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
The weatherman says 18 inches of snow by Wednesday. Chicagoans are getting their provisions— ready to hibernate, cozy-in— books, movies, games, fires, family, comfort-food, shovels, plows, chairs on the street, sleds and fun…for sure no school. I’m thinking Spring,.. missing the brights, the colors, especially yellow. And of Taline’s Tarte à l’onion with it’s warm bright … Continue reading
Nancy and John had a Chili and Cornbread Cook-Off. There were three categories, Chili, Vegetarian Chili, and Cornbread. What an aromatic… and filling. Fun and easy! After 4pm people started arriving with grins, boxes, pots, slow-cookers, beer, wine, and kids. A serious competition. This group is serious about their Chili. Pierre, The 2010 Rib Throwdown … Continue reading
I am working on the final draft of my book in progress, Italian Handful. I went to the Art Institute Chicago where I could sit in the Ryerson and Burnham library (very silent and the seats have cushions) to read my manuscript undistracted, cover to cover, both feet on the ground, without a pen to … Continue reading
The Last Sunday of Summer. The afternoon air tinged with damp. The hum of energy and anticipation, furtive glances of you’re-too-late mixed with smiles of recognition, smart phone connections, looking, eating, reading, drinking, talking, laughing, watching, and waiting… The first concert under the baton of Grandissimo Maestro Riccardo Muti, the Chicago Symphony Orchestra’s new music … Continue reading
Taste of Pensacola, a Chicago neighborhood block party, cordoned off with cars at each end, so the kids can ride bikes and trikes on the street all day. Complete with a blown-up-bouncing??? like a trampoline on steroids??? machine? Where children bounce up and down, giggling, falling, getting up again, sweating with exertion, breathless with fun. … Continue reading
A newbie in the world of social media, I left WordPress Camp Chicago with a head full of ideas and inspiration. The speakers were generous, information flowed and “networking” worthy of the name. Informed, appreciative and awed— my brain trailed tracks of acronyms— plugged-in to the web culture. Lisa Sabin-Wilson coordinated WPWordCampChicago. Lisa wrote WordPress … Continue reading
“Shoot for the moon. Even if you miss, you’ll land among the stars.” Les Brown. Olivia graduated Sunday from Columbia College in Chicago, with her BA in Marketing. Her mom said, “Great honey, for your first event, produce your graduation party!” Following a family tradition of deep delegation—Olivia assigned the menu. I was to bring … Continue reading
Spring is the time to pick dandelion greens. An Italian favorite, with it’s bitter bite…you know it has to be good for you! Chicago is bursting with Spring. Flowering Plum, Crabapple, Horse Chestnut, Lilac, Choke Cherry, and we even have the Maggie Daley Tulipa. Some blooms are already gone, preparing for the next stage, the … Continue reading
Spring in Chicago brings out the grills. Although, many Chicagoans bundled in jackets, boots and gloves never put their grills away, the sit-outside-season starts with the first sunny-over-60°-day or the onset of the Cubs and White Sox home games. John and Nancy have their garden started under-wraps and the grill going as they bounce on … Continue reading
Italian Handful 