We woke reasonably late following the feast and free flowing wine the night before. After gathering ourselves and our packs, we headed down to our homestay family’s small dining room f… Read More

We woke reasonably late following the feast and free flowing wine the night before. After gathering ourselves and our packs, we headed down to our homestay family’s small dining room f… Read More

We woke reasonably late following the feast and free flowing wine the night before. After gathering ourselves and our packs, we headed down to our homestay family’s small dining room f… Read More

We woke reasonably late following the feast and free flowing wine the night before. After gathering ourselves and our packs, we headed down to our homestay family’s small dining room f… Read More

We woke reasonably late following the feast and free flowing wine the night before. After gathering ourselves and our packs, we headed down to our homestay family’s small dining room f… Read More

We woke reasonably late following the feast and free flowing wine the night before. After gathering ourselves and our packs, we headed down to our homestay family’s small dining room f… Read More

We woke reasonably late following the feast and free flowing wine the night before. After gathering ourselves and our packs, we headed down to our homestay family’s small dining room f… Read More

We woke reasonably late following the feast and free flowing wine the night before. After gathering ourselves and our packs, we headed down to our homestay family’s small dining room f… Read More

We woke reasonably late following the feast and free flowing wine the night before. After gathering ourselves and our packs, we headed down to our homestay family’s small dining room f… Read More

We woke reasonably late following the feast and free flowing wine the night before. After gathering ourselves and our packs, we headed down to our homestay family’s small dining room f… Read More

We woke reasonably late following the feast and free flowing wine the night before. After gathering ourselves and our packs, we headed down to our homestay family’s small dining room f… Read More

We woke reasonably late following the feast and free flowing wine the night before. After gathering ourselves and our packs, we headed down to our homestay family’s small dining room f… Read More

We woke reasonably late following the feast and free flowing wine the night before. After gathering ourselves and our packs, we headed down to our homestay family’s small dining room f… Read More

Why Riesling Chicken? Wine drinkers could be categorized in multiple ways, but one major one is: Category A, those who like sweet wines, and Category B, those who do not. I am firmly a Categ… Read More

Kitchen Alchemy The cheapest cuts of meat provide amazing flavors when you apply the correct cooking methods. Whether you’re looking at beef brisket, pork shoulder, or lamb shanks, the… Read More

When the polar vortex pushed the massive winter storm Uri deep into the state of Texas this week, millions of people suffered. And are still suffering, even as many residents have finally re… Read More

Is there anything more classically French than coq au vin? The dish was developed to take a tough old rooster and turn it tender. Since almost no one uses a rooster these days, so it’s… Read More

The bolt struck so close to the car that I lurched across the highway, nearly running off the road. The hair along my arms prickled and my hands were shaking as I swerved back into my lane a… Read More

Baking Ribs in the Oven While I always advocate for ribs cooked over a live fire — sometimes that just isn’t possible. In my third floor condo, if I started a charcoal fire on my… Read More

Yes, I am officially turning COVID into a verb. But you spell it in lower case. As in, when someone asks, “How are you doing?” from 10 feet away — You respond, “Oh I… Read More

Good lord, this was amazing last night. Pork tenderloin seasoned with my west Texas rub, browned in a skillet, and finished in the oven barded with bacon. To top it off, I made this deliciou… Read More

What is Campechana? A chilled street food from Campeche, Mexico, which mixes shrimp and avocado in a cross between cocktail sauce and salsa. It’s a great favorite in my city of Houston… Read More

Marius here. In case you humans didn’t know it, cats have a goal, a daily goal. And that is to achieve the perfect 18 hours of sleep. Achieving the 1-8 is never an easy thing, but you… Read More

What’s for supper? A wonderful dish of chicken with artichokes and mushrooms in a sauce flavored with sherry and rosemary.   How long this takes to cook depends on whether you use… Read More

Increasingly it feels that we are living in a film, or a bad dream from which we cannot escape. This isn’t the reality I know, anyway. I think all of us feel a little like Harry, Ron… Read More

Easy, tasty — and something a little different from the same ole, same ole chicken breast. This quick onion jam is made with dijon and whole grain mustard, and a couple of tablespoons… Read More

So day 394 of bunkering down . . . just kidding. But it feels like it, dammit! Here is an easy comfort food recipe sure to make your tummy smile. We need all the smiles we can get! 🙂… Read More

