A handful of images from blogs written in 2021. Some of the places: Cipampini, Isnello, Polizzi and Taormina are below with a few notes, thoughts on returning (a much loved thought) and festive baking.

Cipampini, Isnello, Polizzi Generosa, Taormina.

The tiny borgho of Cipampini. To eat at A FuocoLento. A small restaurant with good food and wonderful hosts. To walk the quiet streets with a feeling of holidays. To eat there again was mentioned to me just the other day.

Isnello hidden in the Madonie where I first came upon the delicious Isnello apricot. To taste again!

The bucolic countryside so close to Polizzi. Grazing sheep with mountains behind near Donna Lavia. Luigi's Donna Lavia is a restaurant I love to return to. And the mountains.

The handsome face of Saint Catherine  in the tiny church of the same name in Taormina. It's a beautiful small church. And, Taormina... I love this seaside town. Seeing tourists enjoy it in all its easy to understand holiday modes. Yet when lingering and staying a while it is not only a place that everyone can love easily it is a place full of history, art, good food, churches, archaeological treasures, unbeatable views of Etna and the Ionian sea. And one of the best places to savour all that Taormina is...Casa Cuseni. (The Casa Cuseni blog post is from 2018 not 2021. I hope you enjoy it if you haven't already read it.) 

And, Polizzi. Walking up via Roma past a white balcony that sits over the entry to Vicolo Moschea. Always enjoyed when I am on my way to U Bagghiu, a delightful local restaurant run by Andrea and Santina.

Streets of Cipampini holiday mode

Countryside outside Polizzi near Donna Lavia

The truly delicious Isnello apricot

Balcony over Vicolo Moschea on Via Roma, Polizzi

Saint Catherine, Taormina

Sicilian Cassata, Cipampini at Fuoco Lento

I have linked a few 2021 blogs plus one from 2018 if you would like to revisit them. 

Christmas baking ...a feel of Sicily

In the meantime...thoughts of biscuits to bake for the festive season. It has to be Sicilian and pretty easy. I'm thinking buccellati... a festive fig filled Sicilian biscuit. I made them a few years ago, wrote about it and I wouldn't mind eating and sharing some of these delicious 'Christmasy' biscuits once again. I may do more looking yet!

This year my Christmas is in Australia and my next one...hopefully Polizzi, Sicily. 

Saluti 

Suzanne