Venetian Galani biscuits

These are traditionally used at Carneval and have different names  depending on which region you are in. for example in Tuscany they are cenci and  in the south chiacchere.

500g plain flour,

5 egg yolks 

100 g  caster sugar and 50g icing sugar

a glass of prosecco

vanilla flavoured baking powder

lemon rind

25g butter

On the pastry board  combine flour, caster sugar and vanilla baking powder; blend together and add a pinch of salt. Rub the mixture until it resembles breadcrumbs and add the egg yolks,  and lemon rind.

I just thought I would post some quick recipes for half term to try and sneak in some veg. I have got good at that since my daughter won't eat anything green, or orange for that matter. In fact she only eats white food, bread, pasta, cheese with the occasional red, ie pizza. The next person who asks me if me and my husband eat veg and fruit (I love my fruit and veg) I will reply 'veg? What's that?"

Pasta all norma Sicilian aubergine pasta for 4

400 g pasta

2 aubergines

1 kilo of tomatoes

So the September mum and baby breaks went well. We had sunshine all month and the mums on the fitness breaks all lost between 1 and 2 kilos. I managed to loose a kilo without doing any exercise! Just eating all those healthy meals. Have sort of kept up the healthy eating give or take a chocolate or two!

The yoga and cooking breaks were great fun and busy.On one break we had ten adults (Dads came too)and seven little ones. Busy , lively and great fun,although hard work for our team. Fernanda said she was glad when the month was over, but the next day said she felt lost without all the children and couldn't wait for the next breaks to begin.

Paradise for Mum and babies in Tuscany.

This is what one of our mums wrote on her blog see  Flora's comments on arealholiday.wordpress.com/

I have just got back from 2 very different mum and baby breaks in Italy, the first was a fitness break where all 5 mums lost between 1 and half and 2 and half kilos. Alessia de Magistris is our personal trainer and gives a 1 to 1 session on arrival, taking weight and measurements and does 4 fun fitness classes outdoors in a stunning setting with Lake and hill views.