Bacon and Potato Quiche

 

I made another quiche – this one reminds me a bit of my very first quiche, the apple bacon quiche. This one is actually quite breakfasty! It’s a potato bacon quiche, which I made using leftover potatoes and bacon (instead of buying the brand-name prepared potatoes recommended). I served it with a rainbow fruit salad to make it more appealing to the Fox, and it worked. We all really liked it!

2 Tbsp. vegetable oil
½ a (20-oz.) bag Simply Potatoes Diced (see note above)
1 small yellow onion, chopped
salt and pepper
1 refrigerated pie crust
4 large eggs
1 ¼ cup lactose-free half-and-half substitute
1 Tbsp. chopped fresh parsley
½ tsp. kosher salt
¼ tsp. black pepper
6 slices bacon, cooked and crumbled
1 cup shredded lactose-free Swiss cheese
½ cup shredded lactose-free cheddar cheese

Heat oil in a large nonstick pan over medium heat. Add potatoes, cover, and cook for 8 minutes (or until they are almost done), stirring occasionally. Add onion and cook for 4 to 5 more minutes. Season with salt and pepper and let cool.

Preheat oven to 425 °F.

Remove pie crust from refrigerator and fit into a 9-inch pie plate. Crimp the edges with your fingers or a fork. Cover with a double layer of heavy-duty aluminum foil. Place pie weights or dried beans on top. Place in oven for 10 minutes. Remove foil and pie weights and bake another 5 minutes. Let cool and reduce oven temperature to 350 °F.

In a medium bowl, whisk together eggs, half-and-half, parsley, salt, and pepper.

Scatter half of potato/onion mixture and half of bacon over bottom of pie crust. Top with half of cheese. Repeat layers.

Pour egg mixture on top.

Place quiche in oven and bake for 40 to 45 minutes.

Let cool at least 20 minutes before slicing.

Fiji

 I went on this amazing trip to Fiji over spring break, basically because Fiji Airways was having a crazy sale on the direct flight to/from Dallas (I mean, I literally have paid the same for a ticket to Montreal, so this was too good to pass up!), plus it’s low season over there so accommodations were within my budget. And it was amazing!

I stuck to Viti Levu (the big island) partly for financial considerations and partly to make logistics easier, especially since it was also the rainy season and I didn’t know what to expect. (It turns out the weather was beautiful, but even the day before my departure, the forecast looked pretty bad!) But did you know that Fiji has a total of 333 islands? There is a lot to explore!

First, know that the Nadi airport has a room where you can store your luggage securely – it is located right next to the car rental counters, and you must pay in cash. The price was FJD 10.05 for my suitcase. So I left my checked bag there and took only my backpack with me for sightseeing.

I booked a tour from an agency that was directly in the airport lobby. Obviously, I’d recommend doing this ahead of time, but I hadn’t realized that for many travelers, Fiji is a connecting destination, so they often do a quick tour between flights and there are several agencies that accommodate it. I got lucky and got a spot! (This was one place where credit cards are the way to go, so make sure you know your PIN if your card requires one overseas.)

Our first stop was Sri Siva Subramaniya Swami Temple, which is the biggest Hindu temple in the Pacific. I love how colorful it is! You must be dressed modestly, though they can lend you a sarong to cover up, and you will need to take off your shoes for the visit. You can only take photos on the outside, so you’ll just have to take my word for it that the inside, especially the paintings on the ceiling, is worth the visit! There are also coconut trees outside, which to me are always exotic.

The next stop was the Nadi farmers’ market, where you can buy souvenirs (including honey, tamarind paste, and kava powder). I loved seeing the tropical flowers as well as all the exotic produce! I tasted the most amazing lady finger banana – I mean, it was so much sweeter and more flavorful than any banana I’d ever had before! I also tasted kava, a local drink, which… might be an acquired taste, to be honest.

The third stop was Viseisei Village, the first settlement in Fiji, founded some 3,000 years ago by people who sailed in from what is now Tanzania. We encouraged the local economy a bit by purchasing some souvenirs (jewelry in my case, which is definitely plastic instead of the pearl and coral promised, but I really like what I bought!), then I donned a sarong (women must wear one at the village), and we visited the village square and the church. Our guide told us that the locals are very happy they were converted to Christianity! The highlight for me was that they built the whole church themselves, so that they would have a place of worship that didn’t get blown down by every hurricane. The dome was particularly impressive, especially given that they built that part in only a day! We also saw the chief’s house, which isn’t actually where he lives, but where he hosts official visitors (like the British Royal Family).

