The Tuscan mountainside
I have some news.
Not this Friday gone but the one before, I wrote about our imminent trip to Italy. I posted a picture of one of my favourite views in the world. And I talked about how, while I enjoy new experiences and adventures, there’s something wonderfully comforting about the familiar, returning to somewhere you know and love and going through the tried and tested motions of experiences you’ve lived a thousand times before.
What I failed to mention, or realize at the time, is that it’s perfectly possible to combine the two.
Sparkling diamond & platinum – still can’t quite believe it’s mine
Last Monday morning, after a long weekend of scorching sunshine, the weather wasn’t looking great. As someone who may well have been a lizard in a pre-loaf life, I wasn’t too impressed with this turn of events. And having known me for over seven years, Carnivorous Boyfriend was perfectly aware of this fact. So when he invited me outside after breakfast to ‘do a sun dance’, it felt like a pretty sensible suggestion (some people might have found this request a little odd. Not me. My aforementioned obsession with the sun means I’m open to pretty much anything that will encourage a few extra rays).
I obediently stepped out onto the terrace, only to be told that we had to do the dance at the edge of the garden. The grass looked pretty scratchy after weeks without water in the baking sun, and not knowing what kind of creepy crawlies might be lurking within I told him I wasn’t going anywhere without any shoes. At which point he plucked me off my feet and carried me across the lawn.
And then he dropped down on one knee and proposed to me.
The ring. And that view . . .
So Carnivorous Boyfriend is now Carnivorous Fiancé. I’m marrying my favourite person in the whole wide world and I’m literally bursting with happiness. In hindsight, my lack of shoes upped the ante on the romance front as he whisked me across the lawn, but even without I can’t think of a more perfect place to be proposed to, on top of a mountain, in an incredible place that feels almost as much a part of me as he does.
There’s only so much gushing I can fit into one post, so I’m finishing up with a super simple recipe. We’ve been doing a lot of celebrating over the last week and, while champagne has featured heavily, I think this is one of my favourite ways to enjoy fizz. Prosecco is a little lighter, brighter and less yeasty than champagne, and paired with the juice of ripe white peaches, it’s pretty close to my idea of perfection.
Flat white peaches – perfect for bellinis
I didn’t manage to get a shot of these bellinis – it was dark when we drank them and I was enjoying myself far too much to stop and take photos – but this drink is pale, delicate and delicious, topped with a soft mousse of gently breaking bubbles. Flat peaches are what were available in our local greengrocer, but any white peach would work wonderfully.
I’m sure I’ll be drinking a fair few of these over the coming weeks. And yes, once the initial celebrations are over I will be starting some serious investigations into wedding cake. All suggestions welcome 🙂
Worth raising a glass to . . .
White Peach Bellini (inspired by The River Cafe)
(makes 6 drinks)
Ingredients:
8-10 ripe white peaches (I used flat peaches but any white peach would be delicious)
1 bottle Prosecco, chilled
Method:
Rinse, stone and finely chop the peaches, skin and all. Place chopped fruit in a blender and pulse to a thick pureé then pour into a fine meshed sieve or muslin and press as much of the juice through as possible.
Divide the pureé between six champagne flutes, top with prosecco and serve.
Congratulations! What a wonderfully romantic way to become engaged.
Was so happy to read your news on twitter! Congratulations again, my dear, to you and Carniverous Fiancé!
congrats sweety, may you always be this happy 🙂
What a wonderful story – I grinned so much as I read this! Hugely excited for you 🙂
CONGRATULATIONS! What a beautiful way to propose! I’m so happy for the two of you!! xo
Lovely. Congrats, Loaf. Aren’t bellinis just wonderful?
Shut UP! Brilliant! So very happy for you both.
How romantic! Congratulations!
Congratulations Kate!!! Loved the proposal story, well done Carnivorous Fiance!! Beautiful ring and yes, that view is stunning!! Oh you must still be on cloud 9.
Congratulations, I am sure you will enjoy your holiday even more now
tania@mykitchenstories.com.au
Awww congratulations!!!! What a beautiful proposal story, and such an exciting time in your life. I love how you said you are marrying your favourite person in the world, that’s exactly how I feel about my fiance. We became engaged last year, and in 5 weeks we’ll be married. It’s still hard to believe.
