I have taken a bit of a break lately. We had an unexpected setback 10 days ago that put everything else on hold, well, until now.
Fabio (my 46 year old husband) had a heart attack. He thought that he had eaten too much salame in the days leading up to the attack and, actually, that theory seemed pretty plausible. I had been bored, made lasagne, pasta with sausages, lots and lots of heavy, yummy dishes. On top of that, he had been invited out to lunch a few times hence the salame overdose along with fried baccalà, cotecchino, more sausages.
So, it seemed like a pretty bad case of indigestion due to poor diet. Luckily when he started to feel really weird we went to the emergency room.
This followed a hasty trip to Rapallo, a stent put in and a few days of r&r in the clinic- a very nice one I might add. He came home the Friday before Easter and has never looked healthier. He has also quit smoking. He is kind of grumpy.
I go in to super-chef mode when under mental stress. While Fabio was in the hospital, my son William and I ate strictly Mexican food- I guess that for me that would be 'comfort food' and for William, it's just plain good food.
I made enchiladas, I made fajitas, I made taco salad. I made tortilla soup and nachos. I heated up the frozen chili. It was good and it made us feel like we were amongst family even though the rest of our family (and the best part, i might add) is thousands of miles away. It got us through being scared.
As soon as Fabio came home I started up, and am continuing, the cardio-diet. That would be low in fat and high in vegetable fiber. That would also be homemade bread.... You never know what you might find in that storebought stuff, even in Italy. So I have found solace in kneading.
I like to listen to my NPR podcasts and make my bread every other day. It is relaxing and strangely addictive. The bread's pretty good, too- even if it is a weird mix of whole wheat, kamut, farro, and chestnut flours along with flax seed and oatmeal. Sounds gross but it's good! And healthy!
So that's where I've been.
Happy Easter!
Friday, March 28, 2008
Sunday, March 9, 2008
Chili Rituals and Rainy Sundays
It's raining and my plans of taking the kids and the dogs (and perhaps the husband) on a Sunday hike and picnic have been foiled. The kids are nonetheless outside (under the rain) but I am inside at my usual spot near the radiator.
Yesterday I went nuts in the kitchen and whipped up a Tex-Mex feast. I made the Hart family chili, guacamole, bean dip, cheese and onion enchiladas. I even found the blender and we made margaritas. Everything was fantastic but, as usual, I made too much. We will be eating chili for quite a while. But that's ok. I like chili.
As a kid, there was almost something magical about chili at my grandparents' house in Austin. If we were having chili, everyone came over. My grandparents had a dining room table with at least 10 leaves. It easily fit 25 people. Anyway, chili night was crowded, the table was full. The kids drank half frozen Dr. Pepper, the adults drank beer. There were special bowls that were filled with rice and chili and distributed. All of the chili optionals were put in the center of the table and passed around: pinto beans, diced white onions, grated cheese, flour and corn tortillas, sliced white bread and ketchup for my cousin Wyn. There would also be a bowl or 2 of guacamole and tortilla chips. After the chili, pie and Bluebell ice cream.
My first serious boyfriend called the chili dinners 'the chili ritual'. I think that he understood.
The last time I had chili before last night was Christmas eve 2006. I made it for my brothers and our families when we were all down in La Marque for the holidays. We were at my parents' house (now my brother's) at our family table.
Every family in Texas has it's own chili recipe and ritual I believe. I also imagine that most Texans are like me in that they believe that their family's recipe (and ritual) is the best. I won't eat- I won't even hear TALK- about another family's chili. I know that mine is the best. Ours is ancho chile based and uses chunks of roundsteak. I know that some people are completely against beans in chili- in ours, it's an optional. The chili is not cooked with beans but if you want to add them in later, you can. I do. For me, ground beef chili is heresy. Yuck.
I got word a couple of weeks ago from 3 separate famiy members in Austin that a cousin was having everyone over for chili. Everyone means at least 20 family members. That kind of made me feel lonely over here in the land of pasta.
My husband and son have learned to love chili as much as I do and know that chili is more than a simple food, it IS a ritual. It's an important part of me and my heritage.
Yesterday I went nuts in the kitchen and whipped up a Tex-Mex feast. I made the Hart family chili, guacamole, bean dip, cheese and onion enchiladas. I even found the blender and we made margaritas. Everything was fantastic but, as usual, I made too much. We will be eating chili for quite a while. But that's ok. I like chili.
