should auld acquaintance be forgot...

Hope you get a special kiss and sing a few rounds of Auld Lang Syne!

Felice Anno Nuovo!

operation sky: completed!

This morning I watched Will & Grace.

In English.

For the first time in three years.

Then I watched The Gilmore Girls, or as they call it here, Una Mamma per Amica. And now I'm watching some Ben Affleck Christmas film.

I'm finding that the voices I used to find so familiar now sound a bit strange.

Must be...all that English! Woohoo!

Now, is it wrong that I'm rethinking our New Year's Eve plans because I'd rather be home with my Sky TV?

I know this probably isn't very exciting for non-expats, but for those who have been or are in my shoes, you know what I'm talking about. I don't plan on abusing my Sky TV privileges (after at least a few days of gluttony), but it's nice to have choices.

To put this in perspective, let me describe what my television experience was like only yesterday:

There are 6 main Italian channels, three owned by RAI and three owned by the Former Prime Arsehole Minister Silvio Berlusconi. To say that these channels are overrun with game shows featuring scantily clad "dancers" is just the sad, offensive truth. And to point out that both sets of channels have extremely political slants as to what is shown on the news and other journalistic programs is a gross understatement.

There are occasionally decent movies, but a good six times out of ten they are blacked out so we can't see them anyway. And then there's the fact that they showed Legends of the Fall on Christmas night. But we've been through that.

Other programming includes political and soccer/calcio debating shows--sometimes together in the same discussion, always loud and obnoxious. The art of letting one person speak at a time and then waiting for a response is not practiced on RAI, Canale 5, or Italia Uno. And then there's all the soccer games, many of which are blacked out anyway.

On the other hand, I must be fair. I do give props to basic cable's travel and nature programs. They aren't National Geographic or Discovery, but they're not bad. I've learned about many little-known Italian locations and a lot of Italian history because of these. And Canale 5 does a few "fiction" shows that I like, such as RIS, which I mentioned yesterday.

But the biggest benefit to having only 6 channels all in Italian was that it *really* helped improve my language skills. Without Italian personalities like Paolo Bonolis and Maria De Filippi (oh, I'll still be watching C'è Posta Per Te and Amici even though Maria kinda scares me), I just might be speaking Italian like Paris Hilton.

And let's not forget that by watching only Italian-language television, I was truly immersed in a major part of the culture; I wouldn't even know who Paolo and Maria are if I wasn't forced by RAI and Berlusconi to bring them into my world. That'd be like an American not knowing Rosie O'Donnell from Oprah. Unthinkable, I know.

Quite honestly, without this invaluable cultural knowledge, I don't think I'd ever truly feel a part of what's going on around here. For better or worse, television plays a big role in many cultures, and Italy is no exception. In fact, television is often one of the only things around which I can build a conversation--especially with those who would rather discuss how to clean my stove than whether gay marriages should be sanctioned by the government.

Ah, bridging the great cultural divide one satellite dish at a time.

So, in sum, I don't regret that I've gone three years without hearing Larry King's voice (which I did finally hear this morning as CNN reran his interview with the late President Gerald Ford) as it made me the expat I am today. No doubt about it--drowning in Italian television helped me grow. But now I'm ready for Animal Planet, The History Channel, all the Fox stations, and, oh, so much more.

Welcome to my world, Sky TV. Baby girl's all grows up.

looking back on 2006

I completed the following meme because:

(1) I saw it on some of the blogs I read and love, and I'm a copycat at heart;

(2) Since I only started blogging in December, this can fill you in on the rest of my year in just 39 (!) simple questions;

(3) I don’t have anything else remotely interesting to say today (not to insinuate that this is interesting, but at least it's something).

Like to hear it? Here it goes.

1. What did you do in 2006 that you’d never done before? Started a blog, got my first translating gig, made Thanksgiving dinner all by myself, jarred hot peppers stuffed with anchovies and capers, became an Italian citizen, watched Italy win the World Cup, improved my Italian immensely, and learned to follow along a conversation in Calabrian dialect.

2. Did you keep your new year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year? I’ve never done resolutions, but maybe I will this year. Maybe I’ll make a resolution to do resolutions. Probably not though.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth? In February, my favorite Wisconsinite (baby girl Dorothea) and, in June, P’s sister-in-law in Perugia (baby boy Matteo). Auguri!

4. Did anyone close to you die? Thank goodness, no. But holy crap, I'm really going to miss Peter Boyle, and not just because we shared a birthday. He reminded me so much of my own grandfather. Brilliant.

