Archives: July 2009
Fri Jul 24, 2009
An Italian Cook and Night to Remember
How many times have you struggled making a menu for guests or friends. This week we focused on Italian cooking and the common Italian dishes served in Italian households and restaurants. We started off the week with a cooking class with Chef Francesco Ciarapica in our very own kitchen. He started by giving us an overview of common Italian foods and then proceeded to give us lessons on how to prepare certain Italian dishes. The menu consisted of a yellow risotto with asparagus and octopus, cold pasta salad, and crčme caramel with strawberries.
Yellow Risotto with Asparagus and Octopus
(8 servings)
500 g (1.1 pounds) of Carnaroli or Arborio rice
2 kg (4.4 pounds) of small kind of octopus
2 cloves of garlic
500 g (1.1pounds) of asparagus
Saffron extract
White wine
Butter
Salt
Grounded pecorino cheese
Broth
Chopped parsley
Slice the asparagus, but keep the top part whole. Fry them all in a pan with a little oil, and the garlic clove with (with the skin). Take another pan, and fry a little oil with a garlic clove, and then add the rice, and leave it toast a little. Put some wine, and cover the rice of warm broth with saffron dissolved in it. Take out the garlic. When is half done add asparagus and octopus. As last thing add a small amount of butter, and stir, then add parsley and pecorino, and salt if needed.
Cold Pasta Salad
(4 servings)
300 g (10.5 oz) of short pasta
150 g (5.3 oz) cherry tomatoes
2 zucchini
1 egg plant
150 g (5.3 oz) of mozzarella cheese
Parsley
Oil
Salt
Flour
Chop the vegetables, turn them in flour and they fry lightly, and add salt. Put the mozzarella in the blender with the liquid part of it. Boil the pasta, when is ready add cold water to stop the cooking process, then add the fried vegetables, the cherry tomatoes cut in half, some basil leaves, and the mozzarella, then toss.
Crčme Caramel with Strawberries
(4 servings)
Cook time: 40 minutes
230 g (0.5 pounds) of sugar
4 eggs
1 lemon
5 dl of milk
1 vanilla bean or vanilla extract
300 g (10.5 oz) of strawberries
In a heat-resistant bowl have 100 g (3.5 oz) of sugar dissolve together in water, add 4 drops of lemon juice, and keep on the warm stove until it became candy. Put the caramel in the tins. Pour the milk with lemon skin in another bowl, then add the vanilla sliced for the length side, and the leftover sugar, have it boil, then take away from the stove and leave it rest 5 minutes. Filter the milk. At the same time take eggs, and scramble them, then add the filtered milk, stir, and filter again. Fill the tins, and put them in a double bottom pan.
After watching Chef Francesco cook the food, we were able to eat the wonderfully prepared meal. It was the best Italian food I have had so far in Italy. Being that I am one that doesn’t normally cook a lot at home, this was a huge learning experience for me and something I will never forget.
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Chef Francesco and Cinzia cooking away in the kitchen while all 19 of us watch intensely.
Later in the week, the 19 of us were invited to enjoy an Italian dinner at Villa Sole (Mary Lou and Marco’s house). We started off the night with food and wine on the terrace and fun American games in the pool with Maurizio’s children. Then it was time for dinner and we all proceeded to the main house only to find a familiar buffet style dinner. The Italian food cooked by Mary Lou was prepared with fresh oils and vegetables to cleanse our palettes. We were all seated under an arbor in front of the house with the most breathtaking view. It was at this point in the night that I realized that my study abroad experience was about to come to an end, and some of the people seated around me were to become strangers once again. Emersed with emotions of not wanting to leave, the night was still young and I had to look past all the thoughts running through my head. A familiar song came on the record player, and the next thing I knew we were all gathered in the living room dancing the night away. The night ended with a sweet “arrivederci” from our fellow Italian friends and family.
Dancing the night away at Mary Lou and Marco's house with our Italian family.
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A Poolside Gathering with Only a Few Days Remaining.
