Call me chef Boyardee

Cooking for my family was a huge success. (I got invited to live with them next summer and be their cook). I eventually decided on turkey tetrazinni and zucchini soup. My grandmother would be pleased to know that her recipe was a hit. At the beginning the kids stared at this green liquid and make dying sound effects. Even the youngest yelled that it looked “disgusting”! When Edoardo asked what it was, I told him it was poison especially prepared just for him. But in the end everyone really liked it. Adriano hardly eats anything and he had thirds. The mom was so pleased to see him eat. They liked it so much that they asked me to make it again before I leave. The family was shocked I could cook. Even the house keeper was impressed (she told me I’ll make a great wife one day). I guess other host kids have tried to cook and haven’t had much success. The dad was like, had I known you could cook earlier in the semester…
The turkey tetrazzini was good, but it could use some work. I’m going to try again back in the states. It was hard to find the ingredients for a lot of the things here. Turkey had to be substituted for chicken, chicken broth had to be made from a powder (wtf?), there were no fresh mushrooms (Italy doesn’t sell anything not in season cause it refuses to import goods)...etc. Josie and I had an hysterical time running around the store trying to figure out what things were and what things to substitute for what. I was just like, man, where is my publix pre-roasted turkey breast section? I guess cooking my own meat from scratch is healthier. It’s a good habit to get into. It didn’t even take that long to cook! One of the best things I’m learning from here is how really simply and healthy things (that taste amazing) can be made in no time. I’m also realizing how unnecessarily depended I am on silly little conveniences in American society. Like I couldn’t find those boxes of bread crumbs…and I mentioned it to the housekeeper who showed me how in less than 2 minutes I could pop the bread in the blender and do it myself. My family doesn’t even own a microwave which was so weird to me at first. One thing is for sure. I will want a food processor next year in my apartment. Ill substitute that for a microwave!

Tomorrow I’m going to a friends house to cook brownies for both of our families and maybe some of our Italian friends. Her host mother was like, do brownies have butter in them? You should’ve seen this woman’s face when we nodded. She wondered if there was anyway to make them without it. My host mom is the same way. Hates butter. Everything here is made with oil instead. I’m also making peanut butter and jelly sandwiches for the kids. (Josie’s boyfriend sent her a whole huge jar of JIF) Peanut butter is something you cant find here and something Italians think is so gross. Nutella is their peanut butter…I’ve learned anything can be dipped in Nutella (and most of it already is!)