5. What countries did you visit? Only the one I'm in.

6. What would you like to have in 2007 that you lacked in 2006? More assignments.

7. What dates from 2006 will remain etched upon your memory, and why? Wow, this is kinda sad but July 9, the day of the World Cup win and Headbutt Heard ‘Round the World. Nothing else comes to mind.

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year? Losing the weight I gained in law school.

9. What was your biggest failure? Not sending out my niece and nephew’s Christmas gift on time. We’re going to do a combination Christmas/Valentine’s Day package, I think.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury? Nothing serious this year, no. Now that you mention, though, I do feel a sore throat coming on. Thanks meme.

11. What was the best thing you bought? My new laptop. I heart her. Hard.

12. Whose behavior merited celebration? My doggie Luna. She has taken extremely well to being kept on a leash except for our long runs. And she only barks and snaps at shady-looking men now, a trait of which I'm exceedingly proud.

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed? Tie between most, if not all, members of the Bush administration. So tough to pick just one. And recently Donald Trump. What's up the Comb Over's bum anyway?

14. Where did most of your money go? Internet and phone bills (but so worth it).

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about? My digital camera.

16. What song will always remind you of 2006? Sei nell'Anima by Gianna Nannini or Shakira's Hips Don't Lie--everyone (except me and P) had this as their ring tone this summer.

17. Compared to this time last year, are you: (a) happier or sadder? (b) thinner or fatter? (c) richer or poorer? Well I’m thinner, but I’d say just about as happy and as economically challenged.

18. What do you wish you’d done more of? Walking with Luna.

19. What do you wish you’d done less of? Worrying about the small stuff.

20. How will you be spending Christmas? P and I spent it together eating and watching inappropriate Christmas films.

21. Did you fall in love in 2006? With P and Luna over and over (blech), but definitely with I Filippi.

22. How many one-night stands? Of what?

23. What was your favorite TV program? Lost, Prison Break, Veronica Mars, and RIS: Delitti Imperfetti, like the Italian CSI.

24. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year? I don’t hate anyone, just strongly disagree with many.

25. What was the best book you read? Nice Work by David Lodge.

26. What was your greatest musical discovery? Gianna Nannini. She's like the Italian, oh, Stevie Nicks or Carly Simon or something. The woman's got pipes and touching lyrics to boot.

27. What did you want and get? See number 15.

28. What did you want and not get? I’m still waiting for Sky TV (that’s a whole lotta channels in English for those who don’t know), but that just may happen later today. Fingers crossed.

29. What was your favorite film of this year? I didn’t see anything brand spanking new (the cinema is not a normal activity here), but, as I've mentioned, I really liked The Italian Job, which I only saw recently.

30. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you? P brought me breakfast in bed (cappuccino and cornetto) and then made me dinner (not immediately thereafter). And I turned, ahem, 30.

31. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying? If someone in my family or close circle of friends would have visited or if I would’ve been able to go home.

32. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2006? Fully American, i.e., function over fashion (as opposed to the spike heel boots, skinny jeans, and cropped faux-fur collared jackets that many Italians around me wear). Although I do manage to keep the baseball cap wearing to a minimum.

33. What kept you sane? The Internet, fellow expats, blogs, emails, and frequent phone calls.

34. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most? Oh geez, I think it was this guy from RIS, Lorenzo Flaherty. Purrrr.

35. What political issue stirred you the most? Iraq. Don’t get me started.

36. Who did you miss? My family, and in particular yard-saling on Saturday mornings with my mom, sister-in-law, niece, and nephew.

37. Who was the best new person you met? It’s a tie between two lovely ladies that made their ways to Calabria—Susanna (and her lovely family) and Lisa. Online I’ve “met” many interesting people, especially those at Expats in Italy.

38. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2006. No matter where you go, there you are.

39. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year. Two choices. First, trusty Gianna as mentioned above (my loose translation):

Sei nell’anima
E lì ti lascio per sempre
Sei in ogni parte di me
Ti sento scendere
Fra respiro e battito

You're in my soul
And there I'll leave you forever
You're in every part of me
I feel you go down inside of me
Between breath and heartbeat.

The second is more a forward-looking answer than a looking back, but it fits nonetheless: I'd like to think the best of me is still hiding up my sleeve.

And how was your year?

word association

Saw this on italian trivia a little while ago.

The rule is that you can type just one word--no explanations. I won't tag anyone, but feel free to play along if you like.

