This is what I can see from my window...
Thursday, 31 January 2008
Saturday, 26 January 2008
Wednesday, 23 January 2008
Blue Flower
What if you slept?And what if, in your sleep, you dreamed?
And what if, in your dream, you went to heaven
and there plucked a strange and beautiful flower?
And what if, when you awoke, you had the flower in your hand?
Ah, what then? ...
青い花
Monday, 21 January 2008
Sunday, 20 January 2008
Nonna’s medicine cabinet - A guide to nature’s best remedies
by Arlene Ridolfi Valentine(theflorentine issue no. 70/2008 / January 10, 2008)
(Arlene Ridolfi Valentine is a freelance writer who has lived in Florence for the past four years.She is the director of Casa Valentine, a villa rental business, and is currently working on a book about Italian culture and food.)
Here comes the rainy, cold, damp weather that clings to Florence for most of the winter. And with it comes the ever-present threat of colds and sore throats. There are many things you can do to ward off a cold or minimize the effects of one you already have, things that don’t require a trip to the pharmacy. What you need is right in your pantry.
Historically, mothers were in charge of remedies for all but the most serious ailments, and many old cookbooks are full of advice on maintaining health. I have a little section of handwritten recipes in my bulging cookbook. They are words of wisdom from my mother, who got them from her mother, about home remedies for common ailments. These are simple antidotes, formulated by common sense long before anyone had the capacity to scientifically analyze the properties of fruits and vegetables. But now that we are able to do just that, studies are backing up the validity of these treatments as aids to staying healthy during the winter months.
Here are some interesting home remedies from my own files and from those of Florentine friends who swear by their effectiveness. Any discussion about treating a cold or flu with home remedies can’t possibly be taken seriously without a good recipe for chicken soup, so here’s my Italian grandmother’s (brought with her from Pesaro in the early 1900s).
FOR A SORE THROAT
Ease the discomfort of a sore throat by gargling one of the following:
* 1 tablespoon of sea salt in warm water
* warm pineapple juice
* dried sage leaves (3 or 4) steeped in hot water for 10 minutes
In Italy, it’s also possible to get erisimo, an herb not indigenous to America. It is known as the ‘singer’s herb’ because of its soothing properties on the throat, is available at herb stores and is good to use as a gargle or as a tea.
FOR A COLD
Lemon tea, made by squeezing the juice of one lemon into a cup of hot water and adding a spoon of honey. High in vitamin C, lemon juice increases body resistance and decreases toxicity.
* Garlic tea, made by boiling 3 or 4 cloves of garlic in a cup of water, and drinking a few spoons twice a day. Garlic contains antiseptic and antispasmodic properties, so it helps to open respiratory passages and flush out the system.
*
* Herbal steam, made by adding lemon peels, orange peels and mint leaves to a pot of boiling water. Lean over the pot, drape a towel over your head to make a tent, and inhale the steam. Very effective to open respiratory passages.
*
* Respiratory poultice, this very old recipe, from a friend’s grandmother, calls for placing a cup or two of flax seeds in a cotton sack and boiling them until the sack floats. Squeeze out the water and place the warm sack on the chest. Very effective for respiratory problems. As old as this recipe is, it is backed up by current studies showing that flax seeds contain large amounts of phytonutrients, known as lignans, which have antibacterial and antiviral properties.
CHICKEN SOUP
* 1 whole chicken
* Water to cover (at least 2 litres)
* Five large carrots, peeled and cut into large chunks
* Three celery stalks, including the leaves, cut into large chunks
* Two onions, peeled and studded with about 5 whole cloves each
* Two or three sprigs of parsley
* Salt and pepper
Wash the chicken well, inside and out, and pat dry. Salt the inner cavity a bit and place the chicken into a large soup pot with the water and all the vegetables. Bring to a boil and then simmer for two to three hours, adding water if necessary to keep the chicken submerged in liquid. The soup is done when the meat begins to pull away from the bones and the liquid has become golden. Strain the soup into a large container, reserving all the other ingredients in another bowl. When it is cool enough to handle, pull all the chicken meat off the bones and reserve what you’d like to use. Discard the rest along with the bones and the studded onions. Place the carrots and celery into the container with the soup.
