Ciao from San Gregorio!
Buon giorno! As I begin this series of "postcards" Dean Martin is in the background singing a sweet version of Dream. As I look out the window and see this beautiful sea, I am thankful to be living this dream. I'll be checking in from time to time with recipes and tales from my life here on this wonderful island. Until next time, wish you were here!
12 settembre 2009
Buon giorno! It seems everywhere I've been this past week people have been talking about polpette di melanzane. So, yesterday I decided to give them a try. Delicious!
And yes, they are so simple to make.
Polpette di Melanzane
1 large eggplant, cubed
garlic
stale bread, softened in water
bread crumbs
Parmesan cheese, grated
1 egg
fresh parsley
basil
salt
Boil cubed eggplant until soft. Drain and cool.
Mix ingredients together in a bowl. Form into little balls and roll in bread crumbs. Place on baking sheet. Drizzle with oil. Bake, turning once. Bake until golden brown. Enjoy.
There are many variations you can do with these. Rita sometimes adds ground beef. I added a bit of chili pepper.
Until next time, wish you were here!
6 settembre 2009
Buon giorno! While sipping my coffee this morning, I was watching the fishermen harvest their grapes that are growing in the courtyard in front of the house.
They brought them home and made wine. 180 liters of wine!
This winter Rita and Enzo will host a party and we'll all enjoy the fruit of their labor!
Rita was telling me that she used to get a half a pig and for a week prepare a huge feast for this "tasting". I'm sorry I missed those days! The past couple of years that I've been here, they've had a great pizza party in their downstairs room. They have a wood burning oven and it's a night of friends, food, wine, and laughter!
Until next time, wish you were here!
8 agosto 2009
Buon giorno! Summer is passing before my eyes. I have just returned from not so sunny Scotland where I spent two weeks with my dear friends Amy and "Uncle Iggy" and 17 Italian students on a study abroad trip.
I'm happy to be back here in sunny sunny Sicily and plan to spend the month of August swimming, reading, and riding my bike.
I was happy to return to all the great vegetables and am baking stuffed eggplant and peppers right now. They are one of my favorite things to make and taste better the next day!
Stuffed Eggplant
eggplant
tomato (diced)
onion
garlic
handful of frozen peas
fresh basil leaves
breadcrumbs
grated parmigiano
cubed cheese like mozzerella
tomato sauce
olive oil
salt
Slice eggplant lengthwise and scoop out inside to make two "boats"
Dice scooped out eggplant and saute with garlic and onion in olive oil. Add diced tomato and a bit of water.
Add basil, salt and if you'd like some red chili pepper flakes.
When cooked down, add peas.
While this is cooking, pour breadcrumbs in a bowl. Add parmigiano, salt, and a bit of oil.
When eggplant mixture is done. Take off stove, cool and then add to breadcrumbs.
Mix, adding a bit more olive oil.
Add cubed cheese and then scoop into eggplant boats
I had some extra filling, so I sliced a pepper in half and filled that too.
I bake for a half an hour on high heat and then spoon tomato sauce on top and bake another half hour (or until soft).
These are great right after you bake them, but even better later for dinner or even the next day.
Now, I'm off to the beach.
Until next time, wish you were here!
20 giugno 2009
Buon giorno! The past few weeks I've been exploring the island and "oohing and ahhing" around every turn. One of my favorite hotels is The Arathena Rocks in Giardini Naxos, near Taormina. It's a sweet family run hotel with a great garden and pool. The hotel is small and filled with antiques. The staff couldn't be nicer and they are all so helpful. When you return they welcome you back with open arms as if you were part of the family.
You can find them at Via Calcide Eubea, 55
Or phone them directly at 39 0942 51349 Their fax number is 39 0942 51690
Look them up on line www.hotelarathena.com
Next week, I'm heading down towards Agrigento! Until next time, wish you were here!
31 maggio 2009
Buon giorno! It's a gorgeous Sunday morning and I've just come home from yet another fantastic bike ride. Alfio bought me a bike last week and it's as if I've sprouted new wings. Not the same wings I sprouted when I bought my car, but the kind of wings that make you feel like a kid again and the only thing to worry about is riding without your hands on the handlebars! I have been cruising around everyday. Exploring streets I've never gone down before. Seeing things with new eyes. It's been wonderful.
Now, it's time to get lunch together and then hit the beach!
Until next time, wish you were here!