The last stop on the tour was the one I really wanted to see, the Garden of the Sleeping Giant. There is a collection of orchids, as well as more expansive grounds with lots of native plants which you can take more time to explore. Upon returning to the reception area, we were given a glass of fresh fruit juice, and it was fabulous!

I really liked doing this tour because it allowed me to see a lot of things in the area, and it was affordable. I also learned things about Fiji; I knew that its main industry is tourism, but I learned that the next three are exports: in order, sugar cane, wood (especially mahogany), and Fiji water. Plus, the people are very friendly! You can expect to hear “Bula!” many, many times a day (it is a greeting, the equivalent of both “hello” and “welcome”).

Another thing I would have liked to do in the area is visit the hot springs and mud baths; however, logistics seemed a bit complicated for me given that I was still in transit between the airport and my hotel. But it’s one of the top things to do in Fiji!

My hotel was on the Coral Coast, which is known for its beaches and clear water. While it was a really nice hotel, I have to admit that I was a little disappointed by the waterfront – I had not realized that the whole thing was on a lagoon, not a sandy beach like I had pictured. And there were a few problems with the billing, but that’s another story! The grounds were really nice, though, and there was a fruit bat colony right there are the hotel, which provided endless entertainment for me.

The next day, I took a cab to Sigatoka Sand Dunes National Park, which was wonderful. The guide who greeted me showed me the map (of which I took a photo, because they don’t have paper copies) and told me about the two trail options. Since it was already hot at 9:00am, I opted for the shorter trail. I couldn’t tell you how long it is, though, because even though the guide said it was 1.5 km (0.93 miles), I started walking uphill and after 5 minutes or so, cursed under my breath because I had forgotten to start my Strava counter. I started it right then, and by the time I came back to my starting point (the trail is a loop), my Strava indicated I had walked 2.9 miles! Is it possible that the trail is 1.5 km as seen from above, but with the many hills (Strava says elevation is 182 feet, though I didn’t start from the very beginning), it actually comes out to be more? For what it’s worth, it certainly felt closer to 3 miles than to 1 mile.

Anyway, the hike starts out in the jungle; you get incredible views of the dunes and ocean, then walk down to the beach. Swimming would be ill-advised, because the waves and currents are really strong, but of course I dipped my feet in for the part of the hike! Once I had dried off, I went back into the jungle, passing birds and a fruit bat colony, then made it back to the welcome counter. I looked at the exhibits they had, which I hadn’t taken the time to do before. There’s a lot there about artefacts that were found on site, as well as explanations about traditional Fijian culture. This was a great visit – I highly recommend it!

I spent the rest of my vacation at my hotel, wading in the lagoon or in the pool and reading, and really just enjoying the surroundings. Oh, and I tried local chocolate! There’s Vanua Chocolate, near the Nadi airport, which offers tours of their chocolate factory, but only for groups of four or more people (I asked). So I ended up buying some of their chocolate at the airport instead of going in person. I also got some Fijiana Cacao chocolate, including two types of white chocolate. In all honesty, both brands of dark chocolate had bloomed and seemed bland, as well as dry and brittle. I actually noticed that on the package of Vanua dark chocolate labeled “60% cocoa,” the first ingredient was actually sugar…

Egg Tortilla Pizza

I had leftover vegetables (and bacon) from this recipe and , so I decided to make some egg tortilla pizzas for school lunches! It was a great way to use up those leftovers.

The gist of it is this: place a tortilla in a cake pan; cook your fillings of choice (vegetables and/or meat: I had bell peppers, mushrooms, green onions, and bacon) and place them in the pan; whisk some eggs and pour them on top of the filling; add cheese if desired; bake until set, then slice like a pie.

To me, the key is making sure that the egg doesn’t touch the pan, because it would stick and be impossible to get off. I used large tortillas set in 6-inch cake pans, and in addition to the filling, I used two eggs per tortilla, and I baked the “pizzas” for 20 minutes at 350 °F.

Freezer Breakfast Sandwiches

 

My kids love breakfast sandwiches (the Egg McMuffin type), and I figured there should be a way to make them at home with decent ingredients and for less money than the ones in the freezer section of the grocery store. Enter these microwave prep breakfast sandwiches, which you can make with sausage, bacon, or ham. The quantities below make 5 sandwiches, but I ended up making a dozen sausage sandwiches, since they keep so well in the freezer.

