drowning our sorrows

As many of you may know, Italy is currently without a Prime Minister. Some of my expat blogging friends have written about it as it is currently our biggest news story.

Far be it from me to be the one to understand educate you on Italian politics, but let’s just say that this is a frequent occurrence (over 60 changes in power since World War II), so no one should be scared.

We still have a president after all.

Feel better? No?

How about a Kinder treat?

P threw one of these in my bag yesterday as I set off for school, knowing that I get peckish mid-afternoon. I’ve always avoided these Kinder snacks (although the little chocolate eggs are heavenly), but just as P guessed, I hit it around 4 p.m.

It was love at first bite with its orange and chocolate flavors mixed together in cakey deliciousness. And then I tasted a little tinge of…something…alcoholic?

Was it possible that these children’s treats are laced with Jesus Juice?

And there it is in plain Italian. Third line down.

If you don’t speak Italian, “liquore” means “liquor,” “vino liquoroso” is a port-like wine, Marsala for instance, and “alcool” indeed means “alcohol,” and in this Kinder snack, you’ll find 8.5%.

Again, like the resignation of Prodi, I don’t really know what that percentage means, but I do know that I felt really nice after the Kinder fiesta bar, that I no longer cared about the government’s status, that yesterday’s lesson went swimmingly, and that I’ve already requested a box full for next week.

Now let’s hope we’ll soon be able to raise our Kinders and salute the new (or old, as it may be) governo.

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[tags]italian government, romano prodi, kinder snacks, italy[/tags]

21 Beans of Wisdom to “drowning our sorrows”
  1. heather
    02.23.2007

    You know, I had those several times while I was in Italy. Now I know why I liked them so much!!!

  2. Annika
    02.23.2007

    Oh I am such a disturbed person. I guess I should have been indignant at the presence of alcohol, but instead I was amazed that I didn’t find any nuts among the ingredients. Can that be right?! A chocolate treat without nuts? The regular Kinder eggs have nuts…

  3. nyc/caribbean ragazza
    02.23.2007

    chocolate and alcohol? brillant.

  4. Johnaesthetica
    02.23.2007

    Mmm, citrusy, chocolately, alcoholic kids snacks.

    Sounds like a good time to me.

  5. Delina
    02.23.2007

    If that’s what it takes to get you through the afternoon then I can see no wrong in it ๐Ÿ™‚

    You’ll be taking a hip flask next. LOL!

  6. Enza
    02.23.2007

    Chocolate and alcohol, what a delightful combination and I must say that anytime is the right time. i have been known to sip Strega at 9:00am!! Isn’t it 5:00 somewhere? ๐Ÿ™‚

  7. The (Mis)Adventures of a Single City Chick
    02.23.2007

    Ha! Sounds like the equivalent of our beer/wine Fridays that tend to start around 4pm here at work. Makes everything seem so much easier to deal with, doesn’t it? ๐Ÿ˜‰

    Christina

  8. Giulia
    02.24.2007

    Just about everything here is laced with alcohol. Great for the adults, but not for the kiddies! jmo

  9. Britt-Arnhild
    02.24.2007

    Alcohol in kid’s chocolate. LOL, that must be Italy.

    I have a crave for chocolate these days, and last night we feasted on a chocolate fundue. Oh, heavenly!

  10. Gil
    02.24.2007

    8.5% is most likely the percentage of alcohol in the liquor that is in your candy.

    I read that Itlay has now had 61 changes in governments in the 62 years since the end of WWII. I remember that not too long ago the number of governments outnumbered the number of years since the war ended. I wonder when the ratio changed. Happy teaching.

  11. Waspgoddess
    02.24.2007

    Oh, dear… So this is how the frazzled Italian parents placate their unruly kiddies. Nothing like a bit of booze to take the edge off…

  12. Becslifeonline
    02.24.2007

    Wow it’s unbelievable that it’s legal to give those alcohol laced treats to kids! I work part time in a store and we can’t even sell any chocolate containing alcohol to people under 18!

  13. Bongga Mom
    02.24.2007

    Kinder treats are so yummy, now I know why!!! Actually I haven’t seen those little cakes before, now I will look for them!

  14. Anne
    02.24.2007

    Hello,
    I found your blog while wandering and I have linked to you, hope that is OK!

  15. Frances
    02.24.2007

    My mouth is watering – chocolate & orange – I love that combo.
    Thanks so much for coming to visit mine.
    I totally agree with you about the blogging ๐Ÿ™‚
    Ciao Bella

  16. sarala
    02.24.2007

    It brings up a memory about my youth. There was a candy, I think called Baba au Rhum that had rum in it and it created a big to do because children ate them. I think they were removed from the market. Does anyone remember this?

  17. Becslifeonline
    02.25.2007

    Oh by the way… thanks for that book recommendation left on my comments a few posts ago! I haven’t read anything by Iyanla Vanzant before but I shall search for that book on Ebay or Amazon I think.

  18. michelle
    02.25.2007

    Oh my goodness. That snack sounds delicious, but what a surprise that it contains alcohol. It makes me wonder about other snacks that I favor as well. There are some marzipan chocolates imported from Germany that I grew up eating (as we lived in Germany for several years growing up since my mother is from Berlin), and I have always wondered if they had a taste of alcohol in them. As an adult now, I have purchased them, but have not yet read the label. I’m actually embarrassed by the fact that I haven’t read the label, because we should honestly always read the labels concerning the foods we are putting into our bodies. Your post is inspirational in many ways. ๐Ÿ˜‰

    Kudos! ๐Ÿ™‚

  19. Paolo
    02.26.2007

    From the land that gave us caffรจ corretto, another magnificent advance for civilisation!

  20. Cherrye
    02.26.2007

    No wonder Cole wanted me to bring him more next time…ha ha…those little suckers are good!

  1. [...] last time Italy’s government fell eleven months ago, I posted this and suggested we all turn to al... bleedingespresso.com/2008/01/italys-government-falls-again.html
Michelle KaminskyMichelle Kaminsky is an American attorney-turned-freelance writer who lived in her family's ancestral village in Calabria, Italy for 15 years. This blog is now archived. 

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Calabria travel guide by Michelle Fabio

Recipes

 

Homemade apple butter
Green beans, potatoes, and pancetta
Glazed Apple Oatmeal Cinnamon Muffins
Pasta with snails alla calabrese
Onion, Oregano, and Thyme Focaccia
Oatmeal Banana Craisin Muffins
Prosciutto wrapped watermelon with bel paese cheese
Fried eggs with red onion and cheese
Calabrian sausage and fava beans
Ricotta Pound Cake