The itinerary for our European vacation to Italy, Spain, and Croatia: a brief overview where we went, what we did, and why travel is good for the soul.
Are you ready for an adventure? What’s stopping you? After launching our cookbook, Pretty Simple Cooking, Alex and I were ready for a change of scenery. And we’ve found that in our line of work (developing recipes), sometimes the most productive thing is to get out of your comfort zone and experience something new. So we decided to take a plunge: 3 weeks travelling around Europe, with a toddler in tow. It would be part vacation, part researching new flavors, and part adventuring and soul-searching for the next phase of A Couple Cooks. And what we found is that not only is travel exhilarating and beautiful and stretching—travel is good for the soul.
There are so many excuses for not travelling. Travel is expensive. Staycations are cheaper and more practical. Travel is risky. Travel with kids is hard. We’re not here to convince you to take a vacation outside of your comfort zone or budget. However, travel to another culture can be beautiful thing to help you to appreciate fellow humans in a new way. It can force you to slow down and notice the small things. Travel can help you reassess alternative paths instead of the same old. If you stay with friends, travel can help you appreciate the incredible gift of hospitality. If you meet locals and seek to understand the culture, travel can endear you to a place like no other. And of course, travel can introduce you to new flavors and customs to bring back to your table!
Below are some brief highlights of our European vacation to whet your appetite for travel. Our itinerary was very specific based around friends and family. We don’t recommend that you follow our specific path, but perhaps you’ll find some destinations here that pique your interest! This post is an overview: we’ll share more specific information in separate posts to come! Examples:
How to Take a Toddler on Vacation to Europe How to Plan a Perfect Capsule Wardrobe for European Travel Tellaro: Italy’s Best Kept Secret Healthy Snacks to Pack When Travelling with Kids How To Take Gorgeous Vacation Photos How We Found Three Stunning Hidden Beaches in Europe And more! A big family Italian vacation: the Mediterranean & historic Rome
Why Italy? Italy holds a soft spot for Alex and me. It’s where we honeymooned (Rome and the Amalfi Coast), and then returned to 7 years later because we love it so. The way we view food has been indelibly shaped by the country of Italy. It’s here that we first fell in love with artisan pizza, discovered the delectable simplicity of Cacio e Pepe, and ate our weight in gelato.
Since we’d been to the Amalfi Coast, we decided to try the coast on the opposite side of Rome, near Cinque Terre. I had been to Cinque Terre 15 years ago, but since then it’s become incredibly full of tourists. Tellaro was the perfect unspoiled Italian fishing village for us to visit. Heard of it? We hadn’t either. However, we had heard that it was similar to Cinque Terre without the crowds. We found an incredible Airbnb right on the Mediterranean and decided to try it out.
For the Italy portion of our trip we were a party of 8: us and Larson, Alex’s mom, brother, sister-in-law and our 8 and 5 year old niece and nephew. The kids did fabulously. We had lots of beach time, pizza, gelato, and sunset meals on our patio. We also did several day trips from Tellaro, which I’ll share in another post. Overall, Tellaro was MAGIC.
Next on the European vacation itinerary was Rome. Rome is one of Alex and my favorite cities on the planet. The layers upon layers of history is simply awe inspiring. One moment you’re in a cute street of salmon and sunny yellow narrow buildings, and the next you’re in a mess of Roman ruins dating back 2000 years.
In Rome we stayed an Airbnb built in 1685, ate our weight in gelato (again!), had some incredible authentic and modern Italian meals, saw the Sistene Chapel, and strolled by the Pantheon as many times as possible. This was my fourth time to Rome, and it just keeps getting better. The Italians say if you throw a coin in the Trevi Fountain you’ll return to Rome: and I can vouch that it’s been incredibly effective!
Two of our dearest friends live in Vienna, and we wanted to do a weekend trip on the Mediterranean with them that we could all drive to. We settled on Sibenik, Croatia, a Medieval fishing village about an hour north of Split. Our roundabout way of getting here was flying from Rome to Vienna (on super cheap Wizz Air), then driving to Sibenik. Fun fact: several Game of Thrones episodes were filmed in Sibenik (Braavos anyone?)! After spending a few days there, we realized why. This town is straight up gorgeous in a mysterious sort of way. The more time we spent there, the more we fell in love.
There’s a national park nearby, Krka National Park, where we got to swim in a waterfall. The blue green water was crystal clear and just the right temperature. INCREDIBLE.
And, somehow we magically ended up being in Croatia for the final game of the World Cup, which Croatia was playing in! What luck. Even though they lost, seeing Croatians celebrate with pride that their tiny country got second place was incredibly special.
On to Spain! This was the final leg of our travel. I studied in Madrid in university and minored in Spanish, so Spain is near and dear to my heart. I’d been talking Alex’s ear off about Spain for 15 years, so the ability to share this beautiful country with him—and Larson—was very meaningful.