1. Yourself: clever
2. Your partner: thoughtful
3. Your hair: manageable
4. Your Mother: telephone
5. Your Father: Blazer
6. Your Favorite Item: Internet
7. Your Dream Last Night: couch
8. Your Favorite Drink: cappuccino
9. Your Dream Car: hybrid
10. Your Dream Home: secluded
11. The Room You Are In: kitchen
12. Your Ex: niente
13. Your Fear: losing
14. Where You Want To Be In Ten Years? mommy
15. Who You Hung Out With Last Night: P
16. What You're Not: flaky
17. Muffins: blueberry!
18. One of Your Wish List Items: SKY
19. Time: 3:42 p.m.
20. The Last Thing You Did: laundry
21. What You Are Wearing: sweater
22. Your Favorite Weather: autumnal
23. Your Favorite Book: many
24. Last Thing You Ate: chicory
25. Your Life: wow
26. Your Mood: up
27. Your Best Friends: American
28. What Are You Thinking About Right Now: dream
29. Your Car: Invisible
30. What Are You Doing At The Moment: breathing
31. Your Summer: uneventful
32. Relationship Status: engagedish
33. What Is On Your TV: nothing
34. What Is The Weather Like: sunshiny
35. When Is The Last Time You Laughed: “baby”

a virtual tour

Why yes I do happen to have some photos of my village. Thanks for asking!

From a photo-taking point in the piazza:

The main street, or as we say, Il Corso:

La piazza:

A cute building on the piazza that I think would be perfect for an Internet café:

Above the piazza:

More interesting photos to appear here periodically.

love thursday seconda parte: i don't mean to brag but...

I have the best mommy in the world (no offense to your mommies, of course).

Today I received this:


NB: This is the fourth outrageously heavy package I've received within the past month and a half.

Before my mom sent it, the story goes, my niece handed her an already sealed envelope to put in for me. Here are some of its contents:


That there on the left? Why yes, it *is* a snowflake cut out of a coffee filter.

Again, I don't mean to brag, but let's just say I'm a pretty durn lucky gal.

love thursday: whoooo's feeling it?

One day in June, a little girl showed up at our door with a shoebox in hand. Eyes droopy, she said, "Can you take care of him?" and pushed the box toward me. Him was a baby owl.

Now why would this little girl bring a baby owl to our house? Obviously because we have the (well-deserved) reputation for being the local animal rescue station. And, yes, I know you're not supposed to try to raise baby owls, that they're wild animals, blah blah, and I'm not in any way encouraging such behavior, but will you look at this face?*


So we took in this little guy and we fed him and loved him and named him Filippo. And for three weeks, he did silly things like this:


And this:


Then one morning, P rushed into the house asking whether Filippo had flown the coop. Why no, I said. He was safe in his cage.

"Well then whoooo's this?" he asked me (loosely translated).

In his hands, P was cupping a brown spotted owl, smaller and, quite frankly, prettier than Filippo.

Now, mind you, we do not live in the woods, so owls showing up on our doorstep isn't exactly expected. So we were left to wonder whoooo had been talking, because it sure seemed like word got out that our house was *the* place to grow up to be a big owl.

I think it could be because I went to law school at a certain Philadelphia university, but let's not jump to any conclusions. We named the new addition to the parliament Filippa, because clearly she was a girl owl from her petite and pretty status.

A few days later, once she emerged from hiding in Filippo's box, we were able to determine from the looks in their eyes that love had, indeed, bloomed.

And maybe I'm biased, but I think they both bear quite a resemblance to John Chaney--how cute are all of them?

In a personal side "Love Thursday" note, through taking care of Filippo and Filippa, I learned to love winged creatures, which, previously had only served to scare the bejeebers out of me.

The Filippi have since been freed and sighted nearby.

Happy Love Thursday everyone!

*All pictures taken months ago with a webcam and *not* the new digital camera.

what's cooking wednesday: italian wedding soup

This is my family's Christmas soup, and even though P had never even heard of it (hello? am I more Italian than you?), I made it as part of our Christmas festivities. Be forewarned: from start to finish, it was a 3 and a half hour (fun-filled) journey.

Italian wedding soup with escarole, mini-meatballs, pasta "bubbles" and egg drop on top is so time-consuming that it's usually made only for special occasions. Trust me, though, every minute of toiling over a hot stove is *so* worth it.

A few days ago was the first time I've ever made it by myself so indulge me while I give myself a big ole' pat on the back. I tried to pay special attention to the amounts of ingredients, because all that was passed down to me were basic guidelines (see my grandmother's original recipe for the pasta "bubbles" below). Incidentally, I've never seen another recipe that adds these "bubbles," as my grandmother called them, but they do add a lot to the soup (and personal satisfaction for a job well done).

