Antipasti (appetizer): Two types of salami (one spicy, one not), cheese, olives, peperonata (marinated sweet and sour peppers with pine nuts and raisins), garlicky eggplant slices, one square of something really tasty that was obviously made with eggs and cheese but I’m not sure what it’s called, and one square of something else (again, I have no idea what it’s called) that was layered with eggplant, tomato, cheese, and some other things.

Antipasto is always my favorite course! Continue reading →

After our late breakfast, we decided to hit a clothing store before everything shut down for the afternoon riposo (Italy’s version of the Spanish Siesta). Justin was in search of a men’s carryall (It’s not a purse, it’s European!) so we decided to hit Scaringi, a clothing store in Misterbianco that has a decent selection of Men’s clothing and accessories.

We struck out with the men’s carryall but look what I found in the parking lot!

Like I’ve said before, you just never know what you’ll run across in Sicily. Continue reading →

I’ve lived in Sicily for just over four years now and we’ll be leaving the island for good in less than a month. I’m sure I’ll write more about my feelings on that later on. Right now I’m just trying not to think too much about it. So rather than write about what it feels like to be leaving, I thought I would just share some photos that I took over the weekend, just to give you a sense of what life is like here.

We didn’t do much last weekend. Not really. But when I look back at the photos, I feel like the luckiest person in the world to have spent this time here. It still feels like a dream.

I live in Sicily.

Continue reading →

I am back in Sicily, recovering from the 30-hour trip home, fighting jet lag, and searching for kitchen utensils that have mysteriously found new homes during my absence. And just as I started settling in and feeling at home again, Mount Etna, our friendly neighborhood volcano, decided to give me a welcome home of her own!

This photo was taken about 1/4 mile down the road from our house. Visit my Flickr page to see more!

Update: I just found a great little video clip of the eruption, check it out!

As our time here in Sicily is coming closer to an end, I find myself reflecting a lot on what I will miss most about living here. Of course I will miss the food, but I’ll be taking with me a whole new way of looking at food and cooking and will be able to continue eating in the Sicilian style wherever we end up in the world. But some things I will not be able to recreate. Some experiences cannot be reproduced in other parts of the world. One of the things I will most is sitting outside our favorite cafe on a warm summer morning, eating brioche and pistachio and/or almond granita for breakfast. Continue reading →