Lunch with grandma: omelet with artichokes
Lately I have often lunch with Grandma, we live so close that we enjoy the time we spend together eating and talking. If I have to work on some recipes for the blog I bring downstairs the last experiment, often cold after the photos. She warms up the food, always on the lowest flame, because her lowest is lower than my lowest, and that’s why her dishes have always a better and deeper taste than mine. Then we go on making comments and mental notes on the recipes: this works, this would have worked better with something else, and so on.
If instead I have to write or edit some pictures, she cooks for me and I arrive in her kitchen and find the table lavishly set for lunch. Lavishly is not an exaggeration, every day is a feast at grandma’s place and she makes you feel special with tiny simple things. Like a chocolate after a meal next to my cup of espresso. Every day. And if she runs out of chocolates, she is not discouraged, my grandmother will bring me a whole cube of dark chocolate.
We have different ideas of what a light lunch is supposed to be. An example? I had my Pilates class in the early afternoon so I told her I needed to have a very light and quick lunch, nothing fancy. And she lighted up and said: come have lunch with me. I’ll just make a bowl of home made chicken broth with passatelli (just imagine, passatelli are made with egg, breadcrumbs and cheese). Then she added finely shredded chicken breast to the broth, in order to make a well balanced meal. I love her.
Another day we agreed on a chicken salad for lunch. She made a huge bowl of tender lettuce and added shredded chicken breast, crumbled boiled eggs and piquant slivers of aged cheese. She apologized because our supposed light salad was missing black olives. And then you ask me where my passion for food comes from? She loves trying new recipes, either found on magazines or seen on tv. She’s never happy with the results, but she doesn’t realize she manages to make us happy with the most simple food. The fact is, let’s face it, she’s the most perfect example of what a pinch of magic and love can make when it comes to food.
A few days ago I told her I would bring an omelet with artichokes for lunch: I used the omelet as soft wrap and filled it with stewed wedges of artichokes and cubes of Tuscan pecorino, slightly melting from the heat. When I entered her kitchen with my omelet poorly balanced in one hand I found her playing around the pantry.
She made an appetizer with toasted bread and Tuscan salame, she thought the omelet was not enough… So in hindsight I can tell you that if you want to make a richer omelette you can add cubes of salami, they are just perfect with pecorino and artichokes.
Omelet with artichokes and pecorino
Print Recipe Share by EmailIngredients
- 5 artichokes
- 1 lemon
- Extra virgin olive oil
- 1 clove of garlic
- Dried oregano
- 4 free range eggs
- 150 g of Tuscan pecorino cheese
- Salt
- Freshly ground black pepper
Instructions
- Squeeze a lemon in a bowl of water, you will need it to prevent the artichokes from blackening once they're clean and cut.
- Clean the artichokes by removing the tough outer leaves. Cut them into slices and remove the hair inside. Rub with lemon and place them in the bowl of water and lemon.
- Heat a few tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil in a frying pan with a clove of garlic. Add the artichokes, season with salt, black pepper and oregano.
- Cook for 8 to 10 minutes over medium heat until soft but golden and crisp at the edges. Remove from the heat and set aside.
- Beat the eggs with a pinch of salt and black pepper. Heat a tablespoon of olive oil in a pan and when hot pour in the beaten eggs.
- When the omelet is set on one side cover half of the omelet with artichokes and cubed pecorino cheese, then fold. Cook for another minute so that the cheese begins to melt, then slide it carefully onto a plate and serve with a sprinkling of grated pecorino cheese and black pepper.
Some time ago I said that if I’ll ever get married I would like a bouquet of herbs, with thyme, marjoram, mint … maybe we can leave chives for lunch. Thinking about it, if the season allows it, a bouquet of artichokes would be just as beautiful. I bought this unusual bouquet at the supermarket and walked along the aisles like a bride, he he he…
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That refined omelet looks fantastic and must taste divine! I wish my grandmothers were still alive and we could cook together.
Gorgeous clicks!
Cheers,
Rosa
Cherish and document your time with Grandma, do the same with your Mother. In many, many years you will be able to relive those special moments.
while I’m not close with my own family, your story was very warming and made me wish I had someone to talk over my recipes with. Also, I love the idea of carrying artichokes down the aisle, as I do the idea of this omelet!
Giulia, this makes me miss my gramma even more. What special times you are having…times to cherish. Those artichokes are so pretty! I’ve still not cooked with fresh, full-size artichokes…only fresh baby ones or frozen. I guess I’m a little intimidated. This looks like a simple recipe to try, using artichokes for the first time.
I love this post, it sounds like the intro to a cookbook. You are so lucky to have your grandma around! The photos of the artichokes are incredible, I can’t stop staring.
I almost visualize the whole eating and cooking together with your grandma. I miss mine and I wish I was a foodie when I had the chance to learn from them.
How lovely that you have your grandmother still. I can feel the love and comfort by your words. Enjoy these lunches no matter if they are light or full!
This is such a sweet post! Spending time with family is so important and it sounds like you and your grandmother spend such valuable moments with each other. Your omelet looks brilliant! I love artichokes and I can imagine how lovely this omelet would be!
This is so wonderful! Amazing to read about how close you are with your grandmother. I wish for many more “delicious” years with her!
Thank you for sharing your wonderful blog with us. You take the most beautiful photographs full of warmth and love that draws your audience in, and the stories that you share are the icing on the cake. Thank you!
Beautiful, I can just imagine you going down the stairs at your house with your straw basket filled with the food you prepared… perhaps stopping for a moment to look over you beautiful Tuscan view we all love nearly as much as you do, before turning around the corner to knock on nonna’s door x
Wish I had a nonna like yours!