Buon Giorno from Pienza. Yes, this is where I am right now:

I can imagine my friends back home in North America saying 'how nice'. I'd respond with yes, it is lovely, but I know what you really mean by 'how nice'. In fact, I can still hear Palma telling the joke. :-) Just ask her - she tells a wonderful joke and everyone giggles.

Anyways. Yet again I had all sorts of plans for apples - a delicious panna cotta . . . a crisp . . . a tart . . yet when the frenzied pace of work and trip prep threatened to put me in a rubber room so I made a drink. In the end it served a host of purposes.

Those who follow my blog know I make drinks often. In fact, the pic beside my name off to the left is a drink that I made. In fact, that particular drink inspired my recipe for this week's apple flavour!

For this week's entry I combined apples and vanilla to make an infused vodka. This then was mixed with cider, cinnamon, and Calvados to make a zippy pre-dinner beverage.

Harvest Martini

Infused vodka:

1 cup vodka
1 apple, thinly sliced
1/4 whole vanilla bean

Pour vodka into a jar with a lid. Place apple and vanilla bean in vodka. Cover. Let sit for at least an hour or longer for more flavour.

Martini:

2 oz cider
1 oz Calvados
1 oz infused vodka
thin slice of apple sliced crosswise (for garnish)
sprinkle of cinnamon

In a martini shaker mix the first three ingredients. Shake with ice. Strain into a martini glass. Garnish with the thinly sliced apple. Sprinkle with cinnamon.