What I'll miss about my Italian life

Time is ticking away very quickly and I'm starting to get nostalgic about the things I'll miss. One of the things that I've been trying to take advantage of in the blustery weather we've been having is my fireplace. It isn't in the usual place. Here in Italy the fireplaces tend to be in the kitchen. I'll miss cooking my Tuscan beans overnight in the terracotta pot on the hot embers.

What's for lunch in Napoli today

Ok, so you've seen what my Italian Anna prepares now I think it is time you see what I'm cooking up. Today we are feasting on Sri Lankan style Dal (split peas) with curried mixed veggie rice. Also on the plate is roasted Capsicum (peppers) and potatoes with onion and curry.

Eating Italian food is wonderful, healthy and tasty. However, on a day to day basis it gets very tiresome. I've traveled and lived too many places to ever be satisfied with just one cuisine -I suppose this is the downside of seeing the world. So if you don't mind every now and then I will surprise you with a little world cuisine. In a few months I'll no longer be here in Italy so until then I will try and squeeze out as many purely Italian foods as possible after that I'll be giving you some interesting cuisine. A presto!

WOW! 26!

Just wanted to give you my readers a great big thank you! I now have a loyal readership in 26 countries! This is way cool!

Napoli Road Rules

Driving in Naples is a hazard and an accident waiting to happen. The most dangerous road in Italy is in fact the Naples' Tangenziale (it is our main spine highway). You have to be on your toes all the time because you never know which direction they'll be coming from.
Here are a few rules:

1. It is common practice that if you should whizz by your exit it is no problem -simply go in reverse!
2. Speaking of whizzing -that is also an acceptable and common view on the side of the highway (I like to call it al fresco peeing). Though now they say it is illegal I've never seen anyone get ticketed.
3. Brace yourself when approaching an exit because you never know when someone will be passing you on the left to cut you off to make it to the exit on the extreme right.
4. When approaching a red light slow down and determine whether you can beat the traffic, the cop, or the old lady crossing the street and in all likely if you can STEP ON THE GAS AND GO
5. If there is a police car flashing lights behind you let them through (they need to get to mama's asap because they told her to "buta la pasta")
6. If a cop sticks out an over sized lollipop on you then you must stop or he'll shoot you (really)
7. During traffic hours there are double the amount of lanes than are drawn on the road so be prepared for full contact with scooters too

Remember: show no fear -they can smell it and use it to their advantage against you!

Photo is of an actual taped up Fiat going full throttle down the highway. If you look closely the driver's side door is taped to the passenger side to keep it closed. So does this mean those people won't be able to get out?

In a Blur

Halloween is my favorite secular holiday. However, this year it has come and gone without so much as a festive pumpkin in this house. I think my neighbors know something is up. I usually ask the children to make their own costumes and I decorate the hallway with skeleton drawings and ghosts. But, the truth is I'm feeling a little down. We are moving. We are leaving Italy for the US. I should feel happy and excited but instead I feel apprehensive and nervous.

I've lived here for EIGHT YEARS. There have been a lot of really good moments: we’ve welcomed in the millennium here, I gave birth to my first child here, we've met some extraordinary people here and we've traveled so much that there is not a bit of room in my passport for another stamp. There have been really low points too: my mother dyeing without a chance to say goodbye, having my house broken into twice (the last time we were in the house and I was 9 months pregnant) and having to put my dog down this summer.

I’m still trying to make sense of it all (if that is even possible). I’ll miss so many things and yet I think it is time to move on.

What's for lunch this week at Anna's

My favorite! Eggplant "meatballs." These little fried wonders are filled with eggplant, pecorino cheese, bread and spice. They are are savory and oh so good hot! The side to this is more eggplant with tomatoes.

For the next course we had fresh mozzarella di buffala with plain salted salad in balsamic.
For the dolce we had fruit. It wouldn't be a complete fall meal without the Kaki (persimmons) -take a look at this little slice --mmmm. Buon Appetito!

Free Mammo Screening in Napoli

Just check out this hilarious link to my other blog.