Open Celery! (Apriti Sedano!)

OMG, It’s Leap Year, Again!

Apriti Sedano! Open Celery! February 2024 Newsletter cover - Leap Year of the Dragon

February is a really dire month. Starting from the 9th, then the 13th, 14th, and 15th, and, this time, it’s going to be of 29 days… OMG, it’s Leap Year, again!

You should know that Italian calendars have several saints for each and every day, and some are more important than others (of course)… And in February there is this cluster linked to “Love” – whether carnal or spiritual, that is.

Welcome to “Open Celery!” our monthly newsletter on plant-based recipes, stories and unsolicited advice made in Italy. It’s the fruit (and vegetable) of the collaboration between ottimoblog.com and appetibilis.net
Published in Italian and English (and happily edited and translated by Orsola)… at some point, we’d like to have it in podcast as well 😀
(Cliccate qui per “Apriti Sedano!” in italiano)

What to celebrate in February

What we’d celebrate in February:

  • 13th, San Benigno (Saint Benignus).
    • Recently imported from US, it’s dedicated (unofficially, of course) to “Mistress’ Day” or “Mistress Night”… when monogamy becomes monotony 😮 oh, là là!

“I’m not upset that you lied to me, I’m upset that from now on I can’t believe you.” (Friedrich Nietzsche)

  • 14th, San Valentino (Saint Valentine).
    • The day associated with romantic love (starting sometime during the 14th century)…
    • I don’t want to talk about it, it makes feel hopeless as Charlie Brown 😕 And there is more to it: enough with those heavy Valentine’s menus.
    • Matter-of-fact, did you know that for romantic stamina, worthy of its name, you should stay “light”?
      That’s it, I’m launching the trend for some aphrodisiac broth with heart-shaped pastina… (also gluten-free).
    • Ok, better focus on February 15 ‘cause I know more about successful singles!

“All you need is love. But a little chocolate now and then doesn’t hurt.”

(Charles M. Schulz)
  • 15th, San Faustino (Saint Faustinus), the patron saint of singles.
    • It all started as a joke 😎 later to become the day for dedicated social events, and to organise parties, also for speed dating.

“I’m not alone! I’m with myself. And myself is fabulous.” (Eva Longoria)

  • 29th. Last but not least, it’s “Anno Bisestile” (Leap Year): February 2024 has 29 days.
    • In Italy we say: “Anno bisesto, anno funesto!” (leap year, doom year) – I know “it’s not true, but I believe it”… don’t ask.

Jokes aside, even if the leap year is not held in high regard, still,

  • in Italy we celebrate by breaking piñatas full of sweet treats, and
  • in France, by climbing ladders – that, if you don’t fall down you’re lucky all year round… I’ll bet you are!

In any case, to navigate the month – peculiar practices aside – it comes down to these essential steps:

  1. when you don’t know what to do, do nothing;
  2. don’t take important decisions;
  3. don’t leave the house if it’s cold outside;
  4. be patient, the month it’s short = it ends soon.

February Happy Spot

Any happy spot in February? Luckily there was the Chinese Lunar New Year celebration (9th – 10th), and Carnival 🥳 [Mardi gras] but it’s over now! I couldn’t wait to fill myself up with some delicious Italian typical Carnival treats (frappe and castagnole). And no, the sweet loads seized during Christmas, or Befana weren’t enough for me… “hahaha”.

Okay, fine, let’s laugh about it! And let’s make some “Castagnole”, here’s the recipe for the Italian sweet dough balls... plant-based and gluten-free, how good is that!

And, to leapers out there: Happy Leap Year Birthday!

Link all’articolo in italiano

San Faustino e la rivincita dei single… Apriti Sedano e buona lettura.

More Gluten-Free Recipes

Discover more from appetibilis .net

Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.

Tags: