EXXXOTICA Expo 2022 New Jersey
Back in New Jersey Exxxotica ! After two years of lockdown I finally made my first appearance at the New Jersey Exxxotica show. Most of you know my long history with Exxxotica and the NJ show isn’t one I usually miss! With my sister relocating to the East Coast I was able to stay one week ,visit her and appear at Exxxotica . My webmaster had a booth http://livecammodelshows.com and I had a blast signing with and meeting Jessica Reed http://allmylinks.com/JessicaReed My best friend Helenke was by my side all weekend .She’s always helping me and it was so good to just catch up and be together. She’s also got her own website http://www.gleamingsmilesteethwhitening.com and if you’re in the NYC/NJ area I highly recommended my beautiful best friend for your teeth whitening . I miss my friends and family so much. The show falls on Halloween weekend so I did some trick or treating and got my candy fix. My friend Chris who did a wonderful write up of me for the September 2017 issue of Penthouse magazine also interviewed me at the expo. I didn’t get to see many industry friends but I did get a great pic and hug with Miss Brittany Andrews http://BrittanyAndrews.com My hours were short and most of my time was spent signing but oh how I missed the show and I had so much fun. I can’t express how grateful I am to have seen so many of your faces . I still love catching up with you after all these years and you making the trip out means a lot ! Bring me all my magazines to sign for you!! Until the next one XO
Breaking Bread
Bread love it or hate it you know you want it! Salads want bread too but in the shape of a sexy crouton ! I mean your salad needs something sometimes to dress it up a bit and so instead of throwing away that stale or leftover bread make some croutons or breadcrumbs with it. When you get take out and they give you bread don’t let it go to waste. Let it sit on your counter in a paper bad for a day then you’re ready to prepare some tasty croutons. In Italian breadcrumbs are called “Pangrattato”. This week I’m going to use my fresh batch I’ve made for Eggplant or Melanzana Parmigiana .They are also perfect for meatballs and breasts of chicken and turkey to make Cotoletta mmmmm… It literally takes less than 15 minutes to prepare croutons and bread crumbs. You can bake them on the same tray. The recipe is exactly the same, but for breadcrumbs all you’re going to do different is after slicing your bread pulse them in your food processor to get them into crumbs. You can pulse them finer but I like mine with a little “chunk ” to it. For croutons you can opt to remove the hard crust (I did on the sourdough) and just use the softer white center part . Drizzle both in olive oil , add whatever seasoning you like and bake for maybe 5 minutes at 375F or 170 c until they are toasty and that’s it! I did a batch with an olive oil butter mixture and added my spicy Piri Piri chili powder and it was so good! Grating fresh Parmigiana Reggiano or pecorino cheese on top is so good too. That’s all there is to it! They add such a delicious hearty kick to your salads, soups , or honestly just even to snack on ! A great way to use up leftover bread in a tasty way. XO Tera
Pad Woon Sen – Thai Rice noodles with shrimp!
Pad Woon Sen Pad Thai is probably the most famous of all Thai food dishes. Almost every Thai restaurant will have Pad Thai on their menu and it’s a go to favorite of mine to prepare for an easy lunch or dinner. When friends want to me to prepare a typical Thai dish but want a dish that’s not too spicy I make Pad Thai . A traditional Pad Thai recipe calls for some ingredients that I don’t always have on hand so enter my second favorite Thai noodle dish Pad Woon Sen. What you need for Pad Woon Sen This is an easy Thai noodle stir fry dish you can make pretty fast with easy kitchen staples. Glass noodles or bean thread noodles as they’re often labeled are simply just thin noodles made from either mung bean starch, tapioca , potatoes or sweet potatoes. On their own they have zero flavor so they work really well in stir fry dishes, soups, rice paper and spring rolls soaking up sauces and broths really well . These are great for low carb or gluten free diets since they’re not made from any wheat flour but it’s always a good idea to double check the package. I’m going to give you my own personal recipe for how I make this dish and how my mother taught me . A few tips I can add before would be it’s not necessary to boil glass noodles. They can be tricky to work with at times this is the number one complaint . Boiling them makes them a huge gloppy mess so I just fill a shallow bowl or pyrex type dish with warm water and lay them inside just covered. leave them for about ten minutes just until they soften then drain them . I usually snip them in half once they’re drained to make them more manageable . It also makes them easier to eat. Keep them in a glass container in your fridge if you want to use them for summer or rice paper rolls , or a salad. You can make Pad Woon Sen with any kind of protein. I’m using shrimp that I