A Passionate Life

Discovering the extraordinary in the ordinary

Italian journeys

 

 

The foundations for an Italian summer

 

Loganberries ripening for my Italian summer
Loganberries ripening

As I said in my last post,  I’m planning to live like an Italian this summer.  This means preparing the foundations  — planting and nurturing the fruit and vegetables that we will be eating this season. The garden is bursting with new growth. The fruit trees — apple, nectarine, fig, pomegranate, apricot, lemon, and the vines —grape, passionfruit, berry and kiwi are showing signs of a great harvest.

Let’s hope (speriamo!) my green thumb endures . . .

 

Radish seedlings - for an Italian summer
Radish seedlings

 

Freshly planted tomatoes - perfect for an Italian summer
Freshly planted tomatoes

 

Spinach, a must for an Italian summer
Baby spinach

Planting the foundations for an Italian summer

In order for growth and progress, it’s necessary to begin with good foundations. So it is in the garden. New vegetable beds have been created, the soil has been enriched, seeds have been sown and planting has begun!

Some of the summer vegetables I’ve planted:

  • pomodori (tomatoes)
  • melanzane (eggplant)
  • cetrioli (cucumbers)
  • lattuga (lettuce)
  • ravanello (radish)
  • barbabietola (beetroot)
  • peperoncino (chilli)
  • rucola (rocket)

 

Herbs and flowers for an Italian summer
Herbs and flowers for an Italian summer

Mine is not a dedicated orto (vegetable garden) as I love flowers too. It’s a cottage garden and the vegetables and herbs —basilico (basil), timo di limone (lemon thyme), origano (oregano), salvia (sage), rosmarino (rosemary), aneto (dill) and prezzemolo e menta (parsley and mint) have to live among the roses, begonias, geraniums, hollyhocks and daisies.

Sage seedlings ready to be planted
Sage seedlings ready to be planted

Spring is in the air, but summer isn’t far behind. Over the next few months, we’ll see how my foundations for an Italian summer bears fruit.

Looking forward to un raccolto abbondante (a rich harvest!)

Colleen

 

 

PS: Do you grow your own fruit and vegetables? What’s in your garden?

How to live like an Italian

Live like an Italian”, was Dina’s advice when I lamented that hadn’t visited Italy that summer. I missed the place, the people, the Italian ways. I’ve reflected on her words, on how I could live like an Italian, especially when I’m not in bel paese.

How do you live like an Italian when you’re not in Italy?

Is it about the food . . .the language . . .the culture . . . family? Maybe it’s the way you behave  — in Italian it’s called Il Galateo. Perhaps it’s about traditions and rituals.

I asked some friends if they live like Italians.
“Of course!” was the chorus.

But what did it mean to them to live like Italians?

Food and family topped the list. Not surprising! When we think of Italy there is an immediate association with food. It defines what it means to be Italian no matter where in the world they live.

 

food, family and friends
Food, family and friends

For Italians however, food means more than just filling stomachs. Food and food practices have important roles within the family — through food preparation rituals, traditional family gatherings, and celebrations.

And for Italian Australians, especially the generation that emigrated in the 1950s, the traditions and rituals of the past continue, as do the values of family and culture which they brought with them all those years ago. In some ways, they are more Italian than the Italians!

So I’ve decided to live like an Italian this summer.

Preparing an Italian dinner
Preparation for an Italian dinner

Of course it’s about the food. But it will also include growing the fruit and vegetables, recipes and cooking, rituals like enjoying an aperitivo in the evenings, making the sugo, and gathering family and friends together, books, Italian language and cultural activities.

making pasta
Food prep, Italian style

It’s going to be an Italian summer in Australia and I am going to live like an Italian. Perhaps I’ll start my own traditions.

Buone tradizioni! 

 

 

PS: Do you have rituals and traditions in your family that have endured over time?

Rediscovering the Italian language mojo

Portofino, a place to find your Italian mojo
Portofino, on the Italian Riviera

Lately, my Italian books have sat unopened on my side table, my grammar texts have gathered dust on the bookshelf and my Italian language skills have languished from disuse. It’s a familiar story for those of us who put in time and effort to learn a language, but through lack of practice, we slowly forget.

It’s six months since my last visit to Italia and I needed a catalyst to get the motor running again. I googled ‘Italian conversation Adelaide’ and found this thing called a Meetup for Italian conversation.

I signed up.

