YOU KNOW YOU'RE GETTING OLD WHEN....

.... you take your high-SPF-factor lipsalve back to the chemist's because you can't twist it up, lipstick-style. You ask,
"Please can you tell me how it works?"

The chemist replies,
"By taking the seal off."

SOAP, NO WATER AND PAINS IN THE NECK

Autumn has come very suddenly to Sicily and as I write there is sheet lightning in the Scicli direction. We have now had two days of nasty storms and late last night there were some quite terrifying thunderclaps.

Everybody seems to be feeling low and all attribute their mood to the changeable weather, in particular the fact that nobody knows what to wear. Not a few are also suffering from the cervicale, a seasonal ailment if ever there was one.

I had been watching the women for signs of the cambio di stagione [seasonal wardrobe change]which is really indicated by what length of sleeve they are wearing but this year the change seems to have been forced upon us during the past few days. [Usually a kind of telepathic decision is taken by the women in unison so that they all appear nonchantly sporting their autumn finery on exactly the same day.]

Ironically, although there has been lots of water outside, there had been none inside for the 48 hours from 7 pm Tuesday to this evening: Yes, the water supply ran out again and this time I couldn't even call the Water Office to order a cistern refill as their phone is rotto [ = broken, which is, at least, a variation on their usual theme of "cut off for non-payment of bills"]. When I pleaded with our water lorry driver this morning, he agreed to deliver a tankful provided I go to the office to sign for the order tomorrow. You can imagine my relief when the lorry turned up at 11 am, but this, alas, was short-lived, as when I tried to turn the tap on, still nothing came out! Then my neighbour informed me that there was something wrong with the motor which should pump the cistern water around the building and as I left for work she was looking for an electrician. I arrived home at 8pm with stiff limbs and not much hope of a bath tonight but oh, joy of joys, the motor was pumping its little old heart out! Never was a wallow in bath foam more appreciated, reader.

This gloomy day has been brightened by two lovely and completely unexpected gifts: Cotognata [quince paste] from Lucia, who informed me in all seriousness that she "only" made 10 kilos of this delightful autumn preserve yesterday

and a jar of pretty, beautifully perfumed soaps from Rosa's daughter.





I think I'll have another bath!

ANOTHER MARRIAGE

Talking of marriage [as I was the other day] here is a felicitous one indeed; it is that of our mini pears served with cheese - in this case, my favourite Asiago:

SIMI COPES WITH WIFI

Hi, folks. It's Simi here!

How was your day? Mine sort of went like this:

Now what's this that's appeared on MY bed? If I didn't know better, I'd wager [get it? wag 'er, heehee!] it's a computer [only our computer thingies live in the study].


My mummy's not bothered so I suppose it's all right.

Well, shiver my whiskers, it IS a computer! What's it doing in here? Perhaps I'd better guard it for a while... Hey! What was that flash? It will make my eyes look weird!

I think I'll just ignore it now...


... or better still, have a snooze.

See you soon, fans!

With love from

Simi xxxx woof!

BUON COMPLEANNO, SOFIA!

Happy birthday, Sofia Loren, still fabulous at 75!



Now let's hear from the guys: honestly, would you rather put your arms around Sofia or la Beckham?

SABATO MUSICALE

Something a bit different. Enjoy.

Le Blue Dolls - Tulli Tulli Pan

ICE CREAM OF THE WEEK

Frutti di bosco and limone in Modica Bassa on Monday.

FOODIE FRIDAY: MELON WITH RASPBERRY COULIS

Of all my recipe inventions, this is the one friends ask me to serve again and again. It's an appetiser, it's simple, it's good to taste and to look at and what's more you can freeze the raspberry sauce.

I don't get the opportunity to serve it often here as I've only found raspberries in Sicily on two occasions, one being last Monday when I was in Modica Bassa. I have tried making a similar sauce using frozen frutti di bosco [mixed red berries] and it is good, but not as good as the raspberry version.

Here's what you do: Put the contents of two punnets of raspberries in a bowl. Add some freshly squeezed orange juice [juice of at least four oranges] and caster sugar to taste. Purée the mixture using a hand-held blender or in a processor. Strain the mixture through a sieve. Chill to serve over slices of melon within an hour or two. Decorate with sprigs of mint and / or basil and if you know how to decorate the plate with those wavy sauce patterns that celebrity chefs and expensive restaurants like to create, feel free to do so. I don't and I think this is a dish that is all the better for looking a little bit messy with the sauce generously poured.

