I have read on more than one occasion that we shouldn't use food to socialize. I have read about the "dangers" of teaching our children that food equals love. Self help books say that we shouldn't give food such a big role in our lives. Food is sustenance, nothing more. We should eat to live, not live to eat. It's not healthy to find comfort in food, or so we are told.
Well, as an Italian girl from Brooklyn, I say, "What a load of bologna!" (See what I did there? I used food as a METAPHOR!!)
I am proud to use food as an expression of love and I have yet to have anyone object to it. When a friend is sick or has had surgery or a baby - I get straight to work pulling out my big pots and making soup. Chicken Noodle, Pasta Fajioli (we say Fazool), Minestrone, Chick Pea Soup....they all do a body good. In the process, I feel better too. I feel useful.
Last year, I delivered a pot of minestrone to a friend of mine with a nice, crusty loaf of bread. You could see her mood brighten as she sat up a little taller. She made her way to the table, took a deep breath to enjoy the delicious smell of it and started eating. She dipped her bread and cleaned her plate and smiled. Now tell me again how that's not "Mmmm, mmmm, good!"
I highly doubt that rice cakes and tofu or some other "sustenance" would have inspired the same reaction.
I watched my Mom make a week's worth of meals for her dear friend who had undergone brain surgery and I never forgot it. She labeled the containers and even included instructions and serving suggestions. Although things were uncertain at the time, Mom could always be certain of her baked ziti. She was also certain that her friends would get hungry, and if you're going to eat, shouldn't it great?
I will also add this: If snow days and sick days don't make you think of tomato soup and grilled cheese, there was something severely wrong with your childhood.
When my friends and I gather for a dinner party, we all have fun getting together and tasting the various creations each couple has made for that night's theme. We've done Cuban, Indian, Chocolate, Steakhouse, My Big Fat Italian Wedding...many more than I can even remember. It's exciting when we all get the notice of the theme and then our imagination take us on a journey as we take on a culinary challenge. The day of the party, I find I am anticipating with great delight what everyone will make. How nice it is to know we are all thinking of each other as we cook our assigned dishes! How sweet to experience the thoughtful preparation! Yes, being thought of, being cooked for, going the extra mile for someone, this IS love. Let's stop apologizing for it.
What else should we do when we gather? Play cards? Sure! But not without snacks!
Watch the game? Yes! But not without a beer and chicken wings! We can finally see that movie? Absolutely! Pass the popcorn!
My Great-Aunt used to set an extra place in her dining room every Sunday before serving up a macaroni feast. Every week that unexpected (or should I say "expected"?) guest arrived. Why? Because they knew they were always welcome.
There's always a place for you at my table my friend. Have a seat. Let me fix you a plate. Later we'll talk - over coffee.
Taste that? It's love.
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Recipe: Minestrone Soup
More of an ingredient list than a recipe, here are the basics of my minestrone soup. The beauty of it is that you use whatever veggies you have handy. Don't worry if you don't have them all, but Olive Oil, Onion and Garlic are required.
3 TBS Olive Oil
2 cloves of finely chopped garlic
1 medium onion - diced
1 basket of sliced mushrooms
2 Zucchini quartered and diced
2 carrots diced
1/2-1 pkg of frozen chopped spinach (thawed)
2 cans of cannelini beans
2 qts of chicken or vegetable broth or stock
Salt and Pepper
2 TBS tomato paste (optional)
2-3 leaves leaves of basil (never hurts!)
1/2 lb of small sized pasta (elbows, mini-shells, mini-farfalle)
Saute garlic and onion in olive oil. Be careful not to burn.
Add sliced mushrooms. Salt and pepper to taste.
When mushrooms have softened and begin to brown, add 1 qt of broth.
Add zucchini and carrots. Add second qt of broth.
Simmer under vegetables are tender.
Add chopped spinach.
Add 2 cans of beans with liquid. Cooke until tender.
Add paste if desired or to thicken soup. Add Basil.
Boil water for pasta.
Cook pasta as directed. I don't add the cooked pasta to the soup as it absorbs the soup and makes the pasta mushy. Put a serving of pasta in each bowl and then add the soup.
Sprinkle with grated Parmesan cheese and enjoy!!
