Tangerine Time

Oh my darling clementine! Pronounced differently here that's what we call this fruit in our neck of the woods, clementine. Although these are from Sorrento, several hours south of us. Anyway, we bought a crate from a fellow selling them off his truck. All throughout the year you can find roadside trucks selling fruits and vegetables -- as well as porchetta, but that's another delicious story. Winter is the season for citrus. In Italy, Italians as a general rule only eat fruits and vegetables that are in season. For one, they're more affordable because they're more plentiful. Secondly, they taste better! Coming from California to Umbria I was a little spoiled and dismayed when I couldn't readily find a huge variety of fruits, vegetables and fresh herbs whenever I wanted. It's one of those things like stores closing for several hours in the middle of the day. You learn to appreciate the reasons why and go/eat with the flow!
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Sunday Grill

 

















Check out these bad boys! Sunday nights we most always cook something in the fireplace over wood coals and I enjoy a Bloody Mary cocktail or two -- okay always two. Amore has a Prosecco. Italians are purists and he is put off by the amount of diverse ingredients I use to make a Bloody and refuses to even try a sip. I'm okay with that, it means more for me! In addition to grilled meat or even sometimes fish, we usually enjoy bruschetta too. A grilled piece of common bread with fresh garlic rubbed on it, a drizzle of olive oil and some sea salt. Sometimes I buy a jar of grilled peppers and top off the brushetta with one of two pieces for a little variety. The steaks are grilled naked as they are al sangue, which means rare. Again, afterwards a drizzle of fresh olive oil, salt and pepper and I like a spritz of fresh lemon over my grilled meats. Simple is good. Those Italians know what they're doing! Except for Bloody Mary's.
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Music Video Flashback

Shirley Ellis, The Name Game.  Makes me giggle when I think how we delighted in singing Chuck's name.

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Happy New Year!

Wishing you a peaceful and joyous New Year!

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Good-bye Pig, Hello Sausage!

I watched fresh pork sausage being made the other day!

These are the pig's intestines.
They have been stretched out then wrapped around a hand into individual bundles.

After soaking the intestines in vinegar, they're cleaned all the way through with more vinegar.

Then a machine with a crank handle fills the intestines with ground, seasoned pork.

Finally, the intestines are tied off into sausages. I like mine grilled!

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Buon Natale!

If you lived here this is what you would be getting from me for Christmas this year. FOUR different types of biscotti, a cute Christmas tree ornament and a fabulous storage jar! I don't suppose this is going to prompt anyone to move here, is it? Did I mention that I made the biscotti myself???
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Bloody Mary Sunday

Of course Bloody Marys aren't only for Sundays, it's just that it's become a ritual for me to enjoy them on Sundays. Amore always grills something over wood coals in the fireplace while I enjoy a Bloody Mary -- or two, but no more than two (I swear.) This recipe was passed on to me from my dear friend Valerie who received it from a friend of hers and now I'm sharing it with you. It's the best! I'm not including measurements because that's subjective, don't you think? I like em spicy! Not everyone does. Weenies.
I start with half a glass of crushed ice and add
Vodka
Horseradish sauce
Worcester sauce
Tabasco sauceSalt/pepper
Muddle, muddle, muddle to mix well then add
Spicy tomato juice
Healthy squeeze of fresh lemon juice
One more muddle
Top off with whole ice cubes

Note: You can also put in veggies like cocktail onions, pickled string beans or a stalk of celery as garnish. I like to just throw in a bar straw and enjoy immediately!.