New Years Resolution #1

A dining nook from composer, Gian Carlo Menotti's home in Italy. Via Arch Dig.

After being very much against New Years Resolutions, I came up with two things I'd like to do this year. I am against them because I feel like they make you look back at the previous year, count up your shortcomings, and then put you into overdrive on trying to "improve" yourself when you're probably doing well just as you are. Some people go to extremes or come up with so many resolutions that they get in trouble with their husbands (my sister). Be that as it may, I realized that after about four years, I had pretty much forgotten all the Italian that I'd ever learned and that made me sad. My first New years Resolution is to be more Italian. I do not have one Italian bone in my body but if you recall, I spent a semester in Florence (Firenze, sigh.), living with a family and studying art, eating so much pasta, and learning the language. It was amazing and I look back on that time fondly.

Last night I made one of my favorite Tuscan meals for dinner, Pappa al Pomodoro. It is a Tuscan bread and tomato soup, and topped with some fresh Parmesan, it is delicious! Here is the recipe I used; simple and fast.

First, I sauteed some garlic and an onion in olive oil.

Then I added 3 delicious tomatoes (skin removed) to the mix and let all this soften and meld with each other.

During this time I had some day old baguette that I absolutely could not let go to waste, so I soaked it in water for about 5 mins. I broke it apart and added that to the mix as well.

These ingredients should simmer for about 10 mins. I know how this might look, but until you've had it, you don't know how delish it is.

Then spoon some out, top it with some extra virgin olive oil and fresh parm and basil and EAT! It looks scary but is so good!

A room in a boutique hotel, Villa Bordoni, in Tuscany. Via Mr & Mrs Smith.

As for the other part of this resolution, my other sister suggested that an affordable way to bring the Italian language back into my life was to download podcasts. She's a genius because I searched for some and there are tons of people on iTunes that want to teach you Italian! Maybe I'll even make it back to Florence this year, who knows! I'll tell you my other resolution tomorrow...What are yours? One of my friend's is to sew more--great one!


Alicia B.