Other veggies you can use - squash, diced tomatoes, grean beans, potatoes, cabbage, anything! Be creative!
Thursday, September 22, 2011
Thursday, September 15, 2011
Catchphrase Crazies
Last weekend brought me to Chicago and a wonderful visit with my father's cousin Josephine, her husband Tony and family on the occasion of their 50th Anniversary.
I love everything about this trip. I love that my Mom and my Aunt Maria were there. I love my Chicago Casale Cousins. I love how loving and silly and familar we all are with each other - even family I was meeting for the first time. I love Chicago: the people, the food,the city itself - there's no place like it.
And I love this trip's catchphrase.
Whenever we go on vacation, we seem to invent and latch onto a catchphrase and repeat it at every turn. It's an exercise in comic timing that never fails. We find ourselves laughing all day long, everyday, for a week.
This time around it was when Aunt Maria inadvertently responded to one of us with this question, "Are you serious?"
My Mom then relayed the story of a girl who works with my brother. She says this all the time, only like this, "Are you seer-vee-ous?" Say it with me: "Seerveeous."
So here's how it goes: Sunlight is peeking through the curtains and Aunt Maria tells us we have to get up if we want to make the free breakfast.
"What time is it?"
"8:20."
"Are you seerveeous?"
We drive to downtown Chicago where the parking is not cheap. How much?
"$25 for two hours."
"Are you seeveeous?"
We order a stuffed pizza from Giordano's. The menu says it serves 3-4 people. It weighs about 9 pounds.
"Are they seerveeous?"
We ask a couple of Chicagoans how to get to the Randolph Street parking garage from where we were in Dale Plaza.
"You have to walk up that ramp and then walk 2 blocks in that direction."
We ask simultaneously, "ARE YOU SEERVEEOUS?"
Then we all bust out laughing like only we can.
And we don't care if anyone else gets it. In fact, it's probably funnier if they don't.
I'm not sure why we do this. Perhaps it's just the burning desire of all of us to inject a little funny into everything. It's the beauty of the inside joke. The joy of the callback. I know I am throwing the scenarios at you at a rapid-fire pace, but we sprinkled them throughout the day as perfectly timed gems and we laughed just as hard each time.
So this catchphrase will go down in history with all the rest, and we will take it out and dust it off and perhaps use it the next time we are together.
I dare you not to say it today. I'm seerveeous.
I love everything about this trip. I love that my Mom and my Aunt Maria were there. I love my Chicago Casale Cousins. I love how loving and silly and familar we all are with each other - even family I was meeting for the first time. I love Chicago: the people, the food,the city itself - there's no place like it.
And I love this trip's catchphrase.
Whenever we go on vacation, we seem to invent and latch onto a catchphrase and repeat it at every turn. It's an exercise in comic timing that never fails. We find ourselves laughing all day long, everyday, for a week.
This time around it was when Aunt Maria inadvertently responded to one of us with this question, "Are you serious?"
My Mom then relayed the story of a girl who works with my brother. She says this all the time, only like this, "Are you seer-vee-ous?" Say it with me: "Seerveeous."
So here's how it goes: Sunlight is peeking through the curtains and Aunt Maria tells us we have to get up if we want to make the free breakfast.
"What time is it?"
"8:20."
"Are you seerveeous?"
We drive to downtown Chicago where the parking is not cheap. How much?
"$25 for two hours."
"Are you seeveeous?"
We order a stuffed pizza from Giordano's. The menu says it serves 3-4 people. It weighs about 9 pounds.
"Are they seerveeous?"
We ask a couple of Chicagoans how to get to the Randolph Street parking garage from where we were in Dale Plaza.
"You have to walk up that ramp and then walk 2 blocks in that direction."
We ask simultaneously, "ARE YOU SEERVEEOUS?"
Then we all bust out laughing like only we can.
And we don't care if anyone else gets it. In fact, it's probably funnier if they don't.
I'm not sure why we do this. Perhaps it's just the burning desire of all of us to inject a little funny into everything. It's the beauty of the inside joke. The joy of the callback. I know I am throwing the scenarios at you at a rapid-fire pace, but we sprinkled them throughout the day as perfectly timed gems and we laughed just as hard each time.
