AND TALKING OF STRAWBERRIES....

Note re. Comments
Apologies to all who left comments on this post. They disappeared when blogger went down on Friday and I haven't got them back yet!

STRAWBERRY FIELDS FOREVER

Having written here about some rather embarrassing occurences in the run-up to the Strawberry Festival in Cassibile [Siracusa Province] I thought it was only fair to go there on Sunday and see for myself what the festa is like.  And I'm very glad I did, because it turned out to be a great event offering something for everybody, from games for the children to a photographic exhibition detailing the history of Sicily, along with stalls, music and a happy, relaxed atmosphere that got people spontaneously dancing as they wandered among the exhibits.

It wouldn't be a Sicilian festa, of course, without the sweet, fried dolci that everybody loves here, so there were strawberry sfincioni,

all kinds of zeppole [deep-fried, filled puffs made from a kind of choux pastry],

strawberry cannoli

and, as you would expect, some of the best strawberry ice cream I've ever tasted!

There was plenty of other food, too, to eat on the spot

or to take away and who could resist these enormous, gorgeously scarlet, sundried tomatoes?  Not me!

This strawberry cream liqueur looked good.  I can't wait to chuck some into my strawberry tiramisù:

There was even strawberry beer:

Naturally, there were strawberries of all shapes, sizes and shades, ready for you to purchase by the crate at excellent prices:

I wish I could have stayed for more music in the evening and the distribution to the crowd of slices of the maxi torta, a strawberry tart weighing 600 kilos.  Maybe next year....   Meanwhile, congratulations to the citizens of Cassibile on a very fine festa.

IF YOU CAN'T BEAT 'EM, JOIN 'EM - 2

I was delighted, a few days ago, when my new British-Modican friend Emma called and invited me to "the Royal Wedding - with bacon sarnies", for what Brit - even a diehard Republican like me - could resist the lure of all that pageantry, a big television screen, wonderful company and bacon sarnies?  So it was that a group of about fifteen of us gathered at Emma's house in the Sicilian countryside this morning.

It was easy to pick out the house, although I'd never been there before:

And once inside the gate, there was no mistaking the nature of the occasion.

Emma is an artist and furniture restorer, so indoors there were details like this vintage bunting:

No sooner were we all seated than the bacon sarnies arrived - with "proper" bacon!

And then, during the interval between the arrival of the bridal party at Buckingham Palace and their balcony appearance, lunch was served:

The main course was Emma's delicious Coronation Chicken.

Our friend, artist Marjorie, had made the superb wedding cake, there was also a Victoria sandwich and you can just see my strawberry tiramisù again behind the champagne on the right.  I'll let you have another look at the wedding cake

and the glorious Victoria sandwich:

If these two were the stars of the day for some

for me the top of the bill was Emma's lovely dog, Malaki

who was obviously feeling patriotic too:

Thanks for a lovely day, Emma!

If you are visiting Modica, do stop by Emma's shop.  There you will find the lady herself, plus many objets d'art and other beautiful items.

IF YOU CAN'T BEAT 'EM, JOIN 'EM

With the above proverb in mind, this is my strawberry tiramisù, in British colours [well, almost] for a Royal Wedding party here in Modica tomorrow morning.  I toyed with the idea of forming the silver balls into an ER but then remembered what Rita Levi-Montalcini said about knowing your limitations!

RED FACES AT STRAWBERRY FAIR

There have been some red faces, as well as red fruit, in the town of Cassibile [Siracusa Province] where the good citizens are justly proud of their annual strawberry festival.  Preparations for the 2011 festival, to be held over the two weekends 29th April - 1st May and 6th - 8th May, were going well until some publicity posters like the one below, using a woman's cleavage to extol the "beautiful, firm and fragrant" qualities of the fruit, appeared:

Complaints that the posters were degrading to women were immediately made to the town council, whose members agreed to withdraw the offending publicity, but something went wrong and not only did the posters continue to appear, but they appeared bearing the town's logo and sponsorship approval.  When further complaints reached the Mayor he immediately withdrew both and the Province of Siracusa also had its logo removed.

The organisers of the festival say the "cleavage" poster was only meant to be an experiment, however, and that no offence to women was intended.  A more innocent advertisement now adorns the festival website and preparations are once more in full swing.   In the words of John Lennon,  "Nothing to get hung about", then.

PRIMARY COLOURS

Strawberries being sold by the crate, large, glossy red peppers behind them, round aubergines and smooth, dark Sicilian cucumbers on the right.

TIRAMISU ALLE FRAGOLE

I am currently reading and enjoying Matthew Fort's Sweet Honey, Bitter Lemons. It is the story of the author's journey around Sicily on a Vespa and the recipes he collected on the way.

As soon as I saw the recipe for this strawberry tiramisù I knew I had to try it and what better occasion than Gina's birthday today? I can't give you the copyright recipe here but can tell you that it works, is quick and easy and was a big hit with Gina [who is quite a cook, as some of you will remember]. My only adaptation was to slosh in a drop or several of Mandarinetto liqueur, as is my wont.

STRAWBERRY FAIR

Sicilian strawberries are less plump and more elongated than British ones but they do taste delicious. I was presented with this pretty dish of some, topped with ice cream and the freshest red fruit sauce when I asked for "un po' di frutta" at the Altro Posto today.

FRAGOLINE DI BOSCO

These delightful little strawberries were on sale today. They, too, smell heavenly and bring with them all the hope of spring.