Shall we eat out?

Perhaps to a place where there are some Southern Italians grandmas cooking?

With plates of the day like this- Arrosto di Maiale e Fichi di India

Pork loin roasted with cactus pears over sliced fennel and onions in a sweet and savory sauce.

and authentic straight from their own kitchen cooks like these ladies.  I so wish I lived in NYC to frequent Enoteca Maria. Heard a great little interview with the nonnas on BBC Radio 4 woman's hour today,

Enjoyed hearing the descriptions of their specialities and what a great idea for a restaurant !

Nonna Teresa

For my sister Lily who loves chickens (over at Ten Finger Workshop),  how I wish we lived a bit nearer.

I came across the lovely painting here, it is by the talented artist of Big Bang Studio. Who by the way has a upcoming show for those in the California area.

Film Review

A little behind on the mark, forgive me, but at last I saw this film and I just have to do a wee review.

The verdict: It was not a bad film, a fine film actually, especially in regards to the visuals and the sound track.
I liked the rest of the film too , acting, story line and so on, the idea of three estranged brothers coming together under one bossy eldest brothers expectant sprirtual itinerary.  It's a particular kind of humour, for me it worked.  It is a little slow but while waiting you can  savour the colours and textures of the set and the scenery.
Parting thought upon reaching the end of the film : must find a way to get a room on this train. 

* Would not mind seeing a part two of this film, perhaps that's just me, coming from a big family-  all kinds of family dynamics.

Fly away

Tonight I took the children on a bird's back across the moonlit countryside.

Thank you Susan Marie Swanson for your book The House in The Night, and the beautiful illustrations by Beth Krommes,

Did you spot the child ?

So glad that the magical adventures to be had between the pages of a good book is something I get to share with these little people in my life.

The almond blossoms have come again.

Qaqoc at last

Finally cooked up some artichokes, using the local recipe recommended by Zen. There are many variations on this, but the one I tried proved very tasty and I may not stray far.

Maltese Stuffed Artichokes
(serving for three large artichokes)
4-5  large olives, pitted and chopped
 1 Tbs Capers
 handful of fresh parsley (around 1/4 cup when chopped)
2 garlic cloves finely shopped
three sun dried tomatoes finely chopped
4 anchovies
 four slices of stale bread toasted

If using a food processor start with the garlic and toasted bread and chop fine, then add parsley, capers, anchovies and olives and lastly the wet ingredients ending with a tablespoon of olive oil, dash of vinegar and a bit of salt and pepper. I would separately chop the dried tomatoes and add them towards the end, as they can clog up the machine. Whiz it to a rough paste and then spoon the mixture behind each leaf.
Place the artichokes in a covered  pot with at least two to three inches of water (they take around 45 min to cook) try an outer leaf to test.
Can be eaten hot or cold.

You win some you lose some,

As is the game of life.
Why the post title? Well am happy to say that I did find something to make with those kumquats,  a ricotta kumquat cheesecake, which came out perfectly, well would have been perfect except I somehow managed to burn the bottom in the last 10 min. Having read in another cheesecake recipe to bake it on the lowest rack was I believe my fatal error. This was twofold as I simultaneously managed to also burn the dark chocolate brownies which then had to be on the upper rack. So yes, two baked items ruined for a dinner party just in the final moments. Will have to wait till next January I guess to try this kumquat cake again. Sigh, you win some you lose some. There are bigger things to get upset about than baked goods. Although it was more than a little frustrating. In any case here is the recipe for the ricotta cheesecake, which apart from the burned taste had a great texture and flavour.

