I may have an idea for what could prove to be an excellent novel. I'm going to work on that now. Maybe something will actually come from an idea this time...

I should be doing editing for for Blending. Another unfulfilled promise? Haha, no, I'm having too much fun with that.

It has been some time since I have posted a blog. Much has gone on during this time since I have been in Florence as well as other parts of Europe. 

I finally made it to the place I have heard so much about since the days in Elementary School. I visited Tasos in his home country of Greece. We spent two days in Athens and then made the journey to his small village of Milinas. It is a small fishing village on the inner side of a peninsula. The sunset has been voted top three in Greece. Everyone I saw in the village commenced to tell me I have to return in the summer. If Greece is better in the summer then I have to return. The five day trip was worth the classes I missed on the Monday.

Playing catch up was not too hard even with a 6-10 page research paper extension. 

I decided against my planned trip to Frankfurt. I was supposed to leave on Thursday the 13th but I returned from Greece Wednesday. I decided it was better off to take a weekend off and stay in Florence. 

This weekend was spent in the beautiful city of Amsterdam. Amsterdam has perfected the blending of the old and the new. Right next to old buildings and old monuments can be new intriguing architecture. The city also has excellent public transportation and other cities such as NYC can take hints from the Dutch. 

Needless to say, much of my time was spent in museums and coffee shops. By coffee shops of course I mean places where the illegal has been legalized. I typically do not like it but made an exception since it was legal.

To keep it short, I am now back in Florence and beside some day trips I will remain here for the remainder of my trip. Whenever I am away I look forward to returning to the beautiful city of Florence. There is something that has attached me to this city and I will be reluctant to leave on December 20th.  

It will not be as long until the next time I write. 

Regardless of belief, an amazing Election Day

The 2008 Presidential Election was the first that I have been elligeble to vote in. To make matters more interesting, I am in a foreign country and had to recieve an absentee ballot. 

As well as having to vote differently than most Americans, I was also subject to more scarcely available resources with which to aid my decision. I did not have radio or television to listen to. I only had our oldest form of communication, the spoken word and one of the newest, the internet. The internet played a vital role in my decision. I did not choose based on popular opinion or my parents voting history. I wanted to be fully responsible for my decision; because as a citizen of the US, it is our obligation to make an informed decision.

At around 4am this morning Florence time, Wednesday November 5, 2008, the 44th president was chosen and for the first time America will have an African American President. Whether you supported Senator John McCain or Senator Barrack Obama throughout the race, the results should represent something special about the United States. I wish Mr. Obama the best throughout his presidency and am honored to say I helped choose the 44th president of the United States. 

Porcini mushroom recipe

After cooking this recipe in my cooking class I was determined to repeat the results at my apartment. My mom's trip provided the perfect timing for the dish.

The man at the market gave me a strange look when I asked for a kilogram of the expensive mushrooms. 

This dish can be used as either a main dish or a side dish. It does not take long to cook either and can be done amidst other dishes.

For the Funghi in Fricassea (Stewed Mushrooms)

You will need for 4 servings:

800gr Porcini or Ovoli mushrooms

100gr Butter

1 White onion

black pepper

2 egg yolks

1/2 lemon juice

Clean well the mushrooms to take off all the dirt (Many chefs believe you should not wash them because they soak up water too fast... this is true from experience). Dry them and slice them. Saute a small white onion, well chopped in butter. Add the mushrooms, salt, fresh ground black pepper and stir. Cover with a lid and cook on low heat. Take the pan off the heat. Beat up 2 egg yolks with the lemon juice and pour out the batter onto the mushrooms, stirring quickly to prevent the eggs from cooking, forming unpleasant chunks. Serve immediately.

The meal is exceptional when made with a fresh pasta with an eggplant and tomatoe sauce. Of course a good bottle of Vino Rosso is a great accompaniment.