Italian news in english

Ravenous bears, crucified frogs, and the waning mediterranean diet. Not exactly front page news but I reasoned that it would be helpful to mention the website ANSA.it as a reliable source for up-to-date news in english. I find the site's english pages useful as reference material but lately the headlines have been borderline comical and controversial. Read on...

Italian bears boogie down to the henhouse

Four summers ago my husband and I spent some time in a town near the National Park of Abruzzo. Scanno, if you have never heard of it, is a picturesque hamlet in the mountains, particularly known for the traditional attire that elderly women of the village continue to wear to this day. The one thing that I remember well however, is the marsican bear mascot that is a common sight on park signs throughout the region. I thought it was simply a cute emblem until our b&b host informed us that the bears do come around — to steal the chickens in the neighborhood. I guess old habits die hard. Read the article...
Italian bear in chicken bloodbath

Amphibian sacrifice continues to cause ripples in pond

It would seem that frogs provoke mixed feelings in italian society judging from the controversy that they unwittingly inspire. It's enough that they were deemed worthy of saving at the annual Palio della Rana in April of this year, but now, an artist's creation is rocking the pulpit in the northern italian town of Bolzano (italian article).

Healthy mediterranean cuisine going the way of the dinosaur?

When a guy from the U. N. starts spouting off about how more than half of the people in Italy, Spain and Portugual are over their ideal weight, you just have to raise an eyebrow. But when said guy sports a surname that is neither italian, nor spanish, nor portuguese, you just have to wonder “What you talkin' 'bout Willis?”

Med Diet losing ground at home
I swear to you that wherever we travel around Italy, I do NOT see over half of the populace bulging out of their clothing. Give or take 5-10 pounds maybe, but who is anyone to rag on nonna if she's pleasingly plump? I suspect some sour apples, sitting high on the tree, who are reluctant to grant Unesco recognition in Italy's request for the mediterranean diet. Yes, the cost of fruit, vegetables, fish and everything else has gone up, but not so much as to be entirely replaced by worthless junkfood. My guess is that it could possibly be a less active lifestyle. Hey, we don't even need to catch our own rabbits anymore, there's plenty for the taking at the supermarket!

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Summer grigliate

Barbecue in Italy — gree-L'YAH-tah (grigliate is plural)

As long as weather permits, we grill every single weekend during summer. Eating, drinking and passing the time in the warm glow of extended daylight hours before they taper down altogether. Barbecuing is never a problem in Hawaii where sunshine is eternal, so you might be able to understand why I'd be so crazy for grilling at this time of year.

Given the rash of comments on the previous rabbit, I figured better to refrain from writing about horse and donkey as a food source, and point the spotlight on something less cute. This post is a little quiz -- guess what two types of seafood the following images are. These were caught in mediterranean waters, but are known all over the world. A word for whoever may not like or cannot eat fish: if you are a sworn landlubber, and have never set foot on the beach, there's always the rabbit post to look over.

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Roasted rabbit with fennel fronds

Mmmmh...roasted rabbit. The other other white meat. It really does taste like chicken, but fair warning to those who nurture a childhood fondness for Thumper and Peter Cottontail — graphic image at the very end. Not for the squeamish!!!

Rabbit meat is such a common protein on the italian table that I find it almost absurd to present it in a manner that would appeal to all palates. I can't speak for the continental US, but rabbit was never something to be found in Hawaii's supermarkets. Here in Italy it's a different story, as they are sold in whole form, in sectioned pieces, and also on trays with the heads only. No kidding! Coniglio (coh-NEE-l'yoh) is as versatile as chicken, be it braised and served with polenta, stewed hunter-style in a delicious cacciatora, fried as in coniglio fritto, or in this case, roasted with fennel and potatoes. A shame that it's underrated, especially since our favorite domestic goddess turned a naked chicken (still with its head on) into soup which seemed so effortlessly wholesome yet bizarre and chic at the same time.