24 maggio 2009
Buon giorno! Buon giorno! Buon giorno! Well, in a blink of an eye, it's SUMMER! I went to bed one night and it was chilly and rainy, but woke up to swimming weather. That's just what I've been doing. The water is ideal. It's crystal clear and not too cold. The shore line is once again dotted with umbreallas and the smell of Coppertone and Hawaiian Tropic fill the air.
It's time for cherries and bar-b-ques. It's the type of weather that screams, sangria! Hmmm......
Until next time, wish you were here!
14 marzo 2009
Buon giorno! Feels like a beautiful spring morning! The sun is warm and the sea is calm and several shades of blue and turquoise. It's the kind of day that can make you forget the months of dark, cold, rainy days. But, there is a slight breeze that says, don't get too excited, winter's not over yet.
Another sign of spring, was the wonderful wild asparagus Alfio brought home the other afternoon. It looked scrawny and lifeless, but the moment I put it in the pan with some garlic and a bit of olive oil, the house began to fill with a delicious aroma.
I then turned the asparagus into an omelette with farm fresh eggs that had yolks as orange as summer sunsets, and a sprinkling of Parmesan cheese.
It's the kind of meal that says, summer's around the corner!
Until next time, wish you were here!
28 febbraio 2009
Buon giorno! I want to share my new favorite cocktail with you. It's great before dinner with a little bruschette and good company.
Mix together:
1 part gin
3 parts Aperol or Campari
fresh squeezed orange juice from 2 or 3 oranges, depending on juiciness.
Pour into glasses and top with prosecco or gassosa(like 7-Up, but not as sweet)
Enjoy!!!
Today, the sun is out with the promise of spring. It doesn't even matter that it's supposed to rain again tomorrow. I'm happy today.
Until next time, wish you were here!
14 febbraio 2009
Buon giorno! It's been brought to my attention by my number one fan and younger sister, Concetta, that I haven't written anything since November. There is no real reason for this other than it's been raining and cold since the end of October and I haven't felt inspired. It even snowed a bit one day. I can't believe this is my same seaside paradise. Alfio assures me that we'll have a hot summer and I can't wait!
I have been baking a lot these cold days. One of my new favorite cookies are a basic thumbprint butter cookie filled with Nutella and chopped hazelnuts. They are easy to make and so delicious.
2 sticks butter, softened
2/3 cup sugar
Cream together until light and fluffy.
Add:
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon lemon zest
1 egg, at room temperature
2 teaspoons milk
Then add gradually 2 1/4 cups flour
Divide dough into three or four parts and form logs. Wrap in plastic wrap and refridgerate for a couple of hours. Cut logs into about twenty rounds and press thumb to make a little well. Fill with a bit of Nutella and chopped hazelnuts.
Bake in a moderate oven for about 10 minutes. Enjoy.
Today I am going to make some of these cookies and am going to roll the logs in chopped pistachio nuts before I slice and fill.
Happy Valentines Day!
Happy Birthday Nonny and Concetta!
Until next time, wish you were here!
22 novembre 2008
Buon giorno! Ooohhhhh, what a blustery day! The sea is angry and rough! It reminds me of the Pacific Ocean and the Maverick's beach in Half Moon Bay near San Francisco. Hard to believe this is the same water I enjoyed all summer. I woke this morning to the fishermen pulling all the boats off the beach and moving them across the street to the piazzetta. Now, the piazzetta is gathering water as the waves are crashing at the break wall and beyond. It's a marvelous sight. Until next time, wish you were here!
2 novembre 2008
Buon giorno! It certainly doesn't feel like November, it's a gorgeous day. I'm reminded it's Autumn by the piece of pumpkin we have in our kitchen. It's one of the vegetables I learned I loved last year. There are a few ways I like to make it. I love pumpkin risotto. Like everything I seem to make, it's simple and delicious.
Pumpkin Risotto
pumkin or other type of squash, cubed
onion
garlic
chili pepper
fresh parsley
peas
rice
parmesean cheese
olive oil
Saute cubes of pumpkin, garlic, and onion until pumpkin is soft and is easy to squish. Add chopped chili and peas.
Add rice and water and cover, stirring occasionally. When rice is cooked and liquid is absorbed(you may need to keep adding water), drizzle a generous amount of good olive oil and grate cheese. Right before serving, sprinkle with chopped parsley.
