Spring circles in the kitchen and garden – eggs in purgatory, ‘lucky’ lentils, broad bean risotto fritters, a dandelion flower, melanzane fritte, orange patty cakes, fava spaghetti with spring greens…
Circles are significant in Italian folklore – the symbolism of the sun that makes things grow, the wheel of life slowly turning, the seasons in a constant cycle circling around through the dark and cold and back to light and warmth once more.
I think of Granny Maddalena’s leathery, work-worn hands sorting through the lentils to remove any tiny stones. I feel the light smoothness of lentils in my own hands now as the wheel continues to turn. Auguri fortuna e felicità questa primavera – wishing you luck and happiness this spring. 💛 Zoë xx
At home when I was growing up, we sometimes ate eggs baked in leftover pasta sauce which we called, ‘eggs in tomato’, not quite as evocative as ‘eggs in purgatory’ that I later discovered this dish is also called.
Zoë Boccabella 