If you like, you can also serve this sauce over ice cream.

MOUNTAINGIRL'S PHOTO CHALLENGE - "CLEAN"

It's Friday and time for my friend mountaingirl's Photo Challenge. This week's theme is "clean".

Dear Rosa is under the illusion that I don't have any wrinkles - would that it were so! She has been asking what I use on my face and I have promised to give her a home facial when she comes round tomorrow. This afternoon I've been getting everything ready for a good, deep facial cleansing: exfoliators, cleanser, toner, face mask and creams to apply afterwards. Now all I need is a cucumber so that Rosa can put slices on her eyes while I get to work!

AUGURI AGLI SPOSI!

Raffaele's assistant AnnaMaria is getting married tomorrow. "Si sposa, poverina" ["She's getting married, poor thing"] joked her colleague as I entered the salon this morning. Non-alcoholic cocktails were on offer to celebrate the occasion and very good they were, too.

Raffaele and team. AnnaMaria is to the right of Raffaele.

Wishing you a very happy Wedding Day and Happiness ever after, AnnaMaria. Tante belle cose.

TICK, TICK, "PLASTICHIC"

It's not easy to photograph your own arm, I've just discovered, and this is the best I could do:

For I have become a plastichichista, reader, and have so far purchased four of these silicone watches, which are the latest fashion craze here. Not only are they strong, waterproof and fun to wear, but as a bonus they come in these smart containers:

The silicone has, I read, been treated with tourmaline, which is said to attract and emit negative ions. So what I want to know is, if one watch can make you feel good, can four worn together make you believe you're that lucky girl, Elisabetta Canalis?

WHAT IN SICILY? - 25

What is this symbol called and what does it represent?

Answer in the comments tomorrow.

FLOYDIE

Keith Floyd, author, flamboyant TV chef and bon viveur par excellence, died of a heart attack last night. I loved his style; the man even managed to die stylishly, having enjoyed a last meal of oysters and partridge with champagne. I had a Bristolian's affection for this honorary West Country man who opened his first restaurant in that town of my childhood. And what a "cook's cook" he was, rarely giving precise quantities, instructing you to "whack this in there" or "throw some of that in the pot", encouraging you to have the confidence to make your own judgements, as often as not with a full glass in his free hand as he did so.

A fitting tribute to Floydie on this blog, I feel, would be to write about some of my favourite Floyd recipes and so I shall do just that:

I think the first Floyd TV series I followed was Floyd on France and from the 1987 book of the series I was inspired to cook, for the first time, a chicken roasted with masses of garlic. I have tried many recipes for such a dish since, and many of them - their authors losing their nerve, it seemed to me - told you to count your garlic cloves and use 12, or at the most 20. Any experienced cook will realise that this is ridiculous, as the authors cannot possibly know how pungent the garlic is in your part of the world, or how big the cloves are. There's no such wimping out in Floyd's book, however, and you are instructed to use a kilo of the stuff. And it is to Floyd's recipe that I return again and again.

From Floyd on Italy [1994] I learnt to make tomato sauce and it is this recipe that forms the basis of my own to this day. In the introduction to this volume, Floyd writes:

"What is Italian food? Spaghetti bolognese, lasagne with coleslaw and deep-pan pizzas filled with culinary garbage? No. A thousand times no...... Whereas thinly rolled dough spread with chopped tomato and topped with anchovies and cheese and zapped into a wood-fired oven is heaven - you just don't need prawns and artichoke hearts, mushroom and chicken tikka pieces in a pastry shell and even if you do you can't call it a pizza. "

He goes on to describe what Italian food really is and I have yet to read a better description.

On a roll by then, I cheerfully cooked my way through Floyd on Spain [1992] and I hope I did it with a little duende. The Granada-Style Chicken, with bananas, sweet potatoes and carrots, is a revelation. Next [in the order in which I bought the books] came Far Flung Floyd [1993], about the food of South-East Asia and I remember tearfully cooking recipes from this book while my mother was ill. Cooking, you see, was the only "normal" thing I did during a period that turned my life upside-down. The Tamarind Chicken became a standby and I served it with rice to which I added slices of pineapple. When we think about key points in our lives, we often remember peripheral details such as what we smelt, tasted or cooked. It is no coincidence that the most important events of life, and death itself, are marked by feasts.

