La cucina di nonna Menna: lesso in fricassea

Nonna è nata e cresciuta in campagna, nello stesso paesino in cui è nato e cresciuto babbo e dove tutt’ora abito io, nella casa che prima era una stalla.
Nella casa di nonna abitavano tre generazioni: c’era suo nonno Tommaso – molto moderno per i tempi: è stato lui il primo di tutto il borgo a mettere il bagno in casa – poi Piero, il figlio di Tommaso e babbo di nonna, e alla fine nonna Marcella, unica figlia, e pure femmina...
(per il resto della storia e la ricetta, vai su Made in Kitchen, come ogni mercoledì!)

::::: FRICASSEE BOILED BEEF :::::

Granny was born and grown up in the countryside, in the same hamlet where my father was born and grown up and where I still live now, in the house that used to be a stable many years ago.
In my grandmother’s house used to live three generations together: there was her grandfather Tommaso – such a modern and up-to-date man, the first one to built an inner bathroom in the house in the whole hamlet -, then Pietro, Tommaso’s son and granny’s father, then granny Marcella, the only child, and a girl, indeed!
My great-grandfather Piero had two brothers, Dante and Giuseppe, known as Bebbe.
I’ve met Uncle Beppe when I was a child: he lived more than 90 years with perfect health and clearness of mind, he drove his own car and lived alone in Colle Val d’Elsa. The secret oh his long and great life? A teaspoon of mashed garlic poured into his coffee and milk each and every morning!
Uncel Beppe was married with Aunt Casilde. They dind’t have children, so they adopted granny as favourite niece. They used to go to grandma's house in the countryside and take her to their home in town for a while. Then, my great-grandfather Piero used to go to town and take granny back to the countryside… they keep on moving forth and back until grandma Marcella married grandpa Biagio.
Grandma has always loved living in Colle: lots of people to talk with, strolls along the main road, friends, the oratory.. and, most of all, the cinema!
Uncle Beppe was the cinema keeper of the “Dei Varii Theatre”, and he used to make tickets at the entrance with his little dog, combed and perfumed, sit next to the counter!
The main course of Aunt Casilde was lesso in fricassea, fricassee boiled beef.
It’s a Sunday dish, not an everyday recipe! The boiled beef was the result of the clear soup they used to eat at lunch. If you had leftover, you could cook the meat with tomato and potato or make a fricassee with eggs. Grandma used to love this one.


Ingredients (serve 4):

• Boiled beef, 300 gr
• Eggs, 2
• Flour
• Garlic, 1 clove
• Extra virgin olive oil
• Salt & pepper

Heat a tablespoon of olive oil in a large pan with a garlic clove. In the meantime, slice the meat into 1- inch strips and flour plentifully.
When the olive oil is hot and the garlic has spread its flavour, saute the meat until it is golden.
Whisk two eggs with a pinch of salt and pepper and pour them into the meat, stir the eggs as making scrambled eggs.
Serve warm, with a slice of fresh tuscan bread.
Granny has told me that she used to love this dish because it soft and delicious, perfect to eat with a green salad.