DREAMS DO COME TRUE !!

I am a firm believer that thoughts are real .. that what you think about creates what you have in your life .. Since my kids were little I have always stressed the positive in life ."think positive" I would tell them .. to this day if you would ask either of them what my motto is I'll bet they both would say the same thing ..

If you wake up thinking Mondays or rainy days are horrible .. I'll bet anything that you get your wish .. so why not think the best you can always !!!! I know life throws us some curve balls but all in all if you keep you eye on the goal and a smile in your heart .. life becomes a fun journey instead of a daily drudge .

If you read my blog a few days ago you would know that I have been dreaming about Italy ..this has been going on for a while now ... I have been reading every book I can get my hands on about my favorite subject ~ ITALY travel memoirs... cookbooks...true stories about Immigrants coming to this country ~ not knowing a soul or the language and making a life for themselves ~My father is one of those people .

My dad came to this country via France .. he left his hometown of Giulianova in Abruzzi ,Italy to go to France to work in the iron factories so he could earn money to pay his passage to the US .. he hoped to make this country his home and future .He met and married my mother in a matter of a few weeks in an marriage arranged by his Uncle Fred .. he became a barber and the rest is history ...(and a whole other blog !)

I am now trying to get my Italian citizenship through my dad's birthright .. he became a US citizen after I was born .....that is another thing I have been researching these past few months ..

I talk regularly to my friend Marti in Tuscany about all things Italian ~she has a wonderful blog called MANGIA TUTTO I get an Italian word of the day on ABOUT .COM .. I follow a wonderful blog called BLEEDING ESPRESSO ...and also read anything that my friend Paula writes about Italian history, art and culture on her web site called PAULA'S TOUR TALK .. I subscribe to ITALIAN NOTEBOOK a great three times a week email on all things Italian ...
My office is full of pictures that we took on previous trips .. in every corner is a memory of times in Italy .

Where is this story leading you are saying ???

Well on Monday March 9th Clint and I will be going to ROME !!!!!!! my thoughts are powerful and I am going to Rome !!!! It will be a short trip .. only 5 days but we are doing something that Clint and I have been talking about for a while .. we are renting a little apartment in the center of Rome ~close to the CAMPO DEI FIORI the wonderful vibrant market that sells everything from flowers to fish to underwear ! we have no agenda .. other than to meet and have lunch with Marti & Piero in Florence of course... we plan on living like the Italians .. eating like the Italians and living la dolce vita .. if only for 5 days !

Clint tells me next to turn my thoughts to the Lottery !!!! but guess what ?? I already won the lottery ~I AM GOING TO ITALY !!!

MAKING GNOCCHI

I woke up this morning with an irresistible urge to make gnocchi ..I have to say that when someone asks me what is my favorite food to make .. gnocchi always comes to mind .. not only do I love to make it but I love to eat it ... drizzled in butter and sprinkles with locatelli cheese or covered lightly with a vodka blush sauce ... coated with a rich Gorgonzola sauce ... any way I can get it !!
I am a cook by nature ~far more interested in loose measurements & creative substitutions than following a strict recipe . Gnocchi fits that description ...

There is something about having my hands in flour that must come from generations of Italian in my family making and rolling pasta.

I love gnocchi ~ a light cloud of pasta these little pillows are simmered in water till they float to the top and then smothered with sauce . When made correctly these little pasta dumplings are a heavenly experience
Making gnocchi equals my lust for eating them .

Fresh ricotta cheese, creamy & light is the main ingredient for ricotta gnocchi. It is lightly mixed with a wonderful and fragrant grated locatelli romano cheese, a little bit of flour& a egg to bind it and a sprinkle of salt . The dough is mixed gently and laid to rest under a kitchen towel .My mother used a kitchen towel to cover anything she was cooking .. .. as a little girl I would venture into the kitchen to peek under the towels to see what was for dinner !

