I didn’t have any plans to make this, but I was at a loss for what to make one night last week. I took a look through my pantry and fridge and saw that I had some leftover beef prosciutto and mozzarella cheese, and the meal just came together. A few simple pantry ingredients that really jazzed up the typical jarred spaghetti night.
Ingredients:
16 oz dry spaghetti pasta
24 oz jar of your favorite marinara sauce (Rao’s is my favorite)
4-6 oz beef or pork prosciutto (I used the Trader Joe’s beef proscuitto)
1/2 cup panko breadcrumbs
6 oz mozzarella cheese
1/4 cup parmesan cheese + extra for adding at the end
Lay prosciutto spaced out on an oven tray and bake for 8-10 minutes at 425 degrees Fahrenheit. When taking the sheet out of the oven, leave the prosciutto on the tray to crisp up until cool. Keep the oven on 425 degrees.
Once cool, add prosciutto to a food processor along with the bread crumbs, one tbsp butter, one tbsp olive oil, 1/4 cup of parmesan cheese, 1 tbsp parsley, 1/2 tsp garlic salt, aglio olio seasoning, and salt/pepper. Blend 10-15 seconds until just blended.
Cook pasta according to instructions, likely boil in a large pot of salted water on the stove for 9-11 minutes.
Place a large oven-safe cast-iron pan over medium heat on the stove. Drizzle with olive oil, add diced onion, and sauté for 4-5 minutes. Add garlic and either red pepper flakes or a tablespoon of Calabrian chili paste for added spice.
Sauté for 1-2 minutes until fragrant, then add the marinara sauce. Turn the heat down and let the sauce simmer on low until the pasta is done cooking.
Once done cooking, drain the pasta and add it to the cast-iron pan with your sauce and stir.
Add breadcrumbs and mozzarella cheese evenly on top and bake in the oven for 15 minutes.
Be careful from removing from the oven. I love these handle protectors that I slip on after I take my cast-iron pan out of the oven!
Sprinkle with extra parmesan cheese and enjoy!
If you make it, I would love to know what you think and if you made any tweaks or adjustments!
❤ Natalie Anne
(This post contains affiliate links, and we will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking through our links.)
Even when I’m not traveling, I’m always seeking new food to try. Try the World curates boxes with snacks and treats from all over the world and fills my craving for international cuisine. Each box is filled with unique flavors from a variety of countries, which makes them so exciting to open and uncover the surprises you get! The price starts as low as $35/month for 8-10 snacks per box.
It’s so fun when my sister and I are together, and we can sort through the box and try the different foods together! The boxes help us discover our new favorite foods. There is truly something for everyone in each box! To try your own box, you can use our personal coupon code CLB20 for 20% off your first order!
My latest Try the World box had all sorts of goodies – check them out below!
My husband loved the Himalayan Salt Caramel Popcorn, and I loved the Klas Bosanski Lokum, they taste like delicious shortbread cookies! The electrolyte mix packets are also unique and something I would buy again!
Griski Pretzels from Romania
Real Basil Seed Drink from Thailand
Klas Bosanski Lokum from Bosnia and Herezegovina
Himalayan Salt Caramel Popcorn from India
Mini Mini Chicles Gum made in Morocco
De La Rosa Pulparinda from Mexico
Snakkidz Granola Bar
Moosh It’s Like Cotton Candy from Israel
Stark Choco Smoki from Serbia
Chheda’s Peanut Chiki Bar from India
Berry Nuts Granola Bites from Mexico
Chheda’s Til Ladoo from India
Mizu Lab Electrolyte Mix from South Korea
Lucas Muecas Candy from Mexico
If you order a box from Try the World, I’d love to know what you think and what your favorite snack was! We think it’s worth it and hope you do too!
Be sure to check out a few of our favorite recipe posts featuring past items from Try the World:
Also see below for a few TikToks showing other boxes we have received, each with different treats! And remember to use our code CLB20 for 20% off your first order for your tasty snack journey around the world!
Our latest Try The World Unboxing Video! Use code CLB20 for 20% off your first order for delicious food from around the world! 🌍🌏🌎🍽️ @Try The World #unboxing#unboxingvideo#snackbox#food
Need an idea for a last minute holiday gift?! Gift the love of international food with a @Try The World subscription box! Use our code CLB20 for 20% off your first order of tasty treats from around the world! 🌏🌏🌎🍽️🎄🎁💚❤️#trytheworld#subscriptionbox#foodie#foodtiktok#travel
My husband and I got married at the Borgo Tre Rose in Tuscany, Italy, and knew we wanted to honeymoon on the Amalfi Coast. When picking out our honeymoon location, I found myself gawking at the views online of Positano. That had to be the place.
