food for the soul

Cooking in Molise is an ART, an OCCUPATION, A LOVE and considered to be a NECESSITY 

 This is for people who are PASSIONATE about food, just like the people of MOLISE

who want to know WHAT it is, WHERE it comes from and WHAT to do with it.

EVERYONE here in MOLISE, is PROUD of their REGION and most of all It's FOOD.. and WINE of course.

Wherever I go I am offered food, which is ALL without exception ABSOLUTELY WONDERFUL.

Even If you are like me, constantly preoccupied with getting fat then it is still possible to eat a very HEALTHY DIET... As FRESH FRUIT and VEGETABLES are in plentiful supply.

The fundamentals principles of MOLISE cooking are based on the MEDITTERAN DIET, already familiar to many people. 

The less healthy food products at the top, and the most healthy at the bottom.

If you want to find out more about DIET and FITNESS see my SISTER FIT PAGE in FACEBOOK or my blog sisterfit4u.blogspot.com

 

Anyway, for now, let's forget diets and fitness that is another topic altogether, and get back to the FOOD in MOLISE

The diet here is largely what was initially PEASANT food.  

Today the majority of people eat a lot of home grown produce. Even if they live in the region's towns, like Campobasso and Isernia they often have a property with some land in the country with a few Olive trees and a fairly substantial vegetable patch.

 Virtually every family here in Molise produces their own Olive oil, Passata (Tomato sauce for pasta) as well a lot of their own vegetables.

 In the Autumn when the Olives are ready to pick everyone still joins in the process of gathering in the crop.

Large nets are begged out onto the ground under the trees, then the trees are shaken to make the olives fall to the ground where they are gathered up. Most people today have a small electric device which is held up to the branches of the tree and merely shakes them causing the olives to fall. Everyone joins in then to collect them up, a very labour intensive job. 

To make the oil many people take it to an Olefico,  a small Olive oil processing plant, where it is processed into their own Olive oil. Some people make their own at home.

 Molise has a reputation for processing the best oil in the world. Later in the year, I will be writing about the whole process and talking more about the differences in Olive Oil.

Here now to finish today's blog is a recipe using Olive Oil as we have been talking about it.

Ceci con Pancetta e Pomodori 

Chickpeas with Pancetta and Tomatoes

• 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
• 1/8 teaspoon chili flakes
• 2 garlic cloves, minced or crushed
• 1 medium  onion, minced
• 1/4 pound Pancetta or bacon, cut off the fat and cut in to small peices 
• 1 tablespoon chopped Italian parsley
• 1 tablespoon chopped oregano
• 12 small  tomatoes cut in half
• 250 Grammes of Chick peas or 2 tins
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• 1/8 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• 1 cup chicken broth or water

1. If you are using dried chick peas then soak them overnight, change the water then put them in a large pan, with water covering them well. Bring to the boil, then reduce the heat and simmer for 2 hours. Remember to check they do not boil dry.
2. If you are using canned chick peas they can be used straight from the pan, but they should be drained and rinsed in clean water first.
3. Heat 1 tablespoon of the olive oil in a heavy 2-quart pot over a medium flame.
4. Add the chilli flakes, garlic, onion, bacon parsley, and oregano, and cook 10 minutes, or until the onion is soft and the bacon is golden.
5. Stir in the tomatoes, chickpeas, salt, and pepper, and cook for 5 minutes. 
6. Add the broth and cover; lower the heat to medium-low.
7. Simmer 1 hour, or until very tender, stirring now and again. 
8. Make sure there is always some broth in the pan and that it does not boil dry 
9. If you have got too much liquid just turn up the heat to cook some off before serving it or drain the excess off.
10. Serve hot, drizzled with the remaining 2 tablespoons of olive oil. 
11. Serves 6 for a lovely starter or light supper 

BUON APPETITO...............................................................................................................

For more information on cooking classes here in Molise or recipes check out my website, or email me ....madeinmolise@yahoo.com