Fennel bush in May

My husband's mother, like most every italian mama, is a talented cook with an equally talented green thumb. She noticed the wild fennel bush growing in our yard (now at nearly 6 feet high) and told me that finocchio is good with rabbit. “Oil, salt, pepper...” she says, then nods her head as if to say it was all there was to it. There is no need for a written recipe, but I offer my version with marsala that filled the house with a wonderful fragrance that even our dogs Maddie and Mister Bentley were sniffing the air.

3 - 3½ pounds rabbit pieces, or 1 whole cut into sections
4 large potatoes cut into chunks
1 small sprig fresh rosemary
a handful of fennel fronds, roughly chopped
4 - 6 cloves garlic, smashed and peeled
extra virgin olive oil
1/2 cup marsala
coarse salt (I used hawaiian red alae salt)
freshly ground black pepper

Preheat oven to 400F degrees. Combine rabbit pieces, cut potatoes, rosemary, fennel and garlic in a large heavy baking dish or cast iron pot with a heavy lid. Drizzle generously with olive oil, add the 1/2 cup of marsala, and season with salt and pepper. Using your hands, mix to coat rabbit and potatoes evenly.

Cover and bake for 1 hour and 15 minutes, removing the lid about 15 minutes before the end of baking time in order to allow potatoes and rabbit to take on a little color. Serve by itself as a secondo (second plate) or along with a crisp salad of mixed greens.

For cast iron stomachs only

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Pesche Tabacchiere aka Donut Peach

In Italy the sure sign of peach (pesca) season is when the multitude of peach festivals begin:

Sagra della Pesca Ripiena (stuffed peach) in Piemonte
Sagra della Pesca di Bivona in Sicily
Sagra delle Pesche of Leonforte (again Sicily)
and recently, “Festa dei "Pèrsech” right here in Lombardy

These are but a smidgen of what's slated for this month and the next, but the one that I would really love to attend, if there is one out there, is a sagra for pesche tabacchiere from the valleys of Etna. Tabacchiere means snuffbox, and from the size of these I can see why. Fitting snugly within the palm of your hand, they are perhaps 3-4 bites of sweet peach flavor, yet it only occurred to me to give them a try after reading an old BBC article on the doughnut-shaped peach. I've recently seen imported produce from Spain, going under the name saturnina at the italian supermarkets, but discovering Etna's homegrown stuff hooked me instantly as they have the seal of approval from Slow Food (italian).

My favorite way to eat them? Right out of hand, but you know, sometimes you need to spoil yourself without any valid reason whatsoever. Pamper is the word. With regular peaches, I like to indulge in meringue-topped roasted peaches, but this idea is quicker for the donut peach. Pierce them once or twice with a fork, sprinkle with a little raw cane sugar, crushed amaretto cookies, a drizzle of good olive oil, and even a splash of marsala if you like. Pop under the broiler for a few minutes until browned. Serve with baby scoops of gelato. Bliss!

Related links from fellow blogger(s):
Sicily Scene: PESCHE TABACCHIERE
Morsels & Musings: Moreton Bay Bug with DONUT PEACH SALSA
Harvest to Table: Donut Peach

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Artisan bread - at the click of a mouse?

Original upload at 941 x 351 pixelsL - R: Farro loaf with pumpkin seeds and oats, country-style walnut bread, raisin and apricot bread, pugliese country-style loaf

It may not be piping-hot-out-of-the-oven, but I'd be interested to know if anyone would place an order for fresh artisan bread online if that option were available to them. All you'd need to do is pick it up on a designated day, most likely Saturday.

How we love our CSA

As I often navigate in the food blogging world, I've seen some of the freshest, most beautiful seasonal produce in the form of a person's order from CSA. Pesticide-free herbs, vegetables and fruit, organic free-range chickens (FH you rock!)... Buying organic is always a fine thing to do but when supporting small farmers and growers within the community, it doubles the perpetual good that you are already helping to sustain. We have a similiar program here in Lecco but it goes under a different acronym - GAS. Laugh it up if you will (heck I did when I first heard it), but what it stands for is simply Gruppi di Aquisto Solidale. An english explanation of what they're all about can be read here.