As a kid, there was almost something magical about chili at my grandparents' house in Austin. If we were having chili, everyone came over. My grandparents had a dining room table with at least 10 leaves. It easily fit 25 people. Anyway, chili night was crowded, the table was full. The kids drank half frozen Dr. Pepper, the adults drank beer. There were special bowls that were filled with rice and chili and distributed. All of the chili optionals were put in the center of the table and passed around: pinto beans, diced white onions, grated cheese, flour and corn tortillas, sliced white bread and ketchup for my cousin Wyn. There would also be a bowl or 2 of guacamole and tortilla chips. After the chili, pie and Bluebell ice cream.
My first serious boyfriend called the chili dinners 'the chili ritual'. I think that he understood.
The last time I had chili before last night was Christmas eve 2006. I made it for my brothers and our families when we were all down in La Marque for the holidays. We were at my parents' house (now my brother's) at our family table.
Every family in Texas has it's own chili recipe and ritual I believe. I also imagine that most Texans are like me in that they believe that their family's recipe (and ritual) is the best. I won't eat- I won't even hear TALK- about another family's chili. I know that mine is the best. Ours is ancho chile based and uses chunks of roundsteak. I know that some people are completely against beans in chili- in ours, it's an optional. The chili is not cooked with beans but if you want to add them in later, you can. I do. For me, ground beef chili is heresy. Yuck.
I got word a couple of weeks ago from 3 separate famiy members in Austin that a cousin was having everyone over for chili. Everyone means at least 20 family members. That kind of made me feel lonely over here in the land of pasta.
My husband and son have learned to love chili as much as I do and know that chili is more than a simple food, it IS a ritual. It's an important part of me and my heritage.
Thursday, March 6, 2008
Spring/Winter/huh?
Winter has come back with a vengeance. Just 2 days ago I was sporting Birkenstocks and had the windows open in the house, now I am in my winter fleece huddled next to the heater. Outside there are gale force winds and ominous grey clouds.
Since today is so wintry I had minestrone at Pellegro today for lunch. I met Fabio and we had a very unromantic but pleasant lunch alongside the other workmen. As usual, I was the only girl in the house except for Michaela, the waitress. I then went to the store and bought the fixings to make lasagne for tonight. Nonna said that she has been craving lasagne so I'll make extra to sneak into the hospital.
My birthday was 2 days ago. I am now 39. It got me thinking that my first birthday celebrated in Europe occurred 20 years ago. I have had more birthdays in Europe than in America.
So now am I an expat Texan or an inpat Italian? Or would I be a duopat Texalian? It's nice how when you move to America, you automatically become an American, albeit of[Mexican/Italian/Irish/Venezuelan/Lebanese/Whatever, etc. etc] descent. In every other country you become a [fill-in-the blank-nationality] living in [whatever country]. I, for example, have lived more years in Italy than in the US, I have dual citizenship and live a typical Italian life. However, I will always remain an American living in Italy. I will never, ever, in a million years, be considered an Italian. That's ok though- I'm proud to be a Texan.
So, next year is the big 4-0. It doesn't seem like it will be that big of a deal. At least I will get to have an enormous party. Hopefully our house will be ready by then!
Off to make lasagne for the family-
Since today is so wintry I had minestrone at Pellegro today for lunch. I met Fabio and we had a very unromantic but pleasant lunch alongside the other workmen. As usual, I was the only girl in the house except for Michaela, the waitress. I then went to the store and bought the fixings to make lasagne for tonight. Nonna said that she has been craving lasagne so I'll make extra to sneak into the hospital.
My birthday was 2 days ago. I am now 39. It got me thinking that my first birthday celebrated in Europe occurred 20 years ago. I have had more birthdays in Europe than in America.
So now am I an expat Texan or an inpat Italian? Or would I be a duopat Texalian? It's nice how when you move to America, you automatically become an American, albeit of[Mexican/Italian/Irish/Venezuelan/Lebanese/Whatever, etc. etc] descent. In every other country you become a [fill-in-the blank-nationality] living in [whatever country]. I, for example, have lived more years in Italy than in the US, I have dual citizenship and live a typical Italian life. However, I will always remain an American living in Italy. I will never, ever, in a million years, be considered an Italian. That's ok though- I'm proud to be a Texan.
So, next year is the big 4-0. It doesn't seem like it will be that big of a deal. At least I will get to have an enormous party. Hopefully our house will be ready by then!
