Touch of English

Work is pretty much taking up all of my time and energy so I haven't had time to write but here are some pictures from the day Kylie-Ann, Brian and I visited the English Gardens at the Caserta Reggia Palace. It's gorgeous, and the perfect remedy for a scalding hot day.

Sap

It is more than hot here! It's that special kind of hot that just saps everything from you. I wake up after a night of not being able to sleep, have a shower, get dressed and then feel like taking a nap again. My classroom is sadly lacking in proper air conditioning, and after three weeks of dripping they have finally provided a fan. Half of the city's rubbish collectors are on strike, which is makes for an especially pleasant environment in the sweltering heat. I'v pretty much lost my appetite, it's too hot to eat. Instead I spend most of my free time trying to remain hydrated.

Having grown up in Queensland, with Cairns and Ipswich as hot highlights, and having spent time in Thailand I thought I could handle just about any kind of hot weather. However, Naples has opened the doors of summer early and the whole city is in meltdown. I realised though that while most homes and buildings here are equipped with central heating there is a sad lack of effective cooling systems and ceiling fans are unheard of.

I'm starting to wish I was home for the mildness of a Brisbane winter. In fact I think I'm going to book my ticket for a visit home sometime soon. I just need to make sure I avoid the summer.

Hot, hot, hot!

I can't tell you how hot it is here. Summer has arrived early and Naples is in meltdown. The heat seems to sap your energy and after a couple of hours it's time for a nap. None of this is helped by my current work conditions, a big airless room with out functioning airconditioning.

And, it was last Sunday that Gi and I decided to go up the Vesuvio Volcano and climb the crater. What you don't realise is that the volcano is itself giving off a whole lot of heat, so by the end of the day I'm sure I was suffering from a touch of sun stroke.

One of my favourite friends arrived on Tuesday with her sparkling new husband in tow. Kylie-Ann is an avid reader of this blog. Thank goodness she is currently travelling around the world as my posting has been very irregular of late with my work schedule and constant desire to nap.

Here are some photos from the top of the Vesuvio and from the last couple of days with KA and Brian at the Amalfi Coast and dining out.

Dehlia Smith vs Real Women

A little something for the ladies. For those of you outside of the UK (and in Australia) substitute Tesco and Sainsbury's with Coles and Woolworths or (for Italy) Conad and Auchan.

Delia's Way

Stuff a miniature marshmallow in the bottom of a sugar cone to prevent ice cream drips.

The Real Woman's Way

Just suck the ice cream out of the bottom of the cone, for God's sake.You are probably lying on the couch with your feet up eating it anyway.

Delia's Way

To keep potatoes from budding, place an apple in the bag with the potatoes.

The Real Woman's Way

Buy Smash and keep it in the cupboard for up to a year.

Delia's Way

When a cake recipe calls for flouring the baking tin, use a bit of the dry cake mix instead and there won't be any white mess on the outside of the cake.

The Real Woman's Way

Tesco's sell cakes. They even do decorated versions.

Delia's Way

If you accidentally over-salt a dish while it's still cooking, drop in potato slice.

The Real Woman's Way

If you over salt a dish while you are cooking, that's tough sh*t. Please recite with me the Real Woman's motto: "I made it and you will eat it and I don't care how bad it tastes."

Delia's Way

Wrap celery in aluminium foil when putting in the refrigerator and it will keep for weeks.

The Real Woman's Way

It could keep forever. Who eats it?

Delia's Way

Brush some beaten egg white over pie crust before baking to yield beautiful glossy finish.

The Real Woman's Way

Sainsbury's frozen pie directions do not include brushing any egg white over the crust.

Delia's Way

Cure for headaches: Take a lime, cut it in half and rub it on your forehead. The throbbing will go away.

The Real Woman's Way

Cure for headaches: Take a lime, cut it in half and drop it in 8 ounces of vodka. Drink the vodka. You might still have the headache, but who gives a sh*t?

Delia's Way

If you have a problem opening jars, try using latex dishwashing gloves. They give a non-slip grip that makes opening jars easy.

The Real Woman's Way

Why do I have a man?

And finally the most important tip ...

Delia's Way: Freeze leftover wine into ice cubes for future use in casseroles and sauces.

The Real Woman's Way: Leftover wine???? HELLO!!!!!

Fresh Ingredients

Why do fresh ingredients always look better in Italy?

It is because they leave the stalks and leave on? Is it because not every piece has to be perfectly formed, or it doesn't make the cut? Or is it just that fruit and vegetables are more vibrant under the Italian sun?

I know that tomatoes are redder and more flavoursome at home, partly attributed to the volcanic soil but also to the fact that tomatoes aren't picked green, cold stored and then gassed to bring out the colour as is so common elsewhere. Imagine, Italians just let the tomatoes ripen on the vine. It's pure genius and something that Mr C0les and Mr Woolworths should request of their growers.

Lemons are always purchased with lengths of stem and shiny green citrus leaves still attached. Even once I get my lemons home I take some small delight in seeing those bumpy, irregular yellow 'limone' sitting in a bowl, their leaves a delightful contrast.

I'm convinced that fruit and vegetables aren't meant to be sold in supermarkets. Put them out on a cobble stone street, stacked up in wooden crates, sometimes displayed with precision, other times with a haphazard elegance that comes with years of practice. It just seems to much more natural than under the neon glare of lighting and in the articially controlled atmosphere of an air conditioned supermarket.

Grottaglie

The first weekend of June I took the train to Grottaglie to visit some teacher friends. Harry is English and his girlfriend Shawn is American. I had a gorgeous weekend with them, except for the hangover on Saturday morning which I blame on Harry. He's also a great cook, and they are delightful hosts. They are living in the pretty historical centre of a town called Grottaglie, near Taranto. We went to the beach, an antiques market, walked around the centre, visited the ceramics museum and a collection of the town's ceramic shops. As usual, many of my photos reflected the doors, windows and steps of my surroundings. I'm already planning a return visit. The train ride down was easy and it was a bit like travelling through the Tuscan hills, only less tourists..

Grottaglie: Antiques & Art

Some images from the local antique market, fading fresco art and local artists at work.