For now this collaboraton is the closest that we can get to a CSA type of program. (The only other one I've heard of is located some 800 km away in the Molise region at Parco dei Buoi). What the solidarity purchasing group offers is a lot of your basic staples, but it came as a big surprise when we discovered that you could also order artisan-style bread, the kind of stuff you see in the best bakeries around Italy. At the moment, there is only one baker who fills all of the bread orders at our local GAS outfit. Prices average at 3.20-3.95/kilo (2.2 lbs) and we purchase full loaves that are a kilo each. Although I would never begrudge anyone's right, or even myself, the experience of selecting a fragrant loaf from a popular bakery, I appreciate being able to buy enough for 2 weeks, split them in half and freeze what I won't be using immediately. Even after being in a frozen state, when warmed in the oven, the immediate aroma staves off any desire to want for anything else.

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Blogs Of Note

Well... it's no more flying under the radar as Blogger has deemed Rubber Slippers in Italy worthy enough to out me in the spotlight [makes like a stupid deer caught in front of the high beams]. I'm blushing posies, and thanks to word from Kat of Our Adventures in Japan, I now feel obliged to show the world that I am not only about sicilian tree experiments.

Let's skip the generic stuff! My profile doesn't do justice on what Italy has become to me, or what the blog is all about, so please enjoy the following image-linked posts. Now I go to prepare the big meal for the inlaws....ciao a tutti!

Brains on a stick

Take. me. to. your. Leader.

Festa dei Serpari

When he cooks for you on the first date

Hanging nostalgia out to dry

Fiera del Cacio: Il cacio al fuso

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Sicily rules - the eggplant tomato tree is born

Eggplant and tomato clip art courtesy of ClipArtLog

Sicily is abuzzing. After reading an italian article on an eggplant tomato tree, the first delicious picture in my head was pasta alla norma and by now, the world famous caponata. Eggplant and tomato grafts were added to the rootstock of solanum torvum or Devil's Fig which makes this a completely non-GMO experiment. The speculation is that this could be a beginning to the solution to world hunger, but the mere idea of harvesting two for one has me thinking in terms of "space-saver" "watering efficiency" and all the caponata that my stomach desires. Isn't that wild? I just want to know where and when I'll be able to get my hands on one of these...

From Ansa.it - Italian Grows Tomato-Eggplant Tree [english version]
From Guidasicilia.it - Un geometra ha creato l'albero di melanzana e pomodoro

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Saldi! Saldi! Saldi!

Sale! Sale! Sale! Yep, it's that time of year again when the % off sign follows a double-digit number and you are either 1.) Clawing through the racks, bins and shelves for a good deal or 2.) Snickering at the sale-aholics who are lined up outside, anxiously waiting for the doors to open and swallow them up inside. I snicker along with the latter.

Why don't they discount what we really need to be discounted? I took this photo a little over 3 weeks ago and that price is seriously outdated! Diesel and gas is up to 1.595/liter, heck, let's just round it to 1.60/liter and if it's too painful for you to do the math, here is the result of 3.785 liters (a gallon) converted to US dollars: $9.6345 per gallon. Makes you wanna fume, doesn't it?

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For the trendy gardener and her new blog

Crocs - Eat my dust! Mangia la mia polvere! These ciabatte for the gardening fashionista cost way less than the popular shoe fad and were so difficult to choose from (red? yellow? or orange?) that I tackled indecision the only way I knew how — by gleefully resorting to the female gender's predisposition at purchasing shoes/clothing/etc in several colors. I know I'm not the first, and at 9.90€ each, why not?

Like the title says, I have branched off in another blog in order to start keeping track of everything that goes on in the garden. This is getting to be a serious hobby as the back slope slowly transforms into an area where vegetables can thrive. Over the weekend we purchased a bunch of garden stuff along with 3 pairs of those italian rubber clogs, but it wasn't until unanimously agreeing on a COMPOST BIN right on the spot did I realize how serious we were about the whole organic, grow-your-own-food, sustainable gardening thing. It's as if within the course of a few months, the garden supply store became the new IKEA. I ♥ garden tools!