Off to make lasagne for the family-
Sunday, March 2, 2008
Sunday pancakes
Sundays in my house in Texas were always the only day where my family would eat breakfast all together. Before church we would have a classic eggs and bacon with donuts feast.
Italy, despite all of its delicious coffee and coffee drinks, isn't too big on the breakfast. Most mornings, for most people, it's cookies and caffè latte or a pastry and a cappuccino at a bar. I have never gotten in to that myself. I like the protein.
My son who was born in Italy and is being raised in Italy has a few Texan, or I guess I should rather say American, habits and tastes that go against the Italian grain.
1. American breakfasts. If it was for William, we would be eating eggs, bacon, pancakes AND waffles, breakfast tacos, sausage, etc. etc., every morning. I usually do the big breakfast for him and me on Saturdays or Sundays. My husband sticks to boring milk and cookies.
2. William loves Mexican food. Over the years I have learned the tricks of creating passable Mexican food in Italy. By substituting Greek yogurt for sour cream, piadine Mulino Bianco for flour tortillas, and knowing where to buy cheap avocados and adding the few ingredients that I bring back from Texas (chili powder, ancho peppers, corn tortillas), one can create a very tasty and convincing Mexican meal. William makes me proud by downing as much guacamole as he can.
3. Peanut butter- peanut butter is as foreign to Italians as eating brains is to us Americans. I know that I was raised on a peanut butter-heavy diet and many of my US friends were, too. I never realized that it, especially combined with jam on bread, is just kind of weird. when my son is in American he is fed at least a couple of pb&j s a week and over the years he has acquired the taste. My husband, no.
4. ROOT BEER- Now this is probably the most random. A lot of Americans don't like root beer, William loves it. A good friend of ours brings us cases from the US Army base for William and he will hoard the cans for months, drinking one a week on special occasions.
5.American pizza. My son is probably the only kid not to go bananas for pizza. Italian pizza is quite different from American pizza, having a very thin crust and not too much stuff on top. American pizza is, well, American pizza- a food group all to itself. William loves the American stuff but could take or leave the puny Italian kind.
His favorite American culinary tradition though is breakfast. I think that not only he loves it because its good, but also because it reminds him of good times around the breakfast table in Texas with his aunts and uncles and cousins. Geez, what's not to like about breakfast!
Italy, despite all of its delicious coffee and coffee drinks, isn't too big on the breakfast. Most mornings, for most people, it's cookies and caffè latte or a pastry and a cappuccino at a bar. I have never gotten in to that myself. I like the protein.
My son who was born in Italy and is being raised in Italy has a few Texan, or I guess I should rather say American, habits and tastes that go against the Italian grain.
1. American breakfasts. If it was for William, we would be eating eggs, bacon, pancakes AND waffles, breakfast tacos, sausage, etc. etc., every morning. I usually do the big breakfast for him and me on Saturdays or Sundays. My husband sticks to boring milk and cookies.
2. William loves Mexican food. Over the years I have learned the tricks of creating passable Mexican food in Italy. By substituting Greek yogurt for sour cream, piadine Mulino Bianco for flour tortillas, and knowing where to buy cheap avocados and adding the few ingredients that I bring back from Texas (chili powder, ancho peppers, corn tortillas), one can create a very tasty and convincing Mexican meal. William makes me proud by downing as much guacamole as he can.
3. Peanut butter- peanut butter is as foreign to Italians as eating brains is to us Americans. I know that I was raised on a peanut butter-heavy diet and many of my US friends were, too. I never realized that it, especially combined with jam on bread, is just kind of weird. when my son is in American he is fed at least a couple of pb&j s a week and over the years he has acquired the taste. My husband, no.
4. ROOT BEER- Now this is probably the most random. A lot of Americans don't like root beer, William loves it. A good friend of ours brings us cases from the US Army base for William and he will hoard the cans for months, drinking one a week on special occasions.
5.American pizza. My son is probably the only kid not to go bananas for pizza. Italian pizza is quite different from American pizza, having a very thin crust and not too much stuff on top. American pizza is, well, American pizza- a food group all to itself. William loves the American stuff but could take or leave the puny Italian kind.
His favorite American culinary tradition though is breakfast. I think that not only he loves it because its good, but also because it reminds him of good times around the breakfast table in Texas with his aunts and uncles and cousins. Geez, what's not to like about breakfast!
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