I made some changes, since I didn’t actually want to prep everything in the microwave (I’ll warm up the frozen sandwiches in the microwave, but I won’t cook eggs and meat in there!). So for my version, I used a greased silicone muffin tin for the eggs and baked them at 350 °F for 20 minutes. I left some of them whole and stirred the others right in the tin to mix the whites and yolks, because the Fox doesn’t like egg yolks if he can see them clearly. My sausage patties were already cooked.

2 sausage patties
2 slices ham, quartered
5 eggs
1 splash milk
salt, to taste
pepper, to taste
2 slices of bacon, sliced in half width-wise
5 English muffins, halved
5 slices lactose-free cheddar cheese
fresh spinach

On a large plate, arrange the sausage and the ham in a circle, then place a microwaveable mug in the center. (See the note on prep above – I cannot, in good conscience, recommend cooking eggs in a mug.)

Crack the eggs into the mug, season with salt, pepper, and add a splash of milk. Stir until evenly mixed. Microwave the entire plate for about 2 minutes until the egg is cooked through, making sure it does not bubble over.

Remove the plate and microwave the bacon strips on a separate plate for about 4-7 minutes. Check the bacon at 4 minutes, then every minute or so to make sure it doesn’t burn.

Drain the bacon of its fat, then set aside.

Invert the mug with the egg, then slice the egg cylinder into 5 equal rounds. You may have to run a knife around the mug first to ensure that the egg comes loose in one solid piece.

To assemble, layer your sandwich as you’d like with the meat, egg, cheese, and spinach. Wrap each sandwich in a damp paper towel, then with parchment paper. Place the sandwiches in a large zip top bag, then freeze for up to 1 month.

When ready to eat, remove a sandwich from the freezer, unwrap the parchment, and microwave for about 2 minutes (my microwave is pretty powerful, and 60 to 90 seconds does the trick for me). Cool for 1 minute, then unwrap the paper towel. Enjoy! [Update: The Engineer recommends microwaving the sandwich for 60 seconds, then taking out the egg and microwaving it an extra 20 seconds before reassembling the sandwich.] [Updated update: I came across a slightly different recipe on <a href="https://tastesbetterfromscratch.com/freezer-breakfast-sandwiches">Tastes Better From Scratch</a> and it has great reheating instructions: “Thaw in fridge overnight, for best results. Remove paper and wrap sandwich in a paper towel.  Microwave for 40 seconds - 1 minute on defrost (or 50% power). Flip the sandwich over and microwave for 10-30 seconds on high power, until warmed through. You can also reheat the sandwiches in the oven at 350 degrees for about 10-15 minutes, or in the toaster oven.”]

Turkey Taco Bowls

I made this turkey taco bowl to take on the plane with me in January. It was the first time I was taking a meal with me, but I loved it! The meal itself was great, the avocados were still green, and I also liked being able to have a leisurely connection during which I wasn’t running around looking for, and overpaying for, fast food. This makes about 4 servings. (My dessert was Belvita sandwich cookies with chocolate filling.)

2 Tbsp. oil
1 red bell pepper, sliced
1 yellow bell pepper, sliced
1 large red onion, sliced
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. pepper
1 lb. ground turkey
1 Tbsp. taco seasoning (I use this recipe)
28 oz. diced tomato, drained
2 cups rice, cooked
1 can black beans, drained and rinsed
1 can corn
1 jar salsa
1 lime, sliced into wedges
lactose-free sharp cheddar cheese, grated
fresh cilantro, for garnish
(I added an avocado, cubed and tossed in lemon juice)

Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat.

Add the peppers and onions and season with salt and pepper, to taste. Cook, stirring occasionally, until vegetables have softened. Remove from pan, set aside.

Add ground turkey to hot skillet. Break apart with a wooden spoon to separate.

Season with taco seasoning, stir, cooking until meat has browned and cooked through.

Stir in tomatoes. Bring to a gentle simmer for about 5 minutes. Remove from heat.

To assemble the taco bowls, add a base of rice to 4 food storage containers. Top each with a scoop of black beans, corn, salsa, cheddar cheese, cooked peppers and onions, and taco meat. Garnish with fresh cilantro and a lime wedge.

Store in the refrigerator (and enjoy any extras immediately). Can be kept refrigerated for up to 4 days.

Miscellaneous product reviews

 Hebel & Co’s peanut butter chocolate crisp halva, which they made in collaboration with Molly Yeh, is fantastic. 10/10, no notes, go buy some and thank me later.

