Vineyards, Mountains and Seascapes

Part 2 of my Adventures in Sicily will focus on the dramatically beautiful scenery of this Mediterranean island. Imagine mountains, mountains everywhere, dominated by the largest volcano in Europe – Mt. Etna. In between were hillsides dotted with sheep and spring wildflowers, rocky coastlines, sandy beaches, farms, endless vineyards, and groves of olive, almond, lemon and blood orange trees. (Photo at right shows an almond tree branch.) In the Trapani region, I got to see a combination manmade/Godmade wonder – the salt flats.

I’ll start with the seaside village of Cefalu and move southward. Notice the village’s rocky coast and gorgeous color of the water. At right, Cefalu’s lovely beach, with waterfront houses in the background.

Moving south, we go to Erice, the mountaintop village mentioned in the previous blog. A winding road led us to the Erice.

By the way, if you visit Sicily, aim for spring or autumn. Summer temps easily hover over a hundred degrees (sometimes nearing 120). Not pleasant conditions for exploring!

In Segesta, I took pics of the flora and fauna around the famous Temple of Segesta. The cactus seen here grows in abundance throughout Sicily, sometimes on the roofs of farm buildings!

Vineyards aplenty! In spring they look rather naked, having not yet emerged from winter hibernation. By fall these fields will be thick with leafy vines and heavy with grapes. Sicily’s fertile soil makes it one of the foremost areas for growing wine grapes.
Sheep! Gotta love ‘em! We had to stop our tour van as a shepherd lead his flock across a country road.

I’ll conclude with this view of the Ionian Sea, taken from the Greek Theater in Taormina. More about the Greek Theater and Taormina in my final Sicily post, along with Mt. Etna, the salt flats and the Valley of Temples.

Today’s recipe:
CANNOLI
This traditional and delectable Sicilian dessert consists of a crispy pastry shell filled with sweetened ricotta cheese. The ends are often dipped in crushed pistachios or shaved chocolate. In Sicily, the shells are usually displayed empty on bakery shelves, then filled upon request. The Palermo bakery in the photo at right was an exception.
You can make your own shells, but it’s a lot easier to buy them at an Italian bakery and use the following recipe to fill them.
Cannoli Filling

Ingredients
2 pounds of drained ricotta cheese
1 ½ cup of confectioner’s sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Instructions
Mix all the ingredients together until well blended and smooth. Fill a piping bag with the filling. Pipe each shell full with the filling. For extra flavor, dip each end of the cannoli into crushed pistachio nuts or shaved semi-sweet chocolate. Dust with powdered sugar.

Sunny Sicily and Book Winner

Just returned from an amazing week in Sicily with my sister, Patt, where breathtaking beauty, both natural and manmade, filled my busy days. Before I launch into Sicily, however; I want to thank everyone who stopped by to read Patti Lacy’s interview.

The winner of Patti’s recent release, The Rhythm of Secrets, is ANN LEE MILLER.

Congratulations, Ann! Please send me your snail mail address at susan.miura@yahoo.com.

Back to the trip. As the plane descended, an island of mountains rose from the sea. Finally, all the books and Google images were about to become reality. The first couple of days were spent in Palermo, Sicily’s capital, where everyone drives teeny cars or motorcycles inches apart from each other, miraculously avoiding accidents. Traffic signs are viewed as mere suggestions. Note to self: never, ever drive in Palermo. For this reason and many others, I was happy to have a tour guide, and happier still that our group numbered only six.

Our hotel faced an apartment building from which laundry hung from every banister, just like you’d imagine. Couldn’t resist snapping a few shots.

While staying in Palermo, we visited two cathedrals in the Monreale area, built by the Normans who conquered Sicily when it was occupied by the Greeks. The Greeks had built enormous temples to their gods, which the Christian Normans destroyed. The used some of the pillars and other parts to build churches, decorated with magnificent mosaics and statues. Walking into these cathedrals filled me with awe and a sense of peace. Photos could never truly reflect the wonder of these masterpieces.

