2008 End Of The Year Meme

Michelle over at Bleeding Espresso recently posted her end of the year meme.  Like many of you, I like to reflect on the year that has passed and look at my accomplishments and set my goals for the following year.  This year was an extremely difficult year as it was the year of firsts without my father.  I hope that 2009 will bring with it happiness, health, and only good things for both myself and all of you!

So here it goes…here is my end of the year meme copied from Michelle!

1.What did you do in 2008 that you’d never done before? Started writing my blog, traveled to Italy without my father, had a conversation with my nonna in Italy with no translator!

2. Did you keep your new year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year? I didn’t really have a new year’s resolution. I made one a few years ago to read at least 3 books a year. It was great because I rediscovered my love of reading and surpassed my original resolution. I have sort of continued that “resolution” over the years. This time around I will set some goals for myself that I have already begun working towards!

3. Did anyone close to you give birth? No one close to me has given birth but a very good friend of mine is pregnant and due next year! I’m so happy for her and her husband!

4. Did anyone close to you die? This year a great aunt passed away although we weren’t close it was still very sad.

5. What countries did you visit? Italy, and it was a life changing experience for me.

6. What would you like to have in 2009 that you lacked in 2008? A job and life in Italy.

7. What dates from 2008 will remain etched upon your memory, and why? August 12^th – September 10^th without a doubt. I spent an amazing 4 weeks with my family in Italy and learned so much about my father, my family, and myself.

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year? Increasing my knowledge of the Italian language and being able to use it to communicate with my nonna in Italy.

9. What was your biggest failure? Not spending enough time focusing on jump starting my freelance writing work.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury? Thankfully, I did not. However, my sister had her appendix removed and my mother had a few bumps and bruises.

11. What was the best thing you bought? My plane ticket to Italy!

12. Whose behavior merited celebration? My brother! I am so proud of him and he has been such a rock for me since my father passed away. Who knew a little brother could be so wise! I love you!!

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed? I will not go into detail but there are some people who I am sad to say have hurt my family and I.

14. Where did most of your money go? My car. But the lease is up and it’s going back. I have more important things to use that money for. (See Question #6)

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about? My trip to Italy and seeing my nonna after so much time had passed.

16. What song will always remind you of 2008? There are a couple, Just Dance Lady Gaga, and Gisuy Ferrari Non Ti Scordar Mai Di Me

17. Compared to this time last year, are you: (a) happier or sadder? (b) thinner or fatter? (c) richer or poorer? Considering how difficult 2007 was for me I think I am happier but it is always a struggle and I am learning to move forward and live my life the way I know my father would want me to!

18. What do you wish you’d done more of? Worked on getting some freelance writing work.

19. What do you wish you’d done less of? Letting people and their actions hurt me or bring me down.

20. How did you spend Christmas? With my Zio & Zia and my cousins. It is how we spent many Christmas’ growing up and we have returned to that tradition since my father passed away. Being around family has helped make Christmas a happy occasion again.

21. Did you fall in love in 2008? I fell in love with Italy all over again!

22. What was your favorite TV program? Hmmm, I don’t really have a favourite TV program. I got hooked on Dexter and I always enjoy Entourage.

23. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year? I may dislike some people, but I make an effort to keep negativity out of my life.

24. What was the best book you read? Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert. I really enjoyed her writing style.

25. What was your greatest musical discovery? I wasn’t too impressed with the music that came out this year (both independent and major).

26. What did you want and get? I wanted to see my nonna in Italy.

27. What did you want and not get? I don’t tend to want a lot of things. I can’t think of something that I really wanted and sadly didn’t get.

28. What was your favorite film of this year? Sex & The City.

29. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you? I turned 30, and my cousin made me a wonderful dinner. She is awesome!

30. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying? If I didn’t have to get on the plane back to Canada!

31. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2008? Whatever fits and looks good!