We booked the honeymoon suite at Hotel Marincanto, and it was perfect for us. It included a gorgeous view of the Mediterranean Ocean overlooking Positano, an indoor hot tub, breakfast every morning, and wonderful service in a central location. When viewing the hotel online, there are many unique rooms and suites to choose from, and I hope to stay there again in the future!
We took the train from Florence to Naples, and I had prearranged for Hotel Marincantoto book us a private transfer that was waiting for us at the train station. It was a 1.5-hour drive from Naples station to the hotel, with stunning views of Mount Vesuvius in the distance and the coastal cliffs.
Upon arrival in Positano, we were greeted with a complimentary fresh lemonade in the lobby and had our luggage taken to our honeymoon suite. Our room featured beautiful decor with classic blue and white Mediterranean tile and a large balcony where we could watch the boats roll in throughout the day.
The hotel has its own private beach area, a stunning pool, meticulous landscaping, and several lounging areas. Just be mindful that there are a lot of steps down to the beach, this is true across all of Positano because it’s built on a giant cliff. We didn’t mind the walking too much, but just be aware beforehand!
We spent a lot of our time relaxing on site and strolling around Positano itself. The hotel also has an amazing restaurant that we conveniently dined at a couple of times, including a wonderful apperitivo hour with lovely cocktails. Plus, the views at night are spectacular.
Hotel Marincanto is centrally located so we could walk into Positano for dinners, shopping, and to catch the ferry to other ports. While we stayed every night in Positano, we were able to take day trips to Capri and Amalfi to explore the coast. Next time, I definitely want to go to Pompeii and see the ruins. This tour and wine tasting looks perfect!
If you stay at the Hotel Marincanto, I would love to hear your experience or recommendations! Positano is one of my favorite spots, and this hotel should not be missed!
❤ Natalie Anne
(This post contains affiliate links, and we will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking through our links.)
I had no idea what I was getting myself into when I started planning my 102-mile hike along the Cotswold Way in England. I just knew I wanted to get away and spend 10 days in nature experiencing the beauty of the Cotswolds. I’m not a hiker by any means, but when I heard about this trail, it seemed manageable. I knew that if I was able to stay in a hotel every night and get a beer at the pub at the end of a long day, that I could make it through anything. My husband, Chris, joined me and we did very minimal training for the hike. Looking back, I wish I’d trained a bit more but we still came out alive and I’d even do it again! The scenery was breathtaking and it was absolutely the break I needed away from the hustle and bustle of life. We walked through hundreds of acres of farmland, walked by thousands of sheep, watched the sunset over the gorgeous green fields, tried fish & chips at the local pubs and somehow, we only got stuck in a rainstorm once! We went in mid-May which is known to be one of the drier months in the Cotswolds, not to mention, most of the spring flowers are still in bloom and the landscape is incredibly green and lush. I’ve already decided that one day when I retire, I plan to move to the Cotswolds and live in a perfect little farmhouse covered in roses and ivy. It took us 10 days to hike the trail and we didn’t take a single day off. If I were to hike the trail again, I would definitely take day off to rest in the middle, likely in the adorable town of Painswick.
I actually have a full guide that you can download for free over on my photography blog, if you’re looking for more tips about what to pack, how to plan your trip, and what not to miss along your hike! We even made a full video series about our hike over on my YouTube channel here! Now, I wanted to share the hotels we stayed in along the way. I spent a LOT of time researching the hotels before our trip and realized there weren’t that many options in most of the towns. These towns are TINY. As in, one pub, one coffee shop, one street. You truly are in the middle of nowhere. The locals are so kind though and you will get the authentic Cotswold experience. I hope this helps you with your trip planning! I’m going to share the hotels in order from Chipping Campden (where you’ll start the hike) to Bath, England. However, you can definitely start in Bath and end in Chipping Campden, it’s totally up to you! We just found it a bit more exciting to end in Bath, spend a day at the spa, and take a few days to explore the beautiful city.
If you’re starting out in London like we did, here are a few hotel recommendations!
This hotel was in a great area, close to tons of food and shopping, and even had a cute little coffee shop called Gail’s attached! It was super convenient to be able to grab a coffee and croissant right when we woke up, especially being jetlagged! The rooms were incredibly clean and felt a little fancy, which was much appreciated after our long trip from the US. The room was somewhat small, but we don’t mind since we don’t spend much time in the room anyway. Overall, I would stay there again because the price was great for what we got.
