To Market, To Market

(I think she’s on her way back — better leave the mozzarella alone…) 

Well, one of mama’s favorite outings here is to the open market in Campo de’Fiori, which actually used to be fields of flowers during the Middle Ages but is now all of the things you will find in my link, plus photos (better than mama’s!).

Mama uses a shopping cart, which, papa’s ex used to say marks one as an old woman, but mama feels differently about that since she often comes home with 20 kilos of fresh vegetables, cheese, oil, HEAVY things that she simply cannot carry by hand. Hey, you’re only as old as you let yourself be, right?

I have often thought to hide in the cart and surprise her at the fish seller, haha.

But right now, in season, are the amazing artichokes (carciofi) and spring greens that are famous here in Rome.

Carciofi alla romana, steamed with an herb called mentuccia (like mint but stronger) are mama’s favorite food and I think she has made them about a gazillion times since we arrived.  They are not shabby cut into little pieces, tossed in flour, salt and pepper, and then sautéed in olive oil until crisp.  I get to lick up the parmesan mama drops as she sprinkles it over the dish, haha.

But a real treat this week was when our neighbors were invited to dinner (a payback after having invited mama and papa three years ago—hey, better late than never, whatever that means) and they arrived bearing two huge bags of fresh mozzarella (!) fresh from Naples, and all are lolling in its siero (whey) to stay fresh on the cool, outside ledge of a window and upon which I have my beady eye, ready to snitch one away if at all possible!

I’m contemplating when to pounce…

OH, mama, you are so thoughtful!  (Mama saw the future and has cut up some of that creamy goodness in little bites for me.  She knows her kitty.)

Foiled again, but nicely full of buffalo milk.

Maybe a sliced tomato and a little basil next time, mama, okay?