How did we end up in Málaga? A cheap flight from Vienna to Málaga on Wizz Air (again!). Alex, Larson and I as “The Three Amigos” decided to take 6 days and road trip from Málaga to Barcelona, stopping at various destinations in between. While we enjoyed Málaga and staying steps from the beach (!), what we loved most were the day trips. Highlights were Granada and the Alhambra, an old Moorish castle that is an incredibly beautiful and mysterious spot, and Frigiliana, a sweet white village (pueblo blanco) in the hills near Málaga. Separate post on Frigiliana coming soon! (Below: Frigiliana, the Alhambra, Granada view)
Cartagena was a wildcard destination for us. We needed somewhere to stay on our Spanish road trip and its location fit the bill. I was pleasantly surprised when our Airbnb balcony opened right onto a Roman theater built in 5 BC! Alex’s Airbnb skills win yet again! The city was cute, filled with some tourists but not too many. We found some interesting local foods, like huge round crespillo crackers that tasted like a grown-up version of gold fish! And the highlight was this secret beach that Alex found after extensive Google research: with only a few locals that had discovered it, we had it mainly to ourselves! Separate post on Cartagena coming soon!
We were in Valencia for a hot second as a place to lay our heads between Cartagena and Barcelona. And our experience surprised us! We stayed in the cutest little Airbnb the El Cabanyal neighborhood, an up and coming neighborhood that was once quite rough. It’s still a little rough around the edges, but it’s filled with beautiful Spanish tile homes from the early 20th century! I got a little obsessed and did a photoshoot throughout the neighborhood. Also on our road trip up to Valencia: the most authentic paella we’ve ever had in restaurant filled with local families, and another hidden beach. More on Valencia coming soon!
And Barcelona. It’s my other favorite city in the world, and I hadn’t been back in 15 years. Luckily: Barcelona still has got it going on. We stayed with Ali and Barclay of Gimme Some Oven, who have been living in the city for a year. They were the most INCREDIBLE hosts and generously showed us the best things this city had to offer. They even watched Larson so Alex and I could have a date night! Highlights were La Sagrada Familia, the incredible church by Gaudi that’s been under construction for 100 years, lots of tapas, lots of wine, beachside paella and lots of time spent savoring people around the table. The way the Catalonians enjoy food and relish time lingering around the table left a mark on us. More on Barcleona to come!
By the end of our three weeks overseas, we realized: we came for the food, but what we found was more intangible. The value of time spent around the table relishing dear people. Mental space. Appreciation of the rugged beauty of this world. Treasuring new customs and foods. The exhilaration of going off the beaten path. A fresh look at the world through the curiosity of an adventuring 1 year old. You don’t need a European vacation or even to fly across the ocean to do it, but getting out of your comfort zone can be refreshing, fulfilling, and yes: good for the soul.
How about you? Where do you dream of traveling? What have been some of your most impactful trips? Any other questions?
A few past European vacation spotsHere are a couple of our favorite European vacation spots from a trip we took 4 years sago:
Santorini, Greece | Travel Guide Rome & Naples, Italy | Travel Guide Amalfi Coast & Capri | Travel GuideA Couple Cooks - Recipes for Healthy & Whole Living
This Mason Jar Salad With Chicken is a delicious, nutrition-packed lunch that will fill you up and make lunch a whole lot more interesting! It’s time to think outside the box and prepare this delicious Chicken Cobb Mason Jar Salad with a clean ranch dressing.
For as long as I can remember, chicken cobb salads have been my favorite salad. There’s just something so much deliciousness about all the different types of flavors, textures, and colors that goes well together.
I also have always been a huge fan of ranch dressing.
Like…ranch for president.
Like…as a kid, I would smother my veggies with ranch dressing and devour them by the plate-full.
Can we be real for a sec?
Okay, here it goes…
I’ve also always been kinda annoyed at how chicken cobbs are prepared — how they’re usually either chopped up beyond recognition or all the stuff is layered on the very top, making it difficult to get a bite of everything all at one.
Now, I know these are normal ways to prepare cobbs and they look super cool and all…but still.
Heck, I’ve even been guilty of doing it, too.
BUT, personally, I like mine all mixed up, with even amounts of salad dressing on every bite.
But, that’s just me.
And that’s not all…
Another issue I have with making salads for myself is they usually go bad pretty quickly if all mixed together.
I mean…I hate wasting left-overs, but I will NOT eat a left-over salad. Nuuupe.
That’s why I LOVE mason jar salads. All my problems are solved.
Hooray!
Well, for enjoying my salads, at least.
This Mason jar salad with chicken recipe is so simple and easy to make. The trick to making a good mason jar cobb salad is preparation and layering. You wanna prepare your veggies in advance—so chop up those cucumbers, grape tomatoes, and leafy greens. And have your drained can of garbanzo beans and crumbled cheese ready, so you can quickly arrange everything in your mason jar when you’ve got your diced chicken ready.
