9/26 Monday
Pork Chops
In a small pan on medium heat, add
olive oil
2 thin, boneless pork chops
small amount of cut green beans
three leafy celery ribs (keep leaves for later)
cook till pork is brown on one side, then
flip pork, add
cooked pancetta or bacon
celery leaves
chopped pistachios
cover and turn off heat
Serve with Eggplant al Noto
OR
Pork Chops
In a small pan on medium heat, add
olive oil
2 thin, boneless pork chops, peppered one one side
1 zucchini, chopped
1 onion, cut into 1/2 strings
4 -5 cloves garlic, coarsely chopped
cook till pork is brown on one side, then
flip pork, add
ground pistachio (pesto, like a course nut butter)
cover and turn off heat
add asiago cheese and serve
26 September 2016
25 September 2016
Syracuse Day Trip
Syracuse Day Trip*
(Sunday 9/25)
Earlier in the week, our friends had tried to go to Syracuse by train - it was TWO hours late, so they scratched that plan! Now they have a car, and we all piled in and drove :-)
Well, Syracuse is definitely shy - it was our first completely rainy day. With riposo closures in mind, we drove through pouring rain and water-slewing lakes to get there well before 10:00. We parked just outside of Ortigia (the island part of the city), and walked around in an on-again-off-again drizzle.
We got a good look at the Temple of Apollo
And headed towards the Duomo. On the way, Artemis struck! I was apparently so entranced by this
that I didn't notice a dip in the curb until it precipitously met my face :-\
(I have quite a shiner, and I'm glad I have my extra pair of glasses...)
Well, after a nice icepack accompanied by a coffee and chocolate croissant (coronet here), we moved on to the Duomo. This is a church built around the bones of an older Temple of Athena (these are the huge, ragged-looking columns around the outside perimeter of the newer church arches).
Then back along the pier to the car.
We drove up to the archeological park, expecting to eat our lunch among the ruins. BUT! Because of the heavy rain, it was closed! We walked back a bit and tried the catacombs and museum - same thing, closed! We did manage a few photos.
As it was still raining, and looking to get worse, we just drove back home for a warm, dry afternoon inside.
~~~~
* Since Artemis is Diana, I was tempted to call this Diana's Revenge ;-)
(Sunday 9/25)
Earlier in the week, our friends had tried to go to Syracuse by train - it was TWO hours late, so they scratched that plan! Now they have a car, and we all piled in and drove :-)
Well, Syracuse is definitely shy - it was our first completely rainy day. With riposo closures in mind, we drove through pouring rain and water-slewing lakes to get there well before 10:00. We parked just outside of Ortigia (the island part of the city), and walked around in an on-again-off-again drizzle.
We got a good look at the Temple of Apollo
And headed towards the Duomo. On the way, Artemis struck! I was apparently so entranced by this
that I didn't notice a dip in the curb until it precipitously met my face :-\
(I have quite a shiner, and I'm glad I have my extra pair of glasses...)
Well, after a nice icepack accompanied by a coffee and chocolate croissant (coronet here), we moved on to the Duomo. This is a church built around the bones of an older Temple of Athena (these are the huge, ragged-looking columns around the outside perimeter of the newer church arches).
Then back along the pier to the car.
We drove up to the archeological park, expecting to eat our lunch among the ruins. BUT! Because of the heavy rain, it was closed! We walked back a bit and tried the catacombs and museum - same thing, closed! We did manage a few photos.
As it was still raining, and looking to get worse, we just drove back home for a warm, dry afternoon inside.
~~~~
* Since Artemis is Diana, I was tempted to call this Diana's Revenge ;-)
24 September 2016
Beef Fennel Stew
Beef Fennel Stew
In a pot on low heat, add
olive oil
water
beef in large-ish chunks
garlic
fennel
dried green onion (or chopped fresh yellow onion)
ground cloves
Cook for several hours.
Add the cooked pancetta from Julie's Eggplant al Noto recipe.
In a pot on low heat, add
olive oil
water
beef in large-ish chunks
garlic
fennel
dried green onion (or chopped fresh yellow onion)
ground cloves
Cook for several hours.
Add the cooked pancetta from Julie's Eggplant al Noto recipe.
