Tales of The Traveling Totes #27

Welcome to our June 2021 Tales of the Traveling Tote adventure. 

Join all of our lovely ladies to see where there totes 

have gone in the past couple of months.  It is summer, and it 

comes and goes so quickly, so I hope you have some fun things planned. 

 

As you know Miss Madi K and I have traveled back and forth 

to Cabo quite a bit this past year, as our house down there 

got finished, so this was the first trip we did besides Cabo.

Our 42nd anniversary was coming up in May and we 

decided to return to the Atlantis in the Bahamas to celebrate.  

As my Lunch Bunch friends and I were planning out our year 

of fun, someone mentioned going to the Atlantis. 

 Not everyone had been, and one lady 

had only stopped there on a cruise, so we decided to 

join our trip with theirs.  One of the five couples couldn't 

make the trip because of a death in the family, so we 

were a party of 8. 

We think the place is just magical in every way, inside and out, 

and they had a bonus of newly remodeled rooms in the 

Royal Towers.  Miss Madi K and I are checking out the 

reception area, which just takes your breath away.

Looking down from the foyer you can see window after 

window of their aquariums, which are called The Dig.  

You enter The Dig and are transported in a 

Disney-style experience as if you are part 

of the archeological dig to uncover the 

lost city of Atlantis, complete with sounds 

of archeologists digging.  

The aquariums are massive and you can even arrange 

for an opportunity to snorkel in them.  The tunnels of 

The Dig  are fun to walk through both day and night, 

and on occasion you may see a diver in amongst 

the fish.  

This iconic temple at Atlantis houses several slides.

Two of them go through shark tanks.  Don't worry, 

you are well protected in a plexiglass tube. 

The pools are open every day, but with Covid, the slides 

alternated days, except on the weekends.  

We were there for a week so that worked well for us.  

We weren't sure about how many restaurants would 

be open, but there were plenty to choose from between 

the resort and their Marina Village.  

We all love the ocean, pools, slides, sun and good eating, 

so the Atlantis is a perfect place for us.  

The weather looked like we might have thunderstorms 

every day, but we ended up having perfect weather.  I 

threw in a couple of decks of cards because I was 

worried about the weather, and we ended up playing 

King's Court every night.  We also ended up at the 

Ben and Jerry's store every night.  

They have a beautiful beach beyond their multiple pools.  

The water was incredibly warm so we were able to 

have fun playing and swimming in it.  I am cold blooded, 

so I don't like to play in the ocean if it is too cold. 

One of our favorite things was eating poolside.  These 

amazing shrimp were a dish they served at the pool.  Again, 

we didn't know if they would have food at the pool, as 

my friend had gone to Hawaii and their pool and hotel 

had no food.  They went across the street to an ABC 

store for breakfast and lunch!!  We were thrilled with 

the food and variety that were available.  Of course, we 

didn't know for sure, so we all brought snacks in our 

suitcases.  

Behind us is the Royal Towers section of the hotel.  We 

were on the 18th floor, the top floor of our section and 

had amazing views of the entire property and ocean. 

Because of Covid restrictions we ended up not leaving 

the resort.  We were required to get an additional 

Covid test at day 5 free of charge, but that wouldn't 

cover our required test for our flight home.  The kind 

lady at reception said they would give us a one day 

grace period, so we used that and were able to use 

that test for returning to the United States.  To leave the 

property and go into town you needed a current negative 

test which we had the last two days of our trip, but 

everyone said the town was only half open with no cruise 

ships coming into port, so we didn't mind staying on the 

property.  

Give me sun, water, food, friends and of course my 

dear husband and I am one happy lady.  And that 

Miss Madi K is sure one spoiled lady - she gets 

to come along everywhere!

Happy 42nd anniversary honey.  

All in all, it was a marvelous anniversary with 

wonderful friends in a very magical place.  

The Bahamians are some of the friendliest 

people I have ever met, and they were so thrilled 

to be able to work again.  They made us feel so welcome.  

We all agreed we will have to make this trip again.  

Now for the MacKenzie-Childs giveaway:

Ricki Jill and the Countess de Monet

at The Sketchy Reader are giving away this adorable MC 

light switch.  The giveaways are always so cute, 

I always wish I could win.  

Visit the rest of our ladies to see where they 

have been off to this quarter.  I know a lot of travel 

has been opening up, so it should be fun.  

Debbie with Miss Aurora @ Mountain Breaths 

Emily with Miss Courtney Childs@ The French Hutch

Jenna with Miss Coquille @The Painted Apron

Linda P with Miss Lola @ Life and Linda

Patti with Miss Kenzie @ Pandora's Box  

Rita with Miss Luna C @ Panoply 

Sarah with Miss Merri Mac @ Hyacinths for the Soul

Ricki Jill and Countess De Monet @ The Sketchy Reader

Cherry Kay and Carrie Ann Hall @ Entertaining Women 

And then see how we enjoyed those short summer months, 

when we have another edition of Tales of the Traveling Tote 

in September. 