(This post contains affiliate links, and we will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking through our links.)
Athena Hotel – (where we stayed in London after our hike) – 3 star
This hotel wasn’t quite as fancy at the Montcalm Piccadilly, but it was clean, which is what I care about the most. It was a bit off of the main strip but we were still able to walk to all of the things we wanted to see. London is surprisingly walkable and the tube can really get you anywhere you need to go. I’d probably choose to stay in the Montcalm Piccadilly over the Athena, but if you’re working with a budget, the Athena is totally acceptable and a clean place to lay your head at night.
Take a morning train from London Paddington Station to Moreton-in-Marsh Station. You can also take the train to Stratford-upon-Avon and then take a bus from there if you’d prefer. We took a 10:53am train with arrival at 12:22pm, but I’d recommend taking an earlier train to have more time to hike to Broadway. We booked our train tickets to and from London directly with the GWR (Great Western Railway) website. Buy the “Two together” rail pass if you’re hiking with someone to save money – GWR.com. Or you can book through OMIO and use the code OMIONEW25 for 10% off for new customers. Their app is super easy to use and keeps all your tickets in one place if you’re traveling amongst multiple countries in Europe.
Take the Robin bus from the town of Moreton-in-Marsh to the town of Chipping Campden where you will begin the hike. There’s an app called The Robin that you can use to track the bus and buy tickets, but it was not working for us. We got lucky and there was a Stagecoach bus (the local standard bus) waiting at the bus stop right outside the train station and we hopped on and bought a ticket to Chipping Campden from the bus driver. It was about a 40-45 minute bus ride and we were dropped off right next to the starting point for the Cotswold Way trail. I believe the Stagecoach buses run every 2 hours and might not run as often on Sundays, so keep that in mind!
Crown & Trumpet Inn (where we stayed – budget option) – 3-star – Check-in: 1:30-8:00 pm
We were SO excited when we finally saw the Crown & Trumpet inn in front of us. It had been such a long day traveling from London to Chipping Campden to Broadway. Our feet hurt, we were starving, and we couldn’t wait to take our backpacks and hiking shoes off. The Crown & Trumpet inn is old and historic, which you can tell by the crooked floors and quirky building. But it was such a gem to start off our trip. We were sad that we missed dinner because we arrived too late, but we were able to grab dinner at a restaurant just up the street called The Swan. The room was clean and the bed was comfortable, so that was all we really needed! It was a cute place overall and a great place to start off our trip because it was exactly what I had envisioned. We learned to make sure we arrive at the inns before 6 or 7 so that we could make sure we get dinner and drinks before the pubs in the bottom of the inns close.
The White Hart Inn (where we stayed)- 2-star – Better than we expected! Check-in: 3:00 pm
When I was booking all of my hotels, this is the one that I wasn’t quite sure about. The photos just didn’t do it justice though! It had an adorable, cozy pub in the bottom, the food was delicious, and the room was super clean. It had a traditional english inn vibe, similar to the Crown & Trumpet Inn. There’s nothing quite like fish and chips and a beer at the end of a long hiking day! There was a cozy fireplace too, and I discovered that dogs are allowed in the pubs and it just added to the quaintness of the whole experience.
OTHER RECOMMENDATIONS:
The Lion Inn (very limited hotels in this area – book EARLY)
There is actually a campsite that is close to Hailes Abbey & Church called Hayles Fruit Farm if you prefer not to hike as far as Winchcombe
The Rising Sun Hotel definitely had the best view out of all of the hotels we stayed in. It’s located on the top of Cleeve Hill and has a lovely picnic area to watch the sunset. The food wasn’t incredible, but it had the traditional english fare like fish & chips and various meat pies. We were exhausted when we arrived so we really enjoyed sipping a drink while we gazed at the view. The room wasn’t anything special either, but it was clean. All of the hotels on our journey were sparkling clean, so that is definitely something I’m not used to after coming from the US. Overall though, I would definitely stay here again just for the view!
The trek to the Royal George was one of our longest hiking days, so when we emerged from the woods and saw this beautiful building and glistening picnic area, it almost felt like we were in heaven. I still remember sipping my aperol spritz as I watched tiny bugs flit around as the sun set. The room was bigger than some of the previous hotel rooms, and felt fancier than any of the hotels we’d experienced up until that point. There’s really nowhere else to stay in the this town, so make sure to book your room early! There is a lovely pub and restaurant in the bottom. This hotel is actually owned by the same company that owns the Rising Sun Hotel, so the menu is exactly the same. There is a decent amount of options on the menu, it just felt more like “hotel food” than some of the other meals we had along our journey.