32. What kept you sane? Writing my blog, talks with my brother, and going to Italy.

33. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most? Riccardo Scamarcio. I don’t know how I found him, but I’ve watched all his movies and I adore him. He makes Italian listening comprehension more interesting!

34. What political issue stirred you the most? I dislike politics!

35. Who did you miss? Firstly, I miss my dad. Secondly, since returning from Italy, I miss my nonna and the rest of my family and also the friends I made there.

36. Who was the best new person you met? I was so blessed to have met a truly wonderful person from my father’s town in Carpanzano. She and I hung out and really bonded and she is someone I can now call a good friend! Even though we talk almost every day I miss her!

37. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2008. Family is the most important thing.

38. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year. This year is the first year I spent without my father. It was hard. I found this song by Paul Simon called “Father and Daughter” and the lyrics were just beautiful. My father told me before he passed away that he would always be with me watching over me and I believe that to be true.

I’m gonna watch you shine
Gonna watch you grow
Gonna paint a sign
So you’ll always know
As long as one and one is two wooo
There could never be a father who loved
His daughter more than I love you

Buon Natale

I want to take this opportunity to wish you all a VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS!!
I hope that you are able to spend these precious moments with the ones you love and that you all have a SAFE, HAPPY and HEALTHY holiday together!!

BUON NATALE A TUTTI!!

Christmas Traditions: Polpette Riso

Growing up I would look forward to my zia’s Polpette Riso. In our family it is a popular pre-dinner snack/finger food that is served all year round on special occasions. It was always the highlight for me on Christmas Eve when we do not eat meat (because I don’t eat fish).

Polpetta (Polpette – plural) is usually heard when referring to meatballs. But, in Italia, polpetta is more about the shape (round, like a meatball) and isn’t always made out of meat. My nonna in Italia and my zia in Toronto both make the best polpette riso and I’ve been lucky enough to have them on many occasions.

While I was home caring for my father during his illness, I began learning (and re-learning) traditional Italian dishes that I loved while growing up. My hope was to someday perfect those dishes and teach the timeless recipes to the next generation in our family. Polpette Riso is without a doubt one of these very special family recipes. My father had never made them before, so, we had to go straight to the source. He phoned up my nonna in Italy and got her personal recipe. Ironically, the first time I attempted to make them my zia was over, so she helped me through the process. They didn’t turn out too bad either, and both my zio and father approved! *big cheesy proud smile*

So, with the holidays just around the corner, I have been enlisted to make these tasty treats. Here is our family recipe for Polpette Riso. I make it as often as I can in the hopes of making it just as good as my nonna and zia!

Just like many family recipes, there are no set measurements; a lot of it is intuition and experience. The more you make them the easier it is to know how much of this or that you need to add or subtract.

WARNING – this is not a fat-free, low fat or anything like that kind of recipe…its a special occasion treat!

Nonna’s Polpette Riso

What you need:
Rice – 1 litre (Italian Style – not instant, arborio)
Eggs (appox 6-8)
Parmesan Cheese (around 2 cups, may need more depending on consistency of mixture)
Salt
Chopped Parsley
Bread Crumbs
Vegetable Oil

What to do:

Boil water.
Add 1 litre of uncooked rice to boiling water.
Cook the rice until it is tender.
Once rice is cooked be sure to drain any remaining water.
Spread rice out onto a cookie sheet (or other flat surface) and let it cool. (For best results, cook rice the day before and let it sit in the fridge over night).
Once rice is cold combine rice, 6-7 eggs, Parmesan cheese, salt (as desired) and chopped parsley. There are no set measurements for this – you have to add ingredients as needed.

With your hand begin combining the ingredients together. Mix well! The mixture should not be too wet or too dry…it must be dry enough to form. If the mixture is too wet it will start to break apart when you begin to cook them. If you find your mixture to be too wet you can add breadcrumbs or more Parmesan cheese to dry it up.