After about 30 minutes rest the gnocchi is ready to roll .. this is my favorite part! I sprinkle some flour on a large wooden pasta board .. one that has been handed down to me by the generations of women in my family .. this pasta board has been the workhorse of many pasta dishes .. from 'homemades " to tiny and delicate raviolis .

I flour my hands & begin.. that age old ritual of rolling gnocchi~ first a ball is rolled into a thin rope , with a light touch I cut the rope into small 1/2 inch pieces~ now the fun part begins ~ each piece is rolled gently towards me with 2 fingers and a tug ~ the pasta wraps around my fingers and slips to the end of the board .. where a nice little pile is already forming .

As a novice I did this motion slow and sure but now I am a pro .. gnocchi are flying everywhere .. I take pride in my gnocchi and the sureness of my fingers .. it is a motion of practice and maybe a little heritage to boot !

As my pile of gnocchi grows I bring a pot of salted water to a rolling boil .. an old pot .. burnt on the bottom , one handle missing .. it is a treasured possession .. this too has been passed down through generations of women in my family.

The gnocchi are tossed into the boiling water and after a few minutes start to gently float to the top .. I take them out with a slotted spoon and smother them with a delicious blush sauce .. it is a feast not only for the taste buds but for all the senses .. .. a celebration of life !

A GOOD BOOK

There is nothing like a good book !!! except maybe ~the time to read it ! This time of year is usually slower for me .. in some ways I agonize over not being as busy as I usually am ~but I celebrate the time I have by reading as many books as I can .

Reading has always been a pleasure for me ... I love to get lost in a book .. I love thick fat books .. pages and pages of a story that won't let me go .. I love the books I don't want to finish ... their story becomes a part of my life .

The books I have been reading lately all have to do with one of my favorite subjects ~ ITALY .. it is the next best thing to being there .

It started with a book called MY COUSIN THE SAINT BY JUSTIN CATANOSO . This wonderful book is an inspiring story of faith & family across two continents .. it had me laughing and crying and remembering all the times I spent with my family in Italy .. it was a book I couldn't put down !

I went on the read A VINEYARD IN TUSCANY BY FERENC MATE & then LIVING IN A FOREIGN LANGUAGE BY MICHAEL TUCKER. All fabulous interesting books !!

On the recommendation of my friend Marti who lives , loves & cooks in Tuscany I am reading MARCELLA HAZAN'S AMARCORD.. a wonderful recollection of a famous Italian cook !

Marti & I talk regularly by email .. sending and sharing recipes as well as bits of life in a small Tuscan town .. check out her blog MANGIA TUTTO ( eat everything ! ) she is a former personal chef and has a wonderful way with words as well as food , cooking everything from traditional Tuscan dishes to fabulous desserts .. her descriptions and pictures make me wish I had a fork in hand to try a slice of lemon tart across the miles that separate us !

In these past few weeks I feel I am in Italy .. with the sights and sounds of a farmhouse set on rolling hills and mouthwatering meals prepared in wood -fired ovens and served with spectacular wines and flavorful olive oils ~ amidst the company of family & friends .. it is the next best thing to taking a Alitalia flight to Roma !!!

These book make me want to run to my kitchen to prepare fresh pasta and roast succulent meats .. I want to sit around a farm table and enjoy the company of family ... I want to live " la dolce vita" if only for a short time !

WONDERFUL ITALIAN BOOKS I HAVE READ

WHEN IN ROME by PENELOPE GREEN
THE BOOK OF ITALIAN WISDOM by ANTONIO SANTI
ITALIANISSIMO by LOUISE FILI
SPREZZATURA by PETER D'EPIRO
A CHILDHOOD IN ABRUZZO by ART ZAVARELLA
MARCELLA CUCINA by MARCELLA HAZAN
A THOUSAND DAYS IN VENICE by MARLENA DE BLASI
THE LADY IN THE PALAZZO by MARLENA DEBLASI
A THOUSAND DAYS IN TUSCANY by MARLENA DEBLASI
THAT SUMMER IN SICILY by MARLENA DEBLASI
THE CIVILIZED SHOPPERS GUIDE TO ROME
THE HILLS OF TUSCANY by FERENC MATE
PASSEGGIATA by G G HUSAK
MARCELLA SAYS by MARCELLA HAZAN
CITY SECERTS ROME

ON THE ROAD AGAIN

Whenever I hear that song .. I think of Willie Nelson .. it is impossible not to ..with his long silver braids and battered guitar .. his face as well as his songs have become a part of our music history .

