Spetember 2004. - few minutes after the birth

2 days "old"

First birthday

I am 2 now!

Three years old

And since I didn't think of doing this also for Samuele, here are some of his pictures:

31. May 2006. - few minutes after the birth

2 days "old"

Samuele's first birthday

I am two now!

Back to the kitchen

We are back from the holidays, I am back to the kitchen. I bought 8 kg of san marzano tomatoes (the long, egg-shaped kind) and the first time in my life I prepared them for winter. I made 4 types of "sugo": Sugo al profumo di basilico (tomato sauce for spaghetti with basil - it grows on my balcony!!), sugo all'arrabbiata (tomato sauce for spaghetti with hot pepper), sugo al profumo di sedano e carota (tomato sauce for spaghetti with celery and carrots), and sugo alla puttanesca (tomato sauce for spaghetti with olives, capers and anchovy). I can't wait for winter to open them and taste them!! If you are interested in the recipes, email me and I send them to you.

Salzburg - Switzerland

After our relaxing stay in Hungary we headed toward Austria and Switzerland.
Since 1500 km are way too much for a day for us to travel, we decided to stop for the night.
We stayed at the Thalhammer family near Salzburg. hey have a beautiful, typical austrian house.
It is surrounded with green medaows and pines.
Here is the view from their house:

Next day we woke up early, because we wanted make a super quick visit in Salzburg. We could see only the center and the Mirabell garden but here is the proof that they are beautiful:

Mozart's house

A passway

The Mirabell-garden:

Not everyone can ride a unicorn!

In the rosetunnel

In Switzerland:

Happy birthday to the motorcycle!

Because this is what they are singing in the car. That day they decided they want to travel only with Antonia and Judit, so they went in their car...and made them happy with their singing. Tanti auguri, Antonia, tanti auguri alla moto, tanti auguri zia Judit...which means: happy birthday to Antonia, happy birthday to the motorcycle, and happy birthday to auntie Judit! Well, happy anticipated and belated birthdays!

9. August 2008.

We celebrated our 5th anniversary on the date you see above. Emanuel joined us in Hungary that day and in the evening we were invited to join Judit, Jozsi and Antonia in a restaurant, called Sziget-csarda. After the dinner they made a surprise for us: a cake with 5 candlesl! Thank you Judit, Jozsi and Antonia!!

9. August 2003.

5 years later:

We are back!!

Our vacation is close to its end. For a week we have been home and trying to get back to our everyday life...it is not always easy! We were gone for 5 weeks...for sure, we can feel that. Here is our short "report" - maybe in some other posts, as well. I left for Hungary on the 17th of July with the 2 boys, this time we flew out from Trieste. It was a long day for us, considering that the flight left at 8.43 AM, and Trieste is 2 hours from here - a positive side of the early departure: by 10 AM we were in Budapest! Unfortunately our first week didn't go well at all, beacsuse Samuele had a mouth infection, he had blisters all over in his mouth and throat. He didn't eat and what is worse, he didn't drink at all. By Thursday we risked to put him on IV in the hospital. But there ARE miracles!!! After those days he was fine and we enjoyed our vacation. Some picture of our days in Polgar:

Anywhere, anytime:

Pufi, everyone's dog:

Our regular walk in the zoo:

Who are in the cage - the ducks or the boys?

In the Archeopark

Horse riding:

In the tower:

The little cat was with them for about 5 seconds (maybe they were too friendly with it?):

"Still-life":

At the swimming pool

Dad!!! I am flying!

A real diver...

...is always ready to jump in the water...