Once mixture is combined it is ready to roll into balls. Lightly wet your hands with cold or lukewarm water. Roll into balls (as though you were making a meatball) then work into a longer oval shape (like a finger). You can make them as big or small as you like.

Heat oil in a deep frying pan. You need to have enough oil to completely cover the rice polpette. The oil must get very hot before you put the fingers in. You can test the temperature with one polpetta…if the oil sizzles and boils around the polpetta then it is hot enough.

Place the polpette in the pan of hot oil and let it cook…when they start to get golden brown you can turn them over. Turn them over a couple times in order to get a nice color all around.

When they are ready to come out of the oil, place them in a bowl or large pasta strainer lined with paper towels so that the oil can drain. Note: if you are using a strainer make sure to place it on top of a plate as the oil may seep through and spill.

Polpette Riso can be eaten warm or cold.  They taste awesome either way.

Christmas Traditions: Pizzelle

Whether it’s setting up your Christmas tree or planning your family meals, this time of year brings out some of the best time honored family traditions. In our family, this time of year usually involves baking cookies. Some of my favorite traditional Italian cookies are made during this time of year.

photo credit:  ilamya

One in particular that always stands out for me is the pizzelle. This traditional Italian wafer-like cookie always makes an appearance during Christmas time. The name pizzelle comes from the Italian word “pizze” which basically means “round and flat”. Traditionally, the pizzelle was made using a batter that was poured between two iron plates and then held over an open fire. The iron plates would have intricate designs and in some instances families had their family crests stamped into them. Today, you can find electric pizzelle makers with their floral or snowflake-like designs in just about any kitchenware store. You can also find many store-bought brands that are available for purchase that aren’t half bad although nothing beats homemade.

Christmas cookies are a fond tradition for many Italian families. What is your favorite family Christmas cookie?

Feast of the Immaculate Conception

The Feast of the Immaculate Conception or Immacolata Concezione held on December 8, is an important day for Roman Catholics all over the world. In Italy, it is a  public holiday and the unofficial start to the Christmas Holiday season. If you happen to find yourself in Italy during this time you will likely find various celebrations and special masses held pretty much everywhere. For example, in Rome, the Pope travels to the Spanish Steps to pay homage to the Blessed Virgin Mary by placing a floral wreath on the Column of the Immaculate Conception in Piazza di Spagna.

It is tradition for many Italians to decorate their homes during this time. This usually is when the Presepio (or Nativity Scene) is put together. The Nativity Scene depicts the events and characters leading up to the birth of Jesus. This is an important symbol for Italians during the Christmas season and it’s not uncommon to find churches and merchants selling Presepi of all shapes, sizes and styles during this time of year. In many homes, the Presepio is set up without Jesus in the manger. On Christmas Eve, baby Jesus is then placed in the manger completing the Nativity Scene.  You will also notice many towns in Italy have living Presepi, or presepi viventi, in which the people of the town gather together and recreate the Nativity Scene.

Photo from http://www.savutoweb.it

Christmas is definitely on its way. There is so much to celebrate and so much to look forward to in this holiday season. I hope you all take time to enjoy it, because as we all know it is so easy to get swept up into the whirlwind of this particular holiday.

Wishing you and your family a healthy, safe and wonderful holiday season!

San Nicola

Today, December 6^th, marks La Festa di San Nicola (the Feast of Saint Nicholas). It is a day to honor San Nicola, the patron saint of children, sailors, merchants, and archers, just to name a few.

San Nicola was born in 270 AD in the village of Patara in Lycia, Asia Minor (which is now known as Turkey). His parents died when San Nicola was just a young man and they left him with a large inheritance. He took his inheritance and used it to help those in need.