Big Skies Cotswold Glamping – about halfway through the hike for the day – would be a great place to stay if you didn’t want to hike the full distance this day
TIP: Limited hotel options in this area, book EARLY
You can book this hotel directly through their website. We stayed in the Indian room which had a beautiful view of the church in the center of town. This hotel is owned by a couple who also run the restaurant. This is more of a unique experience, similar to an Airbnb. If you’d prefer a more traditional hotel, I’d go with one of the options below. Our room was stunning though, and the bathroom was incredibly unique. This hotel is very central and walkable to everything else in the town. Painswick was my favorite town along our hike and I wish we had stayed another day. Make sure you grab dinner at the restaurant, as it’s known for some of the best food in town! There are quite a few restaurants to choose from, so we actually ended up bar-hopping a little bit. Definitely try a gin & tonic while you’re hiking in the Cotswolds. The local gin in England is amazing!
Stonehouse Court Hotel (where we stayed) – about 1 mile off the trail – Check-in: 3:00 pm
This was one of my favorite hotels of the whole trail. It was stunning and the food at the restaurant was incredible. There is a beautiful and haunting stone building near the river behind the hotel, so don’t miss it! When I arrived at Stonehouse Court Hotel, I was feeling a bit dehydrated and they accidentally booked us a room that was already in use. They ended up upgrading us to a suite, and it was an absolutely stunning and magical experience. The hotel itself feels somewhat ghostly and there is obviously a lot of history behind it. I’ll forever remember this hotel because it was so special. I’m still dreaming about the bread, butter, pie and soup I had there. It was one of the best meals of my life!
TIP: Limited hotel options in this area, book EARLY!
DAY SEVEN: STONEHOUSE TO WOTTON-UNDER-EDGE
14.5 miles
HOTEL RECOMMENDATIONS:
Swan Hotel(where we stayed) – Check-in: 3:00 pm – If arriving after 9pm, contact the hotel directly beforehand
The Swan Hotel might have been one of my least favorite hotels that we stayed inn. The food just wasn’t great and the room was small. It was still clean though, which matters the most. But I just wasn’t thrilled with the experience overall. There aren’t any other hotel options in this area though, so you don’t have a choice. Maybe we were just having an off night, as there wasn’t really anything specifically wrong with it. Maybe it’s because we were just coming off of a high from the Stonehouse Court hotel!
TIP: No other hotel options in this area, book EARLY!
I was a little nervous about booking a Best Western hotel because I wanted to steer clear of anything that reminded me of hotels in the US. But the Compass Inn still had a quaint, locals vibe and the dinner was quite delicious. There weren’t any other restaurants close-by without getting an Uber. I still think about the dessert I had there though! The rooms were cute, spacious, and clean. It didn’t necessarily feel fancy or upscale in any way, but it was good enough for us! We had a great time here, meeting people in the pub and chatting with the staff. It’s really the only hotel option in the area unless you wanted to stop a little sooner at the Dog Inn in Old Sodbury.
The Toghill house farm is a stunning bed & breakfast and another one of our favorites from the hike. We got lucky and ended up in the attic room, which was incredibly stylized and comfy. There was a beautiful clawfoot bathtub and a gorgeous view of the farmland around us. We wandered the property a bit and met a gorgeous black horse. There isn’t really anywhere else to stay around this location and it’s quite difficult to get to though. Make sure to follow the walking directions the hotel will send to you. There is a free homemade English breakfast included too! This is really more of a B&B and you’ll get to know the owner and family quickly. Such a memorable experience towards the end of our hike. We even made some friends that were also hiking the trail!
I was incredibly excited to stay at a 5-star hotel in Bath at the end of our hike. The Oldfield’s House is a bit off the beaten path and up a hill (which was not ideal at the end of a 102 mile hike), but it was a great price and had an incredible view of the city. The staff went above and beyond and treated us like kings and queens. However, the room was a bit disappointing. We had a choice of two rooms, one was in the basement with no windows and the other was in the attic and was stuffy and smelled strange. However, I think we arrived too late in the day and that is what was left. The house itself is stunning and we loved having a drink in the lounge as we watched the sunset. The room we stayed in looked pretty, but the bathroom needed to be updated and smell taken care of. If I stayed here again, I would make sure to communicate with them which room I’d be getting. It was nice being treated so nicely though and we couldn’t beat the price!
