Magna', Magna'

Tenerumi, a zucchinesque vegetable but much longer, think the length of my three year old, and these are the tender leaves that you eat along with the zucchine. Usually made into a soup I prefer them slightly steamed and then dressed with a little raw garlic and olive oil, a fresh anchovy smashed and stirred in is good as well.

"Babbalucieddi" in Sicilian or mountain snails are found stuck literally to barren branches in the arid countryside, for us it was in Lampedusa that we found these. They are laid in breadcrumbs for a period, rinsed and then brought to a slow boil on a small flame for a while until they come out of their shells. Once cooked they're dressed in sauteed garlic, olive oil and parseley.mmmmmmmmmmmm!

Treasurehunt

It was a long ride, 8 hrs, but finally my favorite east coast antiquing area, upstate New York. The linens abound and odd trinkets here and there rife with gold and fine silver jewelry. It's not too say that these things can only be found upstate but around here the antiques are all picked over, there no one seems to be interested in what I'm interested in. My two favorites proved to be worth the wait, I found amazingly embroidered linens and some gorgeous filigree in silver and gold and bone. I've already made some asymetrical sundresses for next spring.

 Next stop Palermo, Italy.