Italia: Day 3

I feel profoundly happy to not be covered in pet hair right now. This is a surprising aspect of my happiness right now, and one of which I'm enormously aware. I have not had to lint-roll myself since Monday morning! Tremendous. Happy Thanksgiving, American family and friends. Elia loves Thanksgiving so we are having a small one here. This morning, we went back to Mercado Centrale to pick up a few remaining items for tonight's meal, including our turkey from the turkey guy. Look at the sign they have hanging over the stall.

I inquired about the somewhat odd placement of the Stella di Davide, and the guy said, "I don't know. I'm Palestinian so it's not mine." His colleague said, "I think an American girl made this for us. It's about 15 years old now."

The whole thing tickled my funny bone.

Artichokes and porcini mushrooms are in season now- can you even get over the size of these mushrooms?? And the artichokes could not be fresher or more stunning, yes?

For lunch we decided on lemon and ricotta ravioli and a kale salad with apples, Parmesan and walnuts. These ravioli render you certain of dying of bliss. Dressed with a simple lemon butter sauce, each bite is a cloud of perfection.

Our apple pie is cooked, the veggies are roasted, the turkey is in. I made a cipollini confit, and we're making a cornbread dressing too. Hope you are all happy, healthy and well. Warmest wishes from across the pond.

Italia: Giorno 2

Amici, Italia e meravigliosa. I mean, seriamente. It is rainy and gray right now, but who cares?! I slept until 10:15. Then -and y'all, you know how I love clothes and fashion; like, the art of it, really I do; I'm not superficial.- my sister took me to the Roberto Cavalli employee discount sale, and, I admit, I took advantage of a few deals. SO fun. You should see this belt I bought. It's labeled a man's belt, but I know of NO man who would wear this. Not even Pavarotti. It is a Cavalli snake head buckle on a belt. I mean, it is fabulous. There may have been a few other purchases, but such good deals, people. Such good deals. Heh-heh.

I am besotted with my nephew who is just the cat's meow. He is so calm and darling and sweet and soft, and really, I could have 85 babies. Literally, I could nurse and tend to 85 babies. Happily. Willingly. Joyfully. It then gets exponentially more difficult, and in that regard, I am thrilled with my two doll-baby sons.

Do y'all even know what happened to me this evening? Elia and I crossed and bought from not one but TWO mozzarella di bufala stands. TWO!!!

People, we ate a ciambella di bufala, and then, whilst enjoying said ciambella (donut) and some patatas fritas and wine and beer, the mozzarella man drove his cart to us, and I gleefully bought an entire, fabulous, quivering, still-warm orb of perfectness.

SERIOUSLY?

Ohmygod.

And there were these... some sort of fantastic, cured maiale (pork).

And we were: proud Mom and auntie...