So this catchphrase will go down in history with all the rest, and we will take it out and dust it off and perhaps use it the next time we are together.
I dare you not to say it today. I'm seerveeous.
Monday, September 05, 2011
A Place of No
I am sitting here watching "The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills," one of my many, many reality show guilty pleasures. I am going to set aside the tragic events of the summer (a divorce of one couple leads to the suicide of the ex-husband). What I want to talk about (at first) is dogs at the dinner table.
Yes my friends, dogs at the dinner table.
I'll set the scene. Big, fancy, multi-multi-multi-million dollar house. It doesn't even matter whose. She's serving a bottle of $2,200 champagne. The idea of this is digusting to me. They are drinking somebody else's mortgage.
Now The British Couple walk in with their ever present mini-dogs. The dogs are dressed to the nines. Eh. Who cares? A dog in a tuxedo is still a dog. Walking in with them is one thing. Sitting down with them is another.
But no one says a word. No one says, "Hey, that's kind of gross," or, "What lovely manners that your elbows are off the table. Unfortnately, your dog's paws are on it."
I understand that there are some cultural differences that may seperate people, but I'm pretty sure that this is bad form that crosses all socio-economic boudaries. I think this is something that everyone can agree on. Because let's be clear, I don't care kind of house you live in - or if you serve champagne or RC Cola - the rules is the rules! But somehow, this couple has thinks that they are sitting on enough money that not only don't the rules of the world apply to them. and they are pretty damn sure that no one will challenge them on it.
And so here we have a problem that runs rampant through the rich in famous: They have no one in their lives to tell them, "No."
"No Ms. Lohan, you can't snort that in the VIP lounge."
"No Michael, you shouldn't put a carousel in the front yard, or buy the Elephant Man Bones, or have a sleepover with children who are not your own."
"No Lady Gaga, I don't think the meat dress is a good idea."
"I'm sorry Elvis, I can't write you a prescription."
"No Charlie. I don't think living with porn stars is a good environment for your kids...No, I don't think that tiger's blood is for consumption. And one other thing...No. You are definitely NOT winning."
I am not saying that dogs at the dinner table = drug use = death. I'm just saying that in many ways, big and small, the world would be a better place if sometimes we came from a place of "No."
Yes my friends, dogs at the dinner table.
I'll set the scene. Big, fancy, multi-multi-multi-million dollar house. It doesn't even matter whose. She's serving a bottle of $2,200 champagne. The idea of this is digusting to me. They are drinking somebody else's mortgage.
Now The British Couple walk in with their ever present mini-dogs. The dogs are dressed to the nines. Eh. Who cares? A dog in a tuxedo is still a dog. Walking in with them is one thing. Sitting down with them is another.
But no one says a word. No one says, "Hey, that's kind of gross," or, "What lovely manners that your elbows are off the table. Unfortnately, your dog's paws are on it."
I understand that there are some cultural differences that may seperate people, but I'm pretty sure that this is bad form that crosses all socio-economic boudaries. I think this is something that everyone can agree on. Because let's be clear, I don't care kind of house you live in - or if you serve champagne or RC Cola - the rules is the rules! But somehow, this couple has thinks that they are sitting on enough money that not only don't the rules of the world apply to them. and they are pretty damn sure that no one will challenge them on it.
And so here we have a problem that runs rampant through the rich in famous: They have no one in their lives to tell them, "No."
"No Ms. Lohan, you can't snort that in the VIP lounge."
"No Michael, you shouldn't put a carousel in the front yard, or buy the Elephant Man Bones, or have a sleepover with children who are not your own."
"No Lady Gaga, I don't think the meat dress is a good idea."
"I'm sorry Elvis, I can't write you a prescription."
"No Charlie. I don't think living with porn stars is a good environment for your kids...No, I don't think that tiger's blood is for consumption. And one other thing...No. You are definitely NOT winning."
I am not saying that dogs at the dinner table = drug use = death. I'm just saying that in many ways, big and small, the world would be a better place if sometimes we came from a place of "No."
Friday, September 02, 2011
Hello...Yeah...It's Been A While.....
....Not much. How 'bout you?
OK - I'm lying. A LOT has been going on, but let's ease into it.