Italian Wedding Soup
(serves 8-10)


For the broth:

1 three to four lb. chicken
Enough cold water to cover the chicken and to boil escarole
1 lb. escarole, chopped coarsely
3 stalks celery
3 white onions
2 teaspoons salt
ground black pepper to taste


For the mini-meatballs:
1/2 lb ground veal
1/2 lb ground pork
1/4 cup breadcrumbs
1 egg
1 tablespoon parsley
2 teaspoons onion powder
1 teaspoon garlic powder
2 tablespoons grated Pecorino Romano cheese
1 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon vegetable oil (for frying)

For the bubbles:
3 eggs
1/4 cup cold water
pinch salt
3 cups flour
1 tablespoon vegetable oil (for frying)

or, as my grandmother wrote:


For egg drop on top:
4 eggs
2 tablespoons grated Pecorino Romano cheese
pinch salt

Take the chicken (an old hen if possible) and put it in a large stock pot, covering it with cold water. Cook on medium to high heat for about an hour and a half, skimming off any white foam that surfaces.

At the same time, put the coarsely chopped escarole in salted water and, as my mother says, "boil the hell out of it." Seriously, you're not going to overcook this, so just let it cook until you're ready to throw in into the broth.

In the meantime, mix together all of the meatball ingredients and make little 1/2 inch balls--about the size of a marble is what we're looking for. Put these aside.

For the bubbles, beat together the egg, water, and salt, and then add the flour until you get a thick dough. If it's sticky, add more flour. Take off chunks of the dough and make into little snakes, and then cut off 1/4 inch pieces on an angle. Keep the bubbles separated from one another by using lots of flour; they are happier this way.


Also in the time the chicken and escarole are cooking, clean the celery and onion. No need to chop, as you'll be putting them in the broth whole and then taking out their biggest remaining chunks later.

Now you're ready to fry the bubbles. Put a tablespoon of vegetable oil in a frying pan set to high heat. Add as many bubbles as comfortably fit. Once they are a light golden brown color all around, remove them and put on paper towels to absorb excess oil.

Fry the meatballs in the same way, browning the surface, or, if you like, you can add them directly to the broth when you add the escarole and fried bubbles.

Once the chicken is cooked, remove it from the water and let cool. Add the celery, onions, salt, and pepper to the broth, and let cook for another half hour or until you start to see that the vegetables are getting mushy. You'll want to take out the biggest chunks, but if you like, take some of the mushiest and chop them very finely to throw back in.

In the meantime, clean off the chicken and put the meat back into pot, discarding bones and skin.

After you've removed the celery and onion chunks, drain the escarole and add to the broth. Also add the bubbles and meatballs. This mixture needs to cook for another half hour or so (possibly longer if you didn't fry the meatballs). The bubbles shouldn't be chewy but rather al dente, like any good pasta, and the meatballs should have no pink left.

Now we're ready for the finishing touch--the egg drop on top. While bringing the soup to a boil, in a separate bowl, beat the egg, cheese, and salt together. Once the soup is boiling, drizzle the egg mixture over the top of soup, swirling with a fork while the egg sets. Once the eggs are cooked, your wedding soup is ready.

You can serve with fresh grated Pecorino if you particularly love this cheesy flavor as I do. My grandmother also threw in a pasta called "Acine di Pepe," (àh-chin-ay dee péh peh) but, um, I couldn't find it. In Italy. Go figure.

And actually, a quick Google tells me that it's fairly popular in something called Frog Eye Salad (anyone ever made this?) and that the Acine isn't necessarily easy to find in every part of America either. From personal experience, if you happen to be in Northeastern/Central PA, though, you should be fine.

Anyway, any small soup pasta will do, but this time around I let the bubbles speak for themselves, and the soup was as delicious as I remembered.

A tip: If you didn't add the bubbles, or want to add soup pasta too, cook the pasta separately, and keep separate. When serving, put the desired amount of pasta in a bowl and then put the soup on top. If you leave the pasta in the soup, the bits get really bloated, and no one's happy bloated.

On the same note, if you're storing leftover soup, take out the bubbles and keep them separate in the refrigerator as well; they, too, will suck up your hard-earned broth. This is assuming your pot will fit in the fridge. If you live in a climate like where I grew up, you can do like we did and keep the pot of soup on the porch for natural refrigeration--just make sure it's actually cold enough to do so.

Because, you know, rancid wedding soup isn't really, how you say, enjoyable.

Buon appetito!

post-christmas wrap-up

No, this picture hasn't technically cleared the censors (P), but, in true holiday spirit, I'm going to do what I want and then hide the results. The real reason I'm posting this photo is to announce that I now have my very own digital camera!

Babbo Natale was extra generous this year, although he did require that I brave the nasty two-days-before-Christmas weather of driving rain and wind in order to earn my prize. But it's all good, folks--

We're here and we're taking pictures!


