Sicilian Easter 2024

How do you say it in Italian? Easter spent with all the angels = Heaven!

Comune di S. Biagio Platani
Easter Arches Assemblage

The Easter Arches festivity is a  popular and religious event dating back to the 18th century and due to the faith for Virgin Mary and Jesus.

It wants to represent Christ’s triumph against death. Since the 18th century, two brotherhood, the Madunnara (Virgin Mary devotees) and the Signurara (Jesus Christ devotees), have mounted their avenue portion. The materials they use are natural: especially reeds, willow, asparagus, laurel, rosemary, cereals, dates and bread, each one having a great symbolic meaning.

The most important portion is composed of the spectacular central arches 5 meters high and 6 meters long. Under them is Easter Sunday, the traditional meeting between Jesus Christ risen and the Virgin Mary takes place. The avenue esthetic is changed every year while the architectonic structure of the entrance, avenue, and final arch is always the same: The entrance represents a church facade, the avenue is the nave, and the arch opposite to the entrance is the apse of the imaginary church. Celebrations start on Good Friday and last for three weeks. (Text unedited from street plaque)

Good Friday: The Deadline Approaches!

Daily Bread

We came to see bread
In the heart of wheat fields
In the middle of an island
In the middle of the Mediterranean

In the middle of nowhere.

Besides the wheat they grow art and love
Yards and sticky yardsticks of it.
Mosaics of beans and seeds
The beauty of love on display for all to feel 
legumes and the simplest dough, all the seeds
returning to the earth as summer begins.

Happy Easter! Buona Pasqua

Pasta

• 2 scoops semolina flour
• 1 egg
• Water
• handful of white flour

1. Make a miniature Mount Etna out of semolina flour and add 1 whole egg to its center crater. Whip egg with fork, combining with the flour to form dough. Add a tad of water to make the dough workable, and knead until glutinous—dough is smooth and has a light sheen. 10+ minutes.
2. Let dough rest at least 30 minutes.
3. Shape into desired pasta, such as roll out into sheets and cut strips for fettuccine. Boil for a few minutes then dress with favorite sauce.

CARDS

Lucky seven
This time, the seventh time
I write with my eyes
Pluck orange blossoms
yellow daisies   &    lavender sprigs

Tucked in hair
Wild pea blossoms
Two tones of sunset
bruised and dark purple
Bulbous, purses

Full of spring i ness
Orchidia: colorful with unusual shapes.
Languid butterflies the size of orchiettini

Taste with nose
Hear with tongue
Smell with fingertips.

Meet your meal 
in the field.

Where olives fruit, are fruit
Feel god and gods and mostly
Goddesses

Sips of lemony sunshine
Inhale every corner of the sky
Pink blue purple golden
Sky.

KEYS

Cool in the palm
a five year old’s hand
Ticket to Palermo under the radar at 14
Dad drives, son a driver, grandson, driven.
Father. A grandfather.

Mario muses.
Mario the Muse.
He drove the younger ones
To work and to play
making family along the way.

He loves hills and valleys every mile
He is the roller coaster
He threads the needle
Goes round and round
Tangoes around and around
and around again.

Agriturismo

The word agriturismo is a combination of the Italian words agricoltura (agriculture) and turismo (tourism). An agriturismo is effectively a farm designed to also receive guests, whether for food (lunch and dinner), holiday accommodation, or a combination of the two. Some agriturismi may also offer self-catering apartments without breakfast, lunch, or dinner offered. The term refers to farms in Italy only, although other countries and languages have created their own word for a similar concept.

feudo m (plural feudi)
(pronunciation: few-do)
feud, fiefdom, fief(figurative) domain, stronghold
also: stomping ground

Feudo

Feudal no more
fertile now
a family feudo
a homestead
serving zero kilometer meals.
You crossed path with
the mother to your fried egg
in the courtyard. 
Impatient customers who say fresh things like
are we waiting for the hen to lay the freakin' egg or what?
yes yes, we are. 
Amen.

Olives, oranges, hedges of rosemary
citron and wheat
Fish jump into palms
Our psalms mere alms
as boars sweep forest floors
We wipe mouths 
obscene with porcine 
Fill our sacks 
wild asparagus and snails
artichokes and—
lifelong friends.

Broken Saucer at Planeta Menfi

Natural Observations

Grist Mill

Flour Power

The wheat is in the field just over there
close to where it becomes flour
grist for the mill.

The flour is alive
when it reaches your kitchen
When it connects with yeast
it pillows and grows.

Many people say: 
I have Celiac Disease
can't eat gluten—
except when I'm in Italy.

Lunch at Paola’s

Caponata

• 3 large globe eggplants, diced
• 3 large zucchinis, diced
• 3 large red & green peppers, chopped 
• 3 onions diced
• 3 stalks celery, diced
• 3 large carrots, diced

1. In hot sunflower or other light oil, fry each vegetable separately until golden brown. 
2. Drain on paper towels to remove as much grease as possible.
3. In a large pan over medium heat, combine all the vegetables. Add honey (or sugar), currants (rehydrated), vinegar (cider or red wine vinegar) stir until flavors meld. Sprinkle with toasted pine nuts.

*Potato Pancakes

• 6 whole boiled potatoes, skin removed while warm
• 3 large handfuls  breadcrumbs
• 3 large handfuls shredded sheep’s cheese
• 3 Eggs
• Lots of fresh green parsley, chopped
• Salt to taste

1. Combine ingredients to form a dough. Make round balls then flatten.
2. Pan fry in oil until golden brown. 
   
   *Note to those who had Lemon Potatoes at Planeta Menfi Easter Tuesday: Lemon Potatoes + Potato Pancakes = Lemon Potato pancakes

Branzino Steamed in Salt

• Four fresh branzino (2+ lbs each)
• 6 boxes kosher salt
• 6 egg whites 

1. Clean fish. Combine eggwhites and salt to form a slush. 
2. Use about half the salt mixture to coat a sheet pan.
3. Lay whole fish on salt. 
4. Cover completely with remaining salt. Complete coverage is necessary for the fish to properly steam in its own juices.
5. Bake in medium oven for 30-45 minutes (?) until salt casing is golden brown.
6. Remove from oven. Remove salt crust. Remove skin, heads and bones before serving.