When it’s as hot as it has been for the past couple of weeks, nudging into the low 30sC/low90sF most days, the last thing you feel like doing is spending too much time in the kitchen. So try this delicious recipe. It’ll take just 15 minutes to prepare from start to first mouthful and along with some fresh fruit and local cheese - and of course a good bottle of wine - you’ll have made yourself the perfect hot summer’s day meal for two.

(You don’t need to be a celebrity chef - or even know the difference between a rolling pin and a bottle opener - to prepare this quick, easy and delicious meal for two. Click on the headline title above for the step-by-step recipe - and pictures !)

Gavi. ‘Serre di Vallegge’. 2007. Terredavino.

Gavi is the most expensive Italian white you can buy in the USA. And therein lies a problem. At its very best, Gavi’s worth the premium price it commands, but in a market that has a tendency to equate price with quality, that’s resulted in an increase in demand (and price); …and over-production; …and some frankly awful wine carrying the Gavi label; …and people paying inflated prices for an allegedly superior Italian DOCG wine and…

(…pouring it down the sink ? Returning it and demanding a refund ? Drinking it anyway with a curry ? Find out the answer - and more - (with pictures !) by clicking on the headline title above)

All the good-sized towns within easy reach of Villasfor2 - Lanciano, Chieti, Pescara, Vasto - have two or three decent enough shopping streets, but the problem is that everything closes down between roughly 1200 and 1600 - and that puts a bit of a dent in your day. Not good when you want to make the most of your time on your Abruzzo villa holiday for two. It means you’ve either got to get started really early - or stay really late to get in some decent shopping time. So if you want to go shopping in Abruzzo at a time that suits you and spend as long as you want browsing to your heart’s content - head for…

(Head for…where ? Click on the headline title above to find out the full story - with loads of pictures !)