Oh the memories I have of my dad standing as guardian over the smoking barbecue, I can still see him in my minds eye in his cut off denim shorts and a Coors beer tank top. He had a fly swatter in one hand and a water squirt bottle in the other to calm the igniting flames.
We are finally back “home” in Italy after two days of traveling and three days of jet lag. It’s been a whirlwind of getting our cell phones running, updating our Permesso di Sorggiono (Permission to stay in Italy filed at the local commune) and checking on my Citizenship documents. We have eaten the pizza, sipped the cappuccino’s, devoured the Cornetto (breakfast pastries) and slurped the gelatos. We reunited with friends over apperetivo and pasta.
This recipe I learned from my mother-in-law Lynn, she was the first to introduce us to the Keto Diet about a year ago. Back then I barely understood the concept, but she has persevered and lost a lot of weight on the Keto Diet. This past week we visited them and spent a week eating delicious Keto meals. From a Smoked Rib Dinner with all of the sides, to Beef Brisket, Jalapeño Poppers, Scallops, Hot Wings and much more. We never felt like we were dieting and still gathered around the table each night to nourish our tummies and hearts. It’s what family is all about, good conversation, good card games and enjoying time around the dinner table.
When I was 19 years old I was invited to a “Pioneer” lunch at my friend Frieda house. She rolled out the red carpet for us with white tablecloths and fine China. It was my first experience with a “fancy” grown up dinner and I was wowed!
So looks like you tried the Classic American Turkey Dinner! Now you find yourself with heaps of leftover turkey, but thats part of the fun of making turkey, all of those leftovers! In my American Italian family we always had another night after the Turkey Dinner that we all went back to grandmas house for another night of Turkey dinner. That proves that an Italian can cook an American Turkey dinner because my Italian grandmother always nailed it! Interestingly, Ravioli was always part of the turkey dinner too, right along with the mashed potatoes, gravy and stuffing. I guess you can take the Italian out of Italy but you can’t take Italy out of the Italian.
We are finally back “home” in Italy after two days of traveling and three days of jet lag. It’s been a whirlwind of getting our cell phones running, updating our Permesso di Sorggiono (Permission to stay in Italy filed at the local commune) and checking on my Citizenship documents. We have eaten the pizza, sipped the cappuccino’s, devoured the Cornetto (breakfast pastries) and slurped the gelatos. We reunited with friends over apperetivo and pasta.
Cacciatore means “Hunter” or Hunter-Style, it has an ancient history going back to the Renaissance, around the 1500’s in Central Northern Italy. It was usually made with rabbit or fowl that would be caught by the hunter when he was out for bigger game. Chicken Cacciatore is rustic dish made on an ancient hearth or out in the open with ingredients readily available in the forest or the Renaissance kitchen. These would be olives curing in the brine, the ever present wine and herbs such as rosemary and thyme.
I am always so impressed when I see a large Paella pan filled with red rice, succulent pink shrimp, black mussels opened up, sausage and chicken, topped with parsley and lemon wedges. There is something so romantic and festive about cooking this large dish over an open fire in a special pan with a large group of friends.
How comforting it is to have a steaming bowl of soup on a cold November day. One of our favorite soups in my house is Mexican Chicken Tortilla Soup. It’s like a party in a bowl and is a real crowd pleaser. I can’t even count how many countries I have made this soup in: America, Italy, Mexico, Nicaragua, Japan…I have been making this Tortilla Soup for years now and it never disappoints.
What could be more homey than a chicken roasting in the oven with the smell of rosemary and thyme wafting through the air? The promise of a hearty meal soon to be set at the table. In our modern era of convenience foods the smells of a slow cooked meal are almost extinct. But this smell conveys the feeling of family and love and contributes to the families feeling of well being.
