Buon giorno

Buon giorno;

Mi chiamo Lainey and that will be all the Italian I intend to try at this point lol. As you can see I am here to learn Italian. I am an American but my family emigrated from Italy. I am the first generation to be born in the USA. My mother found English very difficult so instead of teaching her children Italian, her children taught her English.

I have always wanted to learn more about my heritage and one day (fingers crossed) visit Italy. My family comes from Bologna Italy; I believe the dialect in that region is Southern Emiliano (Bolognese).

BTW I love this web site, and I was shocked after taking the flash card quiz, considering I know nothing about Italian. Along with the language I would love to learn some recipes from the region as well, so if anyone has any recipes pass down from momma or just has a gift for Italian cuisine please share. Have a wonderful day everyone and good luck in your language pursuits.

Ciao!

Welcome Lainey,
You are in good company as there are lots of Italian learners on this site. Hopefully you will find it fun and exciting and a real community of learners as I do.

I have lots of Italian recipes and I will happily share them with you. Although I am not Italian, I have a love of cooking and truly love Italian cooking.

Again, welcome to EduFire.

A presto,
Susan

Welcome Lainey!

Thank you Susan and Kristie. I intend to learn as much as possible about my heritage. and I would greatly appreciate any authentic Italian recipes. Thank you so much.

Welcome Lainey!

Like you, my family lives in Italy and I’m here to learn some Italian for my trip to Italy (one of these day) ;)

Good luck and see you around the forums!

Welcome! There are some great Italian tutors on here. Isn’t that right Marco and Marco?

Absdolutely Liz! I always agree with you. ;)

Welcome Lainey! I’m one of the Italian tutors here. You’re going to love eduFire. :)

As far as Italian cooking goes, Susan is our resident food expert, what she doesn’t know about food isn’t worth knowing! :)

Benvenuto!

Thank you; Stephanie, Liz, and Marco. I feel right at home here. I am trying to get some information from my mother and figure out where she was born. Her family lived all over Italy but she was born in Padova. The way my mother speaks about Italy sounds more like northern Europe to me. I never knew there was such a difference between northern and southern Italy. Right now I will just settle to learn some Italian.

Stephanie we will get to Italy if we want it bad enough (crossing my fingers for Stephanie too) :)

Hi Lainey,

Welcome to eduFire…:)

Thanks Lainey! keep those fingers crossed! :) I hear ya though…if you want something bad enough you make it happen.

Hi Catherine, everyone is so friendly here! I plan to go to Italy after my children are grown, only 2 left and both boys in their teens. So with the few years I have left, I will have to study hard. BTW, I just peaked at the video section and OH MY! I saw the island of Capri and that is a place to visit! WOW! Bella Bella!

You’re right about the differences between northern and southern Italy Lainey! My father is from Liguria in northern Italy and my mother from Benevento, (inland from Naples in the south) and so I fully appreciate everything you’re saying. They are both retired now living in Liguria.

If there’s an argument to be had, you can bet it often quickly resorts to how the food in the north is not as good as that in the south and vice versa! lol

I’m glad you’re enjoying it already here! It really is great! :)

Welcome Lainey! You are in the right place – we talk about food as much as we talk about language!

Somebody say food? ;)

Told ya!

I had spaghetti today… no really I did! lol Tomato, garlic (obviously right?), onion, a little chili, a little chipotle tabasco, a tinsy bit of ginger and olive oil…

Now I’ve written all that I’m hungry again. :( lol

Careful Lainey – this website is fattening!

Oh my goodness that sounded so good, I haven’t had dinner yet! I would love to find a great light sauce for pasta that I can use for either chicken or beef. :D

In north westwern Italy they have the lightest sauce I have ever known, most of my relatives won’t touch anything else. They very briefly and lightly fry garlic in olive oil, then they add bottled tomatoes (like canned but they bottled them the previous year from the garden), then salt… simmer very gently for 10 – 15 minutes, … and that’s it!

Simple because it is. Obviously the quality of everything you use has to be the best you can get because otherwise you can taste it.

You can add anything to it, oregano etc.

Now I’m really hungry! :( lol

Thank you Marco! I will try that on Monday. I didn’t think a sauce would be that easy. Marco you should get an Italian / British cooking blog going. 

Hee hee, Marco could be The Naked (Italian) Chef). We used to love that show (The Naked Chef)! No it has nothing to do with actually being naked, lol Welcome to eduFire Lainey! See you around the forums!

Thanks Lainey. Though I’m no expert, I just know what I know from my Grandmother(s) and family. Susan is the food expert, especially Italian! :) She even has a blog too! Where are you Susan… step forward and take the stage! :)

Tina! I’m quite happy being the naked Italian chef, so long as I’m not the naked Italian tutor everything will be fine! We’ll have eduFire in the press for all the wrong reasons! lol

Welcome Lainey! Learning about our heritage is so important and that is fantastic you are digging deeper. I also have some Italian heritage…though it is further removed. You have inspired me, I need to ask my mom more details about our Italian ancestors!

Thanks for the vote of confidence, Marco. And you are right about that sauce; it is exactly the way I make mine and I use it for a lot of different things, lasagna, on veggies, spaghetti, etc.

O.K. here is a recipe of mine for a lentil salad. In your case, Marco, eliminate the feta cheese garnish.

MEDITERRANEAN LENTIL SALAD

Serves: 6 – 8 (Unless you are Marco, who obviously likes his food)

2 Cups brown or green lentils washed
1 bunch Italian parsley, chopped fine
1 bunch fresh mint leaves finely chopped
3 green onions (white and green parts), finely chopped
2 Roma tomatoes peeled, seeded and diced small
Juice from two fresh lemons
3 Tablespoons fruity, extra-virgin, olive oil
2 teaspoons ground cumin
Salt and pepper to taste
1 Cup feta cheese crumbled

Put lentils in a pot, cover with water and cook on medium heat until nearly done about 10 or 15 minutes. Cover the pot, turn off heat and let sit for about 20 minutes. Drain off any excess water and cool completely. Combine lentils, parsley, mint, tomatoes and onion, lemon juice and 2 Tbs. oil. Heat 2 Tablespoons of olive oil in small saute pan; sprinkle in cumin and heat through. Allow to cool until just warm and combine with lentil mixture. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Chill salad covered in refrigerator for at least one hour or overnight. Garnish with crumbled feta cheese and serve

Fabulous!