Our first lunch on our own served as an interesting lesson in Sicilian dining. On the plus side: meals are beyond delicious, made with fresh ingredients, colorful, masterfully seasoned. Desserts: Mama Mia! Creative and vibrant, rich with ricotta, mascarpone, almonds, pistachios and fruit, often artfully decorated with marzipan. Wonderfully decadent! On the flip side, you are charged a sitting fee (usually $2 or $3 per person, depending on the location) and always charged for water, which is room temperature. Waiters tend to leave you alone once the meal is served, so if you need anything….oh well.

If you visit Sicily, don’t miss a visit to Erice, a mountaintop village with an amazing view of the coast and a castle dedicated to Venus, as well as a lovely church. Narrow winding streets are lined with artsy shops selling ceramics, souvenirs and more. A quaint square (piazza) is surrounded by cafés and pastry shops with tempting cannoli shells waiting to be filled upon request. A visit to Erice transports you to another world, another time. Put it on your bucket list.
That’s probably enough on Sicily for one post. Stay tuned for a few more sights, tastes and photos, along with a recipe, next week.

Women's Secrets Unveiled

Before I head off to Sicily, I'd like to introduce you to my great friend and mentor -- one of God's amazing blessings in my life! (Stay tuned for Sicily pics in 10 days.)

Got a secret? Who doesn’t? Author Patti Lacy knows us women have pretty interesting stories tucked away in our pasts. And some, as she has found, make great novels…with a little embellishment, of course.

LEAVE A COMMENT FOR A CHANCE TO WIN A COPY OF PATTI’S NEWEST RELEASE: THE RHYTHM OF SECRETS!

Patti launched her writing career with a trip to Ireland to research a friend’s story. The result? An Irishwoman’s Tale, released in 2008. Next it was on to Louisiana, a trip that produced What the Bayou Saw. She travelled to China for Reclaiming Lily, to be released in October. But let’s talk about the here and now. Patti’s newest title, The Rhythm of Secrets, was released in January. Look for my review of this excellent read coming soon to Faithfulreader.com. In the meantime, here's a synopsis:

Sheila Franklin has masqueraded as the precocious daughter of avant-garde parents in colorful 1940s New Orleans, a teen desperate for love and acceptance, and an unwed mother sent North with her shame. After marrying Edward, Sheila artfully masks her secrets, allowing Edward to gain prominence as a conservative pastor. When one phone call from a disillusioned Vietnam veteran destroys her cover, Sheila faces an impossible choice: save her son and his beloved…or imperil Edward’s ambitions. Inspired by a true story, THE RHYTHM OF SECRETS intermingles jazz, classical, and sacred music in a symphony trumpeting God’s grace.

Welcome Patti! First, I have to say I devoured The Rhythm of Secrets from cover to cover and loved every word. What did you do and where did you go to research this one?

Susan, I spanned the world—through the real-life story of Sandy Sperrazza, which I read in the Chicago Tribune. Then I let my fingers do the dialing—God got me in touch with octogenarian N’Awlins gardeners, a fireman, a tour guide—all kinds of folks chipped in on this one. Did I mention doctors? Nurses? Car aficionados? My coup de grace came when a local ISU professor, of Thai birth, plopped himself into my story and practically coauthored the chapters set over in Southeast Asia. Susan, it really does, at least in my case, take a village to support an author! You can just glance at my acknowledgments and see what I’m talkin’ about!

Here’s something I’ve always wanted to know about a Patti Lacy book: How much fact vs. fiction? And how do you decide?

The story just kinda writes itself. I start with that snippet of a story that captures my mind—in this case a mother, holding her baby just that one time—for the length of a cab ride—and see if I can fit other “narratives,” either from other real-life people, from my own past, or just little floating gray brain imaginations! What kind of feedback have you received from the women whose stories you’ve told? They all still talk to me!!!! Actually, at least two of them would rather not read the books. Isn’t that kinda weird? They say the memories are just too painful.

Can we get a sneak peek at the plot of Reclaiming Lily?

