Archive for the ‘life in calabria’ Category
Peaches Soaked in Red Wine a.k.a. Drunken Peaches
This week’s What’s Cooking Wednesday recipe comes straight from my Italian-American grandmother, who introduced me to alcohol by offering me a peach slice that had been soaking in red wine for goodness knows how long. I don’t know how old I was, but I do remember having to look *up* at the kitchen table to accept said peach slice.
To be fair, I was always smallish.
Peaches in red wine are a great simple summer dessert after you’ve enjoyed a fabulous meal and want the party to last just a little bit longer. They are also great as an afternoon pick-me-up, and depending on the strength of the wine, this could pick you up *and* spit you out. But you’ll enjoy every moment!
So the ingredients this week are few–no, not even, they’re couple.
Peaches Soaked in Red Wine or Drunken Peaches
1. You need some red wine; if your father-in-law makes it like mine does, all the better.
Kindly note of our fancy wine glasses. Yes, they are Nutella glasses. You see, we’re paesani and real wine glasses rarely make it out of the cabinet.
2. You need fresh, ripe peaches.
For those of you who don’t like peaches because of the fuzz, this recipe is for you since I recommend peeling the peaches before soaking.
Peel, remove the pit, slice, and place in a glass of red wine. Let soak for as long as you can stand it. I usually leave them in the wine for about 10 to 20 minutes.
3. Enjoy each delicious slice one at a time with sips of wine in between if you like.
Notice, as well, our fancy plastic plates. What you see is what you get, faithful readers — there ain’t no fancying up peaches soaked in red wine in this house.
But they’re still pretty, don’t you think?
Tasty too.
Buon appetito!
Do you soak your fruit in alcohol? Do tell!
Settling Into Southern Italy
In the last group of questions, two specifically addressed my settling into life here in southern Italy. I shall do my best to answer them. (Not sure why these photos aren’t very crisp, but please do click on them to see them in better quality on Flickr.)
(1) AmberBee of Under Western Skies, formerly of Quasi Italiana!, asked “Do you think that you would feel as settled in a large city, or do you think your small community there (and the fact that you can get to know everyone) has helped you feel welcome there, and that it is really ‘home?’ Do you think your happiness quotient would have changed had you lived in a different part of Italy… Or would Italy have been ‘home’ no matter where you live there?”
This is an excellent question, AmberBee. Let me say that I felt at home in this village from the first time I visited, when I knew no one, spoke no Italian let alone Calabrese and had a very responsible job and promising career ahead of me in the States.
When I was here that first time, I felt like my soul connected with this place on a level I couldn’t make sense of myself. I cried when it when it was time to go home, even though I knew I would be back. In fact, I knew a few days into my trip that I would live here–a silly proposition, really, for someone who couldn’t speak the language and knew no one in the country.
I didn’t know when I would live here and for how long, but it was almost like I didn’t have a choice. And looking back, I’m not sure I did.
When I did go back to the States for a few months, this place pulled me back every day even though I was perfectly happy to spend hours on end with my niece and nephew there. But there was just *something* inside of me telling me where I needed to be, and it was here.
No, I don’t think it’s “Italy” in general or even “Calabria” that I call “home.” It’s this village. And yes, I do think that P, his family and the welcoming neighbors have helped me get settled, and I believe that’s exactly the way it was meant to be.
I hope that answers your question.
(2) Vita asked: “Do you have some philosophy or view point about that – like that Italians have simpler, happier lives? I know that’s a very personal question and I know people have asked about what you miss in the States and I’ve read those posts (coffee, etc..) but I’m wondering about more esoteric ideas – like the way Americans are direct. The way things get done more efficiently – or, have you somehow moved through that and found that the way of life in Italy is somehow more satisfying to your soul?”
Oh Vita, where can I begin? I’m not a high-strung person by nature. The rat race never attracted me even when I was in school with quite a few rats (and snakes and worms, etc.). I don’t need things done yesterday, and I certainly don’t need everything I could ever imagine available to me 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Quite frankly, I don’t need very many “things” at all.
