Italian OK

An interesting story that brings to the fore the arguments for/against freedom of expression on the Internet.  Let me know what you think.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/google/7305616/Google-executives-convicted-in-Italy-of-violating-privacy-laws-over-bullying-video.html

An absolutely fantastic documentary about post war Napoli.  I watched this a couple of months ago and HIGHLY recommend it!

Here are some proverbs that I thought you might like.

Dimmi con chi vai chi ti diro chi sei.
Tell me who you go with and I’ll tell you who you are
- A man is known by the company he keeps.

Non si puo avere la botte piena è la moglie ubriaca.
You can’t have a full bottle and a drunken wife
- You can’t have your cake and eat it

Fra il due mali scegli il minore.
Between two evils, choose the lesser
- Choose the lesser of two evils

Oggi in figura, domani in sepoltura.
Today in person (in health), tomorrow in a grave
- Here today and gone tomorrow.

Ogni medaglia ha il suo rovescio.
Every medal has another side
- There are two sides to every coin.

So who will make the cut? How will Lippi turn a team that has already performed sub standardly into one that should challenge to maintain the World Cup? One things for sure, the Italian team this year doesn’t look as good on paper and there seems to be a distinct lack of young guns taking the mantle from the more experienced veterans.

We have a fantastic talent in Balotelli, however his mentality leaves a lot to be desired and his team playing credentials are often lacking.  What a great shame because Italy really miss a physical, quick and technically gifted center forward. Giovinco also seems somewhat of an unknown quantity, he is without a shadow of doubt technically gifted but often disappear in big games and many are critical of his small stature.  A further problem is his inability to break into the Juventus 1st team and thereby break into some form.  Not forgetting Antonio Cassano, the “fantasista” from Bari who initially spearheaded Sampdoria’s assault on the top spot in the early part of the season, however Lippi seems to have taken a dislike to Cassano and refuses to call him up to the national squad despite public outcry.  And what of an aging and simply unwatchable (at times) Cannavaro in defence?  Where are the goals going to come from, unfortunately we have no great in form Toni to act as a target man and Gilardino is in a moment of bad form along with the rest of his Fiorentina team mates (as their 10th league position suggests).   Essentially I fear an old, Juve-based team that simply wont be able to put up much of a fight against the other title contenders, let me know your views on this matter.

Hopefully we can repeat the landmark moment that was July 9th 2006, however in my opinion, and it pains me to say it but it seems unlikely this year.  Anyway I’ll leave you with a great little video I found on youtube.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FF6FMFWa2bE

Whenever I hear the word “Parmigiana” mentioned I’m pretty much instantly transported back to large, festive family occasions where the dish is nearly always served. This dish is without a shadow of a doubt my favorite Italian dish and hopefully by following this recipe, if you have never tried this fantastic dish, I can “open your eyes” to it so to speak. Although Parmigiana is not a light dish it is served in the hotter months as well as in the colder months and is hugely popular in both Campania and Sicily. So lets get down to business, the ingredients stated below should be enough to make 4 portions, however seeing as this dish is designed to be eaten for large family occasions don’t be afraid to double or even triple the ingredients to make a mega parmigiana!

Ingedients:

• 2 aubergines
• 1 bottle of good tomato passata
• 2 cloves of garlic
• 2 balls of mozzarella
• parmigiano (parmesan)
• extra virgin olive oil
• oil to fry in
• basil
• salt and pepper to season
• sugar

Method:

Dice the garlic and fry in some olive oil. Once it’s blonde add the passata and let it reduce. While the sauce is cooking season and add the basil. If the sauce is acidic add some sugar to counteract the acidity.

Now the sauce is cooking prepare the aubergines. Cut the ends off and leaving the skin on wash and cut them lengthways in slices that are around half a cm thick. Put these slices in a colander and sprinkle with a little bit of salt, this is called allowing them to “sudare” or sweat. This removes the acidity from the aubergines and prevents them from absorbing too much oil while frying.

Heat a good amount of oil for frying in (the oil needs to come up to around half the thickness of the aubergine). Take the aubergines and wash them under cold water, now dry them properly with a towel. When the oil is hot begin to fry the slices of aubergine. Once they are fried place them in a plate with absorbent paper to absorb the excess oil. Once this is done add a sprinkle of salt

Take an oven dish and place a little bit of the tomato sauce and spread it in the bottom, add some basil. Now begin to layer the aubergines in the dish. Once a layer has been completed cut the mozzarella into slices and add these on top, finish by adding the a generous layer of parmigiano and finally a layer of the tomato sauce. Continue layering the dish in the fashion until you reach the top of the dish.

For this amount of ingredients cook for around 20mins in a hot oven. When serving cut generous portions and add some parmesan! And remember make sure to enjoy!

This is one of those dishes that gets better with practice so don’t be afraid of making a few mistakes, I guarantee once perfected this will impress any friends and family you have over for dinner.