Another great way to serve pumpkin is sliced and baked with stale bread cubes, chili pepper, bread crumbs, fresh parsley, parmesean cheese, garlic, onion, and olive oil. Put everything in a baking dish and roast until pumpkin is soft.
This dish reminds me of Thanksgiving stuffing. It has such a great fall flavor.
The other night, I made the pumpkin the way Alfio loves best. Sliced and fried like eggplant.
Each way is delicious. Enjoy.
Until next time, wish you were here!
25 ottobre 2008
Buon giorno! The month has passed in a delightful blur! We spent the end of September on the Aeolian Island of Vulcano celebrating Alfio's birthday. We stayed at the sweet Hotel Orsa Maggiore(tel. 39 090 9852018 or email: orsa-maggiore@usa.net) where the staff couldn't have been nicer and the grounds couldn't have been more peaceful.This was my first time to the islands and I was so enchanted. We had one morning on the charming island of Lipari and then spent four days on Vulcano.Unfortunately, it rained everyday. We managed to stay dry as our adventures on the scooter were timed perfectly. Vulcano has a great black sand beach that is dotted with pumice stone pebbles and natural sulfur mud baths. I look forward to exploring all seven islands.
As soon as we got home, my mom, sister, her husband and their two daughters arrived for a great week here! We had a couple of daytrips, one to Tindari and the other to Cefalu. The week was filled with so much love and laughter and of course many moments around the table. It was so great to see how my family embraced Alfio and the way he fell for all of them, with me in the middle translating for everyone.
Now, school is in session and we will be "falling back" this weekend. It has still been warm enough to go out fishing and we've been taking advantage of every beautiful afternoon. In fact, Alfio has just arrived with the boat. Until next time, wish you were here!
14 settembre 2008
Buon giorno! This week friends of mine packed up to go back to Australia for a couple of years. I wanted to get them something to remind them of this special place. I went to my friend Sara Percacciolo's ceramics studio, Matisse. She has got some wonderful pieces. She can ship them all over the world. She's happy to do special orders and will work with you to design something unique. You can email Sara at saritaper@yahoo.it and you can look at more of her works at www.artematisse.it
You can also email her in English!
If you're coming to Sicily or have friends who are visiting, it's a great place to shop.
Until next time, wish you were here!
23 agosto 2008
Buon giorno! It's Saturday again and I've been spending my days seaside. So hard to get out of the water. Yesterday I had a great ride on what I call a "gomonita" a little boat which is like a giant raft with a motor. It was fun to drive and the water was incredible. Hard to wipe the smile off my face on days like this. The beach is slowly emptying and returning to the peaceful paradise I love.
Until next time, wish you were here!
17 agosto 2008
Buon giorno! It has been a fun week of celebrating this and that. On the 15th the Madonna was celebrated. She is brought to San Gregorio on foot the evening of the 14th. The next evening, she is transported back to Capo D'Orlando by boat. A procession that is something to see. Almost more incredible than seeing all these boats parading is the sight of all the people along the shore waving and admiring their Madonna. Until next time, wish you were here!
14 agosto 2008
Buon giorno! After what seems like an eternity, I am back in San Gregorio. My mamma was here visiting and was as enchanted with my life as I am. Then I had a vacation in sunny California. After a months worth of Mexican food, I have returned to my fantasy island to find summer season in full swing. I had a great dessert yesterday using fresh figs. I believe Francesco called it "fichi brasiliana" It's so simple and delicious and even if you're not crazy about figs, this just might change your mind. ;)
Fichi Brasiliana
figs
Cointreau or other orange liquor
whipped cream
ground espresso
Peel figs and split open and place on a serving platter. Sprinkle with Cointreau. Add a dollop of whipped cream and sift ground espresso on top. Enjoy!
Now, the calm turquoise sea is calling to me! Until next time, wish you were here!
8 giugno 2008
Buon giorno! It's Sunday morning, school is out and my latest batch of lemoncello is ready! Honestly, I never really liked lemoncello much until I had some that was homemade. It's a different taste all together.
The best part, it's so easy to make.
LEMONCELLO
12-15 green lemons
2 liters of alcohol(vodka)
2kg. sugar(4 1/2 lbs.)
2 liters of water
Peel lemons and place peels in a jar with the alcohol. Cover. Store in a dark cool place for two weeks.
After the two weeks...Dissolve the sugar in water on the stove. Let cool. When completely cool, strain alcohol and mix with sugar/water mixture.