This past weekend, Amanda, Allie, Lacey and I were able to have dinner with a local family. Our group was divided into several groups, and Dr. B had arranged for us to have dinner with a family who lives close to Ariccia. On Saturday evening we were told to be ready around 7: 30, and that we would be picked up at the front door of the Palace. We would soon learn that we were meeting Francesca, and we would be joining her, her parents, sister, brother-in-law, uncle, aunt, cousin and boyfriend. When we arrived, we met her sister, who is expecting her first child in December, and mother. They were so interested in us. They wanted to know where we called home in the United States, what we were studying and why we wanted to study in Italy. After getting to know each other, we went outside by the pool where we met Francesca’s father and brother-in-law. The brother in law was hilarious, so he entertained us most of the night. Not only was the food delicious, but also the family was so sincere and nice. It made us all feel like we were with our own families, and we all agreed that it was one of the best things that we have done since we have been here. Families are very close in Italy. Francesca’s family lives together in an apartment style building where they grew up. Their welcoming hearts made us all feel like we were one of the family members. I will never forget about our experience with Francesca’s family. Family is such an important aspect of the culture here, so it was so nice to be able to experience the family traditions. We were able to see them interact with each other, while enjoying their company.
I can’t believe the days we have left here are in the single digits. I don’t want to leave. I should have bought a one-way ticket. I only knew one girl on this trip, Amanda, but I have learned so much about the other 18 girls. Every girl on this trip is amazing. The experience has been unforgettable, but I can’t go without thanking the Interlinea staff, our teachers, and the Plazzo Chigi staff, Dr. B, Peak, the staff at Auburn and the Summer 2009 girls. No words can express my gratitude towards you all.
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Mon Jul 20, 2009
Any Questions...
Take a second to think back on any class you have ever taken. Try to recall how many times you remember hearing the phrase "Any questions.....?" coming from your teacher's mouth. Yes, I believe that we have all heard that once or twice in our day. Shockingly enough, there was always a reason for that. It has taken me about fifteen years of being in school to fully comprehend the importance of that small question. I finally understand.....asking questions is so important!
Asking questions is important for more than one reason. Traveling around Europe is absolutely impossible without the help of strangers. It has taken me a little while to realize that sucking it up to ask for directions can actually work wonders...and not to mention, save the well-being of your feet. Not only do your feet benefit, but asking questions just makes life that much easier. Italians are incredibly friendly when it comes to helping out a lost American college student.
Always ask for a map when traveling! Abby, Sarah Jane, and Virginia sitting in the train station in Cinque Terre.
The view that the map brought on a hike in Cinque Terre.
Asking questions also improves the relationship between you and your professor. I can remember Dr. B telling our group in the beginning that we would benefit from asking questions after a lecture. Well, take that advice because Dr. B does not lie! There is an evident difference between a lecture that ends with a few questions and one that ends with zero questions. Simply raising your hand shows that you are interested in what is going on, and our professors love that more than anything. Asking questions after a class with Mary Lou has been one of the greatest things because one subject leads to another thing, and that really allows you time to get to know each other. Great surprises can come out of a question, especially when your professors have lived such amazing lives.
Italy has been the perfect place to learn such a lesson as this one. If you never ask questions, you will never find a bathroom. You will never find your hostel/hotel. You will never know which flavor of gelato is the best. The list goes on and on, but needles to say, a life without questions would be a sad one. You will miss out on so many wonderful things. I know that most guys will not take heed of this brilliant suggestion, but I will just say that it actually does help! All the others can just take this fact and tuck it in your pocket for further use!
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Thu Jul 16, 2009
La Bella Vista e La Mia Famiglia Italiana
La bella vista is a phrase I have become very familiar with during my stay in Italy. Literally, it means the beautiful view. Our conversational Italian teacher, Mary Lou, introduced our class to this phrase and it has become not only very useful, but also very meaningful to me. It has described everything that my eyes have seen over the past three months, from my taxi ride into Ariccia the very first day, to the picturesque sights of the Amalfi coast. Everything my eyes have seen in Europe has been incredible, even the graffiti on the metros in Rome. The list of beautiful views I have seen over these past three months could go on for days. One of my favorite views thus far, though, is right outside our palace door, it's the simple walk across the bridge that links Ariccia to Albano. From this bridge, you can see out for miles and many times I find myself whispering, “La bella vista...”