The blog is back baby. It's back with a new look, some new features (please vote in my weekly poll!), and a lot of catching up to do. But we'll get there, I mean it.
I feel really energized when September rolls around. It just feels like it's time to hit the reset button.
School has started and my mind goes back to my favorite teacher, Miss Carvo, who told me on more than one occaision, "A writer writes." She also would listen to whatever I said I wanted to do and would say two words, "Get going."
So here I am.
Like most of the world, a couple of years ago I began a love affair with Facebook which has been wonderful for so many reasons. But it seems that my desire to comment on my FB friends' snappy statuses and write my own, coupled with me churning out more and more stand up comedy, kept me from here.
But that's only part of the story.
The other part is that these past 2 years have been difficult and filled with a lot of sad, life-changing events. (Wait, wait, wait!!! Don't leave!) And while I always pride myself on finding humor in times of stress, times of deep sorrow are completely different. While I have a desire to share my thoughts and emotions with you my dear reader, I wonder if all the tough stuff is really what you are looking for when you come here.
Plus, there's certain things I just wasn't ready to talk about. I may never be ready to talk about them. Sometimes this makes me feel dishonest. Life is full of lots of things happening at once, but how does it look to put out a cute story for the masses about something adorable my daughter said, when at the same time my uncle was dying? Can my content still be personal without being so personal?
When something deep is happening, can I still swim in the shallow end of the pool? Will you meet me there?
I think I am learning that the answer is yes. I think I am realizing that I need to trust my readers more. If you know something big is happening in the world and it doesn't show up in the blog, I have to trust that you won't judge me. I'll talk about it when I'm ready. Or I won't.
And if I don't address the elephant that some of you know is in the room, that OK too, right? After all, it's my elephant and this is my room.
I write all of this knowing full well that I am breaking a blogging rule - Don't talk about how you have been remiss in blogging on your blog. Well, sorry. I guess I'm just a rule breaker.
I will keep writing and adding elements and making changes to keep things fresh. I'll fill in the gaps and keep you up to date. I hope you will comment so I know that you are here. I hope you will share posts you like with your friends.
I want to get back on this train and see where it takes me. When I started blogging 6 years ago, it took me to the stage as a stand up comic. Who knows where it will go next?
Who's with me?
OK - I'm lying. A LOT has been going on, but let's ease into it.
The blog is back baby. It's back with a new look, some new features (please vote in my weekly poll!), and a lot of catching up to do. But we'll get there, I mean it.
I feel really energized when September rolls around. It just feels like it's time to hit the reset button.
School has started and my mind goes back to my favorite teacher, Miss Carvo, who told me on more than one occaision, "A writer writes." She also would listen to whatever I said I wanted to do and would say two words, "Get going."
So here I am.
Like most of the world, a couple of years ago I began a love affair with Facebook which has been wonderful for so many reasons. But it seems that my desire to comment on my FB friends' snappy statuses and write my own, coupled with me churning out more and more stand up comedy, kept me from here.
But that's only part of the story.
The other part is that these past 2 years have been difficult and filled with a lot of sad, life-changing events. (Wait, wait, wait!!! Don't leave!) And while I always pride myself on finding humor in times of stress, times of deep sorrow are completely different. While I have a desire to share my thoughts and emotions with you my dear reader, I wonder if all the tough stuff is really what you are looking for when you come here.
Plus, there's certain things I just wasn't ready to talk about. I may never be ready to talk about them. Sometimes this makes me feel dishonest. Life is full of lots of things happening at once, but how does it look to put out a cute story for the masses about something adorable my daughter said, when at the same time my uncle was dying? Can my content still be personal without being so personal?
When something deep is happening, can I still swim in the shallow end of the pool? Will you meet me there?
I think I am learning that the answer is yes. I think I am realizing that I need to trust my readers more. If you know something big is happening in the world and it doesn't show up in the blog, I have to trust that you won't judge me. I'll talk about it when I'm ready. Or I won't.
And if I don't address the elephant that some of you know is in the room, that OK too, right? After all, it's my elephant and this is my room.
I write all of this knowing full well that I am breaking a blogging rule - Don't talk about how you have been remiss in blogging on your blog. Well, sorry. I guess I'm just a rule breaker.