Funnel into bottles and serve cold!
This recipe can also be made with mandarins.
This is the perfect way to end a meal on a warm summer night.
Until next time, wish you were here!
24 maggio 2008
Buon giorno! One of the nicest ways to start the day is with a granita! Granita is a refreshing fruit sherbet. The Bar Giulio in Capo D'Orlando serves one of the best I've ever had. My favorite flavor at the moment is gelso(mulberry). Most people take their granita with a brioche, but I skip the brioche and enjoy my granita topped with the sinful whipped cream! It's delicious! Another of my favorite flavors is peach, but that won't be available until later in the summer. I have just come across a recipe for granita di gelso. Last year the sweet little lady who lives down the road gave me a platter full. This year, I'm hoping for another!
Granita Di Gelso
3 quarts fresh mulberries
7 cups water
2 cups sugar
fresh whipped cream
Put the mulberries in a saucepan with 3 cups of water. Bring to a boil and simmer for about 30 minutes. Cool.
Make a syrup by simmering 2 cups of sugar with 4 cups of water for 30 minutes. Cool.
Pass the mulberries, with all their juice, through the fine disk of a food mill. Add this to the cooled sugar syrup.
When everything is room temperature, pour into a shallow aluminum pan.
Place in the freezer.
Remove from the freezer after half an hour and scrape down the sides and bottom of the pan, breaking up the parts that have solidified and blending them into that which is still liquid.
Repeat this process every half hour, until the granita becomes a fairly firm, flaky slush.
Remove the granita from the pan and serve at once. Top with whipped cream!
You can store it in the freezer in a sealable glass or plastic container for a month or more.
Until next time, wish you were here!
19 maggio 2008
Buon giorno! Lucky me! Alfio builds boats and this weekend we had our first boat ride of the summer. It was a great day with friends. Marco, our two year old neighbor, enjoyed the ride too! Then we swam and played on the beach. Sunday evening we all piled into the car for a sweet drive along the coast to a town called San Giorgio. There we went for a stroll through the open market and had some of the most delicious ice cream! It was one of those perfect weekends! I'm still smiling even though it's raining today.
School will be out soon and summer will be in full swing!
Wish you were here!
8 maggio 2008
Buon giorno! As I sip my morning coffee, I was thinking how generous and open the people I have met here are. It seems not a meal goes by that we don't eat something that was grown and given to us by one of Alfio's friends. The week also doesn't pass without a meal shared with some of them. The fish Nino caught and then grilled for all of us couldn't have been more delicious. Things just taste better here! It's the ritual of all getting together, eating, drinking, talking and laughing around the table that I love. I must admit, sometimes I feel like I am watching a Fellini film without the subtitles!
Yesterday I made Crespelle with the "vedure" that Nino's mom, Rosetta, had given me. Here, "vedure" are any greens that people gather from their yards. This has become one of my favorite things to make. It's easy and delicious.
Crespelle
a bunch of greens(spinach, chard, beet), cooked and drained
a handful of breadcrumbs
a handful of grated parmeggiano
two or three handfuls of flour(depending on how many greens you have)
a clove or two of garlic finely diced
a bit of salt and pepper
vegetable oil and olive oil for cooking
Mix all ingredients in a bowl and as your mixing, heat some vegetable oil and a touch of olive oil in a frying pan.
Add a bit of water to your mixture.(enough to make it a thick batter)
Drop spoonfuls of mixture in the frying pan. While cooking place a tiny slice of parmeggiano in center before turning. (People also place a piece of anchovy with cheese. I make both.) When brown on first side, turn and brown second side.
Place on plate with a paper towel to absorb any oil.
Serve hot or room temperature.
I have finished my coffee and am off to school.
Wish you were here!
27 aprile 2008
Buon giorno! This has been a weekend of friends and food! I have been lucky to be included at the table of a birthday bar-b-cue, a great haul of delicious fish and today, Sunday, I have made pasta and polpetone. The polpetone is a stuffed, rolled meatloaf and a very popular dish for the Sunday table.
Polpetone
Meat Mixture
ground beef and or sausage
breadcrumbs
grated parmeasan cheese
one egg
fresh parsley
a bit of diced onion and garlic
hard bread, softened in milk or water
a bit of milk
salt
pepper
Filling
prosciutto (ham)
sliced provolone or mozzarella cheese
hard boiled egg
Mix the first ten items together with hands in a bowl until soft. Spread mixture onto a piece of parchment paper on top of a baking sheet. Place filling ingredients down the middle. When filled, begin to roll using parchment paper as your guide. Once rolled, you can dust polpetone with bread crumbs if you would like.
