Friday night, April 22 and cooking alone

When Leo first came to the US, he was unfamiliar with the American "Friday Night." In Italy, it's common to go out with friends any night of the week. But Friday Night, a night to snuggle with your true love, cooking something special, enjoying a movie out or just having a grilled steak and DVD at home, became an evening Leo really looked forward to.

Even now, as he struggles fighting this cancer, he always sends me special Friday Night greetings. Separated, we dream of past Friday Nights and hope for future ones together.

Tonight I made one of my favorite dishes, which I first discovered in "A Thousand Days in Tuscany" by Marlena De Blasi.

The first time I made it for Leo, he assured me this was not a Tuscan recipe. Since then, I have found it in at least three different Italian (language) cookbooks.


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Wine Harvester's Sausages with Grapes

Serves two

3 sausages (lower fat turkey sausage, hot or sweet)
3 cups seedless red grapes, washed and pulled off the stems
2 T fresh rosemary leaves, minced
1/2 t anise seed
1/2 t fennel seed
1 T olive oil

Saute sausages in olive oil until brown on all sides. (Drain off oil if sausages are too fatty and add more olive oil). Add seeds and saute several minutes.

Add grapes and rosemary. Simmer, uncovered, about 30 minutes, until grapes begin to burst and a sauce forms.

Serve hot with mashed potatoes.