Kumquat and ricotta cheesecake 

Filing
500 grams ricotta 

1 cup marscapone
1 cup plus 1 Tbs powdered sugar
1 1/2 Tbs flour
1 1/2 Tbs Brandy (optional)
4 eggs
2 Tbs milk or cream
pinch of salt


Crust
2 cups crushed graham crackers or digestive biscuits 
2 Tbs brown sugar
1 tsp cinnamon
125 grams melted butter (1/2 cup)


Topping
2 cups kumquats (peel and chop) 
4-5 seeded kumquat insides  
1 cup sugar 
1/4 cup water (enough to just cover the peels)

Step 1. Melt butter and mix with sugar and crushed crackers then press into 9 inch pan and set in fridge.
Step 2. Cook down kumquat peels with sugar and water into a thick glossy syrup, adding in the kumquat insides (tart juices) just at the end and puree.
Step 3. Beat until smooth ricotta, marscapone cheese and powdered sugar, add in brandy and beat, then add in the flour. Once the mixture is smooth then add in one egg at a time, finally drizzle in the cream.
Step 4. Pour mixture in prepared crust and bake for 60 min on a low (but not the lowest) rack till slightly golden on top, once done turn oven off and let the oven door stand half open, when the cheesecake cools take out on a cooling rack and add the topping on the top (if you like you could drizzle it on each
individual piece).

of note:  I didn't realise just how burned it was till it was plated and served at my friends house!

Thus the smiling happy picture.

Lets dance

Yes, after almost a year of meaning to start, we have finally begun tango lessons. I have to admit for being the one dragging my feet (prone to giggles in situations of stress) I actually really really enjoyed it.

(kinda fun retro heels don't you think)

As was quickly evident in our first lesson though, my big doc martin boots just didn't cut it on the dance floor, ho hum shall have to find some tango shoes...some heeled items of which I so often make fun of.   Confession: after being in layers of sweatshirts and loose running bottoms for the last week and half it was nice to feel... feminine again, the movements of this dance are so graceful and playful. 

Even with the boots I felt all swishy, can't imagine what it will feel like to wear heels!?

(There may be a broken ankle post in a weeks time).

ah yes- the flu/cold is nearly done with thankfully, just a tickly ever present cough

(cuts down on the swishy graceful feeling admittedly)

Rainy day window shopping

Simple pleasures, nifty tray from here.

Ahh nothing like a nice bar of soap, if only we still lived up the street from here

Or perhaps a drum tin? 

A small addition

In the last long days of Chirstmas holidays,  I decided to brave the crowded market with the three children and head down to the Birgu playground, all things considered it went ok. So post picnic and playground running, we all began our trek back up towards zabbar,  just as we were nearing the last stretch  this little tree caught my eye ( must admit I quite like kumquats) so 13 euros less in my pocket and a tree atop the pushchair we headed home (only a few stares along the way). Now at last we have potted it in the top of the old well, it's cheery brightness makes me smile and now hmm.... what to make with those kumquats...

And so I am, in woolen socks, and some tea and of course with little D ..... perhaps some music... till the coughs pass.... patience.

Photo taken from our 'hood'. 

Mush

Mush is what perhaps my mind has turned into with days of being home bound and requested (repeatedly and with great earnest by little D) to sit and watch things like Diego or as she says  DIIIIIIIIIIIIEGO!!!

The best though is this show that has totally perplexed me since first coming across it's path, it is called Yoho Ahoy and it's a small show maybe 10 min at it's longest and takes place on a pirate ship, everything is made of fabric and the only thing ever said is 'yo ho ... ahoy' and yet there are a set of five or six characters and different little adventures/events on the boat each time. Throughout the whole story they just change and vary the way they say 'yo ho - ahoy'... someone MUST have been on some kind of drug to invent this one... very bizarre... or genius. If you want to see here is a clip from youtube YO HO AHOY.

On a happier note relating to mush or rather oatmeal/porridge, (I admittedly am a big fan) and in the winter months it graces our breakfast table at least once a week. What with the afterglow of the sugar from christmas I decided to try out making  a fruit compote to replace the sugar (as suggested by a fine British friend), why hadn't I though of doing this before?! So have been trying different mixes, plum cooked down with apple (very tasty), apple and apricot as shown above was good too- tart and tangy , want to try an apple and pear one next - think I may be a convert. Also the leftover fruit compote is great with crepes on the weekends.
Still sick here, stuck at home coughing and coughing - yo ho ahoy.