During our current COVID-19 reality, turning to our cats and dogs for sanity and relief from the dismal offers a real bright spot. In the spirit of this, I’ll be sharing my kitty pictu… Read More

As the entire world grapples with covid-19, and peoples’ lives are at best completely up-ended, and at worst in great danger, I know the greatest impact I can make is to emulate the gi… Read More

Here we are at Ghost Ranch in New Mexico. I took this photograph on the Matrimonial Mesa hike close to sunset on my visit there in the spring of 2017. This is one of my favorite places in Ne… Read More

As I watched Notre Dame burn, I found myself thinking, “Damn it, I was wrong. It won’t be there forever. Nothing will.”  And, suddenly, our decision to live in an… Read More

Sausages with grapes, so simple, and SO tasty. Salsicce all’uva is a traditional vineyard worker’s dish, and one of the few examples in Italian cookery where fruit is i… Read More

September 2019! I love the fall, and while it’s still hot in Texas, I look forward to cooler weather and one of my favorite times of the year. For the September calendar image, I&rsquo… Read More

Is it really already August?! This month, I’ve chosen a sunrise photograph from my spring trip to Big Bend National Park for the August 2019 Calendar.   As some of you know, I&rsq… Read More

For July's calendar, we're headed to the Adirondacks in upstate New York. Here's a photograph from an afternoon I spent canoeing at The Wild Center -- on the Raquette River near Tupper Lake… Read More

If the goal of  travel and vacation is to get away from our everyday lives for a while, eat good food, see new things, and relax, then Vienna may be the unsung hero of Europe’s A… Read More

As the weather grows hot for my Texas summer, I find myself looking through my Alaskan photographs and wishing to return. I had a fabulous trip in August 2016, using the Marine Highway syste… Read More

Summer. Basil. Basil and summer . . . they just go together. I live in a two bedroom condo, and in the summer, my balcony is a perfect spot for a small herb garden. When the basil is growing… Read More

Time travel, tequila, and wide open spaces. My journey into Big Bend. The post Nadir in Far West Texas appeared first on Ann Cavitt Fisher Read More

Onion jam, or in England, onion marmalade, goes well with many types of meat, and is also delectable with cream cheese on crackers. This fast version draws on apricot preserves for both swee… Read More

And here we are in the fifth month of 2019! This time around, I’ve chosen a furry beastie — a sea otter for our May calendar. I photographed him near Sitka, Alaska, on an absolut… Read More

This flavorful dish combines fresh squash and corn, with the smoky flavor of a roasted poblano pepper. The tomato adds a little kick of acidity. I used yellow squash this time, because I&rsq… Read More

Sweet potato hash ranks as a seriously delicious comfort food, and this one has a smoky-sweet quality that will have you making it again and again. The hash plays a great side-dish role for… Read More

Writer Glenn Kaufmann explains why Prague continues to draw him -- one of those cities that he'll never tire of visiting. The post I’ll Always Return to Prague appeared first on Ann Ca… Read More

For April's wallpaper, I chose one of my photographs of the rugged coasts and spring wildflowers of Cornwall in England. The post April 2019 Calendar Wallpaper appeared first on Ann Cavitt F… Read More

It's always great to get a pat on the back for your work. 2018 awards from North American Travel Journalist Association for photography and writing on AnnCavittFisher.com. The post 2018 NATJ… Read More

Early Sunday morning in Barbados, I stepped out onto my balcony with my mug to find thoroughbreds swimming in the surf. Who needs coffee?! I pulled on shorts, grabbed the camera, and got my… Read More

For many of my friends still buried in ice an snow, here is sunset near the island of Antigua for the March 2019 Calendar Wallpaper. Note: On my MacBook Pro, I saved the Wallpaper onto my de… Read More

Celebrity's newest ship disappoints large percentage of core customers: a Celebrity Edge cruise review. The post Has Celebrity Cruises Sailed Over the Edge? appeared first on Ann Cavitt Fish… Read More

Easy muffin-sized frittatas -- a delicious answer to the weekday breakfast conundrum. The post Muffin Pan Frittatas: Great Make-Ahead Breakfast appeared first on Ann Cavitt Fisher Read More

If all you think is BIG CITY when you hear "New York," then it's time for you to come with me to Dutchess County. The post Into Dutchess County: Finding New York appeared first on Ann Cavitt… Read More

Meet one of my new favorite condiments! Fresh pickled red onions -- a sweet, bright acidity that brings a real pop of flavor to so many things, from pulled pork, to chicken salad and sliced… Read More