Two women. Two cultures. One child. When a deadly disease strikes the Wang family, Harvard graduate Dr. Kai Chang must alert Lily, the sister Kai left on orphanage steps nine years earlier. Standing in her way is Gloria Powell, a Fort Worth pastor's wife who distrusts Kai and thinks her entry into Lily's life will send the troubled seventeen-year-old over the precipice of teenaged angst. A Texas-sized tornado whirls about the meeting place of the Changs and Powells as tempers and cultures collide. Can Kai, Gloria, and Joy reconcile their differences, surrender their dreams, and allow God to implement a plan that provides supernatural, unbelievable joy?

What’s next on the Patti Lacy horizon?

I’m working on a series set in my home town, Normal, Illinois, the first book tentatively titled Below Normal. A church friend inspired my fifth and sixth books. Stay tuned for more!

Do you have a Thai recipe to share with Taste the World readers?

Can you believe that the day I’m working on these questions, we are going to Thai House, which we consider one of Bloomington-Normal’s best restaurants. I LOVE their papaya salad, their soups—really, all of their dishes. We eat family style and share good eats so at least three or four tastes whet our appetites for exotic and tasty! If you’re a novice in the world of Thai cuisine, start off with Pad Thai. You CANNOT go wrong. Pad Thai can be made vegetarian, with chicken, or with shrimp. We like shrimp best!

PAD THAI

Prep Time: 30 minutes -- SERVES 4

Ingredients:

16 oz. Thai rice noodles (linguini width)

2 cups raw or cooked shrimp, shells removed

2 shallots (OR 1/2 cup purple onion), finely chopped

4 cloves garlic, minced

1-2 fresh red chilies (or as much as you like!), finely sliced

1 egg

2 cups bean sprouts

1/4 tsp. ground white pepper (OR substitute black pepper)

6 green onions, sliced finely

1/2 cup fresh coriander/cilantro

1/2 cup dry roasted peanuts, ground or chopped

2-3 Tbsp. oil for stir-frying (coconut, peanut, corn, sunflower, or canola are all good)

3 Tbsp. chicken stock

Wedges of lime for serving

PAD THAI SAUCE: 2 Tbsp. tamarind paste (available at Asian/Indian food stores) · 1/2 cup hot water · 4 Tbsp. fish sauce (available in tall bottles at Asian food stores) · 1-3 tsp. chili sauce (to taste), OR 1/2 to 1 tsp. dried crushed chili · 3 Tbsp. palm sugar OR brown sugar

Preparation: 1. Bring a large pot of water to boil, then remove from heat. Dunk in the rice noodles. Soak the noodles until soft enough to eat, but still firm and a little "crunchy". Drain and rinse the noodles thoroughly with cold water. Set aside. Tip:Avoid over-softening the noodles at this point, as they will be fried later, and you want them to turn out chewy, not soggy. 2. In a small bowl or cup, dissolve the tamarind paste in the hot water. Then add the other Pad Thai Sauce ingredients (fish sauce, chili, and brown sugar). Stir well to dissolve the sugar. Add as much or as little chili sauce as you prefer, but don't skimp on the sugar - it is needed to balance out the sourness of the tamarind. Set aside. 3. Warm a wok or large frying pan over medium-high heat. Add 2 Tbsp. oil and swirl around, then add the shallots, garlic, and chili. Stir-fry 1 minute. 4. Add the shrimp plus 2-3 Tbsp. chicken stock. Stir-fry 2-3 minutes, or until shrimp are pink and plump. (If using cooked shrimp, only stir-fry 1 minute.) 5. Push ingredients aside, making room in the center of your wok/pan. Add another 1 Tbsp. oil, then crack in the egg. Stir-fry to scramble (30 seconds to 1 minute). 6. Add the drained noodles and drizzle over the pad thai sauce. Use 2 utensils and a gentle "tossing" motion to combine everything together (like tossing a salad). Keep the heat between medium and medium-high - you want your pan hot enough to cook the noodles, but not so hot that the noodles burns. Stir-fry 4-5 minutes. 7. Add the bean sprouts and continue stir-frying 1 more minute, or until noodles are chewy-delicious and a little bit sticky. 8. Remove from heat and taste-test, adding more fish sauce until desired taste is achieved (I usually add another 1-2 Tbsp). 9. Sprinkle over the white pepper, onion, coriander, and peanuts, and garnish with lime wedges (these should be squeezed over before eating). Toss one more time and serve. Thai chili sauce can also be served on the side if desired. ENJOY!

