When I go to the market, I first think about the food I need for the week, and then I also choose a drink for the evening. I buy fresh bread and I already imagine a simple dinner. I take seasonal fruit and a bit of vegetables, so I can eat light. For lunch I often make a salad with a ripe tomato and a drizzle of oil. Sometimes I add a splash of vinegar and a pinch of salt, and the taste changes right away. In the end I go back home with a full bag and with clearer ideas.
32. Durante la settimana
During the week
alterno
I alternate
piatti
dishes
veloci
quick
e piatti
and dishes
più calmi.
calmer.
Un giorno
One day
cucino
I cook
pasta,
pasta,
un altro giorno
another day
preparo
I prepare
riso,
rice,
e in entrambi i casi
and in both cases
mi basta
I only need
poco
a little
per stare bene.
to feel well.
Se ho fretta,
If I am in a hurry,
prendo
I get
una pizza
a pizza
e la condivido
and I share it
con qualcuno.
with someone.
Quando fa freddo,
When it is cold,
invece,
instead,
preparo
I make
una minestra
a soup
e poi
and then
preparo
I also make
anche
also
una zuppa,
a soup,
perché
because
mi scaldano.
they warm me up.
Con un po’
With a bit
di pane
of bread
accanto,
nearby,
la cena
the dinner
diventa
becomes
più completa.
more complete.
E se
And if
avanza qualcosa,
something is left over,
lo metto via
I put it away
e lo mangio
and I eat it
il giorno dopo.
the next day.
During the week I switch between quick dishes and calmer meals. One day I cook pasta, another day I prepare rice, and in both cases I only need a little to feel well. If I am in a hurry, I get a pizza and share it with someone. When it is cold, I make a soup and then I also make another soup, because they warm me up. With a bit of bread nearby, dinner becomes more complete. And if something is left over, I put it away and eat it the next day.
33. Quando
When
voglio
I want
un piatto
a dish
più sostanzioso
more filling
scelgo
I choose
la carne
the meat
o il pesce,
or the fish,
in base a
based on
quello che
what
trovo
I find
fresco.
fresh.
Se prendo
If I take
pollo,
chicken,
lo cucino
I cook it
al forno
in the oven
e lo condisco
and I season it
con olio
with oil
e sale.
and salt.
Se scelgo
If I choose
manzo,
beef,
lo faccio
I cut it
a pezzi
into pieces
e lo cucino
and I cook it
lentamente.
slowly.
Ogni tanto
Sometimes
compro
I buy
anche
also
maiale,
pork,
ma cerco
but I try
di non esagerare.
to not overdo it.
Per un panino
For a sandwich
uso
I use
prosciutto
ham
o salame,
or salami,
e a volte
and sometimes
aggiungo
I add
anche
also
un po’
a bit
di salsiccia
of sausage
per dare
to give
più sapore.
more flavour.
In ogni caso
In any case
cerco
I look for
sempre
always
equilibrio,
balance,
perché
because
voglio
I want
mangiare
to eat
bene
well
senza appesantirmi.
without feeling too full.
When I want a more filling meal, I choose meat or fish, depending on what I find fresh. If I take chicken, I cook it in the oven and season it with oil and salt. If I choose beef, I cut it into pieces and cook it slowly. Sometimes I also buy pork, but I try not to overdo it. For a sandwich I use ham or salami, and sometimes I also add a bit of sausage to give more flavour. In any case I always look for balance, because I want to eat well without feeling too full.
34. A colazione
For breakfast
mi piace
I like
qualcosa
something
di semplice
simple
e pulito.
and clean.
Bevo
I drink
un bicchiere
a glass
di latte
of milk
e mangio
and I eat
uno yogurt
a yogurt
quando ho
when I have
poco
little
tempo.
time.
Se voglio
If I want
qualcosa
something
di più ricco,
richer,
metto
I put
un po’
a bit
di burro
of butter
sul pane
on the bread
e lo scaldo
and I warm it
leggermente.
slightly.
A volte
Sometimes
aggiungo
I add
miele,
honey,
e il gusto
and the taste
diventa
becomes
più dolce
sweeter
senza essere
without being
troppo.
too much.
Se ho
If I have
in casa
at home
un uovo,
an egg,
lo preparo
I prepare it
in pochi minuti
in a few minutes
e mi dà
and it gives me
energia.
energy.
E quando
And when
ho voglia
I feel like
di salato,
something salty,
aggiungo
I add
un po’
a bit
di formaggio
of cheese
e la colazione
and breakfast
cambia
changes
completamente.
completely.
For breakfast I like something simple and clean. I drink a glass of milk and eat a yogurt when I have little time. If I want something richer, I put a bit of butter on the bread and warm it slightly. Sometimes I add honey, and the taste becomes sweeter without being too much. If I have an egg at home, I prepare it in a few minutes and it gives me energy. And when I feel like something salty, I add a bit of cheese and breakfast changes completely.
