Happy birthday

On February 28th H turned 41 and he asked for a special cake: a multi-layer pancakes and honey. Very simple, but still very good, especially if you cut it in slice like a real cake and serve with strawberry and cream.
Dorit, a german friend, showed me how to make these all-around pancakes more than 10 years ago, cooking for new year's party in Vernazza.
I haven't got a real recipe, just mix flour, eggs, milk and a pinch of salt. No sugar, so you can use them also with cheese and vegetables or leftovers to give them a new appeal.
If you use a bit more milk, the pancakes will become thinner, so you can fold them as italian "crespelle".

Italian music awards (Sanremo)

Every year, always on time as a Swiss train, here it comes Sanremo's Festival. It's a competition among italian singers, not exactly the best ones, just the ones who need to appear on tv or on newspapers. Usually they are too young or too old.
Just to excape to this all italian tradition I decided to sew instead of watching tv with the rest of the family. I found a pretty bag pattern, the Phoebe bag on artsy-crafty babe: it is very clear and easy to follow. So I grab some Ikea fabric I purchased last summer and here you are. I spent a nice evening and ended with a nice bag.

Orange-throwing battle, Ivrea 2010

Here in Ivrea there's a particular kind of Historical Carnival: they throw no confetti but oranges!

Orange throwers on foot wear different uniforms representing their team but no protection at all. Others are throwing oranges from horse-drawn carts, who wear protective masks. You can find the complete history of this carnival here.

So last week I find myself sewing a green and red uniform, for my little "tuchino", a friend lent us another and D2 told she wanted to join the battle but no uniform. Here we are, ready to go.


Before the battle there is an historical course, recalling the city’s liberation from tyranny dating back to Medieval times: a baron who starved the city was driven away thanks to a miller’s daughter who rebelled and roused the people to revolt

Many people a red stocking-like hat (Phrygian cap) as during the French Revolution, it says "I just want watch, please do not throw oranges to me". Tuesday everyone wore a team uniform or a red hat, even old ladies and toddlers, because this carnival is really part of the city and everyone wants to join.
No one blames the mess, just protect houses with heavy plastic or wood.

There are 9 throwing teams on foot and each one has a battle ground. We are Tuchini

There's a special place for the children, where they can throw oranges to the carts quite safely, that is people on the carts let the oranges fall without throwing.

In this video a bit of the battle among grown up.
It's the same in every battle ground: here's piazza Palazzo di Città (Town Hall Square), the field for Morte (death) and Picche (spade)

At the end there is a big party and the award of the winner team, chosen for courage, fairplay and better field decoration.

If next year you'll join us at the Orange Battle, wear trekking shoes: it can be slippery...