Our 44th President....

I can only say how totally wonderful it is to have the Internet during this sojourn. Today I was able to watch (mostly) the inauguration of our 44th President. I cried and cheered. May he have an opportunity to set a few things right; it's going to be a very difficult and challenging journey. I only hope that we as Americans can let go our our "fast food" mentality, and not expect things to change overnight. I keep seeing that image of trying to turn around a huge ship at sea; it doesn't quite turn on a dime.

The Coat...

Since winter arrived in Alessandria, Rita has been dubious about my leather jacket and it's warmth factor. She often comments that I never look warm enough and I've tried to tell her that I dress in layers and actually have been fine. Well, when she learned that I'd be going to both Vienna and Amsterdam, that was it; she insisted that I take a warmer coat and she let me know that she had one that I could borrow.

Well, I dropped by and this beauty is what she pulled out of her closet for me. I so burst out laughing but I don't think she really understood my humor and why I thought it was so funny. She was very clear to tell me that it's a loan and that she expected to get it back. " Ah, si, capisco", I understand, of course. I told her that if I were in America I'd be afraid that someone would throw red pain at me. I dutifully brought home the coat feeling quite torn; I didn't want to insult her and not take her coat but at the same time...it's not exactly me.

The story continues. The next morning she dropped by to let me know that a store down the street is selling jackets for 15 Euro and maybe I'd like to go look at them. Hmmmm, I wondered; is she getting a bit nervous about my (HER) coat? Then yesterday, I was lucky enough to have dinner at her daughters house (Stephania) and all of a sudden Stephania appeared with 2 winter jackets for me to try on. Again, I dutifully tried them on and they let me know which one they thought I should take/borrow. Now, the thing is, the jacket they recommended is a bit too small and tight for me and only has one front button to seal it (partially) closed. It is made of down however, goes to my knees, and is warm. But now I'm thinking of that store down the street.

When lunch/dinner was over Rita marched over with me to the apartment and I grabbed the fur coat and carried it back over to her apartment where I asked her if she'd mind taking a picture before she wrapped it away. Oh, before I forget, I must add that it really was warm.

Dolci di Carnevale

If you happened to have read the previous posting, you'll see that I was left wondering what an exhaust fan had to do with my cooking lesson. Well, I found out. Rita has taught me to make an Italian dessert that, depending upon the region, has various names and presentations. It's a fried pastry that's made for Carnivale celebration (prior to the start of Lent). Here in Piedmonte, it's called "Dolci di Carnevale"; in Lombardy, "Chiacchiere", Tuscany, "Cenci", Emilia, "Frappe", Genoa, "Bugie" and in Venice, the heart of Carnivale, "Crostoli".

We began by making the pastry dough at Rita's apartment:

Two eggs with about 1 1/2 - 2 Tbs. of butter in a flour moat.

To the moat we added some brandy. Other regions might use a white wine. Rita says any nice liquor is fine. And yes, she did ask me to taste it.

Next, mix all together. This is where art comes into play. Rita uses a long knife and just keeps mixing. On the television cooking programs, they just dip their fingers in and start gently mixing. Rita's way avoids very sticky finger accumulation. Oh, in the background is grand daughter Chiara making her biscotti dough. Whenever Rita bakes, Chiara likes to join in with a project. Grasshopper learning from the Master.

Soon it will be time to knead, knead, knead.

The pasta maker is used to create long ( 2"x 24") ribbons of very thin pastry dough. Systematically Rita runs the dough through the maker at smaller and smaller widths.

With the long ribbon laid out, two inch pieces are cut down the row. An incision, about 3/4" is made in the center.

Then, one side of the dough piece is pulled through the incision leaving an almost knotted tie looking effect. Luckily, Rita says one doesn't have to worry about how it looks (whew!)

AND, here's where the exhaust fan comes into play. We moved from Rita's apartment to her daughter's (Stephania) where they have an almost commercial style stove and fan system. Otherwise, Rita says, the frying smell remains in her apartment for three days...Our little pieces of dough were dropped into hot oil two at a time.

Once fried, they are laid to rest on a paper towel. When they're all made, a hearty sprinkle of powdered sugar is added. One can also dribble with a sugar glaze as well. During this process I told Rita about how these remind me of Mexican fry pastries such as churros or sopaipillas. We had a rather long discussion about sopaipillas and the many ways they can be eaten, ie plain with honey, stuffed with ice cream (Kim's favorite) or stuffed with chili and beans. Rita commented on the "universale" of some foods.

YUM! The final product. She sent me home with a plate full and because they don't keep for a long time....

The future of traditional Piedmonte cooking cuisine is in good hands.....

Transitions....

bye, bye Kim...

This morning at 4:40AM, I walked with Kim to the train station as she began her 20 hour journey heading to the US. While she is happily stopping in Boston to visit Siegy, the impetus for the journey is to go to Seattle to say good bye to a dear friend who has only days or (maybe) weeks to live. It's been a very odd experience being here in Italy transitioning into "La Vita Dolce" while life in Seattle for our friends has been a scary transition toward death and widowhood. Needless to say, Kim and I have had many conversations about timing, guilt, seizing the moment and the preciousness of life. To anyone who may be reading this, take your moment whenever you can, no matter how small; they all add up.

