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We are off!! 💃🏻 Off to Sicily, the land of our maternal grandparents!
I am feeling rather proud of myself. I am a chronic over-packer; always arriving back home with less than half of the clothes being worn. For this trip, we are traveling carry-on only - and for 2 weeks. I even have a little extra room in my suitcase. The clothes may be mostly black and grey but traveling with carry-on only is oh so liberating. (I will report back if my little packing ‘capsule’ worked when we return.)
Joey and Mark are already in Palermo, scouting out a few places before we arrive on Wednesday. The plan is to spend a few days wandering the streets and markets of Palermo. We have lists and lists of recommendations. I haven’t been to Palermo in about 10 years so cannot wait to see how it has changed and head to all the new places that friends have been recommending.
After Palermo, we are headed to a family wedding near our grandparent’s village of Santo Stefano di Camastra. Over the moon excited about this 😊 We so look forward to reconnecting with family and are honored to be part of the celebration. (This was perhaps the biggest challenge to pack for carry-on - the guys have suits but for me, a simple, elegant slip dress with lots of sparkly jewelry and shoes fit the bill.) Our Italian citizenship is also gratefully due to our grandfather from S. Stefano di Camastra - so we are planning on meeting the Mayor next week to express our gratitude - new Italian passports in hand! 🇮🇹
Then we are off to the hills of Mount Etna for a few days of wine tasting and lastly spending the last part of our trip in the southeastern area around Modica, Noto, and Caltagirone. (We are skipping Taormina due to the ‘White Lotus’ effect.)
The wedding should be great fun! I have had to up my game and dust off the ‘Tarantella’ cobwebs so here is a little video of me practicing (kidding! I wish 😊)
Our Italian Table will be back in a few weeks with lots of new recipes and stories and Sicilian fun to report!! Follow us on Instagram for daily updates from our trip…
Tanti baci, xx
Ci vediamo presto! (See you soon!)
Michele ❤️ (and Joey too!)
Before we go, here are a few tidbits to close out the summer….
I first had this refreshing treat over 10 years ago in Palermo. Soooo refreshing and soooo simple! Plus the blend of the chocolate or pistachios (or both) with the watermelon pudding is exquisite. Try whipping up some fresh cream to dollop on top. Use little mini chocolate chips and toss them in to resemble seeds if your heart desires. This simple summer recipe is an excellent way to end a meal on these last warm summer’s day. (Extra watermelon juice? Stir in a little vodka and pour over ice. You are welcome.)
Gelo d’Anguria (Watermelon Pudding)
Ingredients:
About 4 cups of watermelon juice (I used a 5-pound watermelon)
½ cup cornstarch
½ cup sugar (or more to taste)
Dark chocolate, roughly chopped
Pistachios, roughly chopped
Directions:
Chop up the watermelon, remove any seeds, and toss it into a blender or food processor. Blend until smooth.
Place the cornstarch in a medium pot. Add in some of the watermelon juice (about 1 cup) and stir until smooth and the cornstarch has dissolved completely. Add in the rest of the juice and stir. Bring to a slow simmer over medium-low heat. Add in the sugar. Taste. (I like my desserts less sweet. Add more sugar if you desire.)
Cook for about 10 minutes, allowing the mixture to thicken. Continue to stir. When the mixture coats the back of the spoon, remove from heat. Pour into your favorite bowls, glasses, or ramekins. Place in the refrigerator and chill until set, approximately 4 hours.
Sprinkle with the dark chocolate and pistachios. Serve with freshly whipped cream if you desire. Enjoy!
We have been sipping on lots of limoncello and fizzy water during these last days of summer. Jay prefers a bit of gin with his limoncello so we have been drinking versions of this Salty Summer Kiss….a little bit sweet, a little bit sour, and a touch briny!
Salty Summer Kiss
Ingredients for each cocktail:
1/4 lemon, seeds removed, coarsely chopped
Generous pinch of fine sea salt
1 ounce limoncello
2 ounces gin
2 ounces soda water
Lemon slices and sprigs of fresh thyme for garnish
Directions:
Add the lemon and salt to a cocktail shaker. Lightly muddle using a muddler or the back of a spoon to release the oils and juices from the lemon. Add the limoncello and gin.
Fill the shaker with ice and shake thoroughly until cold. Strain into a glass filled with fresh ice and top with the soda water. Add more or less soda water to taste.
Garnish with a lemon slice and fresh thyme. Enjoy!
…..a few random things for you to read while we are away
Italy Segreta: If you love Italy, this one is a must-follow! I adore these guys and everything they put out ….from stories about ‘la bella vita’ to love (and lust) stories by readers to awesome photography. I start with one story and end up down the proverbial rabbit hole as one story leads to another ….caution!
Love this recent article! Prosciutto and Melon Can Cure You (we agree!)
Jul's Kitchen: Giulia Scarpaleggia is a Tuscan-born and -bred food writer and an excellent cook. We have been big fans for years. She leads cooking classes in Tuscany and like us at Our Italian Table, began her blog way back in 2009. She also has a new cookbook, Cucina Povera, which is a feast for the eyes. Her beautiful newsletter (also on Substack) is always a welcome addition to my inbox.
Alice Roman ANYTHING! I adore anything this girl does. Her lets-not-take-ourselves-too-seriously approach to food and life leaves me smiling (and making her recipes) every time!
This Week in Italy - Love this newsletter to learn about what’s going on in Italy in an interesting and concise fashion. It’s written by Jamie Mackay, a Florence-based writer, and typically covers topics like current affairs, art/culture, and even a recipe of the week.
Chef Max Mariola - Ok, just follow. Adorable!! Oh dio mio….
And if you haven’t pre-ordered these cookbooks yet, time to do so! They will be here soon (and waiting for me when I return from Sicily! 🥳)
Italy by Ingredient: Artisanal Foods, Modern Recipes Viola Buitoni (out September 5th) - I have been following Viola for years. Born in Italy and now US-based, this cookbook looks like a good one with each chapter devoted to a single ingredient. Look forward to reading and cooking from this one!
The Food of Sicily: Recipes from a Sun-Drenched Culinary Crossroads Fabrizia Lanza, Guy Ambrosino (photographer) (out September 12th) - This one holds a special place in my heart - not only because anything from Fabrizia makes me stop and read but also because the photographer, Guy, lives near me and has been in awe of his photography since I met them many years ago. And our grandparents are from Sicily….there’s that.
Ci vediamo presto!! (See you soon!) 🥰 baci baci (kiss, kiss)
You’re receiving this email as a subscriber to our free newsletter. Grazie grazie mille! If you know someone who may enjoy it, please pass it along. 💛