“Stars and Stripes” Dessert … And “Over 21” Independence Day Jello-Shots**

“Stars and Stripes” Dessert … And “Over 21” Independence Day Jello-Shots**. Continue reading →

College Corned Beef Colcannon and Jamie’s Lemon Birthday Cake

Direct and to the point… What have you got? We came to teach them how to make a Corned Beef Colcannon and celebrate Jamie’s Birthday…  LET’S GO SHOPPING. RUSH back and get the pickling spices mixed with a bottle of beer and enough water to cover corned beef, fat side up. Bring to a boil … Continue reading →

When the Stars make you drool like … John’s Hearty Pasta Fazool that’s… Amore

Heart Throb… How many hearts did you break? How many songs did it take? VALENTINE IT’S YOU!  How many times, no clue— How many promises to be true? “Don’t be a fool, eat pasta fazool.”  In the mood to brood? Change your attitude… With  John’s  Hearty comfort food.  JOHN’S “HEARTY” PASTA FAZOOL INGREDIENTS: 2 tablespoons butter, divided … Continue reading →

2012 in review Sweet Fortune Cookie!

Thank you dear readers. May 2013 be filled with love, prosperity, good health and joy! The WordPress.com stats helper monkeys prepared a 2012 annual report for this blog. Here’s an excerpt: 4,329 films were submitted to the 2012 Cannes Film Festival. This blog had 51,000 views in 2012. If each view were a film, this … Continue reading →

Struffoli Balls Not From the Bakery For Anthony

This Strufolli recipe is for Anthony. Anthony commented on my Struffoi recipe…and gave me a great laugh. I ordered the Struffoli balls and didn’t make them… for Easter. Now it’s Christmas and time to make them again. Anthony’s Comment: “They look wonderful, but there’s no recipe! Go to an Italian bakery and BUY them? That’s … Continue reading →

Struffoli Italian Confetti Honey Balls

Struffoli, strufoli, struffoli—Italian Honey Balls! A Neapolitan dessert my Grandma Micaletti brought to every Easter Sunday family celebration I can remember—since I was a little girl. Grandma Micaletti, my dad’s mom, didn’t cook. She was a bakery girl. There never was a Struffoli recipe handed down in our family. My mom’s family was from Abruzzi. … Continue reading →

Italian Goose Deviled Egg Appetizer

At the Green City Farmer’s Market last weekend they were selling Goose Eggs. Huge! The Winter Farmer’s Market is alongside the North Pond in Lincoln Park. Last year I remember seeing these big broken shells around the pond, a “goose control squad” was piercing the eggs to control the goose population. Maybe we should start … Continue reading →

Not So “Easy” But Delicious “Lemon Squares”

Call it my Italian Spring thing. It begins with forsythia’s bright yellow star-shaped flowers, then childhood’s marshmallow “peeps” everywhere and before I know it I’m heading to the bakery for a Lemon Slice aka Lemon Square, Lemon bar— the same bright yellow shimmying pastry —but I’ve been using the wrong name. And I just got … Continue reading →

Tortilla Espanola

  Tortilla Espanola is one Spanish tapa I always order. I decided to make it— to go with the Seafood Paella Ole! It is sometimes served as a light dinner in Spanish homes with a salad. Tortilla Espanola 8-10 servings as an appetizer 7 medium potatoes or 12 small potatoes, peeled 6 large eggs or … Continue reading →

Valentine My Heart Beets For You

  Approach love and cooking with reckless abandon.   Dalai Lama Drab February festooned in ‘Chinese Red” for the Chinese New Year and Valentine Hearts. How smart! Red is one of the luckiest colors in Chinese traditions, standing for loyalty, success and happiness. Red underwear embroidered with the Chinese Zodiac for the year is one of … Continue reading →