 

Chocolate Semifreddo and a Winner

If you have been with me for years and years 

you will remember that we went to visit 

my husband's cousin in Bologna, Italy.  

My daughter had just finished culinary art 

school and she came with us.  His adorable 

cousin set up an opportunity to have two 

beautiful ladies, one a countess, teach us 

some cooking classes in her home. 

(Me, Victoria, Kirk's cousin Tonya, Antonella and my daughter Amanda)

We began the adventure by going shopping 

at the small local stores with them and then 

on to cooking.  For dessert they taught us 

a semi-freddo, which is a creamy half frozen 

dessert, almost like a frozen mousse. 

Click here to see that post. 

I started that post by saying Bologna is known as 

"The Fat One" because foods from Bologna are 

rich, and semifreddo certainly qualifies for that.

I hadn't made it again until we recently 

went to a restaurant and ordered it for dessert.  Each bite was so creamy and delicious that I decided I hadto go home and make some.  

At the restaurant they offered a slice of white 

chocolate semifreddo and a slice of chocolate 

semifreddo.  I decided to make just a chocolate 

and to serve it in individual dishes rather than 

a traditional loaf pan since I didn't have one 

here in Cabo.

I found a fabulous recipe from Family Style Food

and we have made it three times now!  

(Covid pounds!!!)

I made a few slight changes to her 

recipe for ease and considering what 

ingredients I had.  I also divided it into 

6 individual dishes instead of 4.   This is the most 

luxuriant dessert ever and not difficult even 

though there are a few steps.  It also lasts well 

in the freezer so you can take one out later and 

indulge again and again.

Chocolate Semifreddo Recipe

Crumble one and a half Oreo cookies per small 

serving dish and divide into six dishes. 

2 T. plus 1/4 C. sugar

1/4 C. water

1 C. semi-sweet chocolate chips

1 T. cocoa powder (sifted)

4 egg yolks

1 C. whipping cream

3/4 C. mascarpone cheese

Place the 2 T. sugar and 1/4 C. water into a small 

saucepan and heat until the sugar has dissolved.  

Remove from heat and stir in the chocolate chips 

and cocoa powder.  Stir until smooth.  

Remove the melted chocolate to a large bowl 

and allow it to cool for about ten minutes.  

Place the egg yolks in a mixing bowl with the 

remaining 1/4 C. sugar and beat with the whisk 

about 5 minutes until it becomes light and forms 

a ribbon.  

Fold the egg mix into the chocolate until well blended.  

Wash and dry the mixer bowl and whisk and 

then add the whipping cream and mascarpone cheese 

and beat until soft peaks form.  Gently fold the 

chocolate mixture into the cream until it is 

well blended.  Spoon into your dessert dishes or 

a loaf pan, if you prefer. 

Freeze for at least 4 hours until firm.  Garnish with 

whipped cream and chocolate shavings and a 

little raspberry sauce if desired.  

It should be served semi frozen, so remove it from the 

freezer for a few minutes before you eat it. You can 

unmold it or just eat it straight from the bowl - we 

started to just eat it from the bowl - drawing a line 

through the center so we could share it - haha!  

Amazing - wow your friends and family or just 

yourself with this one.  

Now to the winner of our MacKenzie-Childs giveaway 

Barb from the Sewing and Knitting Loft  

was chosen randomly and 

is the winner of the beautiful tea towel. 

 She told me she doesn't often comment, 

so it was a good thing 

she did this time!  Congratulations!

Another Tale of the Traveling Totes and a Giveaway

Miss Madi K and I want to welcome you on another 

adventure of Tales of the Traveling Totes as our 

group of MacKenzie-Childs loving women take 

you along with our totes to places near and far!

This is our 26th trip of fun.  I feel so lucky to 

be a part of this great group of women.  

Stay with me to the end to enter our 

quarterly giveaway.  Leave a comment on 

my blog to enter, as I am in charge of the 

giveaway this time!

Today is a real adventure as I take you out into 

the desert of San Jose del Cabo.  

Cabo San Lucas and San Jose del Cabo 

are called Los Cabos - two neighboring cities, 

and if you fly in, you actually fly into San Jose 

del Cabo and drive for 35 minutes to reach 

Cabo San Lucas.  Now we are heading back that 

direction and going out into the middle of 

nowhere - really - to have an amazing experience. 

We are headed to Acre (ah-cray) for a 

farm to table experience, and here the farm is, 

the cattle were just along the side of the dirt 

road on our way there.  (They have been 

wandering the roads by the airport the 

last two times too! 

I just love cultural experiences.)