Happy 2019!  For January’s calendar, I’ve chosen a photograph I took of the Medici Lion in  the Piazza Signoria in Florence. I love traveling in Italy, and Florence is… Read More

What do we think about the new Celebrity Edge cruise ship? Reviews are very mixed. The post Journal: Reporting from the New Celebrity Edge Cruise Ship appeared first on Ann Cavitt Fisher Read More

Well . . . the clock is ticking and the flight is further and further delayed. Will I make my cruise in Ft. Lauderdale? The post Journal: Headed to the New Celebrity Edge for a New Year&rsqu… Read More

Heavy holiday meals are in the rearview mirror, and it’s time to lighten our menus! This salad takes advantage of the gorgeous apples available through the fall and winter, and makes a… Read More

It's that time of year when the world falls in love and every song you sing seems to say, "Merry Christmas, may your New Year's dreams come true . . . " Christmas pictures from twelve citie… Read More

This slow roasted pork butt is cooked at 250° for nine to ten hours, then finished in a blazing hot oven to make deliciously crisp fat. The result? Tender pulled pork that melts in your… Read More

Why travel to Huntsville, Alabama? It's one of the coolest cities in the country!  Nestled in the low, green mountains of northern Alabama, surrounded by great hiking and outdoor activi… Read More

With my Mom's pot roast, we're traveling back in time to the 1960's for a succulent, melt in your mouth favorite. I promise -- it's worth the trip! The post Mom’s Pot Roast appeared fi… Read More

And doesn’t that deserve a big celebration?! Last year, I was in San Antonio, Texas, at the Esquire Tavern — which opened its doors on December 5, 1933, in response to the death… Read More

When the days grow short, and the weather turns chilly this Southwestern Chicken Stew really hits the spot. It's rich, flavorful comfort food -- and it's easy. The post Slow Cooker: Southwes… Read More

Here we are, in the final month of 2019. I don’t know about you — but this year has flown by for me. This month’s photograph is of the Alamo, and the Christmas tree on the… Read More

Why visit Liverpool & Manchester? Flights to Manchester are often less expensive than flights to London. Additionally, these vibrant cities offer great activities and sporting events, P… Read More

My grandmother's Southern cornbread dressing, perfect for Thanksgiving or Christmas dinner. The post Boofie’s Cornbread Dressing appeared first on Ann Cavitt Fisher Read More

Let's go! Come with me on a flight in a 1941 Stearman biplane. The post Journal: Over Arizona in a 1941 Stearman Biplane appeared first on Ann Cavitt Fisher Read More

I've just eaten one of the best chicken dishes I've ever put in my mouth. Chicken in Vinegar Sauce -- it's old French peasant fare, simple and extraordinarily tasty. The post Chicken with Vi… Read More

An 8 day late October trip takes me to Dutchess County, in the stunning Hudson Valley of New York State — home to the Franklin Delano Roosevelt home and Presidential Library, hiking, w… Read More

November's Calendar Wallpaper image is a male leopard I photographed in the Luangwa National Park in Zambia when we were on safari there last summer. Isn't he a beautiful boy!  The post… Read More

Ah, the Old Rhinebeck Aerodrome . . . be still my heart! What an extraordinary time I had here -- capped off with a flight in one of their biplanes. The post Journal: In Love with the Old Rh… Read More

Ever heard of Dutchess County, New York? Today, I'm taking you to visit Eleanor Roosevelt's home, Val-Kill Cottage. The post Journal: Finding Eleanor Roosevelt at Val-Kill appeared first on… Read More

Oysters Dunbar. If you know what I’m talking about, simply hearing the name of the dish is enough to make you salivate. Corinne Dunbar’s in New Orleans was a special place &mdash… Read More

Going to Ireland? Consider a side trip from Ireland to Wales! People often ask about a Dublin to Wales ferry. First you'll take the train to the ferry port at Rosslare. The post A Trip from… Read More

My weekend in Huntsville, Alabama has been so great, it’s hard to pick just a single to share in this road journal. Super-smart citizens . . . great local art . . . amazing food scene… Read More

Flo? Florence, Alabama, of course — one of the four towns (Tuscumbia, Florence, Sheffield, and Muscle Shoals) that form the area called The Shoals, an area in northern Alabama on the T… Read More

After a good night’s sleep and a little breakfast, it was time to go find Elvis Aaron Presley’s first home — and then get on down the road to Florence, Alabama. I was the f… Read More

