Almost Heaven

July 9th, we went to a church member's house that lives about an hour North of Rome.  It is out in the country which is beautiful.  The wife was a small child when I was here before.  Her father was the branch president.  I remember eating a great meal at her parents house many years ago. They invited 4 sets of senior missionaries to come to lunch.  We had one of the best meals I have ever eaten.  It was like a scene from a movie of an Italian family dinner.  Their house is surrounded by trees, hills, etc.  They have 300 olive trees and make their own olive oil.  We ate outside under a big tree.


   We started out with bread, cheese, sandwiches made with ham and fresh figs.  (I had never eaten a fresh fig, they are great)  We also had grilled zucchini soaked in really good olive oil, peppers in olive oil, sun dried tomatoes in olive oil. We had bruschetta (this was Ann's favorite).  We also had zucchini blossoms with cheese and sardines covered in a batter then fried.  They grow it all in their garden.

Then we had three courses of different pasta.  The first was a tomato sauce with eggplant, then we had Carbonara which is my favorite pasta, it is made with bacon and eggs, then we had spaghetti with a pesto sauce.  I had already eaten more than I should have before the first pasta dish came out.  But I pressed on and continued to eat.  It was too good not to.

The next course was pork with ham and sage covered with a delicious broth.

After a meal like that you can't have just one dessert.  We had two!! Tiramisu (made with ortho not coffee) and a cobbler type dessert made with sweet cheeses and fresh figs.  Everything we had I could have said that was my favorite.

The food was outstanding, but the setting and being with good people made it so much more enjoyable.  It is wonderful to see 2nd and 3rd generation members of the church going strong.   They gave us each a bottle of their home made olive oil to take with us.  I can't describe how much better the olive oil and food taste here compared to what we get.  This family is starting a bed and breakfast type business.  Based upon my experience I think they will do well.  The food you can get in a restaurant is great, but nothing compares to what you can get in an Italian home.

The experience caused me to reflect on two scriptures from the Doctrine and Covenants.  In Section 59:16-20  ...the fullness of the earth is yours, the beasts of the field and the fowls of the air, and that which climbeth upon the trees and
walketh upon the earth;

yea, and the herb, and the good things which come of the earth, whether for food or for raiment, or for houses, or for barns, or for orchards, or for gardens, or for vineyards;

yea all things which come of the earth, in the season thereof, are made for the benefit and the
use of man, both to please the eye and to gladden
the heart;

yea for food and for raiment, for taste and for smell, to strengthen the body and to enliven the soul.

And it pleaseth God that he hath given all these things unto man..."

Also Section 130: 2  and that same sociality which exists among us here will exist among us there, only it will be coupled with eternal glory

We enjoyed fine food, beautiful surroundings, and wonderful friendships

Olive oil and red wine vinegar bottle!