So running a business in a recession is hard enough right? Well imagine running a business and having to pay out some of your hard earned cash in the form of “protection money” (pizzo) or risk having your business burned to the ground. Unfortunately this is the reality of business in many parts of southern Italy. However this tragic situation is changing. 2004 saw the foundation of the “Addiopizzo” (goodbye pizzo) movement, a grassroots attempt by ordinary members of the public to stand up and shake off the shackles of the mafia.

The message that jump started this campaign went like this:

“ Un intero popolo che paga il pizzo, e’ un popolo senza dignita’”

A whole people who pays the pizzo is a people without dignity

If you have an interest in Italy I encourage you to visit this site ( don’t worry its in English) to learn a bit more about this underhand, shameful practice and fuels criminality in Italy.

http://www.addiopizzo.org/english.asp

Some of you may remember the devastating earthquake that struck L’Aquila in Abruzzo on the 6^th April 2009. 307 people lost their lives that terrible day and it was the worst earthquake to hit Italy since the 1980 Irpinia earthquake which occurred in my home region. The song below was released shortly after the earthquake to raise funds to aid in the reconstruction of L’Aquila and the surrounding area. But it also sent out a powerful message that in a country where regions hold their regional identity in higher esteem than their national identity everyone was united in mourning, this song brought out a national solidarity rare in Italy. It’s a real shame that we only come together in times of suffering or when the national team plays.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p_WyCOGZjbM

Just a short entry for today.  I read this article yesterday and thought I should share it.  As the pound becomes weaker and the European economy reels from the continuing impact of the recession I think it’s no suprise that tide of emigrants from the UK is suffering a reversal, however the sheer scale of the reversal is astonishing and the effect that is will have on local economies is still uncertain.

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/expats-exodus-as-brits-give-up-on-la-dolce-vita-1899058.html

One of my favourite traditional English dishes is Sheppard pie so today I thought I would put my own Italian twist on this English classic, I hope I’m not being too blasphemous.

Ingredients:

• 8 Potatoes
• Butter
• Salt and pepper
• Milk
• 8 Courgettes
• Olive oil
• 1 tin of peas
• 4 Rashes of streaky bacon (chopped)
• 1/2 cup good parmesan

For the Bolognese sauce

• 1Tblsp olive oil
• 1/2 lb. Mince beef
• 1 onion (diced)
• 2 carrots (diced)
• 1 celery (diced)
• 2 cloves garlic (chopped)
• 1 Glass of red wine
• Salt and pepper
• 2 Tins of chopped tomatoes
• Parsley

Add the olive oil to a hot pan, then add the garlic and let it blonde.

Now add the onion, carrot and celery and fry off until the vegetables soften.

After this add the mince and make sure it’s browned before adding the wine.

Let the wine reduce and then add the chopped tomatoes, season to taste. If the sauce tastes a little bitter add a touch of sugar.

Now leave to simmer for around 20 mins, you need a tasty concentrated sauce. If you like a little kick add some chilli now. Before the sauce dries out too much add the parsley.

Mash Potato

Now make the mash potato, I’m not going to insult your intelligence hence why I’ve not included quantities, just make it as you like it.

The Base

In another frying pan fry the bacon, now sauté the courgettes and finally add the peas. Cook for around 15 minutes and season.

Now place the courgette mix into the bottom of an oven proof dish, add the sauce on top of this and finally finish by smoothing down the mash potato. Sprinkle the parmesan on the top. Cook for about 45 minutes and enjoy!

Before I gorge myself with Nutella and pancakes I thought I should post what I probably should be eating, a nice healthy spicy pancake.  This is a really simple dish, especially great  as a light snack in the summer or served as a starter in winter.

Ingredients: (8 Pancakes)

• 500 g minced beef
• 1 tbsp Olive oil
• 1/2 tsp chilli powder
• 1 onion (diced)
• 1 clove garlic (crushed)
• 150 ml or 2/3 cup vegetable stock
• 1 tbsp tomato purée paste
• Salt and pepper to season
• Pancakes or: 80 g 3/4 cup plain flour
• 1 Large egg
• 95 ml 6 tbsp milk
• 60 ml olive oil
• Parmesan

Method

Add the olive oil to a frying pan and  fry the onion until soft, now brown the mince.

Add the crushed garlic, chilli and tomato paste.

Mix well and add the stock, now bring to the boil

Season well and leave to simmer for around 25mins

Now make the pancakes:

Beat the flour,egg and milk together and allow to rest for 10 minutes.  After the 10 minutes beat again to increase the smoothness of the pancakes.

Heat a little oil in a frying pan and pour enough pancake mix in to cover the base of the frying pan.  Cook each side for 2.5 mins and then remove and repeat, you should have 8 pancakes.

Now take the warm pancakes, spoon some of the delicious filling top with a little bit of parmesan and fold over.

Buonissimo!! Enjoy!