I really like these new protein granolas: Nature Valley Protein Granola (I tried Oats & Honey as well as Oats & Dark Chocolate) and Sola granola (I tried the Maple Pecan Chocolate and the Double Chocolate). They are very good, and one serving of granola plus one serving of Greek yogurt gets me to about 30 grams of protein, which my nutritionist told me is what I should aim for at breakfast. It does help me get to lunch without hunger pangs!

I tried some ramen noodles from immi – the black garlic “chicken” flavor, which I found in a brick-and-mortar store. They are vegan and made from pumpkin seeds, so they are high in protein and low in carbs. As you can see, I did not “get creative” with toppings, but I should have! It was a bit plain on its own (I was expecting something more like a Cup-a-Noodles, which doesn’t need add-ins). That being said, the noodles were good, and this would be a great substitute if I planned it out better!

I also tried IQ Bars, after getting a discount code on a podcast. I originally got a sampler of all their protein bars, and while the Little Prince liked them, I wasn’t crazy about some of the flavors. I’ve since reordered a chocolate lovers variety box, which has peanut butter chip, almond butter chip, and chocolate sea salt. They now have new packaging, too! So, the ingredients overall are good for someone with a metabolic disorder like mine, even though I don’t really enjoy pea protein. Obviously, they contain nuts, so I never put them in the Little Prince’s lunch box, but he has them at home on occasion. It’s probably my favorite protein bar, to be honest, and I like them much more than No Cow.

Trader Joe’s chocolate passport was absolutely delightful! It’s essentially a flight of single-origin dark chocolate bars, and what’s not to love? 10/10, would buy again.

I finally got around to trying Egg Life Wraps, which are made with egg whites and are gluten-free. They are a really great substitute for tortillas! I enjoyed the plain ones with chicken breakfast sausage and sharp cheddar cheese, while the cinnamon ones were good with chocolate hummus. I’ll buy them more often!

Cacao & Cardamom’s Lunar New Year chocolate selection was superb! I just love this company’s confections. The flavors in that box included strawberry Szechuan and black sesame ginger – I unfortunately don’t have a record of the others, because the company stopped printing out the flavors and just sends a QR code now, and since that box was seasonal, there’s no way to access that info anymore. I believe there was a sesame brittle and a green matcha in there. On the bright side, they changed the glue they use for their stickers to make them more easily removable, so the boxes are now reusable! Also, the chocolates were as delicious as ever.

Finally, and this is more of a public service announcement than a recommendation: Cornerstone Wellness has whey protein shakes that are lactose-free, because the whey is micronized! I didn’t really believe it at first, but it turns out I can have them without discomfort. (It is actually normal to have some discomfort the first time you try a new type of protein, but everything should be fine the second time.) This is very convenient for me, since I don’t like the taste of most vegan protein shakes! I tried the Dutch cocoa and the vanilla, and have since bought a small canister of the latter.

[Updated later the same day to add: I forgot to mention Bokksu! My sister gave me the Kawaii Gift Box for my birthday, and it was glorious! What a great way to eat delicious snacks I wouldn’t have encountered otherwise!]

Chocolate Cake with Strawberry Marshmallow Frosting

 

The Little Prince has a book called Cook It! The Dr. Seuss Cookbook for Kid Chefs, by Daniel Gercke. He asked me to make a specific recipe from it for his birthday, the cake called Cat in the Bath Birthday Cake. The name isn’t very descriptive, though, hence my title of Chocolate Cake with Strawberry Marshmallow Frosting. The first thing I have to say is that this isn’t a recipe for kids – the frosting is a grown-up undertaking, for sure. As a matter of fact, I couldn’t help but notice that in this official video, the chef makes the frosting while her kid is off somewhere else! It was so worth it, though, because the frosting was divine! 

The only thing that I would change would be to heat the sugar and strawberry purée to 230 °F, like in a seven-minute frosting, while whisking the egg whites with the cream of tartar and salt separately, then drizzling the syrup into the egg white mixture. My frosting was runny, like in the video, come to think of it; I would have preferred a stiffer consistency, like in the photo in the cookbook. The seven-minute frosting method seems better to achieve this. 

As a reminder, to make a lactose-free buttermilk substitute, you can use about 1 tablespoon of vinegar or lemon juice in 1 cup of lactose-free milk, or use lactose-free plain yogurt thinned out with some lactose-free milk. I also added some precisions regarding the size of the bowls to use. 