So is the laid-back, simpler Italian (village) lifestyle more satisfying to my soul? Well, I’d say yes. I have simple needs when it comes right down to it, and as a Libra, I can even be overwhelmed by too many choices.
But do I think Italians are happier because of the general way of life here? Intrinsically, no, I don’t think so. I know a lot of Italians who get just as fed up with inefficiency and waiting as the average American would and who would love to give Telecom and, ahem, Berlusconi a swift kick where the sole don’t shine.
Here’s my thing: Happiness is an individual thing, and I’m lucky/blessed to be in charge of my own happiness–not everyone has this luxury. Even better, every moment gives me a new opportunity to choose happiness. How cool is that?
I’ve found my happy place, quite literally, and no, it’s not paradise all the time, but what fun would life be if there were no lemons? You all know I love lemons.
More questions answered next Monday!
If you have any, leave them in the comments!
how i ended up in italy, what i miss and when i’ll be leaving
Continuing on with answering questions, I’ve grouped together ones that address how I got to Italy, what I miss and whether I see myself moving back to the United States.
First, I’ll talk about how I got here for Sparky Duck of Philly Transplant, Chel of Chasing Contentment and Stefanie of Stefanie Says (who asked how I got to *this* village specifically).
I’ve written about my decision to move to Italy in You Say Goodbye, I Say Hello, and I’m not sure I can do better than that, so I’ll direct you there. The short answer to how ended up here is basically that I wanted to come, but I do hope you’ll read my more thought-out response by clicking on the above link.
How I ended up in this particular village is more fully addressed in House of Violets, which explores the many signs that I received from the universe telling me I was on the right path by moving here. As you might imagine from the post title, violets were involved.
Both of these posts, by the way, are some of my favorites that I’ve written, so please do check them out if you have some time.
Oh, and Chel also wanted to know where I grew up in the States. The answer is that I’m a proud coal cracker from the heart of the Anthracite Coal Region in Pennsylvania, which you can read more about at CoalRegion.com.
Someday I’ll tell you all about cruisin’ Shamokin, working at Knoebels Amusement Resort (the K is *not* silent) and our own version of Friday Night Lights over some Vitamin Y if you like der butt.
And if you think I came halfway around the world and *didn’t* bring a few pieces of anthracite with me in a mini coal bucket, holy cripes, you’re crazy in the head!
Now, Thotlady and Paul of Crazy Like Whoa would like to know about missing the States. Thotlady wrote “I am sure you get homesick for family and familiarity. But do you ‘deep down’ miss the states?” whereas Paul is looking for something more specific that I miss.
To put this in perspective, I’ve been living in Italy for nearly five years (my anniversary is at the end of August), but don’t hate me, Americans: I really don’t miss the States.
As Thotlady said, I definitely miss family and also friends and being able to spend physical time with the people I love (especially my niece and nephew) but there is nothing really intrinsic about life in those United States that I miss.
Perhaps a few years ago, I might’ve said something about the differences in bureaucracy, 24-hour stores, certain fast food, but really? Eh. Life is what you make of it no matter where you are, and I’m really, truly happy here. I don’t spend too much time thinking about “But in the US…” because it’s not helpful to anyone–least of all to me. I’m not saying Italy is perfect by any means (talk to me when I have to wait in line to pay a bill at the post office!) but I’ve learned to love my adopted country, wrinkles and all.
That said, you know what I do kind of miss, Paul, that falls outside the family and friends category?
Waking up on a gorgeous, sunny (humidity-free–it could happen!) Philadelphia weekend morning in my quaint (rented) row home that I *loved*, walking up to the corner for a *big* (maybe flavored) coffee and powdered (Tastykake) donuts and then going home and settling in to read a huge Inky from cover to cover. And then doing the crossword puzzle.
I also miss going to Phillies games. And walking around the Italian Market. And spending hours in the Philadelphia Museum of Art and Borders.