We had heard about this farm to table experience from 

my friend's daughter, who had gone here on a 

business trip.  We looked it up and decided we weren't 

that interested, but residing here for quite a while 

this winter, hubby and I decided we wanted to try 

something new. 

So we got dressed up, and off we traveled 

to the middle of nowhere - only getting lost 

using GPS for a few turns - sometimes GPS 

can't navigate in undeveloped areas. 

We had been to a similar farm to table experience 

at Flora Farms, and had we known it was literally 

right next door, we would have had an easier time 

finding the place.  We wanted to arrive while it was 

still daylight so we could have a tour around the 

25 acre property. 

They kindly take you around the property in a golf cart, 

and imagine our surprise when after we have passed 

vegetable gardens, rescued animals, mango groves, etc. 

when we walk down paths to the restaurant that 

turns the desert into a literal jungle.  I felt we 

had been transported to a tropical botanical 

garden with palms and plants that I had 

never seen before.  

Tucked in along the path to the restaurant are 

tree houses that you can stay in.  You can barely 

see the treehouses with all of the lush vegatation - 

follow the path to the black poles and look up!

Now that sounds exotic!

We were told the property was purchased in 2012, and 

the lush jungle was planted in 2014 - so six years 

later it has gone from that sandy desert you saw in the 

first pictures to a dense jungle.

This is a huge upgrade from Flora Farms, 

where you sit at picnic tables.  It was so beautiful 

and lush and romantic. 

We started with sparkling limades.  We got the 

rose from a vendor at a stoplight before 

we got off on the dirt road.  He only wanted 

a dollar, so we bought one.  

I love the embroidered napkins - everything 

was just top notch. 

Everyone begins with this herbed bread 

that comes with a spicy eggplant spread.  

Talk about presentation!  

I also ordered their cheddar biscuits - 

literally a pocket of melted cheese inside. 

I probably didn't need that much bread, 

but we really enjoyed both. 

There are beautiful peacocks wandering the grounds, 

and he happened to pass right by our table.  

As the sun started to go down, Miss Madi K 

happily held my hat, my wrap and my rose. 

I ordered the burrata appetizer, but honestly, 

with the breads and the size of the burrata and 

fresh tomatoes and greens, I shouldn't have 

had anything else.  It was beautiful and delicious. 

Kirk ordered this pear and gorgonzola salad 

which was also huge and amazing. 

At that point we should have just moved 

on to dessert, but since we had more 

food coming....  We have both been taking 

photos of food long before I ever started blogging.  

It is such a big part of our life and adventures, 

so I thought this captured his love for food 

photos just as much as mine! 

I ordered brussels sprouts and they were topped 

with sugared nuts and seeds and it was more 

like a dessert than anything.  It was amazing.  

The beautiful girl who had taken us on our 

tour had recommended it, saying that she 

didn't even like brussel sprouts, but this was a 

must try.  She was right.

Although Kirk was full by now too, he had ordered 

a lobster salad.  It was so fresh and light and it 

was a piece of art, that we both enjoyed it  

Our peacock decided to get a great view of 

everyone enjoying their evening as he hopped

 up onto the roof.  It was magical seeing the 

lights begin to turn on creating an even more 

romantic setting.  

The evening sky was spectacular in one direction, 

while in the other direction we spied a 

full moon through the vegetation. 

I know, we were too full, but there is something 

magical about dessert - it just kind of fills in 

the cracks.  This Frozen Key Lime pie with a 

smidge of meringue was out of this world. 

Then it is more magical as you walk back down 

the paths to your car. That Miss Madi K was 

a lucky girl to get invited along on such a 

magical adventure!

I immediately texted my friend and told her 

we had made a mistake by not going there - 

next time!!!

Now for the fun giveaway! 

I am hosting the giveaway 

this month.  I always love the 

MacKenzie-Childs gifts we give 

each time and wish I could win - haha.

Leave a comment below and the winner 

will be randomly chosen and announced.  

Good luck!  I just love giveaways, and 

we don't have as many in the blogosphere 

as we used to! 

Visit all of our TTT friends to see where 

they were off to this quarter.  I love seeing 

a lot of the fun places they get to.  

Debbie with Miss Aurora @ Mountain Breaths 

Emily with Miss Courtney Childs@ The French Hutch

Jenna with Miss Coquille @The Painted Apron

Linda P with Miss Lola @ Life and Linda

Patti with Miss Kenzie @ Pandora's Box  

Rita with Miss Luna C @ Panoply 

Sarah with Miss Merri Mac @ Hyacinths for the Soul

Ricki Jill and Countess De Monet @ The Sketchy Reader

Cherry Kay and Carrie Ann Hall @ Entertaining Women  

Join us June 1st for our next adventure of 

Tales of the Traveling Totes.  Hard to believe 

summer will be here that soon!