For the cake 

2 ½ oz. bittersweet chocolate, chopped 

1 ¼ cups hot decaffeinated coffee (or water) 

2 ½ cups sugar 

2 cups unsweetened Dutch-processed cocoa powder 

2 ¼ cups all-purpose flour 

1 ½ tsp. baking soda 

1 tsp. kosher salt 

¾ tsp. baking powder 

1 ¼ cups lactose-free buttermilk substitute (see note above)

2/3 cup neutral vegetable oil 

1 tsp. vanilla extract 

3 large eggs 

For the frosting 

8 oz. fresh strawberries, hulled 

2 large egg whites 

1 ½ cups sugar 

1 pinch of cream of tartar 

1 pinch of kosher salt 

sprinkles (optional) 

For the cake 

Preheat the oven to 325 °F. Grease three 9-inch round cake pans; line the bottom with parchment with parchment paper and grease again. 

In a medium microwave-safe bowl, microwave the chocolate on medium-low power in 30-second intervals, stirring in between, until melted. Whisk in the coffee until completely combined, then set aside to cool. (I did this in a double-boiler.) 

In a large-ish bowl (not your largest), whisk together the sugar and cocoa powder until there are no lumps. Whisk in the flour, baking soda, salt, and baking powder. 

In a small bowl, whisk together the buttermilk substitute, oil, and vanilla. 

In another large bowl (this time, your largest), beat the eggs with a handheld mixer until pale and frothy, about 3 minutes. Scrape in the cooled chocolate mixture and beat to combine. Pour in one-third of the buttermilk mixture and beat until just combined. 

Pour in one-third of the flour mixture and beat until just combined, then scrape down the sides of the bowl. Repeat two more times, alternating the buttermilk and flour mixtures, mixing just until the batter is smooth and free of lumps. 

Divide the batter among the prepared pans and bake until the tops spring back when touched and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, 30 to 35 minutes. Transfer the pans to a wire rack to cool completely. 

When the cakes are cool, run a thin offset spatula or butter knife around the edges of the pans to loosen them, then invert them and remove the parchment paper. Turn the cakes right side up and trim the tops with a serrated knife so the layers are even (I didn’t bother). 

When the cakes are trimmed, move on to the frosting. (Don’t make the frosting ahead of time; it doesn’t stay spreadable for very long. If needed, the cakes can be baked a day ahead and stored in the refrigerator, tightly wrapped with plastic wrap.) 

For the frosting 

In a blender, purée the strawberries until very smooth, then press through a fine-mesh sieve. You should end up with 2/3 cup of strawberry purée. 

Heat 1 inch of water in a medium pot until simmering. 

(This is where you should read the note above regarding the method for the frosting – the following instructions are as they originally appeared in the cookbook.) In the metal bowl of a stand mixer, whisk together the strawberry purée, egg whites, sugar, cream of tartar, and salt. Place the bowl over the simmering water (without letting it touch the water) and whisk constantly until the sugar has dissolved. (The bowl will heat up, so use an oven mitt to hold it.) Transfer the bowl back to the mixer and whisk on high speed until thick and glossy with medium peaks, 3 to 5 minutes. Use the frosting immediately. 

Place one cake layer on a serving plate or sake stand and spread some of the frosting on top. Repeat with the remaining layers, stacking them on top of each other. Spread the frosting on the sides of the cake and smooth the top and sides, making swirls and swags if you like. Top with sprinkles, if using. This cake is best eaten the day it’s made. (Personally, I kept the leftover frosting in the fridge to use on other stuff, and I regret nothing. It was fantastic!)

Santorini

We went on a Mediterranean cruise in mid-June, and I am still on cloud nine about it! I will not review the whole thing, because that would bore people to tears, but I did want to say a few words about a few specific places. I’ll also drop a link that the Engineer might appreciate, stating that in fact, for a year, the ship would anchor near Venice and provide tender boats to Piazza San Marco. However, we got a notice two days before sailing that this no longer worked and that we would be docking in Trieste instead. We made the best of it, but had I known, I would have made plans to spend a day or two in Venice after the cruise and would have enjoyed Trieste while we were there instead of using it as a stepping stone for a few hours in Venice. Anyway… 

First, the most beautiful surprise was Kotor, in Montenegro. I did not know much about the city before we went, so I was very pleasantly surprised! The setting is absolutely beautiful, the city itself was interesting, and it had the bonus of having a tourist information kiosk at the gates, so we got a map with a lot of information about things to see. Plus, there are cats everywhere, so our kids were very happy. I really loved our visit there! 