Alluring Aruba Part II

Come and experience more of Aruba, where you’ll discover a windmill, the island nation’s natural wonders and a sanctuary for some adorable hooved natives.

De Oude Molen is an old windmill first built in 1804 in Holland, then shipped to Aruba in pieces. It was later reconstructed and features a decent restaurant—moderately priced--that specializes in continental dining.

The once popular Natural Bridge, unfortunately, is no more. This unusual phenomenon collapsed in September, 2005 (too many tourists, me thinks), but its remains are still interesting to see. The bridge was a formation of coral limestone cut out by years of pounding surf, and spanned more than 100 feet.

The Cura di Tortuga is a secret (yeah, right), hidden Natural Pool on the windward coast. It is surrounded by rocks and some of Aruba's most rugged terrain – definitely off the beaten path, making it even more worthwhile. Many come here to dive from the rock cliffs into the protected pool of ocean water.

And finally…The Donkey Sanctuary! Is this guy cute or what??? The non-profit sanctuary was founded in 1997 and is run by volunteers. Their mission: Save the Donkeys! Although not originally native to Aruba, they have existed there for 500 years, starting out as a primary form of transportation. The Donkey Sanctuary is located just northwest of the Natural Pool.

Like fish? Here’s another recipe from Aruba:

KERI KERI

Ingredients
2 pounds fresh, firm, boneless, white-flesh fish fillet
1 quart water
1 tablespoon salt
1 celery stalk, diced
1 green bell pepper, diced
1 onion, diced
10 fresh basil leaves, chopped
4 tablespoons margarine
1/4 teaspoon annatto powder (can usually be found in the Mexican foods section of the grocery store. Also known as Achiote powder. Can substitute turmeric. I think paprika would also suffice.)
Freshly ground black pepper

In a large saucepan, boil fish in salted water for 20 minutes. Remove fish and flake. Saute celery, bell pepper, onion and basil leaves in margarine for 3 minutes, stirring. Add flaked fish and cook over low heat for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Stir in annatto powder and freshly ground pepper.

Alluring ARUBA

Aruba! Think beaches…and so much more. It’s true, Aruba has some of the most amazing beaches in the world (often featured on travel channel and “best beaches” lists). Wide, clean, and gorgeous, all with easy public access, like Eagle Beach pictured here. But wait til you hear what else there is to do when you want a break from the sand and surf.

Ancient ruins, eerie caves, a very cool church, a lighthouse…and that’s just the start! Here’s Part 1 of Aruba. I’ll cover some of the other attractions in a few days.

The Bushiribana Ruins are the remains of a gold smelter built of natural stone in 1825. The ruins are crumbling, and unfortunately, marred by graffiti, but still fascinating. If you go, don’t expect guides or brochures – you’re pretty much on your own to wander through them and ponder the past.

You might not expect caves on a Carribean island, but Aruba’s Quadiriki Caves are everything caves should be: damp, dark and full of winding passages and bat guano. On the walls you’ll find Arawak petroglyphs of people, fish and other objects. The caves are located high in the wall of a limestone cliff. At the front of the cave is a small concession that rents high-intensity flashlights. Don’t pass up the opportunity – you’ll need one.

Alto Vista Chapel is another great place to visit on this island country. The bright yellow chapel was built in 1952 on the site of the original Catholic church built in 1750 by a Spanish missionary. To reach it you’ll travel down a winding road lined with white crosses marking the stations of the cross.

California Lighthouse was named after a ship called the Californian, famous…or infamous, for being in proximity of, and receiving distress signals from, the Titanic as it was sinking. Unfortunately for the Titanic, The Californian's radio operator was off-duty and asleep. A few years later, the California sank off the Aruba coast. Now the ship is a popular dive site and the lighthouse is a popular attraction. It’s is surrounded acres of stoned-filled flat land. An area called California White Sand Dunes is very popular with kids who go dune surfing – basically sliding down anyway you can.