marinated in sesame oil, salt , white pepper , lime zest and red chili flakes . My Pad woon sen sauce is made up of; Soy Sauce – I use Thai sweet soy sauce or gluten free soy sauce depending . Oyster Sauce- A main ingredient in many stir fry’s which is rich and savory. Sriracha – adds a spicy component. Tamarind concentrate – for the tart balance. Coconut sugar – this won’t make your sauce sweet it’s more to balance out the salt and spicy . Tamarind is an ingredient in pad Thai but I like using it in my Pad Thai Woon Sen. Again it’s my own version. I omitted the fish sauce which is a key ingredient in most Thai stir fry’s . I don’t like it so I always avoid it and it’s more about personal preference here . I’m using one large yellow pepper that’s all I had on hand but tomatoes , cabbage , carrots , spinach all work great here. Use any combo of veggies you like.This is usually my “what I have left over in my veggie crisper ” kinda meal. You will also need two eggs . Now let’s cook! How to make Pad Woon Sen Prepare the noodles in warm water for ten minutes. I used veggie broth . Drain them and cut them in half then set aside. Mix all your sauce ingredients together . Stir fry your veggies , this is also the time to add in garlic and onion to them and cook them all together . Sometimes I add garlic if I feel like it my mother uses both . This is when I add my shrimp it cooks fast and I like to get the shrimpyness (random Tera word ) all over my veggies. If you choose chicken or tofu as your protein I advise cooking that first , transferring it to a plate then adding it back in at the end . Move your veggies to one side of your wok or pan and crack in both eggs. Cook them until they are scrambled . Now you can add back in your protein , noodles and your sauce using tongs. It’s easier to combine everything together . Make sure all of your noodles , veggies , and protein are covered in the sauce. That’s it! If you make it send me a picture and tag me on IG or Twitter ! Leave me a comment if you make it !! Enjoy XO Tera
Merano 2022
In October we had a beautiful relaxing weekend in Merano- Meran (German name ). Located in the region of Trentino and commune of South Tyrol It’s home to many beautiful Terme or Hot Thermal springs . Situated at the base of the Oetztal Alps it’s super lush and green with many beautiful hiking trails and the food is some of my favorite in Italy. You’ll notice the German influence all through Merano and during Christmas the Mercatino- Christmas market has the most wonderful mulled wine . Get yourself a mug and peruse the stalls that sell handmade gifts that are unique only to this region of Italy. On this trip we stayed at The Hotel Ansitz Plantitscherhof http://plantitscherhof.com and it was wonderful. The spa inside the hotel and the heated pool outside is perfect after hiking and shopping all day. Other great hotels we’ve stayed at and I would recommend would be ; Meisters ,Hotel Irma http://hotel-irma.com and Hotel Sonnenburg . Merano is so lush and peaceful. The passer river runs through the city and in the city center there are many delicious cafes where you can just grab a brioche , hot chocolate and park yourself on a bench surrounded by blooming flowers and the soothing sounds of the river. Or wine . Or a beer. The German influence I mentioned earlier is everywhere from the food , language , and architecture so you get the best of both countries here. What’s nice about Merano’s city center is that you’re able to visit all five of the museum’s they have on the “Museum Mile.http://www.gemeinde.meran.bz.it is The Prince’s Castle and it’s beautifully preserved with art and weapons from the 14th -17th centuries . http://www.meranoebraica.it the Jewish Museum and Synagogue, and the Women’s Museum http://www.museia.it My favorite restaurant is Onkel Taa http://www.onkeltaa.com The photo I’ve posted from the entrance is in German but it’s been a restaurant since 1430!!!They have their own garden and it’s just so elegant and cozy. The food is next level fresh , savory , herby , fantastic . I always feel so alive and content after eating here and the entire staff are just so kind. After eating we always hike as the area is just too beautiful not to . I hope you take a visit here it’s definitely worth it !! XO Tera
My birthday in Venice ! July 2022
Ah Venezia how I love you . Venice is where I’ve spent my last few birthday’s. My husband always whisks me away for a few unforgettable few nights. This birthday we stayed at and did dinner at . We also did a photo shoot in our beautiful room . Venice hotels are so full of opulence. If you’re planning a trip to Italy a night or two in Venice or Venezia how Italians say it is a MUST. The 177 canals and 120 tiny Islands are all connected by beautiful bridges. Prepare yourself with COMFORTABLE shoes because when you’re not in a water taxi you’re going to be walking .. A LOT. Comfy sneakers or boots only . No heels or sandals EVER! I’ve seen those cobblestone streets take women out of their beautiful hells just don’t do it. St. Marks Square was my first stop when I arrived years