My name is Megs. But who I am isn't exactly that important. Who I would like to introduce is Ursola Elizabeth Josephine Calleja.

Also known as my Grandmother.

My grandmother is and was a lot of things: a knitter, a baseball-watcher, a strong-willed woman, and a cook. In fact, according to my dad, she was a fantastic cook. And I've decided that these recipes should live on in my kitchen. The traditional dishes, the family favourites, and the smells of the Mediterranean. I've created Maltese Mondays. This blog is a nod to the Maltese cooking of my grandmother.

Let's talk about Ursola Elizabeth Josephine, or Lena, for a second. After surviving World War II in a country that was routinely attacked for its prime location, she met a boy, got hitched, packed her sons and belongings into very few suitcases (belongings, not the sons), left the majority of her family, and hopped on a boat across the entire Atlantic to Halifax's Pier 21. Then she got on a train and raised five boys and her brother in a one-bedroom apartment without speaking English. In inner-city Toronto.

And I'm often wishing my apartment had hardwood floors.

So I've basically established that my grandmother's a boss. Carrying on her cooking probably seems like such a trivial thing. But once a week my kitchen's going to be Valletta on a weekday. Full. Of. Food.

I should mention that I have one other Grandmother as well, also a mighty fine cook, whose homemade buns are better than yours. Why did I choose Lena's cooking and not Elsie's (to whom, by the way, I owe my middle name)? A few reasons. For one, Elsie kept recipe cards. In English. Elsie also had daughters who know many of her recipes. Elsie was also cooking until about 8 years ago so many children and grandchildren (all, like, 80 of us) have been able to carry on the Moore cuisine. Lena didn't have any of that; she never told anyone her recipes. So I've gathered my dad's memory, a few things I was exposed to or that I remember from fam-jam potlucks many years ago, traditional recipe books and what I saw/smelled/tasted in Malta. Perhaps down the line I'll instill Scottish Sundays, without the haggis.

My treasured travel companion.

Ever met a Maltese Scot? What on earth is that? A plaid-wearing, loud-talking gal with a love for Limoncello? This adorable creature? Well, you are about to find out.

Welcome to Maltese Mondays.

Tuesday, November 12, 2013

imqarrun il-forn

Literally "macaroni in the oven".
Also known as Maltese pasta bake.
Also known as my dad's fav.
Also known as "did I really just eat my weight in pasta and cheese".

Imqarrun il-forn is one of those dishes that every family has tailored to them, so it's hard to know what exactly is the "traditional" way. My mom surprised my dad one birthday with this dish, after hearing him talk relentlessly about it being one of his favourite things my Grandmother cooked. But my father is no chef, so discovering the Lena way was a tad difficult. Today, I filled my kitchen with imqarrun il-forn, and it was wonderful.

I couldn't find my rectangular pan. Oh well.

Traditional way:
garlic, onions, beef, pork, chicken livers, bacon, soup stock, tomato puree, salt, pepper (cooked like a sauce)
aldente cooked pasta (my dad said G. Lena used "flat, short, noodles", but I'm pretty sure it was penne)
cheese (G. Lena used ricotta and parmasean)
beaten eggs stirred into the above mixture, poured into a buttered cassrole dish and baked slowly in the oven, with more cheese on top.

Weird way (if you're into that):
garlic, onions, mushroom (shitake, brown crimini mix), soup stock, tomato puree, salt, pepper (cooked like a sauce)
aldente cooked rice-penne
cashew ricotta (actual thing, and actually delicious)
beaten eggs stirred into the above mixture, poured into a greased cassarole dish and baked slowly in the oven, with extra cahew ricotta and nutritional yeast on top.

Cooking Tunes: Stalko's "Grandiloquence" album- a Maltese indie trio I quite enjoy. They describe their band interests as, "interesting scarf & tie combinations, buffet breakfasts, mosquito repellant, good boot space or pocket sized instruments, cushioned seating, warm paper and matches". Enough said.

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