5 Things I've Learned About Cooking and Eating in Calabria

I've learned so many things, living in Calabria for the past three years. And in a country where food takes top priority (just behind family, anyway), it should be no surprise that some of those lessons have come in the kitchen.

1. Cutting and Rubbing a Cucumber End Removes the Bitterness

I'd never seen this, but my mother-in-law does it every time she cuts cucumbers for salad.

She cuts the end of the cucumber (I don't know if it matters which end) and then she rubs it on the cut part in a circular motion until it foams. This, evidently, removes the bitterness.

I thought it was an old wives' tale, but apparently, they do it in countries like India and Mexico. Just not America!

2. A Piece of Garlic Can Tell You if Mushrooms are Poisonous

Here in Calabria, people frequently pick mushrooms after the fall rains. I have yet to go mushroom hunting, but I'm ready! It's important to go with someone who knows how to find the right mushrooms, because some that grow here are poisonous.

Mamma taught me an easy way to see if the mushrooms you have are poisonous. When you cook them, throw in a garlic clove. If it turns dark, there's a poisonous mushroom in it! If it stays white, you're good.

3. Old-School Cooking Still Works

The first time I saw my mother-in-law pull a clay jar out of the fireplace, I was baffled. She told me it was beans. She cooks beans and chickpeas just like generations of women in Italy have done for eons! And they're delicious.

I watched a cousin fry zeppole in her fireplace, which kept the house from filling with that fried smell.

Now that we have a fireplace, I can't wait 'til winter to cook this way!

4. Homemade/Home Grown/Home Raised is Better

Since I've moved here, I've really become aware of how and what I eat. I no longer buy meat at the grocery store. Instead, I go to our cousin, Gualtiero, the butcher. He's always happy to answer questions about the best way to cook the meat.

When possible, I use veggies and fruits that we've grown, or that friends have given us.

I buy a lot less processed food than I did in the U.S. I feel healthier, and the food I eat tastes much better.

5. The Type of Pasta Matters

Naturally, pasta is a hot topic here in Italy. We tend to eat bucatini or spaghetti at home, though occasionally, we'll try something else. I'm still learning which type of pasta goes with which kind of sauce. It's definitely fun research!

c means having a closer relationship with the food, and I'm all for that!