ago . I went to the top and it was freezing windy but so worth it and fun . I mentioned in one of my earlier posts that it was Vittoria Risi who’s from one of the tiny islands of Venezia who welcomed me to Italy when I first arrived and gave me an incredible tour . The Canale Grande is the main water taxi well transportation way in Venezia and it splits the city into two sides.There’s a lot of shopping to do in all of the Piazzas , many beautiful galleries . The island of Murano is worth seeing (although I’m a Venini girl LOL) and so much incredible food and sweets to eat. In my opinion staying in San Marco for your first time is the best option as you are in the heart of the city’s most important monuments , churches, squares and some of the best food and wine. Off the beaten path is Santa Croce (more locals) , and Castello . Some of our past stays and my favorite Venetian hotels are The Venetian Times Hotel which has the best breakfast buffet ever . Santa Croce Boutique Hotel . I loved the Turkish spa here . They have a beautiful garden and it’s fantastic for aperitivo and breakfast . The Palazzo Venart is so stunningly beautiful . When I say opulent THIS is what I mean . We also love The Metropol , CA Maria Adele and The Gritti Palace. My birthday dinner this year was at Local ristorantelocal.com mmmmmm so good. I’m posting the birthday photosets on my website this week uncensored and here are some fun ones from that night ! If you come to Venice tell me where you end up and what you love ! XO Tera
Granola Bars
Granola Bars Recipe Granola bars can be a healthy option for a snack. They are a good balance of salty and sweet . I’m intolerant to every single brand of protein bar with the exception FoodSpring . After a workout I like to have something to munch on to get me through until I can get home .These give me a good boost of energy and satisfy my sweet tooth at the same time. A lot of store bought granola bars have artificial ingredients and there’s nothing better than making healthy treats you can enjoy guilt free yourself. Here you go enjoy XO Tera Ingredients for Granola Bars 2 Cups of oats 1 cup of puffed rice (not rice crispies cereal ) 1/2 cup chocolate chips ( I use dark chocolate or fondente) 1/4 cup chia seeds 1/2 cup of honey 1/3 cup of peanut butter or almond butter . I used Peanut 1/4 cup coconut oil How to make granola bars You’re going to bake these at 325F / 165C for 30 minutes after you combine your ingredients and pour then press them into your pan. I used an 8×8 inch pan with parchment paper so it’s less mess and easy to lift out .Mix all of your dry ingredients together in one bowl . You can also add in 1/4 cup of nuts . I did two batches one with and without and both were tasty. Mix the honey , peanut butter , and coconut oil until it’s smooth and creamy. You can add in almond or vanilla extract here too if you want for more flavor depth. Combine your wet mixture into the dry, stir it until it’s smooth then pour it into your pan. Make sure you press it down into your pan firmly as thats what’s going to help your bars stay firm and molded. Bake for 30 mins but check them at 20 . Everyones oven is different so 20 may also be enough time . let them rest and cool for a good hour then you can cut them up ! Keep them in an airtight container . XO
Prague 2023
I decided to venture out of the city a bit and see some new places. All of the above places are a must see if you’re taking your first trip to Prague. Like a lot of famous European cities you’re going to hike and walk A LOT especially to get the most spectacular views. St. Vitus Cathedral is about 300 steps to get to the top but it’s worth it! Good Thursday morning to you all! The first trip of the new year was to Prague . I have some family who relocated this year to Europe and I’m so excited! So far none of my family’s made it to visit me in Italy but I can easily take a quick trip around the EU . I’ve been to Prague numerous times and I love this city so much . Since I’ve seen all of Prague’s most famous Landmarks like The Prague Castle, St. Vitrus Cathedral, Charles Bridge , and the Jewish Quarter – cemetery . Gotta get that IG selfie!! LOL I’m kidding really , leave your phone take the hike and just enjoy the view . The old town square is where you’ll find the world’s oldest astronomical clock . It chimes and plays beautiful music on the hour every hour . My husband told me (not sure if it’s true LOL) that King Charles IV had the clock made and after it was finished he had the eyes removed of the two men who made it so they couldn’t make another clock! Yikes! Not the most romantic thing to tell me on our stroll ! Prague feels kind of dark to me at times and funny enough one of the things I see for sale that freak me out are those Marionette Puppets . I’m not a fan of clowns either and I see many of them in the touristy shoppe windows . I’ll stick to buying chocolate and other sweet snacky things !Speaking of sweets on every corner you’re going to see shops and stands selling “Trdlo”. It’s like a sweet cone shaped pasty/ funnel cake filled with ice cream and