Something sfizioso

After the disappointing result for Italy this evening, which means the players will all be on their way home along with the English ones, drastic measures were needed to cheer my husband up. He had to go and lie down and I heard him muttering Povera Italia so many times that I thought I would make something sfizioso for supper.  My Italian dictionary translates sfizioso as nifty. What it really means is something appetising and appealing but not essential.It can be used to refer to clothes and behaviour as well. My husband when I asked him how he would translate it ,suggested yummy. This was after he had eaten everything up with relish and looked much happier. Now he is ready to watch the rest of the World Cup with a detached attitude, just for the entertainment value.

My sfizioso supper for two.

1 ripe melon, cut in half with the seeds removed and filled with port found lurking at the back of the cupboard, left over from Christmas.

10 Zucchine flowers, washed carefully and patted dry with kitchen paper and with the pistil removed gently

200 g white flour
1 small bottle of beer, enough to make a batter, the rest you can gracefully swig..
salt

Prepare the melon first and set aside so the port seeps into the melon flesh.

Mix the flour and beer together vigorously in a large bowl until smooth.

Heat some olive oil or oil for frying in a non-stick pan. Dip the zucchini flowers in the mixture and gently lay them in one layer in the pan. Turn them over gently when golden on one side and continue cooking until they are nicely golden all over. Drain them carefully on more Kitchen paper and sprinkle with salt.

Melon with port, zucchini flowers and cherries, qualcosa di sfiziosa