As I walked home through the dark, quiet little streets, I focused on each step and felt happy that I feel so comfortable in this Piedmonte town. Very few people were out and the ones who were, were men heading to what I believe are morning prayers. I don't think that we've ever mentioned that right across the cobble stone street where we live there is "The Islamic Cultural Center of Alessandria". One day I almost took a picture of their entrance and sign but thought better of it in that I didn't want them to think I was some type of spy or agent. Given that it's a cultural center, there tends to be lots of activities, music, meetings, etc. The street often overflows with their parked cars and it's not uncommon to hear sounds, voices, music radiating from the center.

It's been very interesting to live by this center because every day there are many people going in and out often dressed in their cultural identity outfits. I do not say this negatively; just look at some of the pictures Kim and I have posted of our outer wear vs the Italian's sense of style. I just point it out because it's a big, noticeable contrast. The women do not wear burkas but do tend to have long dresses and their heads covered; some men wear very long beards. A few doors down there is a clothing, accoutrement store that I've never been in. I often stop and look in the windows at the long dresses, head scarves, caftans, etc. that are for sale. Walking past the cultural center as well as the old cathedrals reminds me on a daily basis what a diverse world we reside in and the amazing challenges we face as the dichotomy chasms between religions present themselves. Every day I try to not blame myself for being confused about all of this battling over religious dominance and certitude. Who is right? HA! You tell me and there will be someone behind you just waiting to disagree; all quite maddening...

Alas, I have digressed, and so:

Continuing with my walk home, I pondered what I will be doing with myself over the next few days before I go to Vienna. My default reaction is to keep the shutters closed and hide out; part of my shyer nature. Rita somehow must have sensed this because last night she dropped by to say "buon viaggi" to Kim and let me know that today at an hour yet to be determined, we'll be cooking something that includes the oven exhaust fan. I say this because as she was gesticulating what she will be making (a dessert?) she kept going over to our little oven and pointing at the fan. After she left I asked Kim, "What am I doing tomorrow?" and she just smiled and replied, "I don't know".

I have straightened up the apartment the way Kim likes it and I went to the gym for an aqua fitness class. I walked to the post office and purchased a stamp for a letter to the US. This currently is my life in Italy these days and all and all I think it's been a good day. While neither Kim nor I imagined these scenarios of our each returning to America for visits, that's what has transpired "while busy making other plans".

Getting Ready.....

Note the icicle hanging from his cap; it's COLD today, about 22F

This morning Kim and I had errands to run which included a trip to the train station. It's cold and icy out and there still is a lot of snow in the parks. The pictures above show a park across from the train station here in Alessandria.

Kim leaves to the US on Friday and given her departure hour, we decided to buy the ticket now. Her train will head out toward Milan at 5AM. From there to the airport and a plane ride to Boston where she'll visit with Siegy for just short of a week. After Boston she heads to Seattle to spend a week with a friend who is quite ill....

I'll be staying alone in Alessandria for five days and then will make my own journey to Milan to catch a plane for Vienna where I'll visit with Jean and Shadow. Toward the end of the month, Jean and I will fly to Amsterdam where we'll meet up with Kim for a four day visit. After Amsterdam, Kim and I will head back to Italy and Jean to Vienna.

We're starting to gear up for more traveling; the winter doldrums seem to be past us and we're more aware of the clock ticking.... Our friends Lynn and Susan will be moving to Germany next week and Kim and I are hoping to to visit with them following a visit to Venice for Carnivale. Whew! Stay tuned.

I've Been Set Free......

SKIPPIDY DOO DAH, SKIPPIDY DAY.....

I'M OFF TO THE GYM TODAY!

After almost two full weeks I am much better and got to head back to the gym today. When I went outside, I saw that we are still in Italy!

Ice and Cold, Cold and Ice

As you can probably tell, our Chief Blogger has been down for the count or preoccupied or reading or (occasionally) cooking for me, so she has been off her stride of a blog per day. Now I could have picked up the slack but that would require commitment (from me) and expectation (from you) and frankly, who needs that kind of responsibility??

We have been hibernating in this cold and "the most snow in 30 years" city we now call home. I venture out to the gym and the grocery store these days but that's about it. You skiers would think we are nuts- so close to the Italian Alps and here we are sitting on our butts (but then again we do the same thing in Seattle while many of you are off frolicking in the mountains- but jeesh the Alps??!) Our neighbors, Stefania and Alessandro often go off with their ski club on the weekends and 7 year old Chiara would put me to shame on a slope. But as I say in Seattle, and now here, wow aren't those mountains in the distance just beautiful?

Wikipedia says: Monte Rosa, also called Dufourspitze (in German, lit. Dufour Peak), is a mountain in the Pennine Alps. With its 4,634 m (15,203 ft) summit, it is the second highest mountain in the Alps and western Europe^[1] and the highest of Switzerland. Its 2,470 m (8,104 ft) eastern wall is also the tallest in the Alps^[2] and its western side is covered by the Gorner Glacier, the second largest in the Alps. The peak is located in the canton of Valais in the municipality of Zermatt. It is the summit of the Monte Rosa Massif, a range lying on the border between Italy and Switzerland and composed of several summits over 4500 metres.