Braciole

A new meal to try.

Went to our local butcher on Vancouver Island in the Comox Valley and they had braciole.

Never even heard of it, so purchased some and am going to cook it. Looks delicious and interesting.

My husband has also become quite the Panettone expert. So now we don't only eat it at Christmas.

I love trying new food and miss living in South East Asia, as there were so many new dishes to try and I din't need to cook them.

Sebongela

Sounds great, Sebongela.  I may have to give that a go as well!  Buona fortuna!

Chris

Hi ChrisM108

Haven't made it yet, but will let you know what it was like. Sounds appealing at any rate. 

How is the garden reno coming along. 

Haven't had much time this last week to concentrate on languages, but that is what happens in the spring/summer. Still trying to get at least a bit in everyday.

Ciao and keep well

Sebongela

Yeah, lots of gardening, thankfully.  After we have some brickwork repaired today, it'll be full steam ahead, coinciding with a great weather forecast.

I've recently started conversing in Italian via Skype and given that the language partners can be hit and miss that way, have booked a tutor for conversation and feedback via iTalki on Thursday.  It's not easy, but not as difficult as I thought it would be.  My main lesson is not to translate in my head, counterintuitive as that sounds.

A presto

Chris

Hi ChrisM108

You are brave, I haven't had the courage to get a conversation going. As a child my parents put my sister and I into an Afrikaans medium primary school. Grade 2 for me and grade 1 my sister. Spent 5 years there and my parents assumed we would do our whole schooling in that language. English at school was basically non existent. My Afrikaans teacher called my parents in and told them we needed to do highschool in English, as we were still translating before we spoke or wrote in Afrikaans. Strangely Portuguese I am not aware of doing that unless I can't think of a word. Then I normally just ask. 

I have found a German tutor from Berlin. Speaking, lots of notes and homework. I am tempted. So preparation before speaking, I quite like that, but not as spontaneous. I am quite a traditional learner and tried that home schooling my kids. That didn't go well and had to think out of the box for that. We had mutiny in our house. 

Enjoy your new garden.

Sebongela

Interesting, Sebongela. It's worth trying the tutor.  

The rest of my ‘study plan’ involves continuing with Rocket at a slower pace (no bad thing); reading and listening to Easy Italian News from Daniel's site; reading Italian newspapers in Italian; listening to Italian via podcasts, news websites.  I plan to watch Italian on Netflix minus subtitles.  There are so many sites recommending immersion as a means of enhancing language learning.  I've known about it before, but never done it and am finding the current experience very rewarding.  

A presto

Chris

Hi ChrisM108

I read your post with interest, Not sure if you read Daniel's newsletters, but this morning I found it interesting and helpful. Well they are and I really like his approach. 

That said I am a bit of a grammar learner too. I like to understand why something is in that format. In German I have found Coffee Break Languages particularly good. They have a “Grammar Guru". Explained simply, but effectively. Sadly the Italian doesn't have that component except in level 3, travel magazine and diaries. 

I watch shows inItalian, but with English subtitles, find that they speak to fast sometimes and if something is in whatever language I prefer to listen in that language even if I don't speak that language. Dubbing takes away the essence of the language typically, ot that is what I feel at any rate.

una buona giornata

Sebongela

Ciao Sebongela,

It's wonderful to hear that you're exploring new meals and ingredients, like braciole, and expanding your culinary horizons. Braciole is a delicious Italian dish made with thinly sliced meat, typically beef, rolled up with various fillings and slow-cooked in sauce. It's a flavorful and comforting dish that can be enjoyed on its own or served with pasta or vegetables.

Panettone is another delightful Italian treat, traditionally enjoyed during the Christmas season. It's a sweet bread filled with dried fruits and nuts, and it has gained popularity worldwide. It's great to hear that your husband has become an expert in Panettone, and now you can enjoy it throughout the year.

Exploring new foods and flavors is a fantastic way to embrace different cultures and cuisines. While living in South East Asia, you had the opportunity to experience a wide variety of dishes without needing to cook them yourself. It's a unique aspect of living in different parts of the world, where you can indulge in the local cuisine and discover new flavors.

Cooking and trying new recipes can be a fun and rewarding experience. It allows you to bring the flavors of different cultures into your own kitchen and experiment with creating delicious meals. Enjoy the process of cooking braciole and savoring the flavors.

If you ever need any recipe recommendations or have questions about Italian cuisine, feel free to ask. Buon appetito!