you can choose your toppings . I’ve personally never had one so if you do tell me if I should next time! We opted instead to get our sweets at a newly discovered cocktail bar called Parlour. Blink and you’ll miss it . There’s only a TEENY sign on the door which is located down a small flight of stairs underground. It’s very small inside maybe four tables but theres a good 10 seats at the bar. It’s a nice atmosphere and the mixologist tailors a cocktail for you based on your preferences. Next trip we want to check out Hemingway Bar … We had breakfast at Veget Bistro Cafe in New town . It’s really small like only three tables small but super healthy .The food is so good and the service was fantastic. It was so welcomed since I kinda indulged a bit too much with drinking and getting my asian food fix with super spicy rich food! Unless I cook at home here in Italy I don’t have the option to eat any Japanese , Thai , or Vietnamese food . Our first dinner on Friday was at Taro http://taro.cz. We did the seven course tasting menu and it was amazing . We liked the seating around an open kitchen with only 14 others . Small and intimate . We arrived a bit early and so during our wait we walked up the street to the Manifesto Market http://manifestomarket.com to have a margarita before dinner .There’s a lot of great food and drink options here ! It’s also heated inside during the winter so it’s really cozy ! If you take the Prague metro (which we do to go around ) it’s the Andel Stop. We had a solid bowl of Ramen at Takumi and the best Vietnamese food is in Little Hanoi or SAPA . SAPA is about 30 minutes outside of Prague. It’s worth the trip to eat delicious Vietnamese food , shopping , and have the best Viet Cafe mmmmmmm. I’m going to be in Prague a few more times this year so I’ll have more updated stories of delicious fun things to do !! XO Tera
London 2022
Every Easter we go to London . This trip we stayed in the South Hampton Area and it was so nice! I lived in Putney many many moons ago and London is always one of my favorite cities to visit. The Natural History Museum http://nhm.ac.uk is always first on my list . The National Geographic Wildlife Photographer of the year exhibition is not to be missed. I’ve had the best Indian food of my life in London if you’re wanting something high end I love http://tamarindrestaurant.com You will find excellent places and many options on Brick Lane . Boxpark Shoreditch http://boxpark.co.uk has great options as well for Indian and even Thai food . We were really lucky to have four wonderful sunny semi warm days ! It’s a crap shoot if you’re going to get the thick London fog , grey skies , heavy rain . It can be gloomy. It’s also the second coldest place I’ve ever been in (the first being Halifax Nova Scotia . My mouth literally froze in mid sentence talking to my best friend as we strolled through Hyde park LOL IT WAS AWFUL!! We ditched our reservation at SEXY Fish (we found the reception Icy there too no thanks ) and found a lovely Dim Sum spot a block over and GRUBBED!! It was definitely more our speed . We warmed up with Lychee martinis and oolong tea. This past Easter trip to London we didn’t stay at our usual hotel The Connaught but we did spa and dine there . I highly recommend The Connaught Bar for Appretivo http://the-connaught.co.uk Happy Hour as we Americans call it . The Martini Cart is quite the experience and the Bartenders here know what they’re doing ! We wanted to try Jean Georges by Helene Darroze . Out of all the Michelin Star places I’ve been to this one was the second least impressive sadly. I won’t go into detail as I’m not a restaurant critic but for 900 British pounds (lunch tasting menu) it just wasn’t worth it in my opinion. Instead head to KILN http://kilnsoho.com a Thai/Laotian place in SOHO . It’s a small place but wow so delicious ! Treat yourself to something from Harrods I always grab a few boxes of my favorite chocolate from http://charbonnel.co.uk and Byredo make-up was my splurge. I love the perfumes but ladies their make-up is fantastic I highly recommend . Covenant garden is another one of my favorite spots to shop I love Neals Yard Remedies http://www.nealsyardremedies.com and take a stroll through Neals Yard . There’s also the Wild Food Cafe . It’s super colorful all the side shows and entertainers like Hollywood BLVD in Los Angeles . Maybe there’s something that sort of ties it all together for me in some way. I’m hoping this Easter when I visit it’s will be warming up and I will get one of those fantastic sunny London trips!!! XO Tera
Corsica Italy 2016
