sergnic - what part of Italy are you living in? Are you in the city or out in a rural area? I see mentioned in, "your page" that you are a botanist. I am very interested in more input from you concerning the types of figs grown in different parts of Italy. I have been there quite a few times. Many in the spring of the year when the figs where not ready to eat. I had to fill up on the Nespoli. My family has a farm in the Cilento, Campania area just south of Palinuro a sea coast town called Marina di Camerota, Italy. There are many different type of figs and other fruit growing there. This year we are planning a September trip. I should be able to get my fill of ripe figs during this seasion. I plan to ask what the names of the trees are take photos of them and also have a notebook to write down what my relatives tell me about the figs and other type fruit trees they are growing. My one uncle even has some sort of banana tree growing in his yard. How I wish I could take along home with me just small rooted trees of all sorts. Living in northeastern Pennsylvania Zone 5 makes it a bit rough but I still would like to try other trees I have seen growing there. I know other people using this forum would feel that way as welI. I have seen what some people have told me was a grape vine that they called a, "strawberry grape". Are you familiar with that type of fruit? I will be looking forward to whatever you can contribute concerning the questions I posed to you. Regards and thank you Tanti saluti Lou NE., PA

Ciao, Dannyboquet, No i'm not trying to tease. The actual measurements are hard to say, we don't really use measuring cups, but you basically make three large round anise cakes, similar to regular round cakes, with vanilla and Anisette. After they cool, cut them in half to make six cakes. You need probably a pot of fresh figs, if you have to you can buy dried, but who wants them. You cook the figs and I would say a generous amount of honey together. In a separate pot you want to steam melt your semi sweet chocolate. Chop up about 3 large Sicilian lemons into quarters. Once the figs and the honey are cooked, you can add some crushed almonds to the figs and honey. apply this mixure of figs to each the first layer then pour the chocolate over the figs. Put the second layer on and repeat all the way to the top of the cake. Pour the leftover figs and chocolate on the top and drizzle down the sides. Add your lemons in a pretty design on the top of the cake, enjoy. This brings family together every year for a seasonal dish, like gnoochi which we eat in October. Mr. Happy, Yes I love to cook, who cares about putting a pound or two on, you don't want to look too skinny, a little meat never hurt anyone. Food brings people together and this Italian treat is worth the effort!! Ciao, Maggie

Glenda, Your estimate of $1 a can for pumpkin was probably just a number picked to make the math easier, but in reality I doubt you will find it that cheap anywhere. When I have checked it, it was $1.37 for the smallest can and over $2 for the larger pie mix type. I have been watching it because I read an article from Libby that said that we might have trouble finding their pumpkin this year. It said that they believed in canning only the finest pumpkin and had planted huge crops but the weather conditions kept them from getting in the fields at the proper time for harvest. I think this is 2 years in a row with a lowered production. They said they would plant even more for next year. It's nice to know that we can plant our own and are likely to get a good crop. I am making room in my garden for some, and I know just which one I am going to plant. In fact, I probably know about a dozen people that will be planting the same one. LOL Since you have such a large place you don't have a problem, but some of us have to find a way to squeeze all those vining things into a smaller backyard space. I suspect that I will be stepping through a lot of vines this year because there are so many things I want to plant. I have a four foot chain link fence on three sides of my garden. The fence is ours so I can plant on it if I want. My two neighbors will have a choice, I guess. They can cut it back or harvest on their side of the fence. I know it is impossible to contain some of those winter squash vines and some melons. This year I had squash growing up the cages on my peppers and had made themselves quiet comfortable and impossible to move long before I noticed since I always picked the pepper from the path on the other side. Even some of the summer squash can get really big. I planted Zucchetta Rampicante Trombocino in a large tub size container in my yard this year. The vines ran up the five foot tomato cage, then down again to the ground then over 15 feet across the lawn. I kept picking them up and moving them back around the pot so I could mow the grass but finally had to give up and let the grass grow up near the pot because I had a mountain of vines there. I had three vines in the pot and every squash that came off of two of them was wonderful. The third one wasn't nearly as productive and would occasionally produce a hard squash. I will grow it again though because we loved it and it was extremely productive. I only had a few seed left so I let the last squash get larger than normal and haven't cut it yet, hoping I will get more seed to plant. Overall we were very pleased with the squash. It was great just sliced into sticks and stir-fried. I also pickled some and we just opened the first jar last week and really enjoyed it. Al liked it boiled, drained, and topped with parmasen cheese. I have heard some people say they don't like them, but we did.

I received my goodies from Nancy for this swap and the Splendid Salads swap. :) Wow!!! I'll start with the Recipes Nancy sent: Grilled Shrimp with Feta and Tomatoes (I love SHRIMP on the grill!) Zuppa di Scarola e Fagioli (Shcarole and Beans soup, YUMM!) Chicken Posole (Can't wait to try this. :D Whole Wheat Pastry Flower Waffles and Carrot Cake (YUMM) A yummy chicken recipe Feather Rolls (Who told her I was a carb-aholic?!?! lol) Penne with Zucchini and Ricotta (Divine!) Sweet Orange Salmon (I could eat it like this for sure!) Pumpkin Bread Fried Green Tomatoes(Another of my favorites but different recipe. Can't wait to try this one too) Straciacella Alla Romano (AKA Torn to Rags) This one sounds excellent too! For Extras Nancy sent: A Salad spinner! I was looking at these the other day! LOL It also has a bonus Knife and Veggie Peeler. Celestial Seasonings Raspberry Zinger tea (One of my favs!) Chocolate Chip cake (OMG, this will not make it till tomorrow here! hehehe) Raspberry Vinaigrette (YUMM!) Caramel Apple Butter (Someone was spying one me! :D) Cooking Christmas Lima Beans with a Yummy recipe on the back for Creamy Christmas Lima Beans. She also sent me plants for Teddy Bear Sunflower and Ambrosia Cantelope! (Both from my wishlist) :) These are going straight into the garden when it cools down this evening. Dove milk chocolates. These are being savored as I type! LOL (They didn't melt. :D For seeds Nancy sent: Marconi Red Peppers (From my list) Strawberry Popcorn (From my list) Golden Bantam Improved Corn(From my list) Thelma Sanders Sweet Potato Squash (From my list) Winter Savory (From my list) Purple De Milpa Tomatillo Dr. Wyche's Yellow Tomatillo Tiger's Eye Bean (From my list) Brockton Bean Sunberry (Last berry on my list! LOL) Cherokee Trail of Tears Bean (From my list) Cream of Saskatchewan Watermelon (Thought this was on my list?! lol) Golden Hubbard Winter Squash Lazy Housewife Bean (From my list) Missouri Love Apple (I wanted this one soooo BAD!) Fish Pepper (From my list) Blue Podded Peas (I thought my chances for this one was over cause everyone I've checked is out of them already.) Golden Treasure Pepper (from my list) Blacktail Mountain Watermelon Mexican Sour Gherkin (thought this was on my list too?!) Crystal Apple Cukes (from my list) Limon Hot Pepper (from my list) Joe's Round Pepper (from my list) WOW! I can't believe how many you found from my list, and how you knew just what to get. I'm so very happy with everything Nancy, you have truly outdone yourself. :D I can't wait to use the salad spinner, what a neat kitchen gadget this is. :)