Nothing in Italy is ever easy though, folks (fellow expats, can I get an Amen?), and neither was acquiring my brand new Acer CS-6530.

After arriving in the town where I'd be shopping (half hour away), I walked into the store I had, weeks before, secretly chosen as my vendor of choice. In the window interspersed with various available photography-related products were lots of wedding portraits, but even that didn't stop me from attempting to buy there.

So what did stop me? The clerk.

Rude? No.

Unhelpful? Sort of, but not exactly.

The real reason I didn't end up buying from this store was because this guy wouldn't sell me anything! I shuffled into the store after shaking off any excess water that had gathered on the brim of my baseball cap (worn only in the heaviest rains here), the hood that was over the hat, and my rain jacket. As I wiped my feet on the benvenuti mat, I asked the clerk to see the Fuji camera in the window.

The following exchange ensued, translated for your reading pleasure:

Cute elderly man: Oh we don't have Fuji, but we do have Sony, Canon, Acer....

Me: But I saw a Fuji in the window.

CEM: Oh, really? Well this is my son's store. I'm just filling in for him.

Me: That's nice of you. Can I see the camera?

CEM: I don't know anything about the cameras. My son's the one that can tell you about which one you'd need, how to set it up, the warranty. I'm just a 70-year-old man. I don't know about these things.

Me: Right, but I know a little about cameras myself, and I know which one I want.

CEM: But I can't sell you one without my son here.

Me: I see. Will he be back soon?

CEM: Tomorrow.

So that was my first attempt to buy a camera. Now, granted, the guy may have been doing me a favor and doing the ethical thing by not selling me something he had no idea about, but since when am I looking for ethics in a commercial enterprise? I'm American, damn it! At the time I was just fearing that I wouldn't find another option and I'd be without a camera (again) for Christmas.

The spirit of Babbo smiled upon me, though, and in the next store, the ever-important son *was* there. Mom was too, but Helpful Son explained the differences between the cameras they had, set up the date and language on mine, and sent me on my merry way.

So for the past couple days, I've been playing around with the settings and generally learning how to take advantage of all its features. Today was the first sunny day, so I haven't had much opportunity to get out there in the field. I'm finding that it's rather user-friendly, though, and I think that figuring out the lighting and closeness stuff will all become natural very soon.

But imagine how much more I'd have to learn if the Cute Elderly Man had actually agreed to sell me something. So, as it turns out, I am grateful to CEM for not selling me a camera. Think I should go back and tell him, or better yet, his son?

Anyway, that was/is my big excitement this holiday season. P didn't feel well Christmas Eve, so instead of going out, we stayed home and ate Italian wedding soup (recipe to be tomorrow's What's Cooking Wednesday). Can't complain there.

We spent Christmas morning in the piazza, offering up "auguri" greetings to one and all, and then had a quiet lunch, just the two of us, at home. We did linguine agli scampi (linguine with prawns), which just may be the dish next Wednesday. Oh the suspense!

We were invited to his sister's house, but we reasoned that since P already didn't feel very well, hours of screaming children probably wouldn't help. So, aside from eating, we spent a lot of the rest of the day on the phone talking to his brothers and sisters and their families spread around Italy and France.

I had spoken to my family on Christmas Eve, so the evening was free for movie-time. P made popcorn old-fashioned-like on the stove, and we watched The Italian Job, which was one of his Christmas gifts. Neither of us had ever seen it before, and I have to admit that I kinda loved it. A lot. I can't wait to watch it in English when he's not around.

Then we watched what is perhaps the least appropriate Christmas flick of all time--Legends of the Fall. I kid you not, this is what Italy's Canale 5 featured last night for the family to gather around.

Has anyone ever seen a more depressing movie that didn't include the Holocaust? If so, please let me know so that I don't happen upon them either, particularly on Christmas.

I had never seen Legends, and let me tell you, I can't imagine a circumstance in which I'd ever want to watch it again. If only the children had died gruesome, violent deaths, too, it would've really instilled the Christmas spirit deep within.

By the way, I hope I'm not spoiling anything for the one other person out there who hadn't seen it as of yesterday.

Legends aside, though, we had a lovely Christmas. And around sunset, the pink in the sky told me we'd be having a sunny day today, finally, so, like I said, it's all good:


And finally, Happy Saint Stephen's Day to those who celebrate (like us in Italy) and Happy Boxing Day to our friends in Canada, Britain, Australia, and New Zealand, but let's all take a moment to remember the victims of the December 26, 2004 tsunami.

warmest greetings

And a lovely piece by Anna Quindlen on the essence of the season.

little boy and tiger wishes

Many years ago, I clipped from the newspaper one of my most favorite comic strips ever--a poem entitled "Christmas Eve" by Bill Watterson written for a little boy and his tiger, Calvin & Hobbes.