Rubber Slippers will always be the primary blog as there are still countless food celebrations to enjoy, places to hike, recipes to experiment with and restaurants to dine at. But in case you ever wonder where the veggies and fruit disappeared to, unless they're featured in a recipe, the garden's bounty will be filling up space at L'Orto Orgoglioso or The Proud Garden.

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Look at what buzzed in the mail yesterday

Yep, it felt almost like Christmas as I tore open the package which was addressed to ME but had no return address. Did the wishbone fairy grant my request of a million dollars??? Well not exactly, but what came out of the package was no less thrilling — a brand new eco tote from Foodbuzz! Now if you still haven't heard about this website, maybe it's time that you did. Aside from a whole world of hungry bloggers, it has recipes, restaurant reviews, events, interviews and whatever else that's being buzzed about in the food blog community. Just click on my publisher's button up in the top left corner, take a look around and sign up!

Added to that was a cute badge with my blog name on it. I haven't been more enthusiastic at playing around with Photoshop (top image) until this came along. Ha! Watch out! From now on this is going everywhere with me whenever we do grocery shopping. Complete with rubbah slippahs on my feet, I'll be flashing this tote left and right. The world is now my oyster...

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Zucchine & pumpkin flowers stuffed with seiráss

A small teaspoon or dessert spoon works
best at filling the flowers with ricotta.

Now before you even start messing with that last word in the title, please allow me to be of some assistance - Seiráss (seh-RAHSS) - or at the very least, I'm certain that the last three letters do not rhyme with crass.

Although we suffered a recent hailstorm with minor casualties in the garden, the male zucchini flowers continue to flourish and bloom without a care in the world (as guys usually do). They pop up almost like weeds, and I've been serving them stuffed with ricotta and diced prosciutto or anchovies almost every single day. Typically these are dipped in beaten eggs and breadcrumbs then fried. I also use the blossoms from my kabocha pumpkin plants, frugal girl that I am, but wait a sec, because this post is not so much about stuffed flowers as it is about seiráss. That's it below.

When is ricotta more than a ricotta? When it also includes the whey of both cow and sheep milk. A product from the Piemonte region, the name is derived from the word siero (whey). I have never eaten plain ol' ricotta that is so smooth and buttery in taste, with just enough complexity on the palate, that you have to wonder if it's actually the bland tasting white stuff that ricotta is typically known for. This one in particular comes wrapped in a gauze cone and sealed in its own container. There are also those that are wrapped in hay and left to age.

This ricotta will probably never be seen stateside but that doesn't mean you can't use any other brand. Just remember to drain and squeeze out any excess liquid. Add diced prosciutto (or cooked ham), chopped anchovies (main bone removed and rinsed free of salt), minced herbs and salt and pepper. Sometimes I also add an egg yolk for extra richness. After stuffing with ricotta mixture, drizzle with olive oil, top with breadcrumbs and place under the broiler at medium heat for around 10 minutes. For anyone who is not too fond of fried foods, this makes a less oily alternative to the traditional version.

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Hanging nostalgia out to dry

In yesterday's clothes headlines: Clothesline advocates fight for right to dry
I don't care if we're looking at the equivalent of $9/gallon for gasoline, I'm so glad we don't have a problem with this perceived eyesore. How is that? White cotton sheets swaying in the breeze with the fresh, clean scent of Tide - sublime nostalgia. [And hands down, my favorite soap when I'm stateside.] I have dear memories of my grandmother hanging loads of laundry out in her yard. I love the rhythmic calm of clipping clothespins onto the line. And the loud snap of a heavy towel. Wah-pack! Dryers suck up a lot of energy; the sun hands it over for free. Is it really all that offensive to look at?

This is not so much of an indignant rant rather than poking fun at petty regulations outlined by homeowner associations. You see, I live in the same type of dwelling situation but instead of a townhouse or condo, our home gets an italian spin with the word villetta. Little villa. Not a bad marketing ploy if I ever saw one. And so far no one has, or ever will, complain about me hanging all-colors-of-the-rainbow out on the terrace. For us in Italy, displaying your daily wash for all the world to see is a right! The problem is, not everyone has a sprawling lawn to install a proper clothesline, so what then, is the italian solution?

