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Wednesday, July 22, 2009

Show and Tell -- A Taste of Italy

WELCOME ICLW-ERS! THERE IS MUCH GOING ON HERE AT BHB IN THE LAST WEEK AFTER, WHAT NOW SEEMS A STRANGE CONCERN I HAD ABOUT LACK OF WRITING TIME. IF YOU ARE NEW ON THE GRIEVING JOURNEY YOU MIGHT FIND AN ODD KIND OF COMFORT IN MY "BACK-TO-THE-BEGINNING SERIES". PART ONE IS RECENT, MY FIRST TIME BACK TO THE JOURNAL I WROTE DIRECTLY AFTER EMMA DIED. WHAT FOLLOWS HERE IS PRESENT DAY MUSINGS...

And Now...For Show and Tell!

I am Italian, really Italian, like - 100% Italian. All it takes is one good look at me to know it.

I married a man who, although comprised of a great many heritages, is as far from Italian as one can get. So, although my last name has long been changed to a Vermonter's monniker my love of all things Italy, expecially the food, remains.

Guilty Truth? I could eat pasta at every meal! With a good basil, cream sauce - fresh panchetta and peas and a tall glass of pinot noir to match!

Of course we don't, having a gluten free girl in the house, and its a good thing or I'd be the size of this big old farmhouse, but - even so -some of my fondest childhood memories are walking the North End of Boston with my parents.

The traditional Italian resturants...Nonnies!

The traditional Italian pastry...Mikes!

And, of course, the traditional Italian little old men sitting on random street benches speaking animatedly with both their voices and their hands!

Recently I was as a yard sale and saw a crumpled box. At first glance it looked old, but then I realized it house a brand new pitzelle maker, and the box had only sustained considerable water damage. $5 the price tag said.

And, if you read here on even a semi-consistant basis you will recall my love for all yard-sale procured, $5 and under small kitchen appliances! Ah- but this was no run-of-the-mill gadget. No, this was a traditional Italian pitzelle maker.

Just standing there looking at the box brought a delicious sensation to my mouth. I could nearly taste the vaguely licorace taste of the thin pastaries. And, although $5 was all I had in my pocket on that particular day, I bought it.

I have not been dissapointed. Nor, have I been visited by the buyer's remorse that often visits me.

Instead -- I have created these!


My father says they are (his words), "Hands down, some of the best he's ever tasted". I can't really take any credit for that, as (1) he's bound to be a bit bias as I am his daughter and (2) it is so shamefully easy to do that a blindfolded monkey could probably be trained.

Even so, I've experimented with different kinds and - so far - the neighbors (my taste testers) have had nothing but rave things to say! I've even let my mind spin so far as to think about mass production, packaging and selling in the few random stores in our little town.

For now, this delicious - if only a little bit bad for me - reminder of my heritage is enough. So, what is the rest of the class showing?

22 comments:

Hope's Mama said...

We could BOTH eat pasta like that for every single meal, and neither of us are even CLOSE to Italian. It must be SOMEWHERE in our heritage though (not likely, our familie are both very British who came to Australia in the 1950s) because we make our own pasta and pizza bases from scratch. I'm using this pregnancy as a damn fine excuse to carb load now, without the fear of gettig huge, as I'm going to get huge anyway!
I'd love for you and your family to cook for me one day!

Martha@A Sense of Humor is Essential said...

I love this and all things Italian including you and su familia. Molte grazzi. XX

Suzy, Not a Fertile Myrtle said...

Ciao!

They are belissimo! I have a friend who made some of those for us for Christmas one year and they were delicious!

c. said...

I am Italian, too. And OMG: I love pizelles! LOVE THEM. I'm impressed.

Kristin said...

So, if I bring the wine, will you make the pasta and the pitzelles for dessert?

Baby Smiling In Back Seat said...

They look lovely, and I'm sure they taste even better!

I am not Italian at all and can take or leave pasta, but there are many things I love about being in Italy. Though I don't think I ever had a pitzelle any of the times I went there.

Vintage Mommy said...

They look delicious and so professional! I don't think you can even get pizzelle around here (northwest); making me miss my RI roots!

aimeemax said...

Yum! And the patterns are so gorgeous.

:o)

sassy said...

I love the little iron you have with the patterns in it - so cute!!

Brenna said...

My best friend's family (also Italian, of course!) made us bags of Pizelles every Christmas. Thanks for trip down memory lane--they were so pretty, AND tasty! What a find!

JB - A.K.A. Jenn said...

You should definitely go into business for yourself! Crank em out and wrap em up pretty - sell them to the small mom & pop store nearby!

I bet they are delicioso!!!!

Jessica White said...

I'm not Italian (German-Irish) but I completely understand. I absolutely love Italian food...not just any kind of Italian, but REAL Italian. Visiting Italy is on the top of my husband and my list: Of course I'd have to lose 20lbs after we go.

Have fun making your pizelles!

ICLW

CappyPrincess said...

I love pizelle and it's so hard to find a packaged brand that is anything close to fresh.

Enjoy!

ICLW

Anonymous said...

I have never had pizelles, but now you have given me a new goal in life! LOL! They look divine!

Bluebird said...

That's so cool!! I, too, could eat pasta several times a day, every day. Seriously :)

Michelle said...

OH I could eat pasta every day and be a happy happy girl!

That is a great find! They look yummy!

Beautiful Mess said...

Oh those look delicious! Good buy! I'm glad you're enjoying them and making them. Have fun!
*HUGS*

IF Optimist, then... said...

Mama mia! I love finding cheap kitchen gadgets. I once got a REAL cuisinart at a flea market for $25. It was old but worked like a champ. Great buy. I wish I could scarf down some of those pitzelles with an espresso right now. Mmmmmmmm. Grazie!

Stacie said...

I've never had one, but they look yummy! I love the designs, too.

kate said...

Mmm! Pizelli! Yummy. My husband is from the northwest part of Germany, and it is tradition there that on New Years Day, you go by to all of your neighbors' houses and have a shot and a cookie. I don't know what the cookies are called in German, but they are very similar to a pizelle, only they get rolled into tubes or horns (or sometimes wedges). They don't have that same anise flavor, but they are similar in texture. My step-MIL sends them to us every year at christmas, and that is my absolute favorite part of the annual package.

I am just about as non-Italian as I could be (well, I am a bit cajun, so you never know what mix that makes up, but still. England, Scotland, France... these are what comprises most of my ancestry), but I'm beginning to think that I was Italian in another life. With my love for good food, good wine, good music and gorgeous art, I could see that being the case!

areyoukiddingme said...

My mother-in-law (who is Italian, from Italy, but was adopted by Italian Americans when she was little) loves the pizelle. She's always either trying to find those or make some. Then she pushes them on the rest of us - and while I love almost all Italian food, I'm not a huge fan of anise. As a total non-sequitir, I have to say, though, that the best Chinese food I've ever had was in Italy.

Jess said...

Thanks for the comment! MMM...those look like staty treats! I wish I was your neighbor!

Your baby girl is beautiful. I'm so sorry for your loss.

ICLW

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