Then, in Santorini, I really wanted to see the village of Oia (pronounced EE-ya), but the excursions offered by the cruise line didn’t work for me. (For example, there was a $200-per-person outing to go taste wine in Oia. Neither the Engineer nor I drink much, and we have two kids, so we weren’t about to drop $800 to go not-drink-wine in Oia!) So the Engineer found a great company called Santorini Road Trips, with whom we booked a Private Oia Panoramic Scenes tour. It was given in English by a very knowledgeable and friendly guide (shout-out to Panagiota!), and it was just the four of us on this tour. We saw all the essential things we wanted to see and then some, the tour was personalized and affordable, and I am so happy with how this trip turned out! 

We met the guide at the top of the cable car in Fira. If you do something similar, keep in mind that you will need to factor in a few things before booking your start time. The cruise line used tender boats to take passengers to shore, and we had to book tickets to reserve our departure. They started handing out the tickets at 7:30am, so I got in line at 6:00am and was the fifth one there. I got tickets for the 7th boat, since boats 1 through 6 were reserved for elite passengers. Then, once you’re on shore, there will be a line-up for the cable car, so plan for that too! The first tender boat left our cruise ship at 1:30pm, and we made it to the top of the hill around 2:45pm for our 3-hour tour. Keep in mind that there will be a line-up for the cable car on the way down as well – walking down should take about 45 minutes, but we didn’t attempt it, given how tired our youngest was. 

We also really enjoyed Dubrovnik, and were glad that we booked a panoramic tour. This allowed us to have beautiful views of the city, then a self-guided walk in the historic center and a return on a shuttle that went by every 20 minutes. You couldn’t get to the views from the city on foot, but depending on the number of people in your party, a cab might be doable (I didn’t check the bus routes).

Florence

We went on a wonderful trip to Europe in early June, and I decided I’d write a bit about it. In part to write down some memories, but in part also because I am the kind of anxious person who feels better having a step-by-step procedure of an upcoming unknown situation, so I know that this information can help others plan their trips better as well. Note that this post contains some affiliate links, which means that if you make a purchase using one of those links, I will get a very small commission at no extra cost to you. I’m only recommending things that I own myself and that I’m happy I bought! 

A few words about travelling in Florence… 

 - While I did use my Italian (I can figure out a few useful sentences thanks to a course I took in university and 105 days of DuoLingo to refresh my memory), the vast majority of people with whom we interacted spoke English well enough that speaking Italian is not strictly necessary. Museums also have English placards and signs. 

- Even though most stores take credit cards, you will still need some cash on hand, especially if you take cabs or if your hotel requires you to pay the tourist tax up front. 

 - We have a cellphone plan with T-Mobile that covered text messages and data transfers while we were in Europe, which was very useful. (Pro tip: Download WhatsApp to make phone calls using your data plan!) I had created some Google Maps and downloaded them on my phone before going, but was disappointed to see that the pins and itineraries I had created often did not show up on my phone, which made the whole thing somewhat useless. 

 - Note that most attractions (museums, churches, etc.) do not allow backpacks and only allow small or medium-sized purses, and there typically aren’t cloakrooms or lockers available, so I purchased this Travelon anti-theft cross-body bag that was big enough to carry my usual stuff, plus passports, water and sunscreen, etc., while still being small enough to be allowed. It was very useful during this trip and a great investment! You’ll also have to go through metal detectors and security at most attractions. Water bottles must not exceed 16 fluid ounces. And keep in mind that churches are still places of worship, so you can’t just waltz in wearing spaghetti straps, short-shorts or flip-flops. 

- Most restaurants with a printed menu have little numbers after each dish, like footnotes, from 1 to 14. When you look at the end of the menu, each number corresponds to an allergen like nuts, mustard, wheat, or seafood. Number 7 was the one for dairy, including lactose. I am not sure how cross-contact is handled in the kitchen, and it probably varies by restaurant, but this shows that at least allergies are taken seriously. 

- Trains are easy to navigate. Note that if you purchase a ticket for a specific day/time in advance, all you need is your ticket and ID and you’re good to go. If you purchase a paper ticket at the kiosk on the day of your trip, you need to validate your ticket in one of the little green machines, meaning insert the ticket into it so that it gets stamped with a date and time. This basically lets the onboard controller know that you are using the ticket just this once and are not planning on defrauding the train company. To get on or off the train, press on the button to open the doors (this is not automatic). 