One of the most known stories of San Nicola’s acts of kindness is one of a poor man with three daughters. It was customary in those times to offer a “dowry” to prospective husbands. However, this man was poor and had nothing to offer leaving his daughters without the security a marriage could bring them. His daughters would have to find a way to support themselves – which likely meant slavery or prostitution. When San Nicola heard this he secretly went to the home of this man and his daughters and left bags of gold that would give the daughters the dowries they needed in order to marry – therefore sparing them from a “life of sin”. Through stories such as these, people came to know San Nicola for his selfless generosity to people in need.

San Nicola was made the Bishop of the coastal town of Myra (also in Lycia), was imprisoned because of his faith and was later released. He died on December 6 in or around the year 345AD. His body was buried in a Cathedral at Myra and became a place of pilgrimage for many Christians. However, with unrest in the region, Christians became worried that the tomb and remains of San Nicola would be destroyed.

Basilica di San Nicola in Bari

On May 9, 1087, several Italian sailors transported San Nicola’s remains to Bari. The Basilica di San Nicola was built over the crypt and it remains there to this day.

This day is of particular importance to me as it is my father’s “onomastico” (Saint Day). My father was born “Nicolino”, a diminutive of Nicola. My father always did his best to help others, and because of that he was loved and respected by many. When he passed, I heard many stories from people about how my father helped them and what it meant to them. My father may not have been perfect, but he touched many people’s lives during his time on this earth.

So today, as we remember San Nicola, I would like to send a very special message to a very special someone.

Buon Onomastico Papa!!! Ti Voglio Bene!!

Italian Fashion: Baci & Abbracci

Baci & Abbracci made its first appearance in the fashion world in Spring 2004. The Baci & Abbracci line has pretty much everything – Mens & Womens Clothing, Children’s Clothing, Athletic Wear, Purses, Lingerie, Jewellery and Accessories. It is next to impossible to walk any street in Italy without seeing someone wearing this particular brand. Baci & Abbracci’s popularity grew in just a few short years with the help of Italian celebrities, Christian Vieri (soccer player), Christian Brocchi (soccer player), Alena Seredova (model) and Elisabetta Canalis (model/actress).   Italian’s always want to look there best, even when they aren’t dressing up, so Baci & Abbracci have provided a way to be both casual and stylish.

In October 2007, Baci & Abbracci opened its very first flagship store in the heart of Milano’s fashion district. The store designed by architectural studio “Pierandrei Associati”, is a sight to see if you find yourself in Milano. The slick design is unlike any retail store you might have seen before. White floors, walls and displays mixed with mirror-polished stainless steel provide the backdrop for the products being displayed. If it weren’t for the clothing, you would almost think you were in a trendy nightclub.

To see what’s coming up this season for the Baci & Abbracci line visit www.bacieabbracci.it

Check out these other “Italian Fashion”:
Italian Fashion:  Guru
Italian Fashion:  Carpisa
Italian Fashion:  Sweet Years

Review: The Power Of Now

I’m not much of a self-help book reader and you will very rarely catch me browsing that section of the bookstore. I also don’t tend to run out and buy a book because Oprah told me too. A couple people I know who were going through a difficult time in their lives turned me on to a book that they said really helped them to switch focus. The book was “The Power Of Now” by Eckhart Tolle. So, I bought it. And it sat on my bookshelf for some time before I finally decided that it was time to start reading it.

The last book review I did on this blog was for “Love In The Time Of Cholera” which I didn’t enjoy. Well, “The Power of Now“, is not much different. It’s long-winded, wordy, repetitive, and just plain flighty. Had this book been written differently I do honestly believe it could have had a more powerful impact. There were some points in this book that made sense, that gave you the opportunity to look at things in a different light and ponder over it for awhile. However, they were few and far between in my opinion. The only thing he got completely right in this book is to “live in the present”. We often dwell on the past or worry too much about the future that we miss out on what it is to be in the here and now – which is living!

Would I recommend this book to someone who is looking for a life change, wanting a new focus or a little bit of inspiration? No. I was more inspired by the equally hyped “The Secret” then I was with “The Power of Now“.

Let’s hope the next book review I decide to write falls in the “good” review category!