Caltagirone

After I arrived back in Sicily from my vacation in the Philippines. Michael introduced me to Jacque, who had just come to Sicily with her husband Rob who is working as contractor for the US Navy. We became friends and she invited me for a trip with two other Americans, Sue and Darcy. We visited the town of Caltagirone about 70 km southwest of Catania. The town has long been famous for production of pottery and terra cotta.

The main landmark of the town is the 142 step monumental staircase of Santa Maria del Monte, built 1608. The peculiarity is that each step is decorated with different hand-decorated ceramics.

Steve visits Nicolosi

Steve from Sciacca came to see us for a weekend.
After lunch we walked outside Jacque and Rob's place and we took this picture of Mt. Etna from Nicolosi.

Ladies at the Flamenco Performance Show

What is Flamenco? From wikipedia:

"Flamenco is a Spanish musical genre with strong, rhythmic undertones, and is often accompanied with a similarly impassioned style of dance involving vigorous movements, such as hand-clapping and foot-stamping. Flamenco embodies a complex musical and cultural tradition."

Last night, while the 'men' were at home or at work, we ladies were out to witness the flamenco performer Antonio Marquez in the town of Mascalucia. Jacque, Christine, Joy and I all squished into Christine's Mini car and headed to Mascalucia. The town is just 15 minutes drive from our house so it was not that hard for us to find. The presentation of the Compañia Antonio Marquez was held in the amphitheater Trinità Manenti. The show was awesome! Antonio Marquez, now 44 started dancing when he was 12 and is known internationally for his performance.

Recipes

Two of my favorite Eggplant recipes:

Caponata or Caponatina: It is a Sicilian antipasto; its bold flavors usually include eggplant, anchovy, olives, and capers. I like the simple vegetarian style. This is most often served as an appetizer but also makes the perfect quick and casual meal during the hot summer months.
Serve it with crusty bread, fresh vegetables, olives, and assorted regional cheeses. Try it "bruschetta style" on toast points or topped over hot pasta. It's delicious and unexpected, and a valuable time saver too. Once prepared, caponata or caponatina will stand up to two weeks in the refrigerator so it is ready-made to serve the unexpected company or gatherings. Caponatina can be served as a unique and creative side dish at any meal.
Ingredients:
4 medium eggplants (peeled and diced)
1 1/2 cups olive oil
4 onions, sliced
1/2 cup tomato sauce
4 stalks celery (diced)
12 green olives (pitted and diced)
12 large black olives - Not Purple -(pitted and diced)
1 Tablespoon pine nuts
1/2 cup wine vinegar
1/4 cup sugar(you can use less it depends on your taste)
salt and pepper to taste

To Begin:
Fry diced eggplant in 1 cup olive oil until nicely browned. Remove from skillet
Add remaining olive oil and onions, browning gently over medium heat.
Add tomato sauce and celery and cook until tender. Add water if necessary, careful to maintain the consistency of the sauce.
Add capers, olives, pine nuts, and fried eggplant.
Heat vinegar and sugar in a small saucepan, stirring until sugar is dissolved.
Salt and pepper to taste.
Allow to simmer approximately 20 minutes or until flavors and become less sharp and individually defined.
Cool to room temperature before serving and store leftovers, covered, in the refrigerator.

The recipe may be doubled as the dish itself stands well and even improves over time. As presented, this recipe will serve 4 when served bruschetta style on toast points.
Need a ready-made variation:
Top slices of grilled or fried polenta with caponatina. Drizzle with a bit of good, full bodied olive oil, garnished with fresh springs of basil, parsley, and slices of fresh tomato. Serve as above, as an appetizer or casual, warm weather meal.

PARMIGIANA DI MELANZANE Eggplants Parmigiana

3 firm Eggplants
1/2 lb. Mozzarella, sliced
1 small Onion, finely sliced
Basil leaves
1 clove garlic, crushed
6 tbs. Parmigiano
1/2 cup Olive oil
Flour
1/2 lb. ripe Tomatoes
Salt
Pepper
1 pinch of Sugar
Wash the eggplants. Remove the stems, and cut length-wise into slices not thicker than 1/4-in.
Place the slices on a large platter, slightly on an angle. Sprinkle them with salt, place a weight on top and let stand for about one hour.
In the meantime, brown the Onion and the Garlic in oil over a very low flame, and then add the Tomatoes and let simmer for about 1/2 hour, stirring frequently. When this is done, pass through a sieve and add a pinch of salt.
Cut the Mozzarella into very thin slices and let them dry on a cloth. Chop the basil and mix it with Parmigiano.
Wash the salt off the eggplant and dry them. Dredge in flour and fry in very hot oil. Turn them to brown and when both side are done, lift them out and drain on a paper towel.
Pre-heat the oven to 375ºF. Coat a deep baking dish with olive oil and put in a layer of Eggplant. Sprinkle with Parmigiano, pour on a layer of tomato sauce, and cover with slices of Mozzarella. Repeat this layering until all the ingredients have been used, and then cover with Tomato sauce, sprinkle with more grated Parmigiano and bake for about 30 mins.
This dish is very good hot or at room temperature and makes a good antipasto. Zucchine alla parmigiana can be made in the same way, substituting zucchini for eggplant.