I have a list written somewhere .. a list of things I want to do and people I want to see.. Willie is on that list ! I am a big fan .. I have all the CD's and almost single one~ and there are alot of them ~ is different .. his music changes and yet stays the same .. his voice is recognizable and comforting to me .. it is Americana .. a patchwork of pieces of life .

Last Thursday night I had the pleasure and honor to see Willie Nelson perform .. and what a show!! Willie travel the US in his bus ~a legend in itself ! ~ his schedule is a series of one-night stand all across the US.. traveling to places you might not even know existed .

I went to his web site .. yes Willie has his own web site and found that he was performing at the AMERICAN MUSIC THEATER in Lancaster .. a pleasant ride through the Amish country~ it took Clint & I a little over an hour to get there .. with my cowboy boots & my fringe jacket I was ready to see Willie !!

What a show !! a foot tapping , hand clapping , head bobbing show ! I couldn't sit still .. I didn't want to sit still and as I looked at the sell~ out crowd I realized that everyone in the theater was swinging to the music .. it was infectious .. it was fun.. it was pure entertainment .. it was WILLIE NELSON & ASLEEP AT THE WHEEL .. it was Western Swing !! it was a celebration of timeless unique spirited music !!

Two fiddles .. one played by 14 year old Ruby ! a brass section .. a mind blowing steel guitar , piano ,drum , bass and Willies' old guitar .. the music flowed and vibrated through the crowd .. not one person was sitting still and 2 1/2 hours later as the show ended .. everyone stood to a rousing ovation for such a wonderful night filled with the happiness that only great music can elicit .

One of the highlights of our night came after the concert was over . As we walked to our car we saw a small crowd gathered around Willie's infamous bus .. we went over to take a look and there right in front of us not 2 feet away was a black cowboy hat atop a head of silver braids ! with a bright smile and a twinkle in his eye~ Willie was talking and joking with the group of fans and signing autographs .. this was unbelievable !! Clint handed him his ASLEEP AT THE WHEEL hat to sign and I just stood there staring at Willie grinning from ear to ear !

What a wonderful and surprising end to a fun- filled ,thigh- slapping, foot- tapping night !
Willie Nelson is truly an American Legend !!!

A FEAST FOR LOVERS

Tonight I am holding a HAND'S ON COUPLE'S VALENTINE'S DINNER COOKING CLASS ~wow that was a mouthful.. I've done couple's classes before and it is always a good time ..with a glass of wine to start the evening off and get everyone relaxed I explain the menu and everyone breaks off to do their thing .. there is plenty of help with Megan my assistant and Clint my husband .. no dish goes unwashed and we are there to lend a helping hand ..

Fun & Laughter accompany chopping cutting ,peeling & sauteing .Tonight's menu is a delicious combination of flavors that I hope everyone will love .. or at least try ~to see if they can love it !

I am starting off with GOAT CHEESE COMBINED WITH HONEY SERVED ON SLICED PEARS OR CROSTINI & then to a WILD MUSHROOM SOUP next a SPINACH SALAD WITH SHAVED FENNEL, BLOOD ORANGES & FETA IN A BALSAMIC VINAIGRETTE our main entree is PEPPERCORN~CRUSTED FILET STEAKS WITH GORGONZOLA CREAM SAUCE accompanied by ROASTED RED PEPPER SMASHED POTATOES & ASPARAGUS WITH A DIJON SAUCE~finally for dessert a simple but moist & wonderful OLIVE OIL CAKE TOPPED WITH HOMEMADE CHOCOLATE SAUCE AND VANILLA ICE CREAM.