More on Aruba in a few days. And next week, stop by for an interview with author PATTI LACY and a chance to win a copy of her latest book: The Rhythm of Secrets. (Absolutely fantastic!)

Here’s a recipe from lovely Aruba:

Pudin di Coco
(Coconut pudding)

¼ cup rum
2 Tbs. gelatin
3 egg yolks, beaten until creamy
1/2 cup sugar
1 cup coconut milk
1 cup milk
3 egg whites
Pinch of salt
1 cup heavy cream

Soak in one-fourth cup rum:
2 Tbs. gelatin

In a saucepan combine:
3 egg yolks, beaten until creamy
1/2 cup sugar

Stir in:
1 cup coconut milk
1 cup milk

Cook over low heat, stirring constantly, until mixture thickens.
Blend in the gelatin until it dissolves.
Chill in the refrigerator until the mixture begins to thicken.
Beat until stiff but not dry:
3 egg whites, pinch of salt. Gradually add the sugar while beating.
In a separate bowl whip until stiff:
1 cup heavy cream

Beat the custard mixture with a wire whisk, then fold it gently into the egg whites.
Fold in the whipped cream.
Mound the pudding in a serving bowl and chill until firm. Serve with lime sauce.

Lime Sauce

1 Tbs.cornstarch
1/2 cup plus 1 Tbs. granulated sugar
1/2 cup Key lime juice
1/4 cup, plus 3 Tbs. water

In a small bowl, dissolve the cornstarch in the 3 tablespoons of water. In a small non-aluminum saucepan stir together the sugar, the lime juice and 1/4 cup of water. Bring to a boil over moderate heat to dissolve the sugar. Stir in the cornstarch mixture and boil, stirring, for about 30 seconds or until the lime sauce thickens.

And the Winner is...

Congratulations to author TAMMY BARLEY, winner of Roger Bruner's Found in Translation! Tammy is author of the Sierra Chronicles trilogy. If you like western romance, check out her novels.

Loves Rescue, released June 2009
Hope's Promise, released Aug. 2010
Faith's Reward, released earlier this month

A new post on someplace far, far away coming soon...with a recipe, of course!

Got Teens?

Meet Author Roger Bruner!
Leave a comment for a chance to win his new release, Found in Translation.

Got teens? (Girls, in particular) Looking for something decent for them to read? Check out Found in Translation, written by my friend Roger Bruner and just released (Jan. 1) by Barbour Publishing. This is Roger’s debut novel for young adults. If all goes well, it will soon be followed by three more. The second in the series, Lost in Dreams, is tentatively slated to be released in July.

In Chapter One of Found in Translation we meet Kim Hartlinger, on her way to a mission trip that will take her on an incredible, unexpected journey of faith. Here’s Roger’s synopsis:

Kim Hartlinger—eighteen and spoiled—arrives on a mission trip to Mexico and discovers, to her chagrin, that she’ll be doing construction in a tiny remote village without plumbing and electricity, rather than evangelism in a medium-sized town with a McDonald’s. . . “Roughing it” isn’t exactly what Kim had in mind when she signed up for this trip. As if that isn’t enough, the group is without a translator, and Kim’s “dual-language” Bible turns out to be Spanish-only. After breaking her arm the first morning on the job, Kim struggles to find a way to help her team and share the truth of God’s Word with the villagers. Will Kim be able to touch the villagers’ hearts with the Gospel? Or will her time in Mexico be up before she gets the chance?

Q. Welcome to Taste the World, Roger! Since travel is a major feature of this blog, tell us why you chose Mexico as Kim’s mission trip destination.

A. Thanks for the invitation, Susan. You must have noticed from the shape of my mid-section that I like to eat. So this is a good place to be. I won’t gain more weight on the recipes. *G*
Placing this story in Mexico was a no-brainer. My daughter, Kristi, went on a mission trip to Mexico (via San Diego, like Kim Hartlinger in the book) when she was eighteen, and several details of the trip inspired this story, even though it’s completely fictitious. She went to a far more civilized area than tiny Santa María, however. I purposely chose a remote area that had been devastated by a tornado so I could create my own setting without having to be totally true to geography or to stereotypes about Mexico. To give you an example, Kim’s team has brought food to feed the surviving villagers; she doesn’t have authentic Mexican food anytime during her stay.

