Carrot Baked Oatmeal

These, friends, are days of planning and chaos. Days of looking forward, living in anticipation, projected towards what we have planned and wished for us; and days that are all about the present, about proceeding with my eyes focused on my feet. Changes are happening, and sometimes, the thought of lifting my eyes and seeing the unknown paralyses me.

I am trying to stay positive, though, and hopeful. It takes a huge leap of courage to make change happen in life, even when we aren't completely happy with the way it is going. And I am learning from this man sitting next to me, that being content isn't just enough: that in this one life we get to live we need to be protagonists rather than spectators. I am learning that no change happens without a bit of thrill, and that fresh starts are never easy. I believe in these words he tells me, and I am proud of him for not wanting to settle down into something that doesn't represent him and make him feel worthwhile. No one should spend their life doing something that doesn't make them happy. I stand by this statement – it will be my mantra from now on.

Italian Table Talk: Easter Picnic with White Asparagus and Eggs

A beloved tradition takes place in Veneto, my region of origin, this time of the year, namely in the town of Bassano del Grappa. It is called 'sparasada' in dialect, and it consists in an abundant and convivial consumption of locally grown, fat and sweet white asparagus, dipped into an egg-y, oily sauce. It is a tradition linked to springtime, when asparagus come into season, and thus to Easter -litterally, a feast after the fast. A local saying indeed states:

Quando a Basan vien primavera,
se verze la cà e la sparasera!

[When springtime arrives in Bassano, 
people open their houses as well as their asparagus patch!] 




White asparagus are grown underground, protected from sunlight, to keep their pale hue. Those from Bassano are particularly sweet, thick and tender due to the soil composition as well as to the favorable microclimate. They have been grown in the area for centuries, celebrated through local fairs, and in recent time they have even obtained the certification of origin. Many works of art witness the presence of white asparagus in the area: a famous painting by Venetian artist Giovanbattista Piazzetta called “La Cena di Emmaus” clearly portraits a dish of white asparagus, prepared following the local tradition.