This is the season when this fairy tale crosses my mind often...and there is no doubt... I am certainly the ant. I like to think that it is the incredible summer bounty in Italy which has brought out this "wisdom" in me.
Cannara, a small rather non-descript town nearby is the "onion capital" of Umbria. I can't remember a year without a jaunt to stock up on onions. We go directly to one of the farmers who has a dazzling array of every typical type - each intended for a particular culinary use. We come home usually with a 30-40 kg. supply of at least five types of onions along with a huge bunch of large, red, garlic heads (about 5 kgs.).
The round cipolla dorata is the one I use for my onion soup - an Umbrian concoction of onions, lean ground veal and toasted crusty bread and our own extra virgin olive oil: a simple but delicious zuppa for those fall/winter days. I usually cook up about 10 kgs. of onions right away and freeze many portions of this thick, satisfying zuppa.
September is also the peak for the most beautiful yellow and red bell peppers which I buy in bulk from a farmer to cook up large pots of "bandiera": sautèed and simmered onions, bell peppers and fresh ripe tomatoes with several heads of garlic and, again, our excellent extra virgin olive oil. A slow, all day process which I then divide in portions and freeze as the perfect accompaniment to hearth-roasted pork.
There is also an abundance of gorgeous basil which means "pesto": two lbs. of fresh basil leaves, 3/4 lbs. of pine nuts and several heads of garlic with our own extra virgin olive oil. This week we put away 36 jars/portions in the freezer for winter use and 15 portions of "sugo al basilico" with fresh tomatoes.
Late peaches are also in abundance: I sautèe them in Amaretto, cinnamon, nutmeg and ginger and freeze 10-15 portions for winter delight.
We always try to do all this BEFORE we get busy with the vendemmia, the grape harvest and a month later, with the olive picking and pressing. When the latter is finished it is winter... this ant can rightfully rest!