Q. How tough was it to write in first person as a teenage girl? In other words…how did you pull that off?

A. A number of people have commented over the years about my success at capturing a woman’s point of view. My best friends have always been women—my wife is my best friend of all time—and that’s helped me to see things from a woman’s perspective. Better for me to sit around and talk about books, food, and music than cars and sports. Being the father of a teenager for seven years helped me to think a little bit like a teen girl. I’d like to think I’m a good listener, and I believe I’m more sensitive than the average man, and those qualities have helped as well. But when all else fails, I just put on my thinking cap and start pretending. But never losing my masculinity in the process, I hasten to add.

Q. What are some of the lessons Kim learns on her trip? How does it change her?

A. When we first see Kim, she’s the prime example of an irresponsible teenage girl who has her own opinion of how God will use her on the mission trip. She learns that she must obey God’s leading if she expects to accomplish anything. That may mean going as far out of her comfort zone as she can go. She also learns how important forgiveness is. In relating to Rob, the senior project manager, she learns that she can probably build a much better relationship with her father if she’s more patient and understanding. When she heads home, she’s become more responsible and more confident that she’s capable of doing whatever God wants her to do.

Q. What sort of feedback on the book have you received from teens so far?

A. So far, I haven’t received any. I’ve tried to build a small tribe of teen influencers ahead of time, but I haven’t heard back from them yet. From what several other people have said, though, that first page definitely makes them turn to page two.

Q. Will the other books in the series feature the same characters?

A. Many of the same ones. Kim is the protagonist in Lost in Dreams, but her best friend Betsy Jo—who is only mentioned in Found in Translation—will play a major role. Aleesha and Rob both feature prominently in Lost in Dreams, too. We see Kim’s Dad for the first time and get to see Kim building the relationship with him she’d expressed the desire for in the first book.

Q. Can you give us a sneak peak at Book 2, Lost in Dreams?

A. Sure. Oh, you mean you want me to. *laughing* Kim doesn’t even get all the way home from her mission trip before her mother dies in a car crash. Kim feels responsible—I won’t tell you why—and a lot of the book deals with her struggles with guilt. Lost in Dreams also has a mission theme—a trip to California to help build a hostel for low income people visiting friends and family at a remote state prison. There. I don’t think I gave away too many secrets.

Thanks, Roger. It was a pleasure visiting with you!

Thank you, Susan! This was a tasty experience for me.

LEAVE A COMMENT FOR A CHANCE TO WIN FOUND IN TRANSLATION.

Since Roger’s book is set in Mexico, today’s recipe is for FLAN, a popular south-of-the-border custard dessert – easy and delicious!

FLAN

1 cup and 1/2 cup sugar
6 large eggs
1 14 oz. can sweetened condensed milk
2 13 oz. cans evaporated milk
1 tsp. vanilla

Preheat oven to 325 degrees. You will need 6 ramekins or other specialty flan cookware and a large baking pan to put them in.

Pour 1 cup sugar in warm pan over medium heat. Constantly stir sugar until it browns and becomes caramel. Quickly pour approximately 2-3 tablespoons of caramel in each ramekin, tilting it to swirl the caramel around the sides. Reheat caramel if it starts to harden.

In a mixer or with a whisk, blend the eggs together. Mix in the milks then slowly mix in the 1/2 cup of sugar, then the vanilla. Blend smooth after each ingredient is added.

Pour custard into caramel-lined ramekins. Place ramekins in a large glass or ceramic baking dish and fill with about 1-2 inches of hot water. Bake for 45 minutes in the water bath and check with a knife just to the side of the center. If knife comes out clean, it's ready.

Remove and let cool. Let each ramekin cool in refrigerator for 1 hour. Invert each ramekin onto a small plate, the caramel sauce will flow over the custard.