- For peace of mind, we used SafetyTats on the kids to make sure they had our phone number visibly on them. We ended up sticking the tats on their clothes instead of their skin, and the stickers were resistant enough that we could stick the same one on several different shirts on consecutive days, yet they remained easy to peel off. I highly recommend them! You can also get them on Amazon. 

- If you have kids between the ages of 4 and 12, I can’t recommend MiFolds enough to keep them safe in a car. It folds up very small, so it’s ideal for travelling when you can’t lug their car seat around. 

- Buy an electrical adapter/converter like this multitasking model with USB ports. So, on to accommodations! 

I knew of a Quebecker who, with his wife, owns rooms for rent in Florence, in an unbeatable location and at competitive rates. Their bed and breakfast was fully booked for the dates we wanted, so we rented the amazing Giotto suite instead and *loved* it! The building is easily accessible from the airport by taxi (roughly €25) and by train (it is near Santa Maria Novella Station). Plus, it is all walking distance to the centro storico, which is where most of the tourist attractions are located. The view from the bedroom window was right on the Duomo, and I spent countless times just staring at it in awe. It was amazing! Plus, this suite gave us room to spread out, we saved some money by using our own kitchenette for breakfast, and we had a washing machine. We were living the dream! 

We were jetlagged upon arrival, but spent the afternoon walking to the Duomo and visiting Santa Maria del Fiore Cathedral. We made our way to the Mercato Centrale hoping to buy dinner, but we ended up only buying pastries and purchasing the rest of our essentials at the grocery store down the street from our lodging. 

The next day, we walked to the Galleria dell’Accademia (literally around the block!) to see Michelangelo’s David. I bought our tickets online in advance – it’s a bit more expensive (there is a €4 booking fee per person), but then you get a guaranteed timeslot in which to enter the museum; otherwise, you’d have to stand in line and hope they aren’t already sold out for the day, which just seems like a bad plan to me. Even though the confirmation email said to go collect the tickets at the booth before getting in line to enter, it turned out we actually had to get right in line at our appointed ticket time and get the tickets directly at the entrance. I had printed out the email confirmation and was not asked for identification beyond that, though by law we still have to carry our passports with us. Anyway, the main attraction is in a large room near the entrance, and it is well worth the visit! We didn’t spend too much time in that museum because we had a busy day ahead, but I loved what I saw. 

We then walked south, to and through Piazza della Signoria, where there is a copy of the statue of David in front of the Palazzo Vecchio. We continued to the Gallerie degli Uffizi for more museum time. (I promised the kids that was the only museum day, and I have no regrets even though they were bored to tears by the end.) Just as with the Galleria dell’Accademia, we purchased our tickets in advance for a specific time, though this museum did have a place to pick up the tickets before entering (marked by number 3, near the river bank on the south end). You could easily spend hours and hours in this museum – it probably has the highest concentration of famous works of art I’ve seen, culminating in Botticelli’s Birth of Venus. (We basically told our kids it had works by all the Ninja Turtles, but even that is under-selling it!) 

Just outside the museum, you can get a great view of the Ponte Vecchio. While we did cross it, we didn’t go much further, because the kids, especially the Fox, were tired of walking. If that isn’t a problem for you, I recommend making your way to the Boboli Gardens, the Rose Garden, or the Piazzale Michelangelo for views of the city. You could also visit any of the palaces formerly owned by the Medicis and many more modern museums. 

On our third and last day, we took a day trip to Pisa to see the Leaning Tower. (There are other things to see in Pisa if you are so inclined, pardon the pun, but we had reached the quota of museums and history that we could shove down the kids’ throats without a mutiny. The Cathedral, Baptistery, and museum could be your cup of tea too!) The owners of our lodging had confirmed that it was better to book our train or bus tickets in advance, and I’m glad I did. We opted for the train, in large part because it is easy to navigate and because the kids were really excited at the idea of finally travelling by train! I looked up the information on TrenItalia, which is very easy to use even without the app. I made sure to select the Santa Maria Novella station in Florence (since that was the one near our hotel) and the San Rossore station in Pisa (since that’s the one that is walking distance to the tower), using only direct routes (no transfers to worry about). It was only €54 for the four of us, roundtrip. The train takes about 1 hour and 10 minutes to get there, and we spent a few hours there mid-day, which was enough to walk around, get our fill of the tower from the outside, and have lunch in a nearby restaurant before making our way back to Florence. (We didn’t realize that it was once again possible for visitors to climb up the tower. We had a backpack and were on a schedule, so it was not to be for us, but you can also buy a ticket in advance for a specific timeslot; keep that in mind for your visit.) 

