Last night I got to make the first dinner in our new kitchen. It is so wonderful to have a sink! But I am so used to walking down the hallway to the bathroom for the sink it is proving hard to break the habit!
Dinner was two Orate, or sea breams. They were from the grocery but they were some of the freshest I have ever had. I decided asian flavors would be yummy for a change. I roasted the fish after rubbing with oil, salt and pepper, slashing the flesh and sprinkling with sesame seeds. While roasting I cooked soy sauce, a little vinegar, sugar and water and slivered ginger and slivered cayenne in a small pan until ginger and pepper were soft. Then all I did was pour it on the fish and sprinkled with spring onions and cilantro. Delicious if I do say so myself. I also had the first spring peas and rice.
Does anyone remember Green Stamps? Back when I was little you got them at the grocery and you saved them and filled books with them to redeem items when you had enough.
We are members of the Coop grocery chain here. It it a co-op and members get some benefits. One is inexpensive products which change every couple of months. They give you bollettini, or little sticky stamps when you check out. Then you can buy a product with a number of stamps and a little cash. I’ve never done this until now when they are selling nice knives.
I got one yesterday. It is really nice! 16 bollettini and €4.90 got me a chefs knife!
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Our next big project is a second kitchen upstairs. You may remember I talked to our Geometra who did our former work. But he would never reply to my emails or WhatsApps since that first meeting. I tried a second one who also would never reply. The situation here is that all these people are just so busy. And the workers who do the work as well.
So I decided to message with our friend Irma who is an architect and has done work for many people that I know. She seemed happy to help design a kitchen but she is also busy until autumn. Having no other choice I said I would wait. So that means our summer living upstairs will be a little different than we thought. Since the terrace has an oven and a sink and counters I figure we can make an outside kitchen. I also have our Weber grill. And there is an outside barbecue. It will be camping! I’ll get a 2 burner induction cooktop. And we will need to buy a refrigerator. We would need that anyway. Anyway, that’s the plan for now!
Hi camelia, we were planning to come down to Leroy and Merlin to look at outside furniture next week. Probably Wednesday the 5th. Would that work? I will email you.
Hi Nancy,
I’ve been a long time voyeur of your blog. I’m not much for interacting on any of the sites. I do you so much enjoy your daily life and activities in Umbria. Last March I spent about two weeks in Foligno and the outlying small hill towns. It was such a rich experience that I decided to come back again this year. I am currently in Puglia and will be coming up to Foligno on April 4 and staying until the 10th. I’m wondering if you would have any time to meet up and get together somewhere in the surrounding area?
Camelia
San Diego, California
Hi Valerie. My family collected Top Value Stamps but I think they weren’t as widespread as Green Stamps. It was also my job to stick the stamps in the book! 🙂 these are better because you don’t have to lick them. 👅
We bought our Weber here. They sell all the different types. Ours is charcoal. But you can buy bottled gas as well here. Interestingly the grill we have we put together. It is a LOT more well made than our US ones. Much heavier metal. Heavier racks etc. I was really surprised.
Hi Carlo, the Coop (pronounced cop) always has a promotion going. Plus discounted items if you’re a member. They also have their own brand, kind of like Kirkland for Costco. The quality of their goods is reliably very good. It is also the biggest and most modern store here in Utown. The bollettini are fun but most of the time I don’t really need what they are selling. But decent knives I can always use. Especially if I ever get another kitchen!🙂
Yes! I remember green stamps! As a kid it was my job to put them in the booklet! Hey…you mentioned your Weber grill….did you bring that with you from the US? If so, is it a gas grill or charcoal ? If gas, how does that work? Always enjoy reading your posts 😊 Grazie! Valerie
Green Stamps! Francobolli verdi.
“Those who do not learn history are doomed to repeat it,” (credited to writer and philosopher George Santayana). Or, keep the best of it—looks like fun. Italy continues to surprise!
Congratulations on the new kitchen. Progress! I bet you’re happy about that. The rest, well, pazienza!
Hi Matt, I do love to cook but Albi at Calagrana has me beat! This was an easy meal actually.
Congratulations, Nancy . . . Looks like you could give Calagrana a run for their money! Always enjoy these every day posts . . .