Julie's Eggplant al Noto
Julie's Eggplant al Noto
Slice 1/2 medium eggplant (slightly wider than 1/4")
Salt and let sit for 1/2 hr (at least) each side
Rinse and pat dry eggplant
In a frying pan on medium heat, cook ~1/4 cup pancetta (or chopped bacon) in olive oil
Remove pancetta when done, and add eggplant, leaving plenty of room
Brown both sides of eggplant; remove to drain
When all eggplant is done, add chopped tomatoes to the pan; stir and brown, then remove from heat.
Arrange eggplant slices on 2 plates, cover with cooked tomatoes, and sprinkle with parmesan cheese (thin slices are great!)
*extremely smokey!
** I know, I know! I didn't like eggplant! That was before!!
Slice 1/2 medium eggplant (slightly wider than 1/4")
Salt and let sit for 1/2 hr (at least) each side
Rinse and pat dry eggplant
In a frying pan on medium heat, cook ~1/4 cup pancetta (or chopped bacon) in olive oil
Remove pancetta when done, and add eggplant, leaving plenty of room
Brown both sides of eggplant; remove to drain
When all eggplant is done, add chopped tomatoes to the pan; stir and brown, then remove from heat.
Arrange eggplant slices on 2 plates, cover with cooked tomatoes, and sprinkle with parmesan cheese (thin slices are great!)
*extremely smokey!
** I know, I know! I didn't like eggplant! That was before!!
23 September 2016
Modica
Modica
(9/23 Friday)
Modica, The Chocolate Capital, was our destination today! While everyone was very focused on finding and tasting interesting chocolate, we also saw a lot of architecture.
This line Jim is pointing to shows the flood level...
Modica has an upper and lower town. We parked in the lower town, walked around a while, and had our lunch. Then, while everything was shut down for riposo, we took a small tourist "train" up and around upper Modica. It was a pleasant way to see a lot of the town!
(9/23 Friday)
Modica, The Chocolate Capital, was our destination today! While everyone was very focused on finding and tasting interesting chocolate, we also saw a lot of architecture.
This line Jim is pointing to shows the flood level...
Modica has an upper and lower town. We parked in the lower town, walked around a while, and had our lunch. Then, while everything was shut down for riposo, we took a small tourist "train" up and around upper Modica. It was a pleasant way to see a lot of the town!
22 September 2016
Noto Market
Noto Market
9/22
I had been looking forward to a full morning of shopping at the weekly Noto outdoor market... Well, possibly because it's officially off-season, or some other reason I can't think of, there were all of THREE booths! Two were produce, and one had cured meats and cheeses. Our morning was suddenly free :-\
The Gardino (a big park) is where the market is held, and so far, there have been half a dozen booths there every day with local (or near-local) items for sale. These varied from wine and limoncello, to nuts and dried tomatoes, to toys and scarves.
9/22
I had been looking forward to a full morning of shopping at the weekly Noto outdoor market... Well, possibly because it's officially off-season, or some other reason I can't think of, there were all of THREE booths! Two were produce, and one had cured meats and cheeses. Our morning was suddenly free :-\
The Gardino (a big park) is where the market is held, and so far, there have been half a dozen booths there every day with local (or near-local) items for sale. These varied from wine and limoncello, to nuts and dried tomatoes, to toys and scarves.
21 September 2016
Cave Grande and Noto Antica
Cave Grande and Noto Antica
(9/21 Wednesday)
Yesterday, our friend went to Catania and rented a car! So today, we tested the theory that 4 adults and 2 children could fit in a Fiat Panda ;-)
We did, and we cruised around the countryside.
Our first stop was in a small town, Canicatinni Bagni, where our friends looked for (and found!) someone they had lost contact with.
Next was Cave Grande, a deep canyon in the inland limestone mountains. We enjoyed the views and breeze while having our picnic lunch.
On our way back, we drove through Testa Dell'acqua, and pulled into Noto Antica - this is the original town of Noto that was destroyed in an earthquake in the late 1600s. When they rebuilt it, they relocated the town farther South and East.
(9/21 Wednesday)
Yesterday, our friend went to Catania and rented a car! So today, we tested the theory that 4 adults and 2 children could fit in a Fiat Panda ;-)
We did, and we cruised around the countryside.
Our first stop was in a small town, Canicatinni Bagni, where our friends looked for (and found!) someone they had lost contact with.
Next was Cave Grande, a deep canyon in the inland limestone mountains. We enjoyed the views and breeze while having our picnic lunch.
On our way back, we drove through Testa Dell'acqua, and pulled into Noto Antica - this is the original town of Noto that was destroyed in an earthquake in the late 1600s. When they rebuilt it, they relocated the town farther South and East.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