Here are some recipes :

WILD MUSHROOM SOUP

3 Tb olive oil
3 Tb butter melted
1/2 lb portabella mushrooms , chopped
1/2 lb button mushrooms , chopped
1/2 lb shitake mushrooms , stems cut off & chopped
1/2 cup celery, chopped
1/2 cup onion chopped
1 leek chopped
2 cloves garlic , minced
2 shallot , chopped
salt ~ pepper to taste
1 tsp dried thyme
1 ~ 40oz can chicken broth
1 cup heavy cream (optional but good )

~in oil & butter saute celery , onion , leek, shallot, garlic till golden about 10 minutes or so .. then add mushrooms .. cook till soft & season .. let cool a few mintues then puree in food processor adding broth to help vegetables puree ..return to soup pot and add cream .. warm on low heat ... Wonderful !!

OLIVE OIL CAKE

3 eggs beat well
2 cups of sugar
12 ozs extra virgin olive oil
2 ozs orange juice
1 TB vanilla extract
1 TB lemon extract
10 ozs milk

~combine wet ingredients

2 cups flour
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt

~combine dry ingredients and mix with egg mixture .. pour into a well greased 10 inch pan & bake @ 350 for about an hour .. serve with ice cream & homemade chocolate sauce

ROASTED RED PEPPER MASHED POTATOES

5 lbs yukon gold potatoes ,peeled , cut into cubes & cooked in salted water until tender~ drain well
1 cup sour cream
1 cup butter
1 cup heavy cream
salt ~pepper
2 red peppers roasted , peeled , & pureed ( or a jar of roasted peppers drained )

~combine hot potatoes with butter,sour cream , heavy cream and red peppers . season with salt & pepper(can be reheated)

IN THE COMPANY OF WOMEN

I have always been interested in bettering myself so with that in mind I have been buying self~ help books of one kind or another for the past 30 years .. recently I started to clean out my attic and was shocked to find hundreds of books on how to be better, abundant , prosperous , healthy , serene, how to stay focused , create money , meditate ,the rules of money , the law of attraction , how to be a millionaire .. the millionaire's mind ... how to make laughter the best medicine .. , reduce stress .. looking at all these books I realize that if I saved all that money I might be a millionaire today !! & not have stress !!!

One lesson I hear over and over again is about mentoring .. find someone who you admire , who you want to emulate and find out how that particular person got to where they are today .

My life so far has been in search of that one person .. but the realization came one morning at 3 AM ~ it is not just one person .. there are many people in my life who I admire .. for any number of reasons.

There are teachers I've had in school , friends I have just met and life long friends .. women in business .. women I met in cooking classes .. the one common denominator : women

I am surrounded by strong , brave , fearless women ... women who lost a loved one and have to go on ~ as painful as it may be .. women who follow their dream ~no matter how scary it may seem at times ... women who run a business, family , school , household with strength & determination.

My role models are all around me .. I just have to look and I can see how I can be better .. I can look inside me and find the answer .. I am in the company of great women who inspire me to do better and live a full life and smile more !

In the begining of March , in Italy there is a day where all women are honored.. it is called "LA FESTA DELLE DONNE" On that day every street corner and tiny flower shop in overflowing with bright yellow flowers called mimosa.. they are given to women as a sign of respect and appreciation .. for all that women do in everyday life .. for mothers, daughters, girlfriends, for all the women in your life ..

I love that day .. I have been lucky enough to be in Italy a number of times and I always feel special when I see the beautiful , elegant women of Italy carrying around those bright sprigs of yellow flowers .

That simple custom makes me realize how important it is to appreciate the women in your life .. . so I salute you .. all the women who work hard to make a difference .. to make everyday count .. to lead a full & happy life .. I give you the bright , happy yellow MIMOSA!!!!!!!

TAKE A WALK !

