What's Bobici, anyway .. ?

Someone wrote ( Hi Paul ... ! ) and reminded me I haven't yet fully explained the name of this blog. Right on, so here we are with a full explanation.

I have lived in Texas for almost 17 years, and I adore barbecue. Right now my family and I are living in Trieste, north.eastern corner of Italy, and that's the city I grew up in. Bobici is to Istria and Trieste what Barbecue is to Texans....

Let's talk about Barbecue: If you do not know what this is, well, I am so sorry for you, looks like your "gastronomic" life is not complete just yet.
There is a solution: run, don't walk, to Cooper's in Llano, Texas, ask for forgiveness, and let them introduce you to one of the gifts of Texas. After all, Texas Monthly wrote in 2001:

( If you are not a Texan, there is still hope. Just go to Cooper's and they will take care of you )

"50 Things Every Texan Should Do:

1. Read William Barret Travis's famous letter while inside the Alamo.
2. Raft down the Rio Grand through Big Bend's Santa Elena Canyon.
3. Pick your own piece of meat from the giant pit at Cooper's Old Time Pit Bar-B-Que in Llano."

Now, for the Bobici, part. That is *my* heritage ...
Bobici is a delicious soup typical of the Istria Region, in the North-West of Croatia, or, if you prefere, in the North East of Italy...
My birth place, my home, and a beautiful place to see....
Bobici is a soup made of corn, beans, and, well, just have a look:

* 50 g, (2 oz.) young corn from the cob
* 300 g, (10 oz,) beans
* 600 g, (l lb. 5 oz.) potatoes
* 100 g, (4 oz.) smoked bacon
* 100 g, (4 oz.) smoked meat or prosciutto
* 3 cloves garlic
* 1 bunch of parsley and celery
* 50 ml, (2 fl. oz.) olive oil
* salt and pepper

Clean the beans and set to soak 24 hours before required. Wash the smoked meat or prosciutto. Then make the pesto - finely chop the bacon, garlic and parsley to a paste-like consistency. Chop the celery leaf. Peel and slice (or dice) the potatoes. Place the beans and smoked meat in water to cook. As soon as the water boils add the prepared pest. When half cooked, add the corn, chopped celery , potatoes, oil, salt, pepper
Continue cooking until all ingredients are soft. Let it "rest" for 10 minutes, serve, eat, enjoy.

The corn *must* be young at the point that if you press on the kernel with your fingernail, it will "bleed" its milky juice.

Here you have it, from Texas to Trieste and Istria, or if you like, from Barbecue to Bobici ...

See you next time.

Bolina Stretta.

Thursday Challenge

Thursday Challenge: Red.

August 2007, Trieste, Barcola Park.

Angelina's red dress. Simply red.

The Photographers 1st Post...

This is one of my more artistic pictures, over our balcony. I missed a great opportunity, as a mom in a black coat was walking her small child home, who was wearing a bright red coat. the photo was so perfect, yet our camera so slow, I almost felt like yelling at them to 'please don't move for a second!' ... I'm sure you can think of many reasons for me not to do that.
Well, I would like to introduce myself. I am the...er... semi-official photographer for the family blog.

(this is me and yes, the headphones are always there, 'music, my daily medicine'...more like my hourly medicine. I can't get enough music. And my dad will affirm that.)

Me and my dad will sign our posts so you know who is who. Anyway, as already mentioned, mom got back yesterday and I made dinner that evening... Please don't ever let me in a kitchen again. =) It was nice to eat a mom meal again today. Heh.

Anyway, TTFN,
Frankie.

We are back ...

Sorry for disappearing from cyberspace for almost two weeks ...
My wife had to leave in a hurry to go back to the US, for a week or so, and I really did not have time to blog, caught between managing a house with 4 kids, their schooling, cleaning, my work, and all that jazz ... She came back yesterday, so we are back to a full house, laundry is caught up, and the kids finally ate a "mommy-cooked meal" so the house is a huge smile today ! ;)
I know how to cook, however, I also know my limitations. It's nice to have her back with us.



In the meantime, Angelina's new glasses came in , and she started to wear them. The first few times it was NOT an easy thing to do, on top of that she has to wear an eye patch for 3 hours a day, and she especially doesn't like that... Here are some pictures of her first two days with her new set of glasses .
















Hugs to all of you from all of us ...