I absolutely loved Florence, and my trip in general! The kids didn’t appreciate it as much as I did, or perhaps they appreciated different aspects of it, but if my own European travels at their age is any indication, they’ll look back on it with gratitude and good memories later on.

Creamy Spinach Sweet Potato Noodles with Cashew Sauce

Here’s a quick recipe for lunch – or at least, I made it into a quick recipe. You see, my spiralizer is a small hand-held thing that is essentially a pencil sharpener for vegetables. And, you know, I was recovering from a carpal tunnel flare-up, so there was no way I was spiralizing things myself. I ended up getting spiralized butternut squash from the frozen section instead. 

You’ll end up with more sauce than you need, but I don’t recommend halving the recipe because then, you wouldn’t have enough for the blender to really be efficient. You could also add more toppings – the original recipe suggests bacon or caramelized onions, both of which sound great to me! 

1 cup cashews 

¾ cup water (plus more for soaking) 

½ tsp. salt 

1 clove garlic 

1 Tbsp. oil 

4 large sweet potatoes, spiralized (see note above) 

2 cups baby spinach 

1 handful of fresh basil leaves, chives, or other herbs 

salt and pepper, to taste 

olive oil, for drizzling (optional) 

Put the cashews in a bowl and cover them with water; soak for 2 hours or so (I soaked them overnight). 

Drain and rinse thoroughly. Place in a high-powered blender with the ¾ cup water, salt, and garlic. Purée until very smooth. 

Heat the oil in a large skillet over high heat. Add the sweet potatoes; toss in the pan for 6-7 minutes with tongs until tender-crisp. Remove from heat and toss in the spinach – it should wilt pretty quickly. 

Add half of the herbs and half of the sauce to the pan and toss to combine. (Add water if the mixture is too sticky.) Season generously with salt and pepper, drizzle with olive oil, and top with the remaining fresh herbs.

Fall Harvest Buddha Bowl

I came across this recipe just as I had extra kale that I wanted to use up before it went bad. I ended up making the pesto and freezing it until I got around to making the rest of the dish. I changed the recipe a bit because I didn’t see myself eating a whole head of cauliflower and another of broccoli, in addition to the rest of the stuff in here, so I used broccolini instead of both of those. It’s technically a fall buddha bowl, but all those ingredients are available pretty much year-round! 

Bonus tip: if you have leftover pesto, make pesto pizzas! I bought English muffins and split a few of them open, then spread some pesto on them and topped with shredded mozzarella cheese. I topped a few more with leftover tomato sauce, crumbled breakfast sausage, and cheese. I made the Fox promise he would at least taste the green pizzas in his lunch, and lo and behold, we were both pleasantly surprised to find that he liked them better than the tomato-sausage ones! 

For the pesto 

1 cup fresh basil leaves 

⅓ cup pine nuts 

2 cloves garlic 

½ cup olive oil 

1 cup kale, stemmed 

1 cup shredded parmesan cheese (or nutritional yeast, for a vegan version) 

salt, to taste 

pepper, to taste 

For the buddha bowl 

1 cup diced butternut squash 

1 cup diced beets 

⅓ cup olive oil 

kosher salt, to taste 

freshly ground black pepper, to taste 

7 oz extra-firm tofu, sliced into squares 

2 cups cauliflower florets 

2 cups broccoli florets 

3 cups kale, stemmed 

1 cup cooked quinoa 

Preheat the oven to 425 °F. 

Put the basil, pine nuts, garlic, olive oil, kale, Parmesan, salt, and pepper in a blender, and blend until smooth. 

Put the butternut squash and beets on a quarter of a baking sheet. Drizzle with olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Toss to coat. Add the tofu to another quarter of the baking sheet and brush with some of the pesto. Bake for 10 minutes, then remove from the oven. 

Flip the tofu, then add the cauliflower and broccoli to another quarter of the baking sheet. Drizzle with olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Toss to coat. Bake for 10 minutes, then remove from the oven. 

Add the kale to the remaining quarter of the baking sheet. Drizzle with olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Bake for 10 minutes, until the kale is crispy and all of the vegetables are tender. 

Put the quinoa in a bowl. Top with the tofu and vegetables and drizzle with pesto. Enjoy!