| the promised cenci - mentioned previously - think funnel cake chips |
Never too much food. With the exception of your Italian mom always telling you to get 2 or 3 more servings and is intent on having you explode… It’s always yummy, of course, but I’ve definitely figured out some strategies to avoid lots of demands to eat more helpings of food than can fit in my stomach.
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| Zucca Dulce! - Sweet Pumpkin (possibly with some cheese?) |
Tips to avoid breaking open your stomach and still please your Italian mother
- Eat veryyyy slowllyyy. Especially on the pasta during the first course – if you take so long that they are waiting for a little bit for you to finish your bowl, your Italian mom won’t insist on another serving because she’s ready to move on to the next course.
- Tip for eating slower – take a sip of wine between each bite, putting your fork down. I find the wine tastes amazing with the different pumpkin dishes.
- Take a very very small portion so you can go back for a second and third helping, equaling the amount you would take normally, but disguising it as eating more.
- Always compliment your Italian mom on how delicious the food is but you are just troppo piena, too full to eat any more.
- When insalata is served during the second course, take as MUCH as possible. Take a bunch, wait for your Italian dad to take his portion, then take the rest. A, it looks like you’re eating tons more. B, you don’t always get veggies, so take advantage.
- At the last course of fruit, oranges are your best friend – the least filling next to the apple and the banana and packed with Vitamin C! suca – juicy!
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| mi abbiocca - this blanket is incredible |
Regardless, you will still be pretty full after eating – but it’s okay because you’re starving beforehand and dinner isn’t until after 7:30. You probably haven’t eaten since before 4pm.
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| Fried Cauliflower |
Afterwards, you can say mi abbiocca, which is like saying “I’m in a food coma and am going to pass out”, and curl up in very soft blanket and watch Italian game shows with your Italian family.
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| Beef stuffed with something like prosciutto? Delish |
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| Fagioli e Polpette (fah-JOLE-ee) (pole-PET-eh) - Beans and Meatballs |
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| Farfalle (yes, that's bowtie pasta) with a light meat sauce |
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| Crostini con pollo and pizza! - she doesn't use a tomato sauce, but mashed up tomatoes! so fresh! |
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| NOMED hard on some Lasagna |