Bake for about an hour and let set before serving. Of course filling can be varied with your personal taste.
Mine is ready and so I will say good-bye until next time. Wish you were here!
17 aprile 2008
Buon giorno! Along with the many colors of spring, the April showers have brought the first tourists. The past week I have noticed other strangers speaking French, German, and English. As I write, a family frolicks in the sea even though the clouds threaten rain. They are a sign that summer is soon to follow!
12 aprile 2008
Buon giorno! It's Saturday. The sea is calm, there is a slight breeze and suddenly there are about twenty men outside the window waiting for the fishermen to return with their catch. Salvatore, Enzo and Alessandro return and as fast as they can put the fish out, it's gone. The "boys club" disappears and it's a calm Saturday morning once again. Wish you were here!
6 aprile 2008
Buon giorno! It's a sunny Sunday afternoon and as I sat on the beach doing my Italian homework, the sun was warming my neck. The first taste of a new season. I watched two young girls, dressed in pink, run towards and away from the sea, trying to keep their feet from getting wet. Not me! Finally, the older girl took the plunge and just in time. Their mother arrived and called the girls to go home. Wish you were here!
2 aprile 2008
Buon giorno! One of the sweetest traditions here is the "passeggiata" after a meal. This is usually a stroll or as I've learned a ride on the back of the scooter or a drive to a nearby town. I look forward to our Sunday afternoons. Alfio takes me to a new town each week. Ucria, a hilltown about an hour away, was this weeks adventure. Full of wild flowers, ancient buildings and many beautiful faces.
28 marzo 2008!
Buon giorno! It's spring and I've had my first taste of this years harvest of fava beans! They have always been a favorite of mine and I love them cooked any way and even raw right out of the pod. This week, I made a simple dish my 93 year old grandmother(nonny) calls, Fritedda. It's simple and delicious like all of her recipes.
Nonny's Friteddafresh fava beans, shelled
fresh peas, shelled
fresh asparagus
artichoke hearts, fresh or frozen
sliced mushrooms
green onions, sliced
garlic
olive oil
salt pepper
red chili pepper flakes, optional
Saute green onion and garlic in olive oil in a large skillet. Add vegetables, salt and pepper to taste. Cover and let cook, stirring occasionally until vegetables are tender.
Pour into a bowl, drizzle a bit more olive oil and if desired, shave parmiggiano reggiano on top. Enjoy!
22 marzo 2008
Buon giorno! There is a holiday here the 19th of March. San Giuseppe, Saint Joseph's Day, Father's day. One tradition is to make Sfinge or Spinci. They are a type of pastry that remind me of doughnut holes. I grew up helping my grandmother make these and was thrilled to have them here. This year, I learned to make another "father's day" pastry, Frittelle di Riso.
Sfinge
180 gr flour
4 eggs
50 gr butter
1 spoonful of sugar
zest of one lemon
pinch of salt
1/4 liter of water
oil for frying
sugar and cinnamon
Boil the water with butter and salt.Remove from heat and add flour all at once and stir energetically with a wooden spoon making sure there aren't any bubbles. Add eggs one at a time and stir until absorbed.Add sugar and lemon zest and mix well. Cover with a towel and let rest for 30 minutes.
Heat oil and drop in spoonfuls of mixture. When golden, remove and set on papertowels to absorb oil. Roll in sugar and cinnamon. Enjoy.
Frittelle di Riso
200 gr of rice
200 gr of flour
700 ml of water
500 ml of mile
15 gr of yeast
zest of one lemon
cinnamon
70 gr of sugar
oil for frying
sugar and cinnamon
In a bowl, mix yeast and 200 gr of warm water and a spoonful of sugar. Add flour and mix well. Cover and let rest 30 minutes.
After 30 minutes, add rice mixture to flour mixture and mix well. Cover and let rest 1 hour.
Heat oil. Drop spoonfuls of mixture and fry until golden. Remove and set on paper towels. Roll in sugar and cinnamon.
Tomorrow is Easter and the shops are full of chocolate. Here, Easter is celebrated for two days. Sunday, people have Easter lunch with family and on Monday people go to the country and have the first picnic of the year. A tradition I am eager to start! Wish you were here...
