Don visited the Sydney home of Guiseppine and Nicola Fusco. Like many Italians, they grow, process and cook much of their own food. On the day we visited, Guiseppine and Nicola were harvesting tomatoes, eggplants, beans and cucumbers. As well as vegetables, they grow fruit and nut trees including mandarin, walnut, persimmon, coffee and avocado, and they raise their own chooks. One outstanding feature in the backyard is an old barbeque that Nicola converted into a fountain!
Guiseppine gave Don a guided tour of the inside of the house, which is filled with beautiful tapestries and a doll collection. Guiseppine loves having flowers around her all the time, so she has decorated the house with artificial flowers made from crepe paper and coloured pantyhose.
Guiseppine’s tomato sauce
Chop tomatoes into small pieces and put into a saucepan with salt and bring to the boil. Simmer for half an hour.
Wash bottles thoroughly and sterilise by placing into a pot of water and boiling. Take the simmering sauce from the stove and carefully pour into the hot bottles, putting a couple of basil leaves in the bottom. Seal bottles tightly and cover with a blanket for 3-4 days. This allows the sauce to cool very slowly and it can then be stored in the cupboard.