Overlooking the sunset in Ariccia from the Genzano bridge...'la bella vista'
La mia famiglia Italiana is another phrase I have learned, it translates to "my Italian family’." I have had the experience of a lifetime this summer and cannot believe we only have two weeks left. I am graduating when we return and keep wondering what I am going to do next!. How can anything measure up to the places I have seen, the experiences I have had, and most of all the friends I have made along the way? As a group, I believe that we have not only become friends, but we have become something much closer…I think we have become a family. I decided to come to Italy with the College of Human Sciences not knowing anyone in the group. I was extremely nervous about this tiny detail because I am a pretty shy person. Now, when I think back, I cannot believe that thought crossed my mind. I find that I have become a much more independent person, but I believe this is because we all had each other to learn from. Traveling and walking around with a group of twenty girls plus the fabulous duo, Dr. B and Cinzia, can be tiring but at the end of the day, I would not trade this group of people for anything. I believe that we are all very different and that is what makes it work.
In my Human Development and Family Studies classes at Auburn, the question of what is a family is constantly asked. I believe that family does not just consist of a mom, dad, and brothers and sisters. While we still have our families back at home, I hope that many of us can say that our idea of family has changed. Families have the option to grow and become closer, and I believe this group has. While I am anxious to get back and see my immediate family and friends, I know that I will miss the family I have become a part of these past three months. While the list of things that I will miss when it is time to pack our bags is continuously growing, the two things I will miss the most are la bella vista and mia famiglia Italiana.
La mia famiglia Italiana at apertivo in Milan.
La mia famiglia Italiana on top of the Fendi Palace overlooking la bella vista di Roma.
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Mon Jul 13, 2009
CHECK!
Personally, I’m a list person. I love making lists whether it’s a grocery list, a list of goals, a list of things I want to do or a list of daily chores because honestly nothing brings me greater satisfaction then when I can cross something off my list. It not only gives me satisfaction, but it helps me to see that I really can get everything done in the time allotted. So naturally this trip has been full of lists. I still make the grocery/market list, and I still write down daily chores or tasks that I need to accomplish. But my favorite lists are the ones that Abby and I started making on our first weekend trip to Barcelona. These lists were checklists of sights and things to do in the cities we visited. The day before we left for Barcelona we realized that we didn’t know anything about the city and what it had to offer, so we found a great book that highlighted the top ten things to do in Barcelona. With the help of that amazing book and a few of our own ideas, we were able to create our first checklist. With checklist in hand we set out on our first real adventure of the trip. Our checklist had about ten things on it, and I never thought we would be able to see it all in two days, but we did! Not only did we see all of the major sites on our checklist but the list made the trip that much more fun. It taught us how to plan a trip and seek out the special cultural things that make that city unique. From then on there was no turning back; we made a checklist for each of our weekend breaks. Paris was probably the most extensive list as we made sure we hit all of the major sites as well as to eat crepes in front of the Eiffel Tower and croissants each morning for breakfast (our mother’s would be so proud!).
Abby and I had crepes by the Eiffel Tower...CHECK!
We got to swim in the Mediterranean Sea...CHECK!
So I say all this because Italy was one of the many things on my life checklist. I have always dreamed of traveling to this amazing country and experiencing what it had to offer, but I never would have thought it would be in this context. I have done things that I never thought I would do, and I have learned so much along the way. The biggest lesson I have learned on this trip though is how to appreciate other cultures and their history. Everywhere you turn there is a story waiting to be told, and I am always ready to listen. We’ve heard many of them through our countless field trips to the major sights such as Pompeii and the Coliseum and minor sights like the tiny Tuscan towns. But we’ve also heard some personal stories from Marco, one of our teachers. His favorite stories to tell are those about World War II and how it affected his life in Italy. He told us about how his family would hide in the caves at night because of the fear of getting bombed while they were sleeping. Also, he told us his reaction as he watched the Allies land in Anzio a few miles from his hometown of Ariccia, and then again when Rome was liberated. Each day he lectures, I am fascinated by the stories he tells from his personal experience. They have made Ariccia and the surrounding area come alive and has helped me to love this place even more.
The World War II American Cemetery that Marco took us too after we learned about his own experiences during the War.
I think that one of the greatest things that I will take away from this trip is the desire to learn and know more about the world that I live in. There are places that I had never thought of going before now, and I am so thankful that this trip has opened my eyes to the stories waiting to be told. So while I have completed one thing on my “life” checklist, I have added a few more since visiting Italy, and I can’t wait to set out on my next great adventure.
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Thu Jul 09, 2009
35 Lessons learned in 70 Days...
So, we're officially on day number 70 in Italy and it’s really hard for me to believe that we will be returning to the United States soon. Going into this trip, everyone had told me that this will be a life changing experience, and I truly believe it is. I have not only learned about the culture and the history of Italy, but I have made 19 best friends and have gained knowledge and a sense of self that I could not have accomplished without being here. I made sure to keep a journal to write iall of my experiences here so in the future I can look back and remember this summer like it was yesterday. At the end of each entry I made sure to write down a lesson learned, a brief summary or funny story from that day, and these 35 were the ones that made the top of the list. Well, here they are, and hope you enjoy!
Make sure to take medicine if you get motion sickness before riding public transportation in Italy…the winding roads of the mountains won’t be your friend if you don’t!
Ask Francesco to dance for you. You might get fortunate enough to see a little jig!
Open up to all the girls in your group and take every advantage to sit next to someone new on the bus or at dinner because these girls will ALL be your best friends, I promise!
While in Pompei, watch your step so you don’t trip over an inscription in a cobblestone you’d never imagine would be there ;)
Buy Pocket Coffee or Pocket Espresso at every opportunity.
All the stairs you climb up and down in Positano are worth it for the views you get at the top of the mountain and by the beach are unlike any ever seen before.
If you have a Panda obsession like I do thn Italy’s the place for you.
Cinzia shares my love for Panda's too! (ps...watch Deruta's back..I might steal him!)
Always keep an eye out. You never know what celebrity you will run in to! (Eva Longoria, Manchester United Team, etc.)
Make sure you correctly pronounce tortellini when ordering or else you might get a plate of trout…. head and all.
Just by gettin one Italian vocabulary question right while playing free rice at www.freerice.com the World Food Program donates 10 grains of rice to help feed a hungry child.
Beware when touching expensive silk dresses in Capri or a crazy store owner might try to make you pay 1000 Euro’s for leaving your “grease stains” on the dress. In the words of Cinzia, just say your dad owns the store and walk out.
The Palace has the comfiest and probably some of the only fluffy comforters in Italy.
Technology will not always be your side here so don’t let it ruin your day and take that time to explore the surrounding towns of Albano or Genzano.
It’s funny how Rome becomes your playground and how the more time you spend there, the less you look/feel like a tourist.
Everyone should do a Pub Crawl in Rome before they leave.
Don’t get scared to get lost, it sometimes leads you to stores you would have never found before!
Via Margutta has one of the best homemade jewelry stores in which every girl should indulge. Hey, you could always use one more souvenir from Italy…right?
Blowup neck rests from Target are one of the best purchases for those long bus rides and early mornings. Let people laugh, they’re just jealous!
You may ask yourself several times if you’re on the set of a movie because all the houses are so beautiful they don’t even look real!
Enjoy time spent with Dr. B and try to sit next to her at as many restaurants as you can, you really get to know how interesting her life is and all the places she’s gone.
The girls and I at Dr. B's for dinner one night.
Cinzia is a knower of all and is also great companion when you’re sick at the doctor’s.
Cinque Terra has the most beautiful scenery in Italy.
Wine is sometimes cheaper than water.
Aperitivo in Milan is the best idea created and should be indulged in at least once a week.
Never pack over 15 kg on Ryan Air or else you’ll end up paying more money for your baggage than your actual ticket (learned that one the hard way)!
Try not to plan a trip every weekend. Enjoy the relaxed state of Ariccia mind and plan a day at the Lake or the close by beach.
Maurizio is God of Knowledge and knows all there is to know about wine, fashion, technology, and just about everything else.
Mary Lou has the best stories from her childhood. Who knew a monkey could tie your pigtails around a pole?
Florence has the best waffles with whip cream and nutella and don’t even for one second feel guilty for ordering it!
Katie and I taking a big bite out of our waffle. I obviously couldn't wait until the picture was over to take a real bite!
The David statue in Florence is larger in real life than you expect and is a marvel to look at! PS. Don’t sneak a picture like I did or else you’ll get yelled at in Italian by a crazy museum worker.
Be prepared to get whistled and honked at even when in your shabbiest clothes possible,because Italian guys really love American girls!
Milan is the best city for people watching (and model watching…they’re everywhere!)
Wine tasting’s are the best field trips and the perfect moment to play the Redneck ABC’s.
Take in all the beauty of the historic monuments in Rome. Just think, they built that thousands of years ago, and they’re still standing!
Learn to laugh off the stress, enjoy your company, and savor every day because as much as you might miss America, you’ll never get the opportunity to step out your door every morning and look out across the Italian countryside.
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Tue Jul 07, 2009
Ninfa Gardens and Wine tasting!
To kick off the first week back from our long break, our first field trip was to the legendary Ninfa Gardens followed by wine tasting. Who could ask for anything more? We started off the day meeting the bus at 8:30 instead of the normal 6 am meeting time, so that in itself started the day off great. Again we could tell it was going to be a great day because once we actually arrived at the Ninfa Gardens we were greeted by our tour guide who spoke much better English than some of our previous guides. Immediately, we were all in awe of the luscious gardens which looked like a scene from a painting. Walking through the gardens we saw everything from roses, banana trees, maples, bamboo and ruined towers and walls. Once we came up to a crystal clear stream with a bridge that was overgrown with ivy and flowers, I knew this is what people must picture when they think of heaven. The Ninfa Gardens were actually man made and planned into a masterpiece; however, everything looks as if nature had been left alone to grow into perfection.
After a couple of hours viewing the heavenly gardens it was time to go drink wine at the Marco Carpineti vineyard. The wine farm is known for being organic and using organic agricultural methods. The guide, a relative of Marco Carpineti, was able to demonstrate for us the machine that labels the wine bottles. Although the machine didn’t work perfectly, it was definitely the most interesting part of the tour. As we walked around the building it was hard not to notice how nice everything was, from the furniture to the paintings, and even the barrels of wine. You could definitely tell Mr. Marco Carpineti was quite successful with his wine and olive oil.
After the tour we were all getting a little hungry so we sat at a long table that overlooked the farm and tasted each of the wines and were served aperitivo. The entire group thought that the little plates of snacks were going to be the extent of the meal so everyone was inhaling the meats, cheese , breads, and bean dips. Ironically, as soon as we were full we were served pasta that was our main course. Overall the food was by far the best meal I’ve had in Italy, and the wine was so delicious I bought two bottles!
Me, Laura, Katie, Hilary enjoying the beautiful Ninfa Gardens
Catherine, me, Jenna, Dr. B, Sarah Jane eating a delicious meal at wine tasting!
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Mon Jul 06, 2009
The Italian Way
Our field trip for Week 8 included a visit to Ninfa Gardens and the Marco Carpineti wine farm that Allie described. I too was blown away by the design of the gardens. It seemed that a picture perfect view was hidden around each corner. As much as I love immaculate greenery, I am a bigger fan of the seeming natural appearance of Ninfa Gardens. I could have spent all day exploring the grounds with the various species of plants, ponds, and ancient ruins. The director’s wife was our tour guide, and she explained their dedication to uphold the history and design of the gardens while keeping it well maintained. Only a small number of gardeners are specially trained and able to work on the gardens. I loved the way those associated with Ninfa Gardens have worked hard to preserve the Italian treasure.