On Sunday at an Italian cafe, we were a group of nine. Some people didn’t speak any Italian, some, a few words, and a few had a good grasp of the language. We chatted in Italian (and some English) for just over an hour. And to my surprise, I was forming the words, speaking Italian without inhibition, without worrying about which word should come next, participating in the conversation.

A great feeling!

Gutsy, I say to those who didn’t have any knowledge of the language. I couldn’t have done it. And I question the value of joining a conversation group if you can’t participate. After all, a conversation requires you to speak as well as listen.

It’s been a challenge to find like-minded souls to with whom to practice Italian in Adelaide. Rediscovering and shaking the dust off my Italian language skills has renewed my enthusiasm. I look forward to another chiacchiarata in a fortnight.

I think I’ve rediscovered the Italian language mojo!

Alla prossima  (’til next time)

Leaving a place

We leave something of ourselves behind when we leave a place,
we stay there, even though we go away.
And there are things in us that we can find again
only by going back there.

                                       ― Pascal Mercier, Night Train to Lisbon

Venice, hard to leave.
Venice, the epitome of Italy

This is how I feel about Italia.

Alla prossima 

Seven Italian words to express beauty

 

Beautiful architette at every turn in Rome
Beautiful architecture at every turn in Rome

If you’re looking for a word to express beauty, look no further than Italian. The Italian language has many words which capture the essence of beauty in any context. And the words sound beautiful when you say them!

Seven favourite Italian words to express beauty:

1. Bellezza

Often used as an exclamation

Che bellezza! – how beautiful! / that’s beautiful!

Ciao bellezza! – Hello gorgeous!

2. Bellissima

Beautiful

Una giornata bellissima  – a beautiful day

Sei una bellissima donna – you are a beautiful woman

3. Meravigliosa – (my favourite italian word)

Magnificent / wonderful / marvellous

La vita è meravigliosa! – life is wonderful!

4. Straordinario

Extraordinary / special / amazing

Ha una voce straordinario – she has an amazing voice

5. Splendido

Splendid / glorious

Una giornata splendida – a glorious day

6. Smagliante

Dazzling, brilliant

Un sorriso smagliante – a dazzling/bright smile

7.  Stupendo

Stupendous / marvellous

Il Giardino Giusti a Verona è stupendo – The Giusti Garden in Verona is marvellous

The list of beautiful Italian words for beauty is long! Which Italian words do you use to express beauty?

Please share!

Arriverderci!

Colleen

 

 

Early spring vegetables and fruit in Italy

Spring vegetables

Spring vegetables are being harvested almost 20 days earlier than usual. Coldiretti, the National Confederation of Farmers (and the leading agricultural association in Italy) says it’s due to Italy having recorded the second warmest winter in two centuries. The mild winter has resulted in the early maturity of many fruits and vegetables.

Asparagus crops for example, have been harvested more than a month in advance in the Veneto region. In Puglia, beans, tomatoes and peas are ripe and strawberries and artichokes have been sent to market from the Campagnia region weeks in advance.

If you’re living like a local, you’ll be asking your local greengrocer (fruttivendolo) for some of these seasonal fruit and vegetables (in Italian of course!):

  •  un mazzo di asparagi  (a bunch of asparagus)
  •  un kilo di fave  (a kilogram of broad beans), the first beans of the season, crunchy and delicious!
  •  sei carciofi (six artichokes)
  •  un kilo di pomodori  (a kilogram of tomatoes)
  •  un cestino di  fragole (a punnet of strawberries)
  •  quattro kiwi (four kiwi fruits)

A simple, tasty recipe for asparagus

  1. Steam  a bunch of asparagus for a few minutes until cooked
    but still crunchy
  2. Toss cooked asparagus in some extra virgin olive oil
  3. Sprinkle with salt and black pepper
  4. Top with freshly grated parmesan cheese

 

artichokes
Artichokes, a delicious early spring vegetable

I’ve never cooked them, but artichokes are a favourite in italian cooking. They need to be cleaned well before cooking.

You’ll find a great step-by-step guide to prepare artichokes for cooking, including pictures here. And for a simple but delicious recipe of Braised artichokes head to  Stefano de Pieri’s website.

Oh, and when you’re at the fruttivendolo, don’t forget to ask for a head of garlic and a few baby onions (una testa d’aglio e qualche cipolline) and you’ll have the makings for a delicious pasta sauce.

Buona spesa  (Happy shopping)
Colleen