I have always been someone who felt the need to exercise .. I love to cook & eat so I felt I need to balance that out .. in my 20's I ran .. I started out slowly ~ running a mile or so every day then working my way up to longer distances ~I ran for about 10 years .. competing several times in a 10 mile race called the Broad Street Run as well as the Philadelphia Distance Run... a 1/2 marathon .. I never ran a whole marathon .. 26 miles at one time .. my body would not cooperate! !

When my feet & knees started to protest I took up Karate .. I studied for 5 years ... it was not something I really thought I would like .. I am a non violent person .. but Karate teaches body awareness as well as some great self defense techniques and lots of self confidence .. I took Karate for 5 years learning discipline , self control and I learned to be confident standing in front of people . I got my Black Belt and a realization that I could do anything I put my mind to .

Next on my wish list was building muscle ! I knew I was getting older and I needed to get rid of or at least minimize that jiggle we all have ! So I started lifting weights .. I joined a gym owned by a "ROCKY " style trainer .. he taught me how to hit a bag .. punch a speed bag .. press 180 lbs and dead lift close to 200 lbs ..Now I have to tell you that I am not a tall person so I did build muscle but I was starting to look like a fire plug !!! & I was getting up there .. at 50 my body protested more than it did at 30 .

This bring me to today .. when all I want to do is take a walk ! Funny but really it's OK .. I did the other stuff .. sometimes I wish I could go back .. and if I had the determination to I would .. but really ~~ I just want to take a walk !! nothing strenuous .. but refreshing and it is exercise .. sometimes that's all I have time for and all I really want .. to take a walk.. get outside .. clear my head .. get some fresh air and a new perspective on my life .

My body doesn't protest when I take a walk .. it rejoices !!! and when I come home my cheeks are rosy and my mind is clear and I felt like I did something for me .I can hear the birds and look at the sky and check out the neighborhood .It really is a fun thing to do .

So let your mind & your body Thank You ~do something for you !~ take a walk today !!!

STREGA NONA

Grandmom , Nona , Mimi or Nanny , it doesn't matter what name they call you ~being a grandparent is a very special feeling ... I was a young mom .. had my son at 20 and my daughter when I was 24 .. during that time I didn't know much myself and it is amazing to me that I now have two wonderful grown children .. I always felt kids should come with an instruction manual but no .. life is it's own teacher and so I learned as I went .. now comes the good part ~I am a grandmother to 5 beautiful boys !

I treasure every moment with them , teaching them to cook ~ we make gnocchi.. teaching them to bake ~ we make cookies ! and also just sitting down and reading to them ,trying to give them a sense of family and friends.

This past Christmas I was given a wonderful gift by the two young ladies , Peggy & Megan ,who help me with my cooking classes..... they gave me STREGA NONA. The Story of Strega Nona & Big Anthony has become a favorite with my grandsons .. I read it to them every day ! It is a heartwarming story of an Italian grandmom witch who lives in Calabria .The story focus on FAMIGLIA (family) ,MANGIA ( eating ) AMICI ,( friends )PAZIENZE, ( patience) CELEBRAZIONE (celebrations)& AMORE ( love )~ All of my favorite things !

Strega Nona says " A magical life begins with family " ~" Eating together brings joy"~
"Remember your friends and they will remember you "~"Patience is not always easy "~"Always share your love and it will bring you a magical life "
and this is my favorite "The most important celebration is life itself "

We are often swept away with a busy life but we can all learn something ..even from a children's book !So listen to Strega Nona .. make time for family and friends .. eating wonderful food .. celebrate life little pleasures and remember to have patience !!! You too can bring magic to your life !

INSPIRATION

Inspiration.. we all need it .. it is only human to find that some mornings are harder to face than others.. some situations in our life won't go away .. the news brings us down .. the bills keep coming .. we go day to day without making changes and we just feel the same .. but we wish for more .. we want better...

