IL GIRASOLE (THE SUNFLOWER) AND MORE

The sunflower.  Each time I come to Italy I learn something new.  Italy is a large producer of sunflower oil made from the sunflower seed.  The problem is that Italy does not produce enough sunflower oil for the needs of its people.  So a huge amount is imported from other countries, Russia being one of them.  Italy is considered one of the largest consumers of sunflower oil in the European Union. 

Here is a picture of one of many fields of sunflowers in and around Tuscany.  This picture was taken a few days ago and as you can see  it is almost the end of the growing season for the sunflower.                                                                 

They turn brown, the harvest begins.  The process begins where they are eventually turned into oil.  If you want to see them when they are in full bloom, you must come here around mid July to Mid August.  Below I included some pictures taken from the web of fields in full bloom.  This picture is taken not far from IL Molino di Bordone.                                                                                                       

More pictures from around Cortona

Here you see a field that is almost ready for harvest

 Another field.  This one has a way to go before harvest. That hill town you see in the background is Cortona.  Cortona is what we in the USA would probably consider the county seat of all the small towns and villages in the area.  All of the towns are part of Cortona.  The mayor of Cortona is also the mayor of all the towns in the area.  Arezzo is the province in which Cortona is located. Similar to one of our states.  Tuscany (Tuscano) is the area.  In my case back home that would be New England.  This is probably oversimplified, but, hey, we're in Italy.  Remember a traffic light here is only a suggestion so be careful crossing the street.

Another view with some houses in the background and the mountains beyond

It looks like this in July and August

Another picture downloaded from the web.

More

And More

 By the way, if you were thinking of making your own sunflower oil, you need 140 plants that should produce 35 pounds of seeds.  From that you will get 3 gallons of oil.  WoW!! Hello Stop and Shop.

 FESTA DEL SETTEMBRE

Every year on a Monday in September this feast is held to celebrate the advent of Autumn.  Several streets in the town of Camucia are closed off to traffic and a massive feast takes place.    If you ever go make sure you are hungry before you get there.  There is so much food and it is so good.  It is really Italian and so is the taste.  These two pictures are of a candy vendor.  There were enough sweets there to make your dentist jump for joy.

Another view of just one of the candy vendors

 Of course the men sit in front of the cigar store and talk while the women do the shopping.

Others decide to join in the conversation

The streets are lined with all kinds of vendors

 Yep, we had to do it.  This ceramic  is hand painted and made in the region of Lazzo.  Lazzo is where Rome is located and, perhaps, where my grandfather on my fathers side came from.  I am still working on that, but it is hard to find records from the 1800's here in Italy.  If you want to find something that happened centuries ago, that is no problem  Anyway, we did manage to purchase four pasta dishes and four dinner plates for just 40 euros.  The problem now is getting them home.  We are working on that.  Probably do a carry-on.

Why not!  Fresh sausage, peppers and onions, just cooked.

Of course, there is no festa here in Italy without prochetta.

This is where we got the sausage.  Yep, Brenda had one too.  When in Rome.......

 This is part of the group who were on the walking tour with Caroline and Pino in the Dolimites in Northern Italy. Some of them came back to IL MOLINO to spend a few more days in Italy.  Here we are having supper.  Anna (Pino's mother and a great cook)  made her famous lasagna.  Nothing like we have at home.  It has eggs in it with light pasta and some meat and ricotta.  You can eat it and not feel like you ate a lead balloon.  Brenda also made some pasta with pesto and tomatoes.  We were not sure if the lasagna was enough.  Plenty of wine and tiramisu and espresso for desert.

Conversation after great dinner with espresso and tiramisu made by Brenda

Antonio (Caroline and Pino's oldest son) with grandma and adopted grandma

Remember this garden from last spring?

Here it is today

It was fun for me to plant and I am happy to see that it produces lots of veggies and herbs

Another view of the garden.  Guests are welcome to go pick from the produce.  We have tomatoes, carrots, beans, squash, zucchini, greens, strawberries, cucumbers, artichokes, just to mention a few.  Also tons and tons of herbs that are great for cooking.  That's it for now.  More to follow from our trip to Santa Maria di Castellabate on the Mediterranean next week.  Caroline and Pino will be back from Spain for a few days so we will have an opportunity to do more exploring.
Please excuse the spelling.  Brenda (my dictionary was not here when I did this blog)  She is at Anna's making egg plant in a jar with oil and a hint of vinegar.    Yum Yum.