I came late to Floyd on Britain and Ireland [1988] and bought it mainly to read, rather than to cook from. This book is a tribute to those of my countrymen and women who, in Floyd's words,

"would rather put an extra half-hour of love into a casserole than a stock cube."

Here we have the essence of Floyd, for however much "whacking and throwing" he did, and even when he appeared to be slapdash, he cooked with love.

The last book in my Floyd collection is Floyd Around the Med [2000]. I never mastered the Provençal Omelette Cake but still cook the Chicken with Lemons and Raisins:

"1 free-range chicken. 'How heavy?' I hear you cry. Well, I don't know. If there are 2 - 4 of you, get a small one; more of you, get a great big one or two small ones!"

Cincin, Floydie. Thank you for the recipes. And keep stirring it up, wherever you are.

Keith Floyd, 28.12.43 - 14.9.09.

VERDURA

Fruit and vegetables on display outside a small greengrocer's in Modica Bassa this morning:

Above: There are carob pods in the basket on the left.

Above: French beans are very popular here. I was amazed to see a woman inspecting a whole boxful of these by running them all through her fingers in the market on Thursday . No one chided her for doing so or for not having a pair of plastic gloves on.

Above: oregano is sold in dried bunches, as in the box. Sicilian oranges are just coming into season.

QUIZ: SICILIAN PROVERBS - 10

Match the proverbs 1 - 6 with their meanings a - f. For answers, highlight the space beneath where it says, "Highlight below for answers" - yes, really, they are there!

1. Non pói aviri e vutti cina e a mugghieri 'nbriaca.

2. Si nun si' Re nun fari liggi novi; lassa lu munnu comu lo trovi.

3. Pri canusciri un amicu riali, si cci havi a manciari 'na sarma di sali.

4. Ô muru vasciu si ci appoja macari 'u viecciu.

5. Unni manca Diu pruviri.

6. Scrùsciu ri carta e cubbàita nènti.

a. The Lord will provide.

b. To know if a friend is a real one, you must live with him long enough to eat a corpse of salt.

c. All that glitters is not gold [literally, "a rustle of paper and no cobaita" = sesame seed nougat].



d. You can't have your cake and eat it [literally, "you can't have a full bottle and a drunk wife" - presumably there is some advantage in having a drunk wife?].

myspace layouts

e. Even an old man will lean on a low wall [ie., everyone will take advantage of the weakest person or situation].



f. If you're not a king don't make new laws: leave the world as you found it.

myspace glitters

Highlight below for answers:
1d, 2f, 3b, 4e, 5a, 6c.

DAILY DOINGS - 25

It's been a busy couple of weeks and I have started back in my old job at the English International School [where I taught before I was ill last year]. I must say it is pleasant seeing some of my old students again and meeting new ones. I took in some pictures of London to sort of welcome myself back and presented my boss with a dollop of blu-tack [unavailable here] to put them up with; what more could she desire?

Meanwhile, at home, and thanks to Marie-Laure and David for having suggested it, the computer shop man has set up Wifi for me so at long last I can listen to The Archers in every room! I don't know why it never occurred to me that that was the solution.... Rosa was laughing at me this afternoon as I purred with contentment at the mere thought of being able to listen to all my beloved Radio 4 voices as I laze the siesta hours away in my bedroom or lounge.

The kitchen has been a hive of activity too, as Irma wanted to see how I make that old standby of mine, the lemon semifreddo which is really Jennifer Paterson's "Suffolk Lemon Pudding" [from Seasonal Receipts]. If that sounds familiar to regular readers, it's because I have both made and mentioned it hundreds of times before, and the recipe has not let me down yet. Irma likes my instructions, which include this advice for turning the cake out: "Dip the base in hot water, take a deep breath, pray, then be brave - and quick!"

Over at Raffaele the hairdresser's there are all these new perfumes for his clients to play with:

They are mostly good imitations of famous scents and I decided it would be fun to spray one on top of the other until I got the right "note" [as I believe perfumers call it]. I'll probably never be able to create that particular mix again! Raffaele just looks on as if to humour me...