When I think about this Corsica trip it was when I was first dating my boyfriend Alberto who’s now my husband. June will be five years that we’re married and this was our first trip together. We went in May and drove to the port in Livorno (Tuscany region south). From Veneto it takes almost four hours. We wanted to have our motorcycle in Corsica to go around so we took the ferry . It was an easy ride and I recommend it if you want to bring your car , vespa or motorcycle. This is an easy site to check the time tables if you’re considering the ferry .http://go-ferry.com To be honest I have no idea where we even stayed. Back then I was doing feature dance shows on a Friday so I’d have the weekend off. I’d work from midnight to 5 am then he would pick me up and whisk me off to a beautiful new destination in Italy . It was a fun sexy way to see this beautiful country and we were falling in love in the process… Where is Corsica Corsica is part of France so there’s a lot of french/Italian speaking and you will find both types of food there. It’s an Island located in the Mediterranean sea west of Italy. Sardegna is directly south. One sweet thing was that they make delicious Jams , and sweets with the local Hazelnuts grown there . The meat and cheeses will have some of this “essence ” especially the wild boar as they love to eat the Hazelnuts ! What to see and do in Corsica We had our motorcycle so we cruised around the island up to the highest peak Monte Cinto . Corsica is the most mountainous Mediterranean island. There’s many forests with beautiful hiking trails (our favorite activity) and I couldn’t get over how green and lush the island was .Bonifacio is also STUNNING!! It’s located at the most southern tip of Corsica and the limestone cliff allows you see beautiful views of the Tyrrhennian sea. The best time to visit Corsica We visited in May and the weather and beaches were perfect! A few beaches we went to were Calvi , which can be quite touristy and crowded but fun ! Palombaggia which was not only very beautiful but much more serene.. We even managed to snap a few sexy pics …The last few times I’ve gone to Sardegna I’ve thought why can’t I just hop on over to Corsica LOL It would be so easy!! If you’re coming to Italy I’d make it part of your stop! You can squeeze it in on your next trip to France too!! XO
Sardinia Summer 2022
Goodbye Summer ,Hello Fall ! It is The first days of Fall here in Northern Italy and I’m writing about the last days of summer in Sardinia. Is it safe to say that summer is everyone’s favorite season? We’re only in the first week of fall and I’m still getting those morning walks in wearing a hoodie. It’s not really jacket weather yet and I haven’t busted out my Thermacare heating patch wraps!! That’s one of my tips and secrets for surviving cold wet winters ! They work great on planes too.I prefer hot humid weather. I don’t like to drip sweat to the point of mopping my face with tissues or change my shirt twice a day from sweat stains but the humidity is great for my skin. I have stick straight hair so I don’t have to worry about my mane.I am all for the intense hot summers!! I escaped most of that here though by running off to Africa (it was winter there) and when I came back at the end of August it had actually cooled down considerably . Sardinia Season When we visited in September last year it poured rain the entire four days we were there which made the sea quite rough and dirty. I’ve always maintained that Sardinia has the most beautiful sea and beaches in the world (YES the entire world ) . In the seven years I’ve lived here in Italia I’ve seen Sardinia from top to bottom and it’s just stunningly beautiful , with incredible food . If you do visit Italy don’t miss the chance to come here or Sicily !! Also Corsica . Just skip the mainland and do an Island tour ! August and September are not the best months to visit. Italy in general is at it’s hottest temperature and since the schools are out and most businesses take their holidays or ” Ferragosto” most places will either be overpacked or a ghost town . Neither are ideal ! May and June are the best months to visit Italy and your visit must include Sardinia! Best Beaches and Places to Eat in Sardinia This trip we were back in Cagliari and spent half of our time in Chia . Chia is about an hours drive heading to the southern point of Sardegna . It’s actually one of my favorite spots , the water is so clean and warm and I love seeing all the fish as you swim . I have this weird obsession with the Nuraghe and my sweet husband (probably tired of my chirping LOL ) took me up to the one in Chia . Next time I would like to see the Barumini Complex as I hear it’s impressive . They’re just fascinating to me ! Here are some places to eat we love : Dal Corsaro http://stefanodeidda.it . It’s a Michelin star restaurant that sits atop Viale Regina Margherita a beautiful street overlooking the port. They have the best tuna (which Sardegna is known for ) raw fish (pesche crudo) and it’s just a really spectacular view. Which brings me to Luigi Pomata http://luigipomata.com and Fork http://stefanodeidda.it on Viale Regina Margherita. These three places are incredible with great service and a great wine menu . We tend to also pop into an Enoteca (italian cheese , meat and wine shop) and grab cheese, meat and wine to take with us as we head out to the beach for the entire afternoon. The sun is unreal and I always come back so bronzed! Summer may be over but Sardegna is less than an hour flight away so I may have to find a weekend to explore more Nuraghe since it’s not beach time! XO Tera