Bring water to a boil and cook your choice of soup pasta (small quadrillini, orzo, tubettini, ditallini—there are many varieties in the markets in the winter soup season). When pasta is done, strain it and add to the soup, heating together over a medium flame. Serve with generous gratings of parmesan cheese. You can also add some pieces of chicken meat to the soup, or you can season the meat with olive oil, chopped onion, salt and pepper and serve as a side dish.
Store unused soup in the refrigerator in a covered container. It will keep well for a few days. You can also freeze small portions of soup to use as a base in other recipes.
(Arlene Ridolfi Valentine is a freelance writer who has lived in Florence for the past four years.She is the director of Casa Valentine, a villa rental business, and is currently working on a book about Italian culture and food.)
Here comes the rainy, cold, damp weather that clings to Florence for most of the winter. And with it comes the ever-present threat of colds and sore throats. There are many things you can do to ward off a cold or minimize the effects of one you already have, things that don’t require a trip to the pharmacy. What you need is right in your pantry.
Historically, mothers were in charge of remedies for all but the most serious ailments, and many old cookbooks are full of advice on maintaining health. I have a little section of handwritten recipes in my bulging cookbook. They are words of wisdom from my mother, who got them from her mother, about home remedies for common ailments. These are simple antidotes, formulated by common sense long before anyone had the capacity to scientifically analyze the properties of fruits and vegetables. But now that we are able to do just that, studies are backing up the validity of these treatments as aids to staying healthy during the winter months.
Here are some interesting home remedies from my own files and from those of Florentine friends who swear by their effectiveness. Any discussion about treating a cold or flu with home remedies can’t possibly be taken seriously without a good recipe for chicken soup, so here’s my Italian grandmother’s (brought with her from Pesaro in the early 1900s).
FOR A SORE THROAT
Ease the discomfort of a sore throat by gargling one of the following:
* 1 tablespoon of sea salt in warm water
* warm pineapple juice
* dried sage leaves (3 or 4) steeped in hot water for 10 minutes
In Italy, it’s also possible to get erisimo, an herb not indigenous to America. It is known as the ‘singer’s herb’ because of its soothing properties on the throat, is available at herb stores and is good to use as a gargle or as a tea.
FOR A COLD
Lemon tea, made by squeezing the juice of one lemon into a cup of hot water and adding a spoon of honey. High in vitamin C, lemon juice increases body resistance and decreases toxicity.
* Garlic tea, made by boiling 3 or 4 cloves of garlic in a cup of water, and drinking a few spoons twice a day. Garlic contains antiseptic and antispasmodic properties, so it helps to open respiratory passages and flush out the system.
*
* Herbal steam, made by adding lemon peels, orange peels and mint leaves to a pot of boiling water. Lean over the pot, drape a towel over your head to make a tent, and inhale the steam. Very effective to open respiratory passages.
*
* Respiratory poultice, this very old recipe, from a friend’s grandmother, calls for placing a cup or two of flax seeds in a cotton sack and boiling them until the sack floats. Squeeze out the water and place the warm sack on the chest. Very effective for respiratory problems. As old as this recipe is, it is backed up by current studies showing that flax seeds contain large amounts of phytonutrients, known as lignans, which have antibacterial and antiviral properties.
CHICKEN SOUP
* 1 whole chicken
* Water to cover (at least 2 litres)
* Five large carrots, peeled and cut into large chunks
* Three celery stalks, including the leaves, cut into large chunks
* Two onions, peeled and studded with about 5 whole cloves each
* Two or three sprigs of parsley
* Salt and pepper
Wash the chicken well, inside and out, and pat dry. Salt the inner cavity a bit and place the chicken into a large soup pot with the water and all the vegetables. Bring to a boil and then simmer for two to three hours, adding water if necessary to keep the chicken submerged in liquid. The soup is done when the meat begins to pull away from the bones and the liquid has become golden. Strain the soup into a large container, reserving all the other ingredients in another bowl. When it is cool enough to handle, pull all the chicken meat off the bones and reserve what you’d like to use. Discard the rest along with the bones and the studded onions. Place the carrots and celery into the container with the soup.