There was less fun for my other hairdresser, the one nearer home, yesterday, for , just as I was going out with Simi at lunchtime, an injured pigeon took refuge in our courtyard. The poor creature could hardly move, let alone fly, crashing in agony each time it tried. I didn't know how to help it and was wondering whom to call when Orazio appeared. When he said he'd see to it I wasn't quite sure what he would do but he went back into the salon and emerged with a box and a rather hesitant assistant behind him. Then he told me that he bred pigeons so could handle the situation and off Simi and I went. When we came back the bird was in the box and Orazio was trying to feed it some bread. Sadly, this morning he told me that the bird had died during the night but at least it was treated kindly during its final hours. Apparently the assistant, who had had to pick the pigeon up from under a car it had painfully reached, only admitted this morning that she is terrified of birds!

You can tell that it's autumn because the cotognata [quince paste] is in the shops, are as the fichi d'India or prickly pears. One of the nicest combinations I know is that of Asiago cheese and cotognata:

And the Altro Posto yet again wins the "Ice Cream of the Week" award, for being the first bar this year to include fichi d'India in its coppa di frutta e gelato:

I was going to finish there but I have to tell you that, much to my amazement, I have won Saretta's competition over at her blog! She had the brilliant idea of putting up a photo of a group of her international friends and her readers had to guess the nationality of each woman. No, I didn't guess correctly; it was a lot harder than you would imagine and we all got in a fine muddle trying to work it out by logic, so in the end Saretta pulled a name out of a hat! The prize is a guide to Apulia which Saretta has translated and I'm really looking forward to receiving it. Grazie in anticipo, Saretta.

SABATO MUSICALE

We haven't had a Patrizio Buanne song for a long time, so let's put that right. Enjoy the music and - well, him!

Patrizio Buanne - Credi in te

MOUNTAINGIRL'S PHOTO CHALLENGE - "GUIDE"

It's Friday already and time for my friend mountaingirl's Photo Challenge. This week's theme is "guide".

My friend Sally, who comments on this blog, is the author of "Sicily" in the AA Spiral Guide series and was kind enough to send me a copy.

I very much like the clear way in which this guide is set out and it is packed with a lot more information than you would imagine from its size.

Well done and thank you again, Sally!

FOODIE FRIDAY - A VERY SPECIAL BIRTHDAY FEAST

Yesterday was Rosa's birthday and I was invited to a very special lunch at her home to celebrate the occasion:

First, there was pasta with sweet tomato sauce:

Rosa had made two enormous Italo-Albanian types of focaccia, one with a filling of onions and tomatoes

and one with a cheese and onion filling:




Then there was veal

accompanied by potatoes prepared as only Rosa can prepare them [recipe at the end of the post]:



It was all served with good bread and a green salad and finally there was this wonderful Albanian sponge cake made by Rosa's eldest daughter. The accompanying syrup was delicious and the cake was so light I thought it was going to fly away!



Buon compleanno di nuovo, Rosa!

Rosa's Potatoes
Peel some white potatoes and cut into large chunks. Cut up a veal escalope and put it in a roasting dish with the potatoes, some fine seasalt and some chopped parsley. Do not add any liquid at this stage as the meat juices and salt will form some. Put the dish in an oven heated to 180 C and cook until the juices have evaporated. Now add some olive oil and a small glass of white wine. Let it all continue cooking for about 10 minutes or until the liquid has evaporated. Then add 1.5 glasses of water and cook until the potatoes are ready.

PHOTO MEME

I don't often do memes but this one is simple and quick and doesn't involve an intricate set of rules. In addition, it was Leslie over in Canada who tagged me and she was tagged by Liz in Wales, then Anne in Oxfordshire told me I'd been tagged. All three of these lovely bloggers are friends of mine so how can I refuse? Here's what you have to do:

Open the fourth file where you store your photos. Pick the fourth photo. Explain the photo. Pass the challenge on to four other bloggers.

Even I can manage that; in fact, as I have two computers, I can manage it twice. Here goes:

The fourth photo in the fourth file on my desktop computer is of my beautiful, blondie girl playing with her favourite "Mister Tuggy" toy:

The fourth photo in the fourth file on my laptop is of a rice timballo that Irma made a few weeks ago. I keep forgetting to ask her for the recipe:

Now I'm going to break these nice, uncomplicated rules as I don't tag. However, if any of you would like to do this meme on your sites I'll be happy to visit.