In Vicksburg, I made my way to 10 South — a rooftop restaurant offering a view shows Vicksburg, the Yazoo River, and their relationship with the mighty Mississippi. Ulysses S. Grant on… Read More

Back to the open road! I was up early — and got on the road a little after 7:00 a.m.  Lucca and Marius are NEVER happy about this, but I’m blessed to have a good friend who… Read More

One of my favorite months of the year! Photograph for this month’s wallpaper comes from a rainy fall afternoon at the Sundance Mountain Resort in Utah. The sun began peeping out from b… Read More

First Road Journal Entry! I'm trying something new, more in the moment, and as I launch out on a road trip to Huntsville, Alabama. Expect vlogging, a short post, and pics. The post Roadtrip… Read More

One of my favorite comfort food meals has to be lamb patties served with baked sweet potatoes and sautéed spinach. It’s a wonderful combination of flavors, and even better… Read More

The local cafe is a ubiquitous, reliable feature of the Parisian gastro-landscape. Glenn Kaufmann explores café culture in the City of Light. The post Café Culture in Paris Liv… Read More

A ten day trip, packed into one carry-on suitcase? Here's a travel capsule wardrobe to the rescue. Off to New York State for a fall conference and press tour. The post Capsule Wardrobe: 10 D… Read More

The summer is over, and we are on to the fall of 2018! Here is the September wallpaper calendar, with a photograph of sunset on Santa Maria del Fiore, the great cathedral of Florence. If you… Read More

Come sit with me on an amazing terrace in Florence and night fall around Brunelleschi's Dome. Where to stay in Florence: four great apartments. The post Fall in Florence appeared first on An… Read More

"As I dive deeper into the Italian culture, I have discovered that the famous Italian writer, Beppe Severgnini, is right. There are two Italys." From Patti Moed. The post Discovering the Two… Read More

Eggs for supper? Ask the French -- an omelette is an outstanding idea. Cremini mushrooms, green onions, and freshly grated Parmigiano Reggiano cheese make this omelette a perfect light suppe… Read More

I stuck my hand into the cool air whipping past the car -- -- and oh, and the smell of the pines! I was headed for Ruidoso, a mountain oasis in southern New Mexico. The post Ruidoso for Fly… Read More

It's summer, and okra is coming out gardens all over the South by the bushel. Here is the Miss Ida's recipe for a wicked stewed okra and tomatoes, one of my childhood favorites. The post Mis… Read More

For the August 2018 Calendar Wallpaper, I’ve select a photograph of Mount Rainier, photographed from Rich Passage on Puget Sound. I spent one of the most tranquil and beautiful weeks o… Read More

On the final morning of our walking safari in Zambia, we track the Naughty Boy lions and confront a demon hippo. The post On a Robin Pope Walking Safari in Zambia: The Naughty Boys appeared… Read More

Follow Joseph as he takes us with him on his first days in Kolkata. This is no packaged tour for Westerners. This is the real thing. The post First Days in India: This is the Real Thing app… Read More

Super-easy and delicious -- perfect for a great mid-week dinner. At my house, broccoli and curried mayo is a huge hit. It's great side for many dishes! The post Roast Chicken with Broccoli… Read More

Planning a cruise vacation? Understanding cruise pricing along with tips, downloadable worksheets, and strategies to get the best cruise deals. The post How to Get the Best Cruise Deal appea… Read More

Heading to London? A review of my guided tour of Making of Harry Potter. The post A Day in the Magical World of Harry Potter appeared first on Ann Cavitt Fisher Read More

When deep summer comes to the Gulf Coast South, dishes served cold become the most appealing thing on the menu. This brings me to shrimp remoulade, which seems to have been created exactly f… Read More

Is it really -- HAUNTED? I -- I don't know. I do know I spent a strange couple of nights there. An account of my stay at the Crescent Hotel, the most haunted hotel in the country. The post H… Read More

For July’s calendar wallpaper, I chose one of my photographs of the Cappella della Madonna di Vitaleta in the Val d’Orcia in Tuscany. How I love this part of Italy! My siste… Read More

Meet Louise. She'll take you on her treks in Nepal, and ply you with photographs that are so beautiful -- that your heart may break. And, if you think that Himalayan trekking is only fo… Read More

Looking for a great summer getaway? Put Colorado Springs on your shortlist. An inexpensive flight from many U.S. cities, phenomenal outdoors activities, history, and a great local food scene… Read More