La stendibiancheria

Over-the-railing: for small or large articles (I have seen sheets dangling from the 4th floor).

Folding: ideal for limited spaces. This and the one above are very, very popular in Italy.

And for those like myself who prefer to wash several loads once a week? Behold, La Torre (the tower). I can not say enough on how useful this wire and plastic contraption is. It can be rolled around to follow the sun's rays throughout the day, maximizing on solar energy. Each tier folds down and two opposite sides fold in line with the whole thing, making it easy to stow away when not in use. And did you know that I've even used it to hang a raw octopus?

Those stuffy homeowners who are anti-clothesline need to wake up and get a grip. For the sake of the environment and sheer nostalgia, going green is the new black. If the day's wash is so unsightly, then close.the.curtains. They're not only for discretion when wearing your birthday suit, you know.

Related article at thedailygreen.com -
Is the Clothesline a Right or Public Nuisance #1?

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Red, white and blueberries

Happy Fourth of July!

It's not a holiday for Italy of course and to be truthful, I have never made a big deal out of today's date upon moving here. But for whichever reason (great weather for one?), a BBQ dinner is in the works for this evening so we're firing up the grill. Turkey burgers, kebabs, corn-on-the-cob, a green salad made with some micro lettuce from the terrace garden, and also a non-mayo potato salad. For dessert? Gelato, in a few decadent flavors. I spent all day yesterday cooking the cream bases and tonight there will be double chocolate, cantaloupe and vanilla bean cream, plus a very refreshing watermelon sorbetto. As a couple of recipes for this modest feast (compared to american standards!) are from food blogs, here are the related links.

Watermelon sorbetto from Ms. Adventures in Italy (I made DL's version)
Non-mayo new potato salad from Le Potage

On a parting note, the season's first fireflies have arrived. Maybe not as grand and spectacular as traditional fireworks, but certainly amazing in their own right. In lieu of oooh's and ahhh's I hope to be yelling Yay! I caught one! I caught one!

The food: kebabs, corn, opihi

After the food: italian-influenced polynesian paralysis

The dog: blueberries are yummy!

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The garden eager beavers

You might even know a few of them. They frequent their cultivated garden plots from sun up to sun down - watering, weeding, tending to what needs to be done - and often times, you get to see the fruits of their labor in full living color on the computer screen. I am by no means exempt from the “green thumb” crowd, and went a step further with this garden mosaic. These are just some of what's growing now - wait until the tomatoes arrive!

During the 30-day June posting challenge, I was asked by Maybelle's Mom if one of the posts could be about how I picked my plants. That's easy - from the photos. Seed catalogs, whether paper or online, have some pretty convincing descriptions of what they sell but it's them purty, purty pictures I tell you. I take nothing like zones, growing seasons, weather patterns and whatnot into consideration. I'll stick anything into the ground at least once.

Center photo: Backyard - summer 2008
Clockwise from top left corner: ligurian mint | young uchiki kuri and snake melon plants | broad leaf sage | fava bean plant | green shiso | thai tiger eggplant, hydrangea bush | blueberries | blueberry plant | zucchini | japanese cucumber plant | pak choi gone to seed

[Per i lettori italiani, eager beaver signfica...]

The other garden eager beavers of course are the garden pests. Ravenous insects, pet dogs, destructive forest animals, and slimy things without feet. I found this slug hanging around my young butternut squash plants and promptly deposited *it* (for slugs are hermaphrodites in case you didn't know) on the turtle who is currently looking to relocate to a better place in the yard.

Nothin' like some good, old-fashioned slug-lovin'...

Love ♪.. you ♪.. inside and out ♫, backwards and forwards with my heart hanging out...♪♪

I live in the country but this could well have been a Slug in the City. Ever seen a turban slug? Muahahahahaha!

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