Weekend Ponderings...Fathers

Tucked deep under the duvet covers with the wind again swirling loudly outside (I think it may be the Grigal wind this time coming from the North East). They say the grigal wind can drive you mad  and I almost believe it.  It bellows and bashes the house and the plants in the courtyard, the trees and the rat ta ta tatting of clothes nearly whipped off the line.  The sound makes you feel you are lost at sea amid plummeting waves... such dramatic noises of movement  that you can hardly find the stillness of sleep no matter how badly you want it.

.... so unable to find sleep I read.

David J. and Linda A. Cornfield

Amid the bed covers (thankfully the children with their pa at my inlaws),  I was able to get lost in a book... this time I was amid spoiled boys in the streets of Havana before the Batista was overthrown... a good story so far... descriptive quirky details about the characters especially the father, the oversized porcelain collecting judge who believed he was King Louis XVI in a past life. Hours later sitting eating soup, listening to Orhan Pamuk reading My Russian Education by Nabokov on the Ipod, I am taken somewhere else- this time to sleigh-rides in St. Petersburg.. long chess games in a dark library and again fathers, larger than life and just out of reach... again the nostalgia.

Does every man hold on to a memory of their father in such a way... does it change when they become a father themselves? Is there something slightly untouchable about the memory of our fathers that we have from early childhood? What are some early good memories you have of your father?

Little friends

Happy Friday

Call it karma, call it fate, call it having been coughed on many many times by the children over the last few weeks (the best is when you are zipping up a coat and get it full blast in the face). Am down with the flu, destructo at my side (who has just informed me she has washed her hands in the toilet )if I understood her mumbling rambling correctly.. lucky for me she woke up with a double dose of energy this morning.

Can't wait for nap time.

Busy adding rocks to the artichokes... (not exactly in the mood to cook them today).
Spotted by the Mr.
for those that may need a little something to make them smile today, or this.

At times

I so wish I had a wood shop at my disposal..... would certainly be attempting to make these blocks myself as the price is just a bit steep. But how fun would they be to play with!!??
* my father for a good part of my life was a woodworker and so in addition to wanting to do some building myself with wood I do have a real soft spot for the smell of saw dust.

My kind of store

Still plan one of these days to take some photos of the creative names you find on the front of beauticians and hair salons here- and there are many (perhaps as many as churches per village).

This post is some weeks overdue and I apologise.
 I was given 3 blog awards in the second week of December.

Am flattered and want to thank those who have given me the awards,

Zen, fellow Maltese blogger with a great deal of local history and knowledge of the Maltese islands. Angela from Reflections in Canada with a Maltese twist.

and Les Voyagers the lovely illustration blog of Maia Larkin.

To keep up the good will and gratitude I would like to pass on an award to these three blogs:

Caremel carmelo - for her calming, peaceful and beautiful blog
Return to bohemia for her wit and humour, am almost always moved to laughter or inspiration.
 Dim sum, bagels and crawfish a fellow gypsy mom in the Mediterranean, lovely photos and great links.

Because the Honest scrap award has been making the rounds,  those receiving this award from me please feel free to write or not write ten honest truths about yourself but please do choose at least 3 blogs you like that you would like to pass on the Honest scrap award to.

Past the artichoke fields

Our Sunday stroll today was through a valley known as Pwales, and the meandering little path started out by winding around a field of blooming artichokes,  'qaqocc' in Maltese. Guess the season is upon us here, have never before seen them growing in a field. Will have to start searching for good recipes.

The path wove past fennel as tall as I am, a small bamboo forest, twisted carob trees and a few old abandoned houses (tempted to move in, how could you resist with a front door looking out on a green valley and a path to groves of cedar forests five min walk away).

Tramuntana

Originally Tramontana was what I had wanted to call this blog, for not only the sound it makes when it rolls out of your mouth but  also for it's meaning, the wind from the north, often specifically meaning from the mountains.  Most often here though it refers to a cold strong wind (like there is encirlcing and beating at the windows of our little stone house today). It also has another meaning though, that of an outsider of things from the other side of the  mountains.
It is an angry fretful wind today and as the older two children head off to the panto with their grandmother and auntie I am happy to have a quiet day in with little Destructo.

*side note -- one of my favourite things about the Maltese language is that it has specific names for all the winds (I think there are six) each with it's own personality.

To new beginnings

Happy New Year