Silly me, I didn't think to bring it with me to Italy to someday scan into my then-nonexistent blog. I even have a book that it's in at home. Somewhere.

Anyway, the text was easy enough to locate, but the drawing with it made it all the more special. Unfortunately, the only image I could find is here, and it's not the best scan. But I hope you'll still appreciate the poem--makes me want to snuggle with my pooch.*

Christmas Eve

On window panes, the icy frost
Leaves feathered patterns, crissed & crossed,
But in our house the Christmas tree
Is decorated festively
With tiny dots of colored light
That cozy up this winter night.
Christmas songs, familiar, slow,
Play softly on the radio.
Pops and isses from the fire
Whistle with the bells and choir.

My tiger is now fast asleep
On his back and dreaming deep.
When the fire makes him hot,
He turns to warm whatever's not.
Propped against him on the rug,
I give my friend a gentle hug.
Tomorrow's what I'm waiting for,
But I can wait a little more.

*Also check out the Calvin & Hobbes Snow Art Gallery for some wintry laughs.

cutting corners

No, this isn't a post about wimping out on Christmas obligations. I'm fully in the swing o' the season and entering the homestretch, which will include a good amount of cooking in the next few days. More on that later though.

This is a post about an actual corner. The corner of my kitchen to be exact. It's the only part of my house that is decorated for a variety of reasons--not the least of which is the reverse peer pressure of being in a place where most can't be bothered to even string up a set of lights.

Bah humbuggers!

My grandmother used to go crazy with Christmas--red, green, gold, or white wherever you looked--including bathrooms. And I loved it. I'm getting all warm and fuzzy just thinking about walking in there after Christmas Eve mass, the warmth inside and only the lights of the tree lighting the way to the amazing smells in the kitchen.

Well, I don't have much of a stash of Christmas decorations here in Italy, but give me time, my friends...and the food is forthcoming!

Anyway, I'm going to show you my decorated corner as I play along with something I saw a couple weeks ago on Mom O Matic:


Now, again taking Mom O's lead, some random info about the corner:

• This is the corner of my kitchen, which also serves as our living room for the most part (the TV is in another, far less pretty corner). To the left is the balcony door. If I were a better photographer, you might see the Ionian Sea through the window (and also *not* the reflection of the overhead light in the glass of the picture above the fireplace). Sorry.

• Those blondies in the picture in the lower left corner? My niece and nephew. A good three years ago, but they're just so darn cute in that shot, I can't take it down. There's a black-and-white of them, too, on the lower right side by the Christmas teddy (paw dated 2003), but you can't see it very well from this angle. There are also individual pictures of them on the mantle in the off-white square frames. One could use the word obsession. I wouldn't be offended.
  

• I bought the 1895 map of southern Italy above the fireplace on Ebay for $2.99 (plus shipping) and got it framed and matted here for 20 euro. Many of the villages now on the coastline aren't on the map because they weren't built until after World War II. For anyone who hasn't seen them, you can tell this from the concrete, institutional-like architecture that lines the coast. Very becoming.
  

• My mom recently sent me the festive tablecloth and the basket that is sitting inside the fireplace (that woman can fit anything in a shipping box). These are the only new additions to the scene this year, but they really make it, don't you think?

• You already know a little about the heart on top of the tree.

• That circular thing above the window? It's a Pennsylvania Dutch hex sign that says "Bless this House." My mom is Pennsylvania Dutch, which, if you're wondering, is not remotely Dutch and is not the same as Amish, although many Amish are indeed Pennsylvania Dutch. Please research this one on your own if interested as it's far beyond the scope of this two-days-before-Christmas blog post.
  

• The orange splash of color on the table may be my favorite thing about the picture, but I had to throw out at least half of those lovely clementines. For a few days straight, I was greeted by two maggots on my table in the morning. Always two. Swiftly eliminated. Thank goodness I don't eat risotto for breakfast or it could've gotten ugly around here. Even more disturbing was that I never found the culprit, and I sure hope I didn't eat it.
  

Now, come on, fellow bloggers. Show me your corners!

this just in!

Cecil Adams at The Straight Dope says:
the existence of Santa Claus "can't be definitely ruled out."

Yes, Virginia, there just may be a Santa Claus.

worst christmas ornaments

Looks like I've found my angel for next year, but in the meantime, have a look at some more of the Worst Christmas Ornaments.

almost last minute shopping

Well, folks, I'll likely be out and about most of tomorrow wrapping up (hee hee) some almost last minute shopping.

