EATING DURING THE WAR WITH SVEVA CASATI MODIGNANI ISTITUTO COMPRENSIVO SAN MARTINO SICCOMARIO

Lirerature and senses This year the students of the third class have read the book Il diavolo e la rossumata (The evil and the rossumata, a sort of soup with eggs),an autobiographical novel of the writer Sveva Casati Modignani from Milan. It is a book based on senses, set in Milan during the Second World War, when the author was a child. In each chapter she talks about food that her mum and grandma prepared for the family. At the end of the book there is an appendix with all the receipes of her childhood.The taste of that food is connected to the feelings and memories of the beloved people.

Rice and potatoes Among the main ingredients of Sveva’s receipes there are potatoes and rice, which in Lombardy, during the war, were the basic food for common people.

Sveva's recipes (for 4 people)

GRANDMA'S MINESTRONE That evening the usual minestrone war delicious …  Different vegetables  2 tomatoes, peas, beans, basil  4 spoons of olive oil  2 cups of Arborio rice  4 teaspoons of parmesan  Salt

RICE AND FROGS Adults told us it was delicious… but I have always refused to eat that Gr 700 of frogs 1 spoon of olive oil 4 spoons of butter 2 spoons of chopped parsley 1 chopped onion 4 handful of carnaroli rice Salt

RICE AND SAGE Not very healthy, but easy and tasty. I prepare it when I am homesick for my childhood.  4 handful of superfine rice  2 spoons of butter  1 handful of sage  Sea salt

A piece of pumpkin (500 gr) 4 spoons of olive oil 4 handful of carnaroli rice 1 glass of white wine Meat stock 2 spoons of parmesan Salt

POTATO NUGGETS Grandma cooked fantastic dishes using potatoes, for example nuggets. I’ve tried more and more to make them, asking for suggestions when my grandma was old and ill, but they have never been as good as hers.When I was convalescing those nuggets melted in my mouth without chewing, giving out taste and making me feel in Paradise.

PARADISE FOOD  1k potatoes  1-2 eggs  3 spoons parmesan  Lemon grated peel  1 teaspoon chopped parsley  Grated bread  Oil or butter to fry  Salt

FOOD – PEOPLE - MEMORIES  A whole life has passed; people who lived with me in my childhood aren’t anymore here, but they are still living in my memories.