[eccomi]

augghhhh! i grew up in the US but i have lived in the italy for 8+ years. it's horrible because all the things i'm craving are things from the US that i can't get here in italy...

i'm supposed to make a quick trip back to CA in july for my grandpa's 90th birthday so i've already started a list of things/places i want to eat while home. here's what the list looks like thus far:

1. sweet potato fries (my #1 craving!) with habanero aioli
2. jalapeno poppers/mozzarella sticks
3. mexican restaurant chips & salsa (i'm salivating as i'm writing this!)
4. thai food
5. california pizza kitchen (i just started thinking of this today... mmmmmm )

for those of you that can get your hands on what you're craving, consider yourselves VERY fortunate! i can't believe i'll be thinking about these things until JULY!!!

[dixon0511]

oooh feel for ya, that would really suck to not be able to eat what you are craving! Maybe you can find some good substitues..make your own mozzarella sticks and poppers?!?!?! I make mine with egg roll wrappers so maybe you could find something comparable there to make them with!! Do sweet potatoes grow over there? OR maybe someone from the states could ship you some sweet potatoes and you could make your own fries?!?! just some suggestion, hang in there!!

[MeganMomof5]

oh no that's horrible that you can't even eat what your craving!!! I hope you get everything you want when you go to CA ....Salsa and chips are always a big craving of mine.

[lindz_fay]

Oh how frustrating. I can't imagine being with out those things. Especially chips and salsa.

[psboden]

I remember living in Germany growing up it was like Christmas when people would send us what we took for granted...like JIF PB!

[Seattlite]

OMG, that is horrible! Seriously, I wonder if you could make your own salsa? The chips would still be tricky, though.

[BuckeyeGal23]

I make my own tortilla chips at home with corn tortillas...I just cut them up and broil them for a few minute

I would DIE if I couldn't have what I was craving!! That's how I plan my day and get pure satisfaction out of it

[Irish_Wristwatch]

oh no thats terrible! I grew up on the ON/MN border and I crave US foods that we cant get up here all the time! its awful, so i feel your pain

[eccomi]

Originally Posted by dixon0511

oooh feel for ya, that would really suck to not be able to eat what you are craving! Maybe you can find some good substitues..make your own mozzarella sticks and poppers?!?!?! I make mine with egg roll wrappers so maybe you could find something comparable there to make them with!! Do sweet potatoes grow over there? OR maybe someone from the states could ship you some sweet potatoes and you could make your own fries?!?! just some suggestion, hang in there!!

i think i'll have to wait for the US for the mozzarella sticks and poppers because i've never even seen egg roll wrappers over here. or jalapenos.

i have found "sweet potatoes" over here before, they were even labeled as "american sweet potatoes." i can't EVEN begin to tell you how excited i was! then i got home and started peeling them and they were WHITE! and the texture was so different. more starchy, less soft and sweet. i tried to make some fries the same but it was most definitely not the same taste. i think in the end i came to the conclusion that they were SOUTH american sweet potatoes.

i think i'm going to OD on all of this junk food when i get to the US! hahahaha!

[mommyjaz]

The sell some FANTASTIC sweet potatoe fries in the frozen foods section at two of our local grocery stores, have you tried looking there? You could always make yourself some chipotle mayo as a substitute for the habenero aioli? Just an idea. I feel for you that you are craving things you can't have, that is the worst! I hope July comes quickly for you!!!

[eccomi]

Originally Posted by psboden

I remember living in Germany growing up it was like Christmas when people would send us what we took for granted...like JIF PB!

and every time i go back to the US on my way back half of my suitcase is FULL of american food that i can't get over here. i'm always sweating bullets, hoping that i don't get stopped by italian customs!

Originally Posted by Seattlite

OMG, that is horrible! Seriously, I wonder if you could make your own salsa? The chips would still be tricky, though.

i have made my own salsa in the past, but you have to go to the little "exotic" shops to get a lot of the ingredients (peppers, cilantro... which tastes about 1/16th as strong as normal cilantro , etc.). it came out okay, but obviously not like the real thing.

[eccomi]

Originally Posted by BuckeyeGal23

I make my own tortilla chips at home with corn tortillas...I just cut them up and broil them for a few minute

I would DIE if I couldn't have what I was craving!! That's how I plan my day and get pure satisfaction out of it

the problem with italy is that everything is, well, italian! no corn tortillas here. *sigh*

had i been born & raised here there wouldn't be a problem because i wouldn't know any different... but i do!

Originally Posted by mommyjaz

The sell some FANTASTIC sweet potatoe fries in the frozen foods section at two of our local grocery stores, have you tried looking there? You could always make yourself some chipotle mayo as a substitute for the habenero aioli? Just an idea. I feel for you that you are craving things you can't have, that is the worst! I hope July comes quickly for you!!!

the nice thing about the states is that everything is so diverse... you can essentially eat from any culture in the world. not so in italy. it's more like "should we have italian or italian tonight?" funny thing is, before moving to italy italian food was my absolute favorite! now that i eat it every.single.day i find myself craving things that i once took for granted.


ITALY=
no chipotle
no habanero
no orange (tasty) sweet potatoes, double

BRING ON JULY, BABY!