In my defense, this is because I need to buy what we'll eat over the holiday weekend--we're all about freshness around here, so you can't go to the market too far in advance.

Right. And I have some other, um, stocking stuffers to get.

So, for those looking to waste precious holiday time learning useless information to impress your relatives/friends/co-workers, I'm your girl. And Snopes.com is your primary source.

Enjoy!

• Why do we deck the halls? Is it lucky to be born on Christmas Day? Time to sort out those Christmas Superstitions.

• What's the deal with the Lords-a-Leaping? Was the song "The Twelve Days of Christmas" created as a code?

• Yes, he's the reason for the season, but was Jesus *really* born on the 25th of December?

• They're a quick sugar rush and a potential weapon if you lick one end to a very sharp point, but are candy canes religious in origin?

• Simply a shortcut, or is writing "Xmas" offensive?

• Because we heart our friends in Canada, Britain, New Zealand, and Australia, here's some background on Boxing Day.

• What's a yule log anyway?

• How can I make the gift of all gifts--the fruitcake?

• The great American soft drink can be found in nearly every corner of the world, but did Coca-Cola also come up with the image that we associate with Santa Claus?

• Even after learning all of the above fun facts, do I *really* know enough about Christmas? Take this quiz to find out.

Ain't Snopes grand?

love thursday: topping the tree with love

A few years ago, I found this plush, padded, bedazzled heart in a crafty kind of store and bought it, having no idea what I might do with it. The answer came the following year, when I had my first tree, mini as it is, and was without a top. Fellow expat and blogger Delinissima wrote about the difficulty in finding a star to top the tree here in Italy. I don't know why they're anti-star either, but there aren't a lot of choices out there.

So, I had to do some creative rigging up with twisty-ties, but I think the heart does the trick-- along with reminding me that Christmas is a time to love and appreciate all that is right with my world. And yes, that's our little Bonsai Garden/Christmas Village out of focus behind the tree.

I wish everyone a Happy Love Thursday and Happy Winter Solstice.

Now go out and enjoy the shortest day of the year!

national association of W lovers

Over at Red Red Whine, Guinness Girl was tagged to make a list of ten things she loves starting with the letter G. She then generously offered up other letters for fellow bloggers to play, and I have received "W."

If you'd like to play along, use the first letter in your name and then please leave a comment directing me to your list.

And, incidentally, if you think I've made up the title of this post, get thee to Sesame Street!

Now, the list:

1. Wine. Well this is kind of an obvious one, isn't it? I love red and tolerate white, but I use white more for cooking than for drinking. For the most part, we imbibe P's father's homemade brew, which, thankfully, does not at all resemble vinegar like so much of the paesano wine around here does. The second most popular in our house comes from Cirò, another Calabrian town. Yeah. We keep it real.

2. Whiskey. Staying with the alcohol theme, I do love me some whiskey. Preferably Jack Daniel's. Preferably with Coke. Yes, I've been known to bring this with me from the States even though they have it here. It's cheaper there, in case you wondered.

3. Winter clothes. I would live in turtleneck sweaters, jeans, and boots if it were at all possible. As I live in southern Italy, alas, 'tis not.

3. Words. Writing. Writers. These are grouped together for obvious reasons, but also because I didn't want to be considered a cheater for my very first meme as a blogger. I am fascinated by words, how they evolve, who uses them, and why. I love putting them together in ways that no one ever has, sometimes making them up myself, and, most of all, I love reading other writers doing the same thing. I'm a wordgeek and proud.

4. Walking. I used to live in a city, so walking was a forced kind of exercise, and I didn't always appreciate taking a stroll. Here, though, I've learned to love it, especially when accompanied by Luna. Our favorite routine takes us down a mountain road that, 10 kilometers later, would land us in the next village. Although we haven't gone that far just yet, on this Road Less Traveled, Luna and my mind both run free. Lovely.

5. Willy Wonka's Chocolate Factory. Although Willy Wonka, not so much. He's kinda (a lot) creepy. But oh how I long to lick the wallpaper and have the Schnozzberries taste like Schnozzberries.

6. Wendy's. The fast food chain. I've already mentioned this, but let me add specifically how much I enjoy Wendy's fries dipped in an Original Chocolate Frosty. To die for. Someone, somewhere, please do this for me and report back with the tales of glee.

7. Watching movies with P. We watch only in Italian, so he acts as my real-time interpretor. It's quite handy. Yeah, there's the closeness and bonding time, blah blah, but really it's more about the live dictionary thing for me. Shh.

