Unexpected Package

Ok, so I've slacked a bit since my last post, I've had the ideas, just haven't really had the time to sit down and write. Anyways, a month or so ago I sent CW (my sister) a package containing American things that would help ease the pain of being without her sister for a few more months. :)

A week or two later, I received a package from her side of the pond which was totally unexpected and contained many delectable goodies that made me want to pack my bag and get on the plane immediately! Among the treats were Speculoos (fabulous little cookies that they drink with their coffee, I can consume a whole sleeve in one sitting easily!), Petit Buerre's, again little butter cookies that are traditional to the Provence region, salami from Florence, beautiful Gorgonzola cheese that to my sister's dismay, did not make the journey but it was a beautiful thought and finally, the gem of the package-FRESH and I mean FRESH PESTO from the market in Florence, which CW had vacuum sealed twice and was in fabulous condition just waiting to be devoured!!

It took us a few weeks to find a night where Joe and I were both home and would be able to enjoy the dinner together so I got some fresh four cheese tortellini and tossed it with the pesto along with a loaf of garlic bread, a crisp pinot gris from Erath (one of our favorite wineries in Oregon) and a beautiful pear and blue cheese salad topped with pecans! It was delicious!! The pesto literally tasted so fresh, there was something in this pesto that was different than the other pestos I've tasted, some herb or maybe arugula, something that maybe only the pesto's in Florence have. I am definitely going to investigate when I am there in June.

As we sat down to eat I felt like this was a perfect prelude to our European adventure. We had pesto and wine and cheese and everything just fell together with a perfect harmony and I could close my eyes and imagine the many meals that I will be dining on that will be so similar to this only with much better scenery, and I don't mean Joe. :) After dinner, we started reading restaurant recommendations for Paris and it was really nice to have an evening to sit down and talk with Joe about our upcoming trip and share a wonderful meal together. Talk about a Toes in the Water moment. It is amazing to me what one fabulous or special ingredient can do to not only a meal but a whole evening.

I'll try to post again soon! We are down to the one month mark before we leave and things are starting to get a little hectic around here. I can't wait till I buckle in to that plane seat and let everything go!!!!