35. Quando
When
cucino
I cook
per amici
for friends
cerco
I look for
sempre
always
un tocco speciale.
a special touch.
Uso
I use
un po’
a bit
di panna
of cream
per rendere
to make
la salsa
the sauce
più
more
morbida,
soft,
ma non ne metto
but I do not put any
troppa.
too much.
Assaggio
I taste
e poi
and then
aggiungo
I add
sale
salt
con attenzione,
carefully,
perché
because
è
it is
facile
easy
esagerare.
to overdo.
Se
If
il piatto
the dish
è
it is
troppo “piatto”,
too bland,
aggiungo
I add
un goccio
a splash
di aceto
of vinegar
o un filo
or a drizzle
d’olio,
of oil,
e l’effetto
and the effect
è
it is
immediato.
immediate.
Alla fine
In the end
porto
I bring
in tavola
to the table
e osservo
and I watch
le facce:
the faces:
se sorridono,
if they smile,
so
I know
che
that
ho
I have
fatto
done
bene.
well.
E se
And if
qualcuno chiede
someone asks
la ricetta,
the recipe,
la spiego
I explain it
volentieri.
gladly.
When I cook for friends, I always want a special touch. I use a bit of cream to make the sauce softer, but I do not use too much. I taste and then I add salt carefully, because it is easy to overdo it. If the dish is too bland, I add a splash of vinegar or a drizzle of oil, and the effect is immediate. In the end I bring it to the table and I watch faces: if they smile, I know I have done well. And if someone asks for the recipe, I explain it gladly.
36. Dopo cena
After dinner
mi piace
I like
un piccolo dessert,
a small dessert,
ma scelgo
but I choose
con criterio.
carefully.
Se
If
ho voglia
I feel like
di qualcosa di leggero
something light
prendo
I take
un biscotto
a biscuit
con il tè.
with tea.
Quando
When
festeggiamo,
we celebrate,
invece,
instead,
porto
I bring
una torta
a cake
o un dolce
or a sweet
fatto
made
in casa.
at home.
A volte
Sometimes
basta
it is enough
un quadratino
a small square
di cioccolato
of chocolate
per chiudere
to end
bene
well
la giornata.
the day.
Se
If
fa caldo,
it is hot,
prendo
I take
un gelato
an ice cream
e lo mangio
and I eat it
lentamente.
slowly.
E quando
And when
ho voglia
I feel like
di dolcezza semplice,
simple sweetness,
metto
I put
un cucchiaino
a teaspoon
di zucchero
of sugar
nel caffè
in the coffee
e basta.
and that is all.
Così
So
il cibo
food
resta
it stays
un piacere,
a pleasure,
non un eccesso.
not an excess.
After dinner I like a small dessert, but I choose carefully. If I feel like something light, I take a biscuit with tea. When we celebrate, I bring a cake or a sweet made at home. Sometimes a small square of chocolate is enough to end the day well. If it is hot, I take an ice cream and I eat it slowly. And when I want simple sweetness, I put a teaspoon of sugar in my coffee, and that is all. So food stays a pleasure, not an excess.
37. Nei giorni più impegnativi
On the busiest days
preparo
I prepare
piatti pronti
ready meals
in anticipo,
in advance,
così non decido
so I do not decide
tutto
everything
all’ultimo.
at the last minute.
Cuocio
I cook
riso
rice
o pasta,
or pasta,
metto
I put
da parte
aside
verdura
vegetables
e aggiungo
and I add
un pomodoro
a tomato
quando
when
serve.
it is needed.
Con un po’
With a bit
di olio,
of oil,
sale
salt
e aceto
and vinegar
riesco
I can
a cambiare
to change
il sapore
the taste
senza
without
complicarmi
making it hard for myself
la vita.
life.
Se
If
ho fame
I am hungry
vera,
really,
aggiungo
I add
pollo
chicken
o pesce,
or fish,
e mi sento
and I feel
più
more
soddisfatto.
satisfied.
Quando
When
invece
instead
voglio
I want
qualcosa di rapido,
something quick,
prendo
I take
pane
bread
e prosciutto
and ham
e faccio
and I make
un panino.
a sandwich.
Alla fine
In the end
capisco
I understand
che
that
mangiare
to eat
bene
well
non è
it is not
difficile:
difficult:
serve
it is needed
solo
only
un po’
a bit
di organizzazione.
of organisation.
On the busiest days I prepare ready meals in advance, so I do not decide everything at the last minute. I cook rice or pasta, I set vegetables aside, and I add a tomato when it is needed. With a bit of oil, salt, and vinegar I can change the taste without making my life hard. If I am really hungry, I add chicken or fish, and I feel more satisfied. When I want something quick, I take bread and ham and I make a sandwich. In the end I understand that eating well is not difficult: you only need a bit of organisation.
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