It wasnt about being a good cook, but understanding what good food was.
My first taste of Italy was the best.
I had no idea.
I was lucky to have apadronathat treated me like family.
Once she served nothing but cantaloupe wrapped in prosciutto, a combination that made me wary.
I was pleasantly surprised.
This pasta recipe builder is a lifesaver that could have saved me a lot of trouble in Italy. Just using a few of these simple ingredients will give even the worst cook a fool-proof recipe to share with family and friends — the Italian way!
Its all about the ingredients, mypadronatold me in her thick Italian.
Quality food is good food.
In Italy, food was considered sacred, and it was treated as such.
This pasta recipe builder is a lifesaver that could have saved me a lot of trouble in Italy. Just using a few of these simple ingredients will give even the worst cook a fool-proof recipe to share with family and friends — the Italian way!
It wasnt just necessity but an experience.
It was a lot for me to take in.
Though I cravedcacio e pepe, I settled for buttered spaghetti.
Instead of prosciutto and mozzarella, I ate packaged turkey and American cheese.
I never missed Italy as much as I did when I was craving mypadronas cooking.
It was its own sort of homesickness.
And it was… not great at the beginning.
My first time in the neighborhood marketplace nearly gave me a panic attack.
I walked through aisles fresh fruits and veggies and had no idea what to do.
Back home, I rarely cooked for myself.
What was I even supposed to buy?
In the end, I settled on mozzarella, a loaf of bread and a few fresh vegetables.
When I got home, I tried to mimic what Id seen mypadronado the year before.
The result was not nearly as good as anything shed made, but it wasnt bad.
I wrote down everything Id done so I could remember the next time.
It became my new goal to look for interesting recipes.
I took pictures of recipes from cookbooks in the bookstore near my apartment.
Italians dont care for complicated recipes.
For them, the best pasta dishes are made with just a few high-quality ingredients.
Making a nutritious and tasty pasta dish doesnt need to be difficult.
Since I left Italy,Ive learned that every place has a taste.
I remember Prague as beer-braised pork leg.
I remember Manchester as fish and chips.
I remember Stockholm as meatballs and lingonberries.
I may not be sitting along the Arno river, but I still feel at home.
