Archive for 2011
World Nutella Day 2011: Nutella Spice Cake + What To Do With an Empty Nutella Jar
I’ve been curious about the cinnamon-Nutella combination for a while, so when I saw a Nutella Cinnamon Cake recipe at JamieOliver.com, I thought it’d give a whirl — with a Calabrese twist.
Read on...
The Importance of the Pig in Southern Italy
U porcu (not the one that got slaughtered)
It would be difficult to overstate the importance of the pig in southern Italy.
We have an excellent abundance of fresh fruits and vegetables, and we do eat a lot of them, but “u porcu” is definitely King. In fact, many Calabrian families still raise at least one pig a year, and from that animal comes all the salumi, including supressata and salsiccia, for the year.
As I recently learned, the really large pigs are used more for these insaccati (literally meat in sacks/casings), and smaller pigs are slaughtered for the “ordinary” pork that you’d use in a ragù or for porkchops and the like.
*
Meat ready for casings
There is a true ceremony regarding the pig from the daily feeding and cleaning (you do have to keep up with the cleaning because they are absolutely the stinkiest creatures I’ve ever been around) to the slaughter and packaging of the meat, which is often a two-day family affair held up in the campagna, or countryside.
There is plenty of work to be done, of course, but it’s accomplished through teamwork (everyone has a specific job), joking, stories of times past, gossip, laughter, wine, and, of course, plenty to eat. And nothing — I mean *nothing* — is wasted.
Whatever isn’t cut up or ground into sausage meat is boiled and eaten as a dish that people here go absolutely crazy for — “frittole.” I’m personally not a fan, but there’s no denying that the pig doesn’t die in vain; there is the utmost respect for each and every part of him. The rough economic times especially after World War II are still fresh in many minds here, so there’s not a whole lot of waste in general.
*
Work station for frittole.
For frittole, parts such as ears and feet are chopped if necessary, skin is shaved free of hair with disposable razors, and all gets thrown into an enormous pot to boil. Serve with a squeeze of lemon and salad, and you have a Calabrian feast.
Bits of fat and meat are also added to gelatin, vinegar, and hot pepper to make suzzu, which is eaten cold on bread.
In times past, even the blood of the pig was collected to make sanguinaccio, a dessert made with pig’s blood, cinnamon, orange zest, and vino cotto. While some people still make this, it does seem this tradition is fading a bit.
As for me? I prefer the liver sauteed with onions in white wine. And yes, I now feel a little like Hannibal Lector having written that, but it’s *so* tasty.
*
Several months ago, P and I and another couple bought two enormous pigs together; this way, we split the feed and chores, and each get couple gets half of each pig. We’ll sell one half and use the other half for our own use.
Our big boys haven’t gone to slaughter yet, but they will soon. I haven’t decided yet whether I’ll attend. I’ve heard pigs being slaughtered from a distance, and I’m not sure it’s something I really need to see up close, but we’ll see.
*
This past weekend, P helped another friend with a pig slaughter and then we all ate up in their campagna after they had packaged all the insaccati for the year. Most of their family was there, men and women working together on the project; they found it rather funny when I told them that in America, the men are usually the ones who make the insaccati.
“Here the women do everything while the men smoke and drink,” replied one of the woman. Ahem.
Making supressata
Back home, the men in my family were definitely in charge of making “soupie” as we call them in the Coal Region, but this year, P and I will be learning the ropes from his aunt as we work with the products from our very first pig together.
And in Calabria, this is right up there with a wedding or birth of a child as one of the biggest milestones you can have in a relationship.
*That* is how important the pig is in southern Italy.
Hooks used during slaughter.
My One-Word Theme for 2011: Now
During my 2010 Year End meme, I mentioned I don’t do resolutions, but I am doing something different regarding goal-setting this year. I’ve been setting goals for a while now, and although I’ve been fairly successful at reaching them, I feel like I need to kick things up a notch in 2011 to really make some progress on several items that have been hanging around on the to-do list.
And wouldn’t you know it, the Universe, as it is wont to do, sent me in the direction of a concept that is all over the place but that I have somehow missed up to this point in my life.
Reverb 10 calls it the “One-Word” prompt, asking readers to think of one word that described 2010 and then to imagine what they’d like that one word to be for the upcoming year. Chris Guillebeau calls it his “theme” for the year, while Christine Kane labels it the “Word of the Year,” and even offers a free worksheet to help you figure out yours.
I love this idea, and the first word that popped in my mind was “NOW.”
now by Genista on Flickr
And then I immediately tried to analyze it away, telling myself it was too ordinary, too vague, too plain — and that it came too damn easy. But I just kept coming back to it because it speaks to me on so many levels.
*NOW* : stop procrastination when there are tasks that need to be done.
*NOW* : move forward on personal projects that have been sitting on the backburner for far too long.
*NOW* : live in the moment, practice mindfulness – one of the most important lessons I’ve learned in the past couple years and am still learning.
Then, just as all this was turning around in my head, my friend Pam posted this on Facebook on January 1:
“Inner peace comes with staying in the NOW!”
Yes. Yes. Yes.
And in the words of Van Halen:
(Right now) Hey! It’s your tomorrow
(Right now) Come on, it’s everything
(Right now) Catch your magic moment
Do it right here and now
It means everything.
So now I feel a little like Ally McBeal with a theme song in my head. You might not believe me, but I promise you that just having this word in my head has already pushed me to do several things that I may have otherwise convinced myself could wait another day. We’re but 10 days into January, and the word has been with me constantly as I stare down something else I’d rather put off…and you know what? Things are getting done.