Trattoria

After the whole tour at the Villa and souvenir shopping, everybody wants food. Maryellen brought us to the closest trattoria. It is an Italian style restaurant, less formal than a ristoranti. The food is modest but plentiful and is served family style, like a mom and pop place or it's called lutong bahay in the Philippines. Everything is delicious!

Visiting Piazza Armerina

After one of our Sunday 'brunch-fasts' this past June, we headed to the town of Piazza Armerina in the province of Enna, which the Villa del Casale is located. The villa is the richest, largest and most complex collection of late Roman mosaics in the world.


Maryellen, one of the DoDDs Teacher here in Sigonella gave us the grand tour of the villa. She read from her tour book that told the story of the villa the meanings behind each mosaic.

The "Bikini girls" mosaic

Remains of the Roman bath

Segesta

Segesta is one of the few Sicilian cities founded by the Elymians, one of the so-called indigenous peoples of Sicily. It is an abandoned ancient city located in the province of Trapani.

The Greek Temple situated in a pristine countryside, standing alone in tranquil beauty amidst nature.

Stands in the slopes of Monte Barbaro is the Greek amphitheater

Just imagine watching a play here

Breakfast at Caltabelotta

During our trip to Erice, we saw this towering mountain which behind lies Caltabelotta. A historic and charming Sicilian city with narrow streets and a relaxed atmosphere.

A lovely old church at the top of Caltabelotta.

Ann hamming for the camera.
(The rock at her toe is really way behind her.)

The remains of an old fortress.


In times past the deceased were placed in tombs
carved from the solid rock of the mountain.


A closer look at the handy work.

Steve told us of a place near by Caltabelotta that
served fresh ricotta for breakfast. We all decided to
spend a lazy Sunday breakfast with the local farmer.


La Montagna Ristoranti

Ann, enjoying a slice of hard ricotta cheese.

A whole plate full!

The Cheese chef shares his secret recipe for squeeze.

Michael getting the royal treatment of being feed by the Chef.

A typical Sicilian farm home made from a low rock
foundation and thatched grass over a light wood pole frame.

Festivals

Talking about feast? Sicily is big into festivals. Each town has their big festivities each year. Today our town is celebrating the
Fiesta di San' Antonio di Padova.

It's seems like a whole week of celebration. One thing that I can't stand it is the bombing in town. They have so much money to throw away- so many fireworks. I don't know why, but it made me jump every time they blow it. But the fireworks are just so beautiful when you see it from our patio. Mike told me to put earplug on my ear so I don't jump. The thing is they do it anytime of the day and I think they fire guns too, as I can feel the vibration in our house. At night you can hear the Musica di Carnevale after the fireworks is done.

Fire!

Yesterday morning, our Italian friend told us that "today is the time for blessing the animals” so she invited us to bring all our pets. She said the saint will protect them the whole year round. Well, I saw “free cats” in their narrow roads.

In the afternoon, Michael and I were having granita at the bar and we noticed these two guys and the polizia getting ready for their fireworks again! We wonder why there are trucks and cars parked in the road. Just before the sunset, we went up to the Pizzeria and one of the waiters said the feast is almost over, and he said tonight is the last night and it's the blessing for Macchina (trucks/cars) and that made us “AAH! No wonder this trucks and cars are coming in town.

The Hammock Calibrator's '67 Power Wagon

Michael has served in the Navy for the last 11 years as an Aviation Electronics Calibration Technician and he can't wait to get out this August 2007. He is excited to be 'real-tired' and settled somewhere in the Pacific Islands. (He says 'real-tired' cause he is really tired of working for the Navy.) When people ask him what he is going to do next, he will say "Calibrating Hammocks". For now, that's all he needs to do is relax in a hammock with a slushy 'umbrella' drink and go SCUBA diving.

His truck, that he's kept for the last 24 years, keeps him busy too. He is rebuilding the rusted body and I can't wait to get it done. He loves working on it, and yes he loves this truck :o)

Bending and cutting metals to replace the rusty old pieces

The 'behemoth' in Guam 2004

Resizing the flat bed in 2004

Towering Erice over the west of Sicily

Erice is a wonderfully preserved Medieval town offering the most breathtaking views and a palpable sense of history.

It was originally called Eryx- a town of no little importance and renown and is said to have attracted the likes Hercules and Aeneas.

Amongst the most visited sites are the two castles, Pepoli Castle and Venus Castle. The former was built by the Arabs while the latter was a Norman construction with imposing towers that derived its name from the fact that it was built on the site of the ancient Temple of Venus, allegedly founded by Aeneas.

Views from Erice Castle.