seeing blue....

a little collage of blue dedicated to our maschiotto....

it's a....

If you guessed a girl, you're wrong! Yes, we will be carrying on the Coletti surname, much to the pride of my father-in-law. Our little man bared his identity plainly in the doctor's office last friday, and he is well-equipped! So my dear grandmother Mary Ellen will be getting her 8th great-grandson and Little B & Big B will have their first great grandchild and I'm sure Little B will be tempted to tape a pink bow to his head on their first meeting.

The 20 week old banana

Evidently this is the size of our little peanut at the moment. It weighs (the banana could be masculine or feminine) a whopping 10 oz!

i colori di Novembre

The first week of November has brought the overwhelming presence of fall and the swift arrival of winter. The temps are getting closer and closer to the 30s and between the hours of noon and 5pm, a sweater and scarf our necessary in our apartment. This week we've enjoyed a nice autumn walk, a wine festival, and discovered a new smash hit recipe....

walking through the parco maddalena....look closely to see the professional tree climbers...

Back for the 3° year at the Alba Wine & Truffel festival. The Negro, Roero, Mark's new favorite wine. Given a 3 glass rating in the Gambero Rosso, italy's famed wine editor. Sold for €25.00 here and $65.00 in the states.

Mark happily drinking for "3" and Laurie helping him celebrate. I'm now designated photographer, driver, and cheap date at all these events.

Now for my latest recipe, that will surely brighten and warm up any brisk fall or winter day,

Carrot Soup with Ginger & Lemon

1/4 cup butter

1.5 onions, chopped

couple shakes of ground ginger

couple shakes of cumin

1/2 a habanero pepper ***, minced, or whatever pepper you have on hand

3 cloves garlic, minced

8-9 carrots, peeled and chopped

1 can tomatoes in pieces

1.5 tsp lemon peel, grated

3 cups chicken or vegetable stock

lemon juice from 1/2 of a lemon

1. Melt butter in large pot, add onions and sautee for 4 min

2. Add ginger, garlic, pepper, cumin and saute for a few minutes

3. Add carrots, tomatoes, lemon peel and sautee for 1 min.

4. Add stock and bring to boil. Let simmer slightly uncovered for 20-30 min

(until carrots are tender) Tasting at this point is a good idea in case any a

5. Cool slightly and puree with hand mixer (should be rather creamy)

6. reheat soup and serve with some squeezed lemon juice and nice warm bread!

***habanero gives it a kick that may be too much for some. When in doubt put a cup of whole milk or cream on the table for people to add in just in case.

Halloweeniamo

While the little italian ragazzini and ragazzine asked for "dolcette o scherzette" in all the little stores in Pecetto, Mark and I headed to the Moncalieri Jazz Festival, kicked off by the Notte Nera, "black night." Sounds spooky, but instead it was very New Orleans-esque on a smaller more sober scale. Aperitivo and drinks were offered at every bar, cafè, and ristorante in town, with live jazz duets and quartets. At 9pm came the surprise of the Magicaboola band, the rocking 13 musician marching band that made it's way throught the main piazza and we ended up nearly front row which gave us the responsibility of getting the torinese to actually dance rather than just watch (reminded me of a Death Cab concert in Seattle). From 10:30, free food tastings, and red wine lined the narrow street of Sante Croce accompanied by 3 more class jazz acts. If only the line of Polenta & Salsiccia would have been a little shorter.....

aperitivo and jazz

Moncalieri a lit....

Magicaboola Jazz Band

While the little italian ragazzini and ragazzine asked for "dolcette o scherzette" in all the little stores in Pecetto, Mark and I headed to the Moncalieri Jazz Festival, kicked off by the Notte Nera, "black night." Sounds spooky, but instead it was very New Orleans-esque on a smaller more sober scale. Aperitivo and drinks were offered at every bar, cafè, and ristorante in town, with live jazz duets and quartets. At 9pm came the surprise of the Magicaboola band, the rocking 13 musician marching band that made it's way throught the main piazza and we ended up nearly front row which gave us the responsibility of getting the torinese to actually dance rather than just watch (reminded me of a Death Cab concert in Seattle). From 10:30, free food tastings, and red wine lined the narrow street of Sante Croce accompanied by 3 more class jazz acts. If only the line of Polenta & Salsiccia would have been a little shorter.....