Bring water to a boil and cook your choice of soup pasta (small quadrillini, orzo, tubettini, ditallini—there are many varieties in the markets in the winter soup season). When pasta is done, strain it and add to the soup, heating together over a medium flame. Serve with generous gratings of parmesan cheese. You can also add some pieces of chicken meat to the soup, or you can season the meat with olive oil, chopped onion, salt and pepper and serve as a side dish.
Store unused soup in the refrigerator in a covered container. It will keep well for a few days. You can also freeze small portions of soup to use as a base in other recipes.
Saturday, 19 January 2008
La escalera de Martin Puryear
...........el tiempo...................................................................
Wednesday, 16 January 2008
Wednesday, 9 January 2008
Monday, 7 January 2008
Sunday, 6 January 2008
Viva la Befana !!!!
La Befana vien di notte
con le scarpe tutte rotte
col cappello alla romana
viva viva la Befana!
The Befana comes by night
With her shoes broken and tight
With her hat in style Romana
Hurray, Hurray, the Befana
@ EL CONDORITO Restaurant Italy
The legend of La Befana
by Jo Linsdell (issue no. 46/2006 / December 14, 2006)
The Florentine
Sunday, January 06, 2008
Although the figure of Babbo Natale (Father Christmas), with his red suit and big white beard, is becoming more widespread here, traditionally the children of Italy anxiously await a visit from another figure, La Befana, hanging up their stockings on January 6, the Feast of Epiphany, rather than Christmas Eve. A friendly, witch-like character who rides around on a broom, La Befana is often smiling and carries a sack or basket filled with candy and gifts. She is one of Italy’s oldest and most celebrated legendary figures, and, like many Italian traditions, La Befana represents a mixture of ancient folklore and Christianity. The name ‘Befana’ is derived from the word Epifania, the Italian name for the religious festival of the Epiphany.
There are two legends associated with La Befana. The first tells that the three wise men stopped at La Befana’s house to ask directions on their way to Bethlehem. They invited her to join them, but she refused as she was busy cleaning her house. She promised that she would catch them up when she was finished, but by the time she had finished the cleaning they were long gone. She frantically began running after them with presents for baby Jesus, still carrying her broom. Magically, she began to fly on her broomstick but still could not find the wise men or the baby Jesus. Since then, on January 6, the Feast of Epiphany, she flies on her broom leaving gifts for other children. She brings presents for the good and pieces of coal for the bad.
The second legend dates back to the reign of King Herod. King Herod decreed that the first born male child and each male child born in the year of Christ’s birth be killed. It was his desire to eliminate the child who was thought to become the new king. Soldiers rampaged villages throughout the country killing the male children. One mother was unable to cry or accept the loss of her son due to the sorrow she felt. She convinced herself that her child was not dead, but lost instead. She bundled all her child’s belongings into a tablecloth and, carrying it over her shoul-der, she set out to find him. After searching from house to house for a long time, this young mother finally came upon a child. Convinced that she had found her lost son, she placed the cloth sack containing all her son’s belongings at the base of the manger where the child lay. The child’s father looked at the face of this stranger bearing gifts and wondered about this woman’s past. By then, her face had many lines and her hair had turned completely grey.
The child was Jesus Christ, and, in gratitude to her generosity, He blessed the old woman. One night a year for all eternity, the woman would have all the children of the world as her very own, visiting each one and bringing them clothing and toys. For Italian children, La Befana is even more anticipated than Father Christmas, and on the morning of January 6, children all over Italy wake to find their stockings filled with candy for having been good—or a piece of coal if they have been bad. Traditionally, they may always expect to find a lump of coal in their stockings (the ‘coal’ is actually rock candy made black with caramel colouring), as every child has been bad at least once during the past year.
Bears & Shamans
The Museum of Natural History, University of Florence, was founded in 1775 by Grand Duke Peter Leopold, although the Botanical Garden dates back to 1545.
HERE
Friday, 4 January 2008
ahkas apunno
atompte apto cikka
en ekimne
en eraman inukuri inuma
en isoun itah
en nuye nupek nupe
AM
copyright 2008
Thursday, 3 January 2008
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