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dogs and hedgehogs, perfect together
Hope everyone had a lovely weekend. We had marginally nice weather here–warm, the sun peaking out every now and again, but very windy . . . hello scirocco!
So I spent most of the weekend indoors working, trying to get ahead so that when primavera really does come along I won’t feel guilty playing outside.
But don’t worry, I also made time to play inside with the girls; my mom made that just a bit easier for us as these arrived on Friday afternoon:
The girls’ reaction? Utter joy.
Mixed with “Are YOU talkin’ to ME?”
And “Don’t you touch my hedgie!”
And a little break in the action.
And a final, “Grazie Nonna! Ti vogliamo bene!”
I hope you regularly make time to play as well.
weekend homework: a chat with the universe
Cu stavi mutu non po’ essiri servutu.
~ Calabrian proverb
Loosely translated, if you don’t speak up, you can’t get what you want.
Or if you prefer, tell the universe what you want.
Or, as my friend Tina wrote recently,
Go. Think. Tell.
Buon weekend!
P.S. Go check out this week’s La Buona Cucina Americana recipe:
Barbecue Baked Beans with Bacon from Sara of Ms Adventures in Italy!
love thursday: heartin’ politics
It’s almost time! Italian elections will be held Sunday and Monday.
Other than having two days instead of one to vote, another big difference in elections here (from those in the US) is that the parties running on the local level adopt their own names, logos, and slogans.
What does that mean? Well, for example, the party that I’ll be voting for on Sunday is aligned with the larger Partito Democratico on the national level but it has its own symbol, completely different from that of the PD.
What does this have to do with Love Thursday?
Well for the past few weeks, everywhere I turn in the village I see:
Happy Love Thursday everyone!
What’s Cooking Wednesday: Mediterranean Eggplant Soup
This past weekend I had some eggplants/aubergines sitting here waiting to be used.
I thought about Pasta alla Norma, Calabrian stuffed eggplant, or eggplant balls, but decided that I really wanted some zuppa to warm me up–we had quite a chilly, windy weekend–so I went to the Interwebs to find something new.
I found this recipe for Mediterranean Eggplant Soup from Vegetarian Soups for All Seasons: Bountiful Vegan Soups and Stews for Every Time of Year by Nava Atlas.
It looked fabulous, so I gave it a try, making my own adjustments, including substituting the “Italian herb mix” with a few sprigs of rosemary and thyme (and of course peperoncino) and adding a vegetable bouillon cube at the last minute for a little kick.
I also sprinkled some grated cheese on at the end because, well, I do that with pretty much every soup I eat.
I didn’t, however, add the small soup pasta that is called for because I really wanted to keep it light *and* I wasn’t in the mood for pasta (I know, call the authorities!).
When I make this again, I’ll add even more vegetables and make it a more general Mediterranean vegetable soup–peas, green beans, zucchini, perhaps even some cannellini beans for texture. Another idea is to throw in some shrimp and maybe a dash of Old Bay seasoning.
As you can tell, I think this is a great base for tomato vegetable soup, and all the better if you have your own stock ready. And *so* easy. Be creative!
Mediterranean Eggplant Soup
(Zuppa di Melanzane)
[adapted from Vegetarian Soups for All Seasons: Bountiful Vegan Soups and Stews for Every Time of Year by Nava Atlas]
*serves 6-8
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 large onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 celery stalks, diced
5 cups water
1 vegetable bouillon cube or replace one cup of water with stock
2 medium eggplants, peeled and cut into 1/2-inch dice
1 28-ounce can diced tomatoes, undrained
A few sprigs rosemary and thyme
Pinch of peperoncino
1/4 cup finely chopped fresh parsley
Salt to taste
1. Heat oil in a soup pot. Add onion, garlic, and celery and sauté over medium heat for a few minutes until onion is translucent.
2. Add water, bouillon cube, eggplant, tomatoes, rosemary, thyme, and peperoncino. Bring to a simmer and let cook until eggplant is tender, about 45 minutes.
3. Add parsley, and adjust the consistency to your liking. Season to taste with salt.
4. Grate some of your favorite cheese on top if you like, and serve immediately.
Buon appetito!
The Legend of Fata Morgana
You’re relaxing in the Strait of Messina between Calabria and Sicily, enjoying the perfectly still water and air.
All is right with the world, you think, as you sip the local red.
You gaze into the glistening water and suddenly you feel like you’re closer to the island of Sicily than you thought you were. Indeed, it looks like you could reach out and touch it!
Is this what a sun stroke feels like?
Have you enjoyed a bit too much vino?
The history of southern Italy goes back as far as civilization itself, and so do many of her superstitions (malocchio anyone?) and myths–including the famous legend of the Fata Morgana, the Fairy Morgan, half-sister of King Arthur.
The story goes that as Roger de Hauteville sat on the coast of our bella Calabria dreaming of a Norman conquering of Sicily, he caught a whiff of orange blossoms and heard celebratory music coming from the Tyrrhenian Sea.
A hermit (clearly breaking Hermit Code) informed Roger that the melodies arose from Sicily, where Saracens were dancing and partying as Christians suffered in slavery.
Roger wanted to go over immediately, but he didn’t have ships to cross the Strait (and dang it, there was no ferry at the time). So he sat some more on the beach, as many of us do, wondering what to do next.
Improvvisamente a fairy with a magical coach and seven white horses appeared before him and offered to transport him to the island.
Roger refused her help, which angered the Fairy Morgan. In retaliation, she threw three stones into the sea making Sicily appear achingly within the reach of Roger.
He stood his ground, though, and proclaimed that he didn’t need the help of some fairy to conquer Sicily–all he needed was the help of Jesus Christ!
The fairy and her illusions disappeared, and later on, Roger did get to Sicily with his own ships and conquered the island in the name of Jesus Christ.
Indeed, he is now known as Roger I of Sicily.
It is said that the image seen by Roger still appears off the coast of Reggio Calabria often on mornings following cold nights when there is calm, still air and water. The shore of Sicily appears reflected in and above the sea, with buildings lengthened and deformed, depicting a colorful, moving, magical city of Messina.
This meteorological (and some say mythical) mirage is knows as the Fata Morgana, and she patiently awaits your arrival. You have to buy the wine though.
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.
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