I’m still recovering from a week of food preparation and a day of serious hostessing. The heavens smiled on me and food magic happened, which means all my food turned out great, except for the gravy, which was a little iffy. From now on, it’s only flour, no cornstarch in my gravy. My guests were wonderful, there were no awkward pauses in conversation, and my kid’s friends turned…
Easter• Extras• Holidays• Side Dishes• Thanksgiving
Shut-up Conscience, I'm Making Memories
December 4, 2014I have the same battle with myself every day, sometimes several times a day. Last weekend it sounded like this: Conscience: What are you doing? You’re making Thanksgiving dinner for your kids and their friends, three days after Thanksgiving, when you should be working on that book you’re always talking about — or applying for jobs! What’s more important: work or making your daughter’s favorite corn casserole?…
I promised news of the victory in the Annual Cutthroat Tunno Pie Competition and I’m delivering it, but it’s not a surprise. Yes, my nephew Chris somehow pulled off another win. (If we find out he’s putting controlled substances in his pies to make everyone vote for him, he’s in big trouble.) But the big news is the First Runner Up. In second place, was my great-nephew Nate!…
Baking• Family Traditions• Holidays• Pies• Thanksgiving• Thoughts on Life
The Cutthroat Annual Tunno Pumpkin Pie Contest
November 26, 2014
Remember the nice story I wrote last week about my family loving each other because my mom was a great cook and so nurturing and wonderful? Most of the time that’s true, until it’s time for the cutthroat Annual Tunno Pumpkin Pie Contest. It commences right after Thanksgiving dinner, which is a good thing because we’re all too full to move, let alone hurt each other. I’ve only…
Extras• Holidays• Italian Mom Stories• Side Dishes• Thanksgiving• Thoughts on Life
Tang God for Patty- A Thanksgiving Story – Sort of
November 14, 2014My brothers were smart, they knew not to bring girls they dated home. The few times they did, Mom would be nice, unless the girl happened to touch them. Holding hands, snuggling, or showing any kind of affection meant she was a puttana and would never do for her sons. She never remembered names, only referring to them as, “datta gal,” as in, “Tella datta gal to eatta…
Extras• Family Traditions• GettaSommaDis - Fun Stuff to Buy!• Holidays• Side Dishes• Thanksgiving
November? What the hell?
November 7, 2014
I can’t believe it’s already November. To make it worse, everywhere I look the poor turkeys are being squeezed out by the holiday stuff. What the hell? It’s too bad because a holiday devoted to being thankful , and FOOD is my kind of holiday. I’ve always loved it — so much, that in college, we made Thanksgiving dinner and ate on two mattresses on the floor because…