When the family comes and gathers at the table it is a time to interact and bond with other family members. My adoptive family is a typical Italian family. They are very similar to any Italians I know. When it is time to eat, everyone sits down and the fun begins. I have said that I would love to record them at the dinner table. It is a wonderful and loving experience. You have 3 generations at one table and the conversation between them is very comical. I'm sure if you sit back and think about your own family you could start laughing. Well this is what I experience most days. It's my own family. We are all the same, fun loving and a little crazy. :) Yet, even when there is craziness and chaos going on, you know what it is all about, Family. Everyone lives a hectic life but at the dinner table (or lunch table) there is peace and tranquility from the outside world. Everything stops and it becomes family time, something I feel Americans have lost sight of in many ways. The parents are able to leave their work outside of the home and away from the lunch table. It becomes their time to interact and learn how their child's day was at school. The grandparents are always there for anyone. If a grandchild is sick, the grandmother comforts her with food and love, if something needs fixing the grandfather is right there, ready to fix it. It has been a beautiful experience to interact and be a part of thus far.
It is also a time when you can get everyone together. Last weekend, someone said that everyone is going to think that all we do is eat since whenever we take pictures it is revolving around a meal of some kind. I said yes because we do eat a lot but it is also when everyone is together. After the meals, people go off and do whatever they do. But, the meals are a time for unity, a time for family.
One thing, I've noticed though is that due to the joys of the wonderful banking systems that control the world we live in, this culture is going to become extinct. Money. It is taking precedence over the rich culture that Italians share. Due to the new financial measures taken by the new prime minister to get Italy out of debt, he is allowing businesses to control their hours of operation. Businesses can now open and close whenever they want. Apparently the closing down at lunch time was a legal matter, but one that kept the culture rich. I am afraid when this new law goes into effect, Italy, especially Southern Italy will lose their "siesta" and instead live for the euro.
Side note: At the moment, yes, there are companies that do work during the day and don't allow their workers to come home for a few hours for lunch but they are mostly large companies, whereas the small shops and businesses close down for lunch.
Every day at lunch time the streets are deserted, businesses doors are closed, and every one is at home with their families. It is a time for bonding, being active in each other's lives, and eating delicious homemade food made from the heart. There is also a component loved by many, too. The nap. I admit, I wholeheartedly love this component of the Italian lunch. I feel much more refreshed and able to work in the evening because of it. I think every workplace should allow naps in the afternoon. :)
In regards to today, I had a great day as usual with Ipolita and her family. For lunch we had bruschetta, pasta with pesto, and fruit. It was delicious, as always. :) Afterwards, her mom made cookies, a recipe from America, I think. They are what I call the little pecan pie tarts. There is a picture below :) After the cookies, her mother made pizza for dinner. Unfortunately, I didn't get pictures prior to the meal because we all pretty much devoured the pizza but there were a few pieces left. I took pictures so you could imagine what the whole thing looked like before we ate it all!
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| Pizza dough |
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| Pecan cookies |
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| The little pecan pie cookies |
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| Only three pieces of corn pizza left! |
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| And only this much of the margherita pizza! |
