Buon giorno! Seems like ages since I've been here at the Farmhouse Table! I've been having such a fun filled summer.

I met my mom in Scotland the last couple of weeks in July. We had a fantastic time visiting castles and pubs. The history was fascinating and the landscape breathtaking. We found great local beer and I discovered that I do like Scotch whisky after all.  The weather was ideal, which was great because my suitcase never arrived, but that's a different story.

When I got back, seems like right on cue, like a summertime Santa with a grin from ear to ear, Alfio's dad brought us melons! This year not only did he bring a watermelon but he brought three big Casaba melons too!

We have been spending the evenings under the pergola, chatting, playing cards, drinking wonderful homemade liquor and laughing. I seem to be getting Sicilian dialect lessons and my favorite new phrases are, "inchi u biccheri" (fill up the glass), "stuppa a buttigghia" (cork the bottle),"non murmuriari" (don't badmouth under your breath) and "mammitta bedda"(this has so many uses from expressing sadness or anger to exclaiming how good looking a person is) We all giggle when I say any of these phrases or anything in dialect. I guess it's the same for anyone learning a new language. One of Enzo's friends who moved to Australia was trying to explain to a shop keeper that he needed a colander and it came out as, "ariap ariap e maccaruna stop" (which means, the water goes fast(hurry up) and the macaroni stops). So, that has been Alfio's phrase this season, for everything!

Now that fig season is starting, I have to tell you about my favorite new decadent splurge. It's a baguette with some creamy gorgonzola, prosciutto crudo and fresh green figs.(sorry, no photo, this disappeared before I could get the camera) This is a great treat to serve in bite size pieces with a refreshing summer cocktail made with peaches blended with amaretto. Pour some into a tall flute and top with Prosecco.

Until next time, wish you were here!