8. World Wide Web. Three W's for the price of one. This little invention made my moving to another continent, an ocean away from everyone I knew, a heck of a lot easier. I can't even imagine what it was like for people like my ancestors who left their homes and were able to exchange only letters and photos at the most.

9. Weekends. No explanation necessary.

10. Women friendships. As I've gotten older, I appreciate more my relationships with other women, my mother included. Bottom line is that we get us, and no matter what else is going on in life, I know that certain women will always have my back. Grazie!

And now some things I don't love starting with a W:

W, a.k.a. Dubya; war (beauty pageant answer); weapons of mass destruction (assuming they exist); washing windows; whiny adults (children have a certain leeway with me); "wazzup" just in case anyone is *still* saying that; weathergirls in Italy (yes, we have them); weddings; and winkers who insist on winking even though they physically cannot close only one eye at a time.

OK, who wants to play?

what's cooking wednesday: calabrian stuffed lasagna

Today's featured dish is Calabrian stuffed lasagna made with a meat tomato sauce, ham, eggs, and cheese. My grandmother never made lasagna as she didn't particularly care for it, so I've never developed a taste for the typical Italian-American mozzarella and ricotta concoction. But when P's mom made this "sagne chjine" (pronounced "SAHN-yeh KYEE-neh"), I was hooked.

Incidentally, so is P judging from the fact that I've been making this recipe once a week for the past two months. It'll probably play a part in our Christmas meal as well, so I thought now would be a good time to share.

Notice there's no mozzarella, no ricotta, and no besciamella, a common ingredient in many Italian lasagna recipes. This dish does take some prep work, but all together--from making the sauce to taking the finished lasagna from the oven--it should take about 2 hours total.

You can (gasp!) use jarred sauce to save time. I also use boxed lasagna noodles that require no pre-cooking. I love these, as it cuts cooking time in half, and the noodles stay al dente rather than get mushy.

Before you start making the sauce, I recommend putting on 4 eggs to boil; this way, they'll be ready to be chopped while you're waiting for the sauce to finish cooking.

Calabrian Stuffed Lasagna
(serves 6-8)

For sauce:
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 medium sweet onion chopped finely
3 cloves garlic, chopped finely
1 lb. ground meat
1/4 cup red wine
28 oz. can peeled tomatoes, coarsely chopped or passed through grinder
2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped finely 1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon peperoncino

In a saucepan, add olive oil over medium heat. Sauté onions until translucent (3 to 5 minutes), then add garlic and sauté until just starting to turn light brown (about 2 minutes).

Add ground meat, stirring with a wooden spoon. When the meat is lightly browned with little to no pink remaining, add wine. Let wine cook off for about 3-5 minutes.

Lower the heat and add tomatoes. This is the type of grinder I use:


If you don't have one of these, you need to revise your Christmas list. But for now, just make sure the tomatoes are coarsely chopped.

Add parsley, salt, and peperoncino, and let cook on low to medium heat for about 35 minutes. You'll know when the sauce is ready by taste-testing; the tomatoes should no longer taste "raw."

For the filling:

4 hard-boiled eggs, chopped
1/2 lb. prosciutto cotto (cooked ham), torn into pieces
1 lb. provola (smoked mozzarella), cubed (substitutes include imported extra sharp provolone or Sicilian scamorza provolone)
1/4 cup grated Pecorino Romano cheese
One box of lasagna noodles

While the sauce is cooking, prepare all of the above ingredients. Once the sauce is finished, your working area should look something like this:


To assemble the lasagna, spread a layer of sauce on the bottom of an 8 x 10 inch pan, then place a layer of noodles. Add more sauce to the top of the noodles, making sure to cover them well, then put a third of the egg, ham, and cheese cubes on the layer. It will look like this:


A tip: When layering your lasagna, if your noodles don't exactly fit the pan (like mine don't), alternate the lay-out so that the lasagna stays together better. For instance, if one layer looks like this:


Layer your next level of noodles like this:


Now, after your first layer with all the ingredients, continue layering until you run out of ham and egg. Your top layer will be just sauce and cubed cheese. Then sprinkle the Pecorino Romano on top.


Bake in oven at 400° F for about a half hour. I cover mine with foil for the first 20 minutes, then remove so the top gets a little crispy without drying out.


Note that this recipe can easily be transformed into a vegetarian delight. Leave the meat out of the sauce and add your favorite vegetables to the layers. Slice and sauté mushrooms, artichokes, peas (or whatever you prefer) in olive oil before you layer them into the lasagna.

And remember to check out Shannon's original What's Cooking Wednesday at Tales from the Fairy Blogmother.

Buon appetito!