I e-mailed my friend in Italy telling her what we do on Easter. She e-mailed me back with the menu of their dinner. I thought some might enjoy reading a typical family's Easter dinner. I sure wish I were there!

"CIAO

BUONA PASQUA ANCHE A TUTTI VOI. MAMMA STA PREPARANDO IL PRANZO PER DOMANI. MANGEREMO LASAGNE AL FORNO , POLPETTONE IMBOTTITO E AGNELLO CON LE PATATE. POI CI SONO TANTI DOLCI. QUI AL SUD C’E’ UN DOLCE TIPICO PER LA PASQUA . SI CHIAMA PASTIERA. LO CONOSCI? IN PRATICA SI FA CON IL GRANO( O CON IL RISO) E LA CREMA DI RICOTTA E TANTI AROMI. E’ MOLTO BUONA.

QUI C’E’ LA TRADIZIONE CHE IL GIORNO DOPO PASQUA SI VA’ A FARE UN PIC NIC IN CAMPAGNA. NOI RIMARREMO A CASA E ABBIAMO DECISO DI PRANZARE SUL TERRAZZO SE C’è IL SOLE. ARROSTIREMO DELLA CARNE E POI MIA MAMMA PREPARERA’ UNA BUONISSIMA FRITTATA TIPICA CHE SI FA CON MOLTE UOVA ( 20/25) FORMAGGIO , ASPARAGI E SALSICCIA. .."

How do you say HOLY COW! in Italian. That's some dinner...isn't it??? pat

Sounds fabulous! I'm starving now!

Is my Italian improving or did she write it simply so you would understand???

Either way-- I was excited that I could really get it. Thanks so much for sharing!

jan

Thanks for sharing, Pat. You're right, it IS always interesting to know what is "typical" in different places. (Where in the south is your family?) And yes, that IS some dinner! I also wish that you could have joined your family for their fabulous meal.

We virtually did just that. I read your post with interest this morning, and was salivating over all the wonderful food your family had planned. We were planning a British-style 'Sunday roast' for our Easter dinner this evening, and not much for lunch. But our wonderful landlady had other ideas, and brought us several goodies right before lunchtime. Thanks to her spoling us rotten, our Easter Sunday lunch was fried artichokes (in a flour/egg/parmesan batter), followed by - yes, same as your family - lasagne al forno. And a bottle of local wine. And homemade pastiera. (Just as well she didn't also bring down secondi, I don't think we could have managed that, too!) So we were fortunate enough to dine very well Italian-style for Easter. Now it looks like the Sunday roast will go in the freezer instead!

I still have a whole pastiera that I bought at a local bakery, and now will probably not eat - so should I mail it to one of you starving people???

Happy Easter to all, however you are celebrating.

quote:

I still have a whole pastiera that I bought at a local bakery, and now will probably not eat - so should I mail it to one of you starving people???

KIM:

Of course! I Googled the recipe, and I don't think I'll be making this any time soon..it's complicated. However, Giada De Laurentis did have a simple version on her TV show using frozen philo dough.

Your landlady è molto gentile regalarti il cibo meraviglioso!

Lucia is not my family; but my deceased cousin's family on her father's side. Since I can write (sort of) Italian, I kept them informed during her illness. Lucia and I have become friends through e-mail, and I'll be visiting her in October for a week. A week of solid Italian (yikes!) and home-cooked food.

Lucia sent me a beautiful note saying, "è bello avere una grande famiglia nel mondo e penso che quello di averti conosciuto sia stato un regalo di Joann." So, I think I've been adopted.

They live 45 K from Caserta in Pietramelara.

Thanks for sharing your wonderful Pasqua experience. We celebrate Easter at sunrise service held at the beach on the Atlantic Ocean.
If I knew how to attach a picture I would show you our beautiful sunrise. (I need to read up on that) ciao....pat

I read, 5 tries at testing upload, finally:

ecco la mia foto della alba su Pasqua

Grazie Patricia. Sono Andata a Jacksonville Beach 2 o 3 volte. Quando mio figlio giacava calcio, ci siamo andati per "tournaments". E ci piace molto la spiaggia.

jan

Adesso, il menu di Pasqua a Barzotti.

Crostini, proscitto e l'uova soda
Capelletti al brodo
Arrosto di maiale con salsa d'arancia
Oca al forno
Pollo al forno
Agnello al forno
Spinaci
Carciofi
Insalata
Pastiera (comprato, meglio quello fatto di Dora)
Tira mi su
Vino fatto in casa
Caffé

Wow (is there an Italian word for "wow")

Quanto gente ha mangiato?

Mi sembra che ce molto cibo!

jan