Your ring is gorgeous too! I love solitaires.
Wow, congratulations – what a beautiful setting for a romantic proposal!
What a beautiful ring! Congratulations!
I’m *NOT* showing this to my wife….
OMG congratulations!!!!! 😀
Congratulations! It’s a beautiful ring and a truly lovely story.
congratulations, what a lovely proposal!
Wow, what a great time and place to propose!! Congratulations, I can’t wait to hear of the coming wedding preparations 🙂
Congratulations, it sounds utterly perfect.
Congratulations! The ring is beautiful! You must be so happy, my husband also asked me to marry him on holiday, it’s the best moment. You are away from everything and completely relaxed! Enjoy this moment 🙂
Well done Carniverous Boyfriend – the perfect proposal for a foodie! And White Peach Bellinis the perfect celebratory drink, congratulations!
Congratulations!
CONGRATULATIONS!!! Or should I say congratulazioni? Good job Carniverous Fiancé!
Congratulations! Ignore anyone who tells you wedding planning is a nightmare. Ok, there are stress-ish bits but it’s also incredibly fun!
That’s the attitude I want to have…it’s all about love and celebration and happiness not stress!
Congratulations!!
I just love this post and am so so happy for you! What a wonderful way to propose!! Do we get to see any pictures of you and your fiance?
I really should put some up, but I hate taking photos of myself! Will get round to it at some point, I promise 🙂
What a lovely spot to propose !! congratulations and thank you for this recipe, I’m sure I will put some prosecco in my luggage, returning from beautiful Tuscany !
Ahhh, congratulations Kate. What a fantastic post to share and read. Reminds me of when I got engaged. The happiness you feel is beyond words really. He did well with that ring. It’s gorgeous. X
How fabulous, gorgeous ring…congratulations! 🙂
Congratulations! Definitely a proposal-worthy view. 🙂
Congratulations! I adore love stories <3
Congratulations to you and the Carnivorous Finance! What a dear dear post. Thank you for sharing your great news ( and a delicious bellini) with all of us.
xxxooo
E
Congratulations! Very exciting news. Peach bellinis are classic.
I’m so happy for you! What a wonderful story! You get invited to do a sun dance, and you end up with a beautiful ring and a fiance. Sounds good to me. 🙂 Congratulations!
How lovely, am so happy for you! Will you always be getting a ring when you do a sun dance in the future?! 😀
A BIG congratulations!!! that is wonderful news!! 😀
Yay, Carniverous Fiancé! It really did turn out to be a lovely trip, then. And these bellinis are the perfect way to celebrate. I wish you both the best.
Thank you to everyone for your lovely lovely comments here and on Twitter, they mean a lot to me and I’m completely over the moon 🙂
I really am so happy for you and all the future brings with your fantastic sounding Fiancee. I look forward to hearing about all the future has to offer you. All good I know! xx
AWESOME! congratulations lovely xx
Congratulations! that is lovely 🙂 I like the picture of you holding your glass up with the ring perfectly angled in the limelight 🙂 Wishing you both the very best!
Congratulations.
CONGRATULATIONS!!! what a gorgeous ring! and such a perfect proposal! wishing you both all the happiness in the world, and did I say before that ring is GORGEOUS!
Congratulations, it sounds absolutely perfect. Very excited for you.
Congratulations! Thrilled for you. Such exciting times ahead.
More thank yous for all your lovely comments from a very happy little loaf 🙂
Congratulations!! The proposal sounds so sweet 🙂
Congratulations, your ring is beautiful and I couldn’t think of a better way to celebrate – you lucky little loaf.
Ahhhhhh Oh my goodness, I’m so sorry for being so far behind on this news!! COngratulations!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! You are the luckiest girl in the world and you must be so happy!!! Again, congratulations and I hope that you have a wonderful life with your soul mate xoxoxoxoxo
Congratulations! What wonderful news! And what a romantic proposal 🙂 This is a really special time for you and I hope you will enjoy every moment of your new engagement. Many exciting times ahead!
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