Wednesday, December 29, 2010

Good-bye Pig, Hello Sausage!

I watched fresh pork sausage being made the other day!


These are the pig's intestines.
They have been stretched out then wrapped around a hand into individual bundles.


After soaking the intestines in vinegar, they're cleaned all the way through with more vinegar.

Then a machine with a crank handle fills the intestines with ground, seasoned pork.

Finally, the intestines are tied off into sausages. I like mine grilled!
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Saturday, December 25, 2010

Buon Natale!

If you lived here this is what you would be getting from me for Christmas this year. FOUR different types of biscotti, a cute Christmas tree ornament and a fabulous storage jar! I don't suppose this is going to prompt anyone to move here, is it? Did I mention that I made the biscotti myself???
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Sunday, December 19, 2010

Bloody Mary Sunday

Of course Bloody Marys aren't only for Sundays, it's just that it's become a ritual for me to enjoy them on Sundays. Amore always grills something over wood coals in the fireplace while I enjoy a Bloody Mary -- or two, but no more than two (I swear.) This recipe was passed on to me from my dear friend Valerie who received it from a friend of hers and now I'm sharing it with you. It's the best! I'm not including measurements because that's subjective, don't you think? I like em spicy! Not everyone does. Weenies.
I start with half a glass of crushed ice and add
Vodka
Horseradish sauce
Worcester sauce
Tabasco sauce
Salt/pepper
Muddle, muddle, muddle to mix well then add
Spicy tomato juice
Healthy squeeze of fresh lemon juice
One more muddle
Top off with whole ice cubes

Note: You can also put in veggies like cocktail onions, pickled string beans or a stalk of celery as garnish. I like to just throw in a bar straw and enjoy immediately!
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Wednesday, December 15, 2010

Holiday Spirit

Can you tell I ate five of these before I was able to snap a photo? My neighbor dropped these off for us today. How sweet, giving cookies just because. I'm making cookies also, but I'm giving them as gifts, not just because. Now I feel bad. I think it's a Catholic thing. I'm learning to get over it. I only feel a little bad.
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Monday, December 13, 2010

Music Video Flashback


Paul Anka, Io ho in mente te. Or back in the states, You were on my mind.  Recognize it?
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Wednesday, December 08, 2010

Standing Room Only

I really should have taken a "before" picture of the legnaia, woodshed (except it's not really a woodshed, it's below the house) when it was empty. It's two rows deep to the right and three rows deep in the center and to the left. I hope it's enough wood for the winter ....
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