Ain't That Peachy

One of the joys of living in Italy - and though I do occasionally complain there are more than enough joys to make up for the problems and pitfalls - is that fruit and vegetables are still pretty much sold in season. Oh sure we get the Chiquita bananas from god-only-knows-where and the Turkish figs in October but still much of the produce is local and in season. Italian figs have just appeared on the market and peaches, which my Sri Lankan fruttivendelo (greengrocer) assures me are Italian, are showing up.


I had never seen those little squash shaped peaches before but a quick Googling revealed that they are called Pan Tao or Peen To. Apparently they are also being marketed as Donut peaches because you can push the pit out leaving a donut shape. Whatever they are called they are delicious - white fleshed, sweet and soft without being mushy. And the skin is almost fuzzless - sorry but peach fuzz gives me the shivers.

I am thinking they are the perfect candidate for the simplest of Italian deserts - peaches soaked in wine. Just the thought of it is enough to send me tumbling off the wagon!


23 giugno - Santi Martiri di Nicomedia

You Know You're in Italy When ...

Last week I was looking for a recipe for White Peaches Soaked in Wine as a desert for Sunday's pranzo (lunch) and came across Bleeding Espresso. No its not an Italian punk rock group - though that would be a great name for one - its the work of Michelle Fabio , an American who retraced her Calabrase roots and now lives in her ancestral town.

I found her recipe - how easy can it be: peel and slice peaches, soak in wine for as long as you like, eat peaches, drink wine - punto! Because of a misunderstanding between myself and the greengrocer I ended up with yellow not white peaches. But I found out yellow peaches soaked in prosseco, though not authentic, work just fine.

Michelle and a group of other bloggers started working on a list: You Know You're in Italy When ... The list keeps growing as people add their comments -and as Laurent and I read them we've found ourselves nodding in recognition.

I threw in a couple and want to add one more.

You Know You're in Italy When:
This is what you see first thing in the morning when you look out your bedroom window.

20 settembre - San Andrea Kim Taegon e i Santi martiri coreani