Sure, you say, but how long will that last? Well, I’m hoping for another 11 months and a couple weeks, but who knows? And who really cares? I’ll still have all those accomplishments, and as many of you have probably already figured out, getting things done actually breeds getting more things done. There’s something so inherently inspiring about progress.
By the way, my “now” doesn’t refer only to work and chores either. It also plays nicely with downtime as I tell myself NOW is the time to turn off the computer, load that movie, make some popcorn, and just relax.
Do you have a word for 2011?
The Annual Year End Meme: 2010 Edition
I don’t remember being this excited for a new year in a long time — probably 10 years ago when I was entering my final semester of law school and would finally, finally be entering the “real world” in a few short months. I feel that same kind of anticipation now in the early days of 2011. This past year was one of growth, learning, and clarity for me, and I truly can’t wait to see what 2011 brings.
I first saw this Year End meme at Sundry Mourning, who originally copied it from Gwen’s Petty, Judgmental, Evil Thoughts back in 2004. This year’s version follows, and you can also check out previous ones: 2006, 2007, 2008, and 2009.
Pinta, about 20 hours old
1. What did you do in 2010 that you’d never done before? The biggest one that sticks out in my memory is delivering a baby goat – yes, with icky, gooey hands and all. In another huge milestone, I earned more as a freelance writer in one year than I ever have in my life. We also produced our very own olive oil, and I became an Eye on Italy podcast co-host, visited two new-to-me regions of Italy (Lombardia (Milan) and Piemonte (Acqui Terme)); met several online friends in person; trimmed goat hooves; made yoga a daily practice (had dabbled before but never with such regularity); participated in 750words.com, and I’m sure many other things I’m forgetting as it was really a full year.
2. Did you keep your new year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year? I don’t do resolutions, but I’m happy with my year overall. For next year, I have a new plan – and I will tell you about it shortly. Stay tuned!
3. Did anyone close to you give birth? Yes, all my goats and several friends, including one on December 21. Welcome to Calabria, Baby Max!
4. Did anyone close to you die? No one in my immediate family or friends, but an old high school friend.
5. What countries did you visit? Stayed in Italy this year.
6. What would you like to have in 2011 that you lacked in 2010? A book deal.
7. What dates from 2010 will remain etched upon your memory, and why? Pinta’s birth (March 22) because I’ll never forget my first goat midwifery experience.
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year? More than doubling my freelance writing income from last year.
9. What was your biggest failure? Unfinished manuscripts…AGAIN, but I’m already working on that. For real!
10. Did you suffer illness or injury? A really nasty cut on my right middle finger knuckle, right down to the bone, all healed now. Also a cold upon coming back from northern Italy — my first in several years!
L'amaca in campagna
11. What was the best thing you bought? Our campagna! And my iMac, which despite looking like it had died has rebounded wonderfully.
12. Whose behavior merited celebration? My dogs, who accepted a cat into the house with very little to-do.
13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed? Most high-profile conservative politicians in the U.S. and Berlusconi.
14. Where did most of your money go? Our campagna!
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about? Our campagna!
16. What song will always remind you of 2010? Bad Romance, particularly this version:
17. Compared to this time last year, are you: (a) happier or sadder? (b) thinner or fatter? (c) richer or poorer? Definitely not sadder or poorer…not sure if happier, thinner, fatter, or about the same. Eh, I’m happy. That’s plenty.
18. What do you wish you’d done more of? Various personal projects.
19. What do you wish you’d done less of? Wasting time.
20. How did you spend Christmas? With P’s parents.
21. Did you fall in love in 2010? Yup, with Pinters Magooch a million times over.
22. What was your favorite TV program? I liked several: The Good Wife, Brothers & Sisters, and Being Erica are probably the top three — ah and Lost, may it rest in peace.
23. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year? I don’t do hate.
24. What was the best book you read? Voices by Dacia Maraini.
25. What was your greatest musical discovery? See #16 (hint: not Gaga).
26. What did you want and get? An actual work space.
27. What did you want and not get? An actual kitchen.
Letters to Juliet on Amazon
28. What was your favorite film of this year? Letters to Juliet in all its cheeseball glory, although in my defense, I didn’t see many new movies this year.
29. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you? I turned 34, and we had a quiet dinner at home.
30. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying? See #6.
31. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2010? Comfort and goats first.
32. What kept you sane? The girls – goats and dogs.
33. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most? Gotta be the Bear (same as last year).
34. What political issue stirred you the most? Probably health care once again.
35. Who did you miss? Same people I always miss.
36. Who was the best new person you met? I met several online friends in northern Italy in November. Yay!
37. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2010. Simplicity (I’m still learning).
38. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.
There’s a song that they sing when they take to the highway
A song that they sing when they take to the sea
A song that they sing of their home in the sky
Maybe you can believe it if it helps you to sleep
But singing works just fine for me.
~Sweet Baby James, James Taylor
Please feel free to fill out your own end of year meme and post the link in the comments!
Buon Anno from Southern Italy!
Wishing you and yours much love, happiness, health, and tante belle cose in 2011:
1. img_0122, 2. Letter B (Silver Spring, MD), 3. The letter ‘u’, 4. Hair Raising, 5. University Club Entryway Pilaster Letter N (New York, NY), 6. The Number Two (2), 7. O, 8. One year on …., 9. one, 10. Letter A, 11. N, 12. N, 13. White Capital “O” Stenciled on a Brick Wall (Silver Spring, MD)14. Not available15. Not available16. Not available
Made at Big Huge Labs.
Michelle 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.
Calabria Guidebook
Recipes