The beautiful Ninfa Gardens
At the Marco Carpineti wine farm, we enjoyed a fabulous tour of all aspects of wine making. The way a bottle is labeled and corked is fascinating. I loved the cool, bottom floor wine cellar where multiple barrels were full of aging wine. For the actual wine tasting experience, we enjoyed one of my favorite Italy activities: a group meal. When all twenty of us sit down with Dr. B and Cinzia, it is sure to be a meal to remember. This particular memory will always be with me as one with great wine (the white was my favorite), delicious food, and lots of laughs. We kept filling up on each course, thinking it was our last. We ate plenty of appetizers, not knowing we had a main course. When the pasta with tomato sauce and basil came to the table, we devoured it as well, not realizing that cookies made with wine were on the way!
A wonderful demonstration of labeling wine
On our days without field trips, we are in class at the Chigi Palace. Although the classroom is a different environment than that of our weekly excursions, I love learning about Italian culture from our intimate family of Ariccia professors. Some of my fondest memories of Italy will be listening to Mary Lou's stories of moving to Italy after falling in love with Marco, our history professor. Mary Lou talks of raising her children in Ariccia and the way each day is a new adventure. She has given me great perspective with her loving attitude and zest for life. Marco is just as interesting as he gives first hand knowledge with his historical accounts. I am amazed by the life he has lived, knowing multiple languages and living through war and peace. The greatest reward for me in Italy has been getting to know the people. Our faculty comes with great knowledge and stories that I love to learn about. The other girls and I have formed a tight knit group as we share this once in a lifetime opportunity together. So even with the travel, the sights, the food, and the wine, I know what will never leave me is the people of Italy.
Sam, Sarah Jane and I enjoy the scenery
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Thu Jul 02, 2009
Ninfa Gardens and a wine tasting!
We were picked up from the palace this morning around 8:30 ready for our first field trip since the midterm break. We were prepared for a fun-filled day of gardens and wineries. The first stop on the agenda was the Ninfa Gardens. The Ninfa Gardens are a Medieval, English style Garden in Italy, meaning that the plants are meant to look wild and slightly overgrown making the viewer forget that it is actually manmade and every single detail is planned out in an extremely specific manner. Also, they contain plants from around the world, not just the region in which they lie, which in this case would be of course Italy. Upon arrival we were prepared for the gardens to be very beautiful, however, I know I was not prepared for the extreme variety and lushness of the Ninfa Gardens. It far exceeded my expectations. On our guided tour around the garden we saw everything from walnut trees to lavender bushes to bamboo stalks. It was truly amazing! There was even a spring, where the water was so clear and cold that we could drink straight from it. I don’t think we would ever find anything like that in a million years at home! We all enjoyed the beauty and took lots of pictures of course before getting back on the bus to head towards the Marco Carpineti wine farm and wine tasting session. When we arrived at the wine farm, we were met by a tour guide, who took us to the giant room in which they store and bottle their wine. The Marco Carpineti wine farm is a biological wine farm, meaning that they do not use any pesticides or grapes from any other regions of Italy, it is all-natural. We got to watch our tour guide “bottle” and label a practice bottle of wine without any wine in it and see the room where they store and age the wine in barrels. After that the fun began. They brought us the most delicious appetizers and pasta that were of course complimented by their very own wine, all while sitting at a long table in a room overlooking their gorgeous vineyards. After shoving one last spoonful of food in our mouths and sipping on our last glass of wine, we got back into the bus to go back to the palace. On the way it started raining, which in my opinion was the perfect end to a wonderful day because what better napping weather than a stormy afternoon. Tonight we are eating a group dinner and Cassandra has agreed to cook for us, I personally am very excited!
Jennifer and I at the Nina Gardens
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