So yes, there are *some* specific, uniquely USian experiences that I still do miss, or at least Philadelphian ones.
I suppose it’d also be nice to have the choice to flit to NYC, Boston or DC for the weekend as well, but Rome, Florence and Sicily aren’t shabby options either.
And finally, NYC/Caribbean Ragazza, herself a recent transplant to the Bel Paese, asked whether I see myself moving back at some point.
Only if dragged kicking and screaming to the plane, cara.
I know, mai dire mai (never say never) but I *can* say that I’m staying put for the foreseeable future. Italy definitely isn’t the place for everyone, but it certainly is for me. How do I know that? Cheesy though it may be, I feel it deep within my very core, and I’ve felt it from the first time I set foot in Calabria in 2002.
And I’m smart enough not to argue with my core.
Thanks for reading!
Be sure to come back next Monday for more answers to readers’ questions!
Have something you want answered? Ask in the comments!
Love Thursday: Love on the Rocks
I wasn’t going to post today, but since Judith in Umbria is dying to know what’s happening here in Calabria (see her pleading comment to yesterday’s post here) *and* I was blessed with many visions of love this morning, here I am!
Mom is still with us (woohoo!), and we’ve been spending lots of time talking and shopping and cooking and walking with the pooches.
Oh, and also going to the beach, as we did this morning after getting up bright and early to beat the crowd. That’s a joke, by the way, as many of the Italians around here won’t start really going to the beach until next month at the earliest.
But if you’re interested, come on down! The water’s fabulous!
So Mom and I spent a couple early morning hours relaxing by and in the Ionian Sea and then we headed for cappuccini, a visit with P’s mom, two quick stops to pick up rosemary and olive foccaccia from the bread shop and veal cutlets from my favorite butcher and then we came back to the village for lunch with P.
Such a fabulous day and it’s only 3 p.m. as I type this!
So much love in the air and since today is Love Thursday, I’m sure you know that I happened to find some heart-shaped rocks at the beach to share with you:
Love on the Rocks!
Come on Neil Diamond fans (Mom included);
you know you want to sing along!
Happy Love Thursday everyone!
What’s Cooking Wednesday: Tomato and Red Onion Salad
One of the best parts of having my mom here is a built-in buddy for market–hopping–and I’m talking about every market within a 40 kilometer radius.
Of course we’re having lots of fun in our travels, but all this marketing also means we’ve been enjoying even more fresh fruits and vegetables than usual…more hands to carry market booty! Woohoo!
As you probably know, I love tomatoes. So for today’s What’s Cooking Wednesday I’m sharing my absolute favorite way to enjoy fresh summer tomatoes (those in the US especially, be careful about salmonella right now!).
Here they are paired with “le cipolle rosse di Tropea,” the famous red onions from Tropea, a gorgeous town on the Tyrrhenian Sea, which is on the other side of Calabria (for those who don’t know, I’m on the Ionian Sea). These onions are some of the sweetest red onions in the world and are well-known not only in Italy but also throughout Europe–if you’re here, be sure to give them a try!
A tomato and red onion salad is a quick, easy, refreshing, delicious dish that is great at midday when the last thing I want to do is turn on the stove. It is dressed simply with olive oil, fresh basil, oregano and salt, and you’re welcome to throw in whatever other veggies you like; we especially enjoy cucumbers in this.
Along with the salad, P and I usually have something else uncooked with it, often local suppresata, cheese and bread but this is another favorite:
Bel Paese cheese spread on bread topped with prosciutto crudo
Doesn’t get any better than this after you’ve enjoyed a morning at the beach.
Tomato & Red Onion Salad
3 large tomatoes cut into bite-sized chunks
2 small red onions from Tropea, sliced
Olive oil, fresh basil, oregano and salt to taste
The longer you let the flavors mingle, the better this is, so I recommend making it early in the morning for lunchtime.
Buon appetito!
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
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