I hope this helped you in your search for affordable hotels along the Cotswold Way! I still look back on every single one of these hotels fondly because they were all so individually unique. There simply aren’t hotels like these in the United States unless you stay in B&Bs. We met so many lovely people and I came home raving about our trip to my family and friends. I hope I get the change to hike the trail again one day! Don’t forget to check out my full guide for hiking the trail, and make sure to watch our video series on my YouTube channel where we documented every moment of our hike!
I love spending time in Krakow. It’s a beautiful, walkable city that is easy to navigate and centrally located. Krakow is a great city to visit, whether it’s your first time in Europe or if you’re a seasoned traveler. The architecture is splendid and photogenic, plus the city offers wonderful, hearty Polish food everywhere you turn.
Compared to some of the larger cities in Europe (like Paris, London, Rome), Krakow has reasonable prices, especially when it comes to food and shopping. This is because Poland uses the złoty as opposed to the euro as its currency. I also love that while there are landmarks to see, it isn’t too overwhelming with lists of must-sees. Instead, I think it’s a great city where you can choose-your-own-adventure based on what you are looking for in a trip. You can take a mini walking food tour, marvel at Wawel Castle and St. Mary’s Basilica, hike one or more of the historic mounds around the city, shop at vintage stores, or a combination. As always, I recommend bringing film cameras when traveling to new places. I brought my 35mm toy Holga camera and my Instax Mini 12 Polaroid Camera.
Bazylika Mariacka taken with Holga 35mm
Wawel Castle taken with Holga 35mmSmok at Wawel taken with Holga 35mm
I checked into the AC Hotel by Marriott Krakow, which is a 30-minute walk from Old Town, but had great rooms and a lovely breakfast buffet. If you’re looking for something more central and in the action, then I recommend the Hotel Saski Krakow, Curio Collection by Hilton.
I recommend taking your first morning or afternoon in Krakow getting to know the Old Town. This includes visiting the main square that dates back to the 13th century, Rynek Główny. There is a lot to see and do just in this small area. Some of my favorite sites and activities are the following:
Climb the Town Hall Tower (Wieża Ratuszowa) for a unique view of the city
If you don’t take a food tour, definitely grab Pączki, traditional Polish donuts!
Visit the local museums, Rynek Underground Museum and Historical Museum of the City of Kraków
Take in the splendor of St Mary’s Basilica (Bazylika Mariacka)
Promenade down the historical Floriańska street for some shopping, treats, and photo opportunities
If you have time, stroll down to Wawel Castle for a tourand visit the dragon statue (Smok Wawelski)
Stroll along the Vistula River for beautiful sunset views
Grab a fika break at KAFFE BAGERI Stockholm. The cinnamon & cardamom bun is an absolute must!
The best thing about it is all of these sites are near each other with meandering streets and beautiful architecture to gawk at in between!
PączkiKaffe Bageri Stockholm
When you’re hungry and ready for a big comfort meal, Gościnna Chata Restaurantis a must. This cozy restaurant is tucked right off the main square and has its own alleyway leading to the entrance. Be sure to order the pierogis (a traditional Polish dumpling)! The atmosphere is historic and traditional with quirky decor. Having dinner here was a relaxing way to start off my trip and prepare me for a good night’s sleep before heading back to the hotel.
Day 2: Exploring Krakow’s History
If you’re up for exploring more history on the second day, I recommend exploring Kazmierz (Jewish) district and visiting one or more of the historic mounds around the city.
For a lesser-known activity, I ended up walking about 40 minutes from the AC Marriott Hotel to Kopiec Kościuszki. It was chilly in January, and there was some ice and snow, but it was fun to explore a new side of the city. The hike was worth it for the views alone. This kopiec is a great spot for unique photos and offers amazing views. There was a museum that took you through the history of the commemorative mound, created in honor of the Polish national leader Tadeusz Kościuszko.
You can reserve your ticket and skip the line here.
If you’re itching for a tour outside Krakow or end up having extra time, I recommend the Wieliczka Salt Mine Tour.This includes transfer from Krakow to the Salt Mine and back and the entry ticket with a tour by a licensed guide. I recommend carving out around four hours for the tour, and this still leaves you plenty of time in the morning or evening to continue discovering Krakow. It has a fun souvenir shop where you can pick up salt lamps, and other fun decor.
For dinner on your second night in the Kazmierz, I highly recommend Piereszy Stopien. It’s another cozy restaurant that features local ingredients and modern takes on classic dishes. I got the homemade tomato soup with poured dough (little dumplings), chicken and vegetable shashlik, and a wonderful featured drink. Everything was warm and so fresh, perfect after a day of sightseeing in early February.
C'est le Brie 