Italian humor

Baking• Dipping Sauces, Spreads, Marinades and Salad Dressings• Italian Mom Stories• Pizza• Thoughts on Life

The Power of Pizza

September 18, 2014

My daughter just started college a few weeks ago. I hate to admit it, but it’s nice to be able to take a break from my indentured servitude with the PTA. I think I served for 12 years. PTA years are like dog years, so that’s close to an average life expectancy I put in. I did what I had time to do, but there were women and…

Italian Mom Stories• Thoughts on Life

My Mom, Bob Barker, and the Enduring Power of Dreams

September 10, 2014

(September 23rd will be the 32nd anniversary of my mom’s big debut on national television. After this story, which was originally called, “Da Holy Hour.” I have an accompanying YouTube video of my mom in action. Watch it after you read the story. If you ever thought I was making any of this stuff up, this video will prove I’m not.) Some women love athletes, others love actors,…

Family Traditions• Italian Mom Stories• Pasta, Polenta and Risotto• Thoughts on Life

Six Simple Words That Can End Your Life

September 2, 2014

Last weekend I made sauce for the first time in months. It even had the power to draw my daughter downstairs before 11 a.m. Still in her pajamas, sleepy-eyed, she said, “I love waking up to the smell of spaghetti sauce.” The smell is heavenly. The garlic and olive oil mingle with the sausage, tomatoes and herbs, filling your kitchen with tomatoey love. You should start cooking it…

Dipping Sauces, Spreads, Marinades and Salad Dressings• Italian Mom Stories• Pasta, Polenta and Risotto

If You Don't Make Your Own Pesto, You Should be Slapped

August 19, 2014

If you don’t make your own pesto, you should be slapped. * There I said it. That’s probably the most controversial thing you’ll see on this blog, and I mean it. Why? Because you’re passing up your moment of culinary immortality. Years from now, people will forget how you looked, what you said and what you wore, but they’ll never forget the creamy, fresh taste of your pasta…

Italian Mom Stories• Salads• Side Dishes• Vegan• Vegetables• Vegetarian

How My Italian Mom Weeded Out Prospective Suitors

August 8, 2014

It’s no surprise that I was 32 when I married. Frankly, I’m amazed I was that young because my mom had a way of winnowing out the weaker prospects pretty quickly. Any suitor who visited had to be warned about her because her childlike frankness left people stunned. To protect myself, I sat at the table with her, laughing too loud so whomever she was talking to knew…

Breakfast• Italian Dad Stories• Italian Mom Stories• Thoughts on Life

Dreaming of Spring

February 22, 2014

If you’re in a state that’s not Florida, California or Hawaii, right now you’re probably dreaming of spring. I live in California and I apologize up front. It just happened this way, I didn’t really plan it, so don’t hate me. I never gloat over the weather because I could be killed at any second by a terrifying mother of an earthquake. That pretty much evens things out…

Italian Mom Stories• Soups

Chicken Soup or Exlax?

February 12, 2014

Since this is flu season and you’re probably suffering through a pretty crappy winter, I wanted to post my mom’s chicken soup story and recipe. If you’re sick and miserable, at least you’ll be sick, miserable, laughing and well fed. If you’re able to read this story and not laugh, you should probably go to the hospital; you’re dying. As for the rest of you, reading this story…

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