How to Layer Mason Jar SaladsTo keep all the contents of your mason jar salad with chicken as fresh and delicious as possible, I would recommend using this layering technique:
Layer 1 – Add the ranch dressing first (1-2 tablespoons should be enough)
Layer 2 – Then layer the harder ingredients like your grape tomatoes and diced chicken
Layer 3 – Add garbanzo beans. FYI, if you’re planning to add any carbs or grains, like pastas or quinoa, I would suggest you leave those for the third layer too
Layer 4 – Add softer vegetables like your cucumbers
Layer 5 – Reserve your cheeses and other proteins for this layer
Layer 6 – Then top it all off with some baby greens like lettuce or spinach
For a low-calorie, unrefined ranch dressing alternative, I swapped the mayo and buttermilk typically used in store bought ranch dressings with plain Greek yogurt and almond milk, which still gives it that delicious, creamy texture. Then, I added dill weed, garlic powder, coconut sugar, and sea salt to give it a good tasty “ranch” kick and depth of flavor.
Once you’ve got all those ingredients ready, just whisk them together in a bowl, then set aside to use when you’re ready. This equally satisfying and tasty ranch dressing is my go-to clean ranch dressing recipe for sure!
What Ingredients Do You Need to Make Chicken Cobb Mason Jar Salad?
Wanting to make a chicken cobb, but not sure what ingredients to use? I’ve got ya covered!
Aside from the clean ranch dressing, when it comes to the actual mason jar cobb salad ingredients, I go for the following:
garbanzo beans crumbled gorgonzola grape tomatoes mixed baby greens diced chicken.For some extra creaminess, I like adding a halved avocado into the mix or a hard boiled egg for some added protein. That way, you’ve got a perfectly balanced lunch made with in-season vegetables, leafy greens, and a little protein, along with a creamy-tangy note from the ranch dressing to round out the flavors.
These chicken cobb mason jar salads solve ALL the following problems:
delicious, crisp salad that’s waiting for you any day of the week easy to prepare ahead so no need to assemble each time you’re hungry clean ranch salad dressing I repeat: CLEAN ranch salad dressing! All the tasty, fresh veggies and proteins are evenly coated with the delicious salad dressing when it’s time to enjoy, but not a moment sooner complete and utter cobby goodness
So, if you feel my pain and you’ve suffered, alone, all these years with your chopped up chicken cobbs and wishing you could enjoy ranch dressing without the guilt, I hope this new solution will make your life and tastebuds as happy as it’s made mine.
What Size Mason Jar to Use for Mason Jar SaladsOk, so the big question is what size mason jar should you use, right? Been there. I used a quart sized (32-ounce) mason jar for this mason jar cobb salad but you could use any sized jar – the idea is that you want to get the portion you’re looking to eat. Just adjust the serving size of your salad according to the size of your jar. Whatever size you choose, make sure it comes with a lid and has a wide mouth so you can easily layer and add the ingredients to make your mason jar cobb salad as filling and as satisfying as it should be!
Come lunchtime, when you’re ready to eat, you just shake up the mason jar and pour out the cobb salad contents in a bowl. The result will be a perfectly coated salad with crisp greens on the bottom and delicious homemade ranch dressing on the top to give it that burst of flavor.
Can You Eat Cobb Salads Out of the Jar?Depending on how full you’ve packed your Mason jar salad, there’s no reason not to eat your mason jar salads directly out of the jar! Just make sure you shake all the contents inside as vigorously as possible, to make sure all the ingredients are well coated.
Depending on your ingredients, you can keep mason jar salads for up to 4-5 days in the fridge and they will still taste good and fresh. If you’re using chicken or another cooked protein as in this mason jar salad with chicken recipe, make sure you consume it within 5 days to be on the safe side.
Always make sure you store your mason jar salads properly with their lid on and sealed tightly. It’s also best to fill the ingredients to the brim and keep the dressing at the bottom, to avoid the leafy greens from wilting. To make sure the avocado is as fresh as possible, I wait until it’s time to eat the salad to add the avocado.
Looking for some make ahead recipe inspiration? It’s time to think outside the box and prepare this delicious Chicken Cobb Mason Jar Salad with a clean ranch dressing. This is a delicious, nutrition-packed lunch that will fill you up and make those mid-day meals a whole lot more interesting!
This post contains affiliate links for products I use regularly and highly recommend.
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Say hello to your new favorite (naturally sweetened, incredibly rich, salty-sweet) dessert.
Chocolate Peanut Butter Freezer Fudge made with just 4 ingredients, in 30 minutes, and 1 bowl (food processor)! Shall we?
This recipe was inspired by simplicity.
I’ve made fudge I adore in the past, but some people tend to have trouble with their food processors being able to make coconut butter – a central ingredient in that recipe.
Chocolate Peanut Butter Freezer Fudge (4 Ingredients!) from Minimalist Baker →
Sheet pan zucchini chicken meatballs baked with gorgeous roasted bell peppers and drizzled with a flavorful coconut curry sauce. This easy, incredibly delicious recipe is packed with protein and great for meal prep! Welcome to Day #4 of Zucchini Week. I don’t want it to ever end, but sadly we’re winding down. Before I share [...]
The post Sheet Pan Zucchini Chicken Meatballs with Coconut Curry Sauce appeared first on Ambitious Kitchen.