I look for inspiration every where .. I want to change my life for the better every day .. I want happiness and smiles and a satisfaction that I am making a difference in my life.. that I am doing all I can do .. that when I sit in a rocking chair many years from now .. I will have lived a good , interesting and full life .. without regrets ~My life is now .. not tomorrow , not next week or next year .. I have to do it now ..

Changes are not always easy and if we look at the whole picture it is sometimes daunting .. but I say .. take one little step at a time .. look at the changes you want to make and just take one step every day towards your goal .. and before you know it you will be there.

Keeping a journal or just writing on a note pad every morning helps .. A few years back I came across a book by JULIA CAMERON " THE ARTISTS WAY "in this book she encourages a practice called morning pages.. it is just the act of writing 3 full pages of thoughts every morning before you do anything else .. she says to write .. just write .. don't worry about spelling, punctuation, or anyone reading it .. it is for your eyes alone .. you can even destroy it as soon as you write it .. the idea behind this is to get all those thoughts that run around in your head ~out of your head .. so you can think clearly and also make decisions based on your thoughts and feelings .

For years I have done this off and on .. I fall by the wayside every once in a while but to tell you the truth my life is better when I do this ...sometimes I rant & rave .. sometimes I brainstorm and sometimes I just write nonsensical things~Lots of times by the time I finish writing I made a decision about something or I feel better about a problem that was bothering me .

I encourage you to try it ! It can't hurt and it's free !

SOMETHING SINFULL

We all need a little sin in our lives ..don't get all excited now !~I am talking about Chocolate .. for some reason chocolate makes us feel good .. comforts us .. takes that bad taste out of our mouth .. makes us feel sexy .... ( ok maybe I am going too far ) but when I need something sweet I usually head for the Hersey Kisses .

Chocolate taste different all over the world ...I was recently in Seattle and we went to a place called Theo's Chocolate's ( www.theochocolate.com)... there they combine chocolate with flavors you wouldn't expect ~Burnt Sugar ~Fig Fennel ~Lavender Jalapeno & they were all delicious !!

Chocolate makes us feel good .. so here are some fast ,fabulous, fun recipes to satisfy that chocolate urge !

CHOCOLATE ESPRESSO SAUCE

1/2 CUP BREWED ESPRESSO ( OR JUST SOME STRONG COFFEE)
2 CUPS HEAVY CREAM
2 TBS SUGAR
2 CUPS CHOCOLATE CHIPS

~COMBINE IN SAUCEPAN & WHISK UNTIL ALL CHOCOLATE IS MELTED .. POUR OVER ICE CREAM , BROWNIES , ANYTHING YOU WANT !!!




CHOCOLATE OBSESSION

2 CUPS CHOCOLATE CHIPS
10 TBS BUTTER MELTED
1 TBS VANILLA EXTRACT

6 EGGS
PINCH SALT

~MELT BUTTER & CHOCOLATE CHIPS ,STIR IN VANILLA
~BEAT EGGS WITH PINCH OF SALT UNTIL VERY FLUFFY
~FOLD EGG MIXTURE INTO CHOCOLATE MIXTURE , POUR INTO OVEN PROOF DISH , BAKE @ 350 FOR 35 MINUTES OR SO , COOL AND SPRINKLE WITH POWDERED SUGAR OR SERVE WITH VANILLA ICE CREAM
it will be soft in the middle !!!

SOUP IN MINUTES

In keeping with the wonderful winter weather we have here I found a recipe that was my mom's for a really easy & satisfying soup .. it is an Italian version of egg drop soup called STRACCIATELLA.. it is so fast and easy .. you can make it in minutes .

Everyone always asks me why the people in Italy are not heavy .. with the fabulous food there and the 4 hour meals you would think the country would have a weight problem ~ but no .. you seldom see overweight people in Italy and I think it is because they eat fresh foods .. they eat what is in season and they eat at a table .. not in the car or standing by the fridge.

We owe it to ourselves to take care of our body .. I was blessed with a new grandson this past week and when I was holding him I thought to myself " if this little guy can realize that the body he has now will carry him through his life ~he would take such good care of it !"

So with that in mind ~ watch what you put into your body .. eat as good as you can .. enjoy your food .. eat fresh and for goodness sake eat sitting down .. with family or friends if at all possible ..on the good china .. with candles and flowers .. make it special because YOU are special ! it will make a difference in your life .

STRACCIATELLA
ITALIAN EGG DROP SOUP

8 cups chicken broth
4 eggs~ beat well
1/2 cup parmesan cheese
2 tbs all purpose flour
1 cup finely chopped fresh spinach
1 tbs chopped flat leaf Italian parsley
salt & pepper

~in a large pot , heat 6 cups of chicken broth on high heat almost to boiling .In a separate bowl , combine 4 eggs ,2 cups additional broth with flour ,cheese , spinach , parsley , salt & pepper ..beat well & add slowly to soup , whisking 5 minutes or so until egg is cooked . Serve topped with additional cheese

FOOD FOR THE SOUL & A SNOWY DAY

Nothing makes me what to cook more than snow .. so as big fat flakes drift by my window .. I am headed to the kitchen to make a old stand by and a fabulously easy soup .. my version of Pasta fagioli . My mother makes all her food from scratch but in this day and age I am happy to use shortcuts .. I think more of us would cook if we knew we wouldn't have to spend the day in the kitchen .. so this version of an old traditional soup combines several short cuts that allows you to have soup within an hour ! Now if you prefer to soak your beans instead of using canned beans ~by all means please do .. but for those of us who would like to prepare a hardy delicious soup in minutes here is the recipe :

PASTA FAGIOLI

1~ 40 oz can of white beans , drained and rinsed well
2 tbs olive oil
2 tbs butter melted
2 cloves of garlic chopped fine
1 cup or 1 onion chopped
1 cup celery chopped
1 cup carrot chopped
1/4 cup chopped flat leaf Italian parsley
1/2 cup shredded basil
salt& pepper to taste
2 cups marinara sauce
2 ~40 oz cans chicken broth
1 lb ditalini pasta ( or any small pasta ) cooked and drained
1/2 cup grated parmesan chesse ( more for garnish )

~in a soup pot melt butter with olive oil and add garlic , onion, carrots , celery, parsley & basil
cook for about 15 mintues or until vegetables are soft, fragrant and transparent~add remaining ingredientsand simmer on low heat for about 1/2 hour or so .. serve with fresh grated parmesan cheese and some shredded leaves of basil... wonderful delicious & easy !

live,laugh,cook

This will be my intro to blogging , something I've always wanted to do but for some reason , stayed away from .. like the saying goes "If you think you can't ~you won't.. but if you think you can ~ you will" .. so this morning I thought "why not " and here I am !

I am a first generation Italian American.. my Dad was born in Italy and came to this country in 1954 to marry my Mom in an arranged marriage .. they just celebrated their 55 th anniversary .. and who said arranged marriages don't work !

I grew up thinking everyone was Italian .. we lived in a very Italian neighborhood.. with a corner grocer and a butcher along with the hucksters that passed everyday selling everything from fish to brooms to rocking chairs .. Crusty warm loafs of bread were delivered daily by the breadman ..
I ate fabulous comforting foods every day .. pasta was a staple and it seemed that my mother was always in the kitchen .

Food played an important part in my life .. we celebrated , commiserated ,talked about , planned meals and shared recipes on a daily basis ...our home was always filled with the aromas of our family meals ..my life , at an early age with surrounded by food . It is something I took for granted until I realized that not everyone ate like we did .

This abundance of food and flavor influenced my life .. I started my catering business in 1986 , a novice in the business world but an expert on eating good food .. I started teaching cooking class almost immediately~ wanting to share everything I knew about good home-cooked food .Over the years this business has grown and I am cooking my way through my life .. enjoying every morsel!

This blog will be a collection of stories , recipes and reminiscing of wonderful,delicious and above all comforting foods .. I hope you enjoy it!