I will keep writing and adding elements and making changes to keep things fresh. I'll fill in the gaps and keep you up to date. I hope you will comment so I know that you are here. I hope you will share posts you like with your friends.
I want to get back on this train and see where it takes me. When I started blogging 6 years ago, it took me to the stage as a stand up comic. Who knows where it will go next?
Who's with me?
Google Stole My Brain
I know a lot of stuff. Just ask my husband. He will tell you I said so.
Just ask my kids. I force them to watch "Jeopardy" every night just so I can show off. While I probably shouldn't be so proud to know so much about "Potent Potables" (Cleared the category!), nothing gives me more pleasure than amazing them with my rapid-fire answers (in the form of questions of course). Let's face it, it's no fun shouting, "What is the Guggenheim?" to an empty room.
There are times that I don't always know what I thought I knew, or used to know. Back in the day, I had to call my mother for this type of information.
"What was the name of the actor in "Rebel Without a Cause" - not James Dean."
"Sal Mineo."
Ah! Thanks Mom! I feel better now!
Mom was the original Google.
Here's the only problem with Mom-as-Google: I can't call just to get the tidbit of info I need. I have to also have an actual conversation. Now, don't get me wrong, I love talking to my mother, but my trivia needs are many and varied. We are talking a lot of calls. At any given hour it could go like this:
"Hey Mom, what's that gum paste candy called?"
"Marzapan."
CLICK!
"Tony Curtis's real name?"
"Bernie Schwartz."
CLICK!
"That ship that sank? Not the Titanic."
"The Andrea..."
CLICK!
"...Doria. Got it."
That's just rude!
Also, it's not always convenient to call Mom anyway. So, I'd have to save up my queries and remember them later.
Then one day, God gave us Google, and it was good.
Now, I don't have to remain curious about anything for long. In addition, my questions are usually answered with words and pictures and video clips.
Wiki-pedia has replaced the encyclopedia (remember THOSE?). Never mind accuracy or truth. It's INSTANT ANSWERS! The day I can walk over to a bookshelf and shout, "Why does my cat purr?" and a book comes flying off and opens itself up the relevant page, reads itself to me and shows me adorable kitten videos, well, then I would give up Google. But that's not going to happen.
One of my favorite things is to Google part of a song lyric that I sort-of-kind-of heard half of and .25 seconds later - there it is. Wow!
I'm quite certain there is an epedemic of web self-diagnosing going on. On more than one occaision, I've walked into the doctor with the name of the medication I was sure I needed. Let those who have not Googled a symptom cast the first stone.
I have spent many a sleepless night researching whatever is worrying me within an inch of its life. In theory, knowledge is power. In reality, I wish I could Google my problem and have Google answer with, "Don't worry Joanne. Everything's going to be OK."
On some level, I'm sure there are synapes dying because Google. The stuff I used to have to reach way back into my brain to remember is now literally at my fingertips.
The beauty of the search engine - that nothing is unknowable - it also the thing that makes me uneasy. While I love Google, Google Earth creeps me out. The camera swooping down from outer-space until it gets to my driveway is disconcerting(is that me in the window??). No more naked pilates!
We also love to Google because if ever there is a debate about a correct answer, we have an uninterested 3rd party to resolve the issue. And by the way, women are correct 73% more often than their husbands.
I know it's true because I Googled it.
Just ask my kids. I force them to watch "Jeopardy" every night just so I can show off. While I probably shouldn't be so proud to know so much about "Potent Potables" (Cleared the category!), nothing gives me more pleasure than amazing them with my rapid-fire answers (in the form of questions of course). Let's face it, it's no fun shouting, "What is the Guggenheim?" to an empty room.
There are times that I don't always know what I thought I knew, or used to know. Back in the day, I had to call my mother for this type of information.
"What was the name of the actor in "Rebel Without a Cause" - not James Dean."
"Sal Mineo."
Ah! Thanks Mom! I feel better now!
Mom was the original Google.
Here's the only problem with Mom-as-Google: I can't call just to get the tidbit of info I need. I have to also have an actual conversation. Now, don't get me wrong, I love talking to my mother, but my trivia needs are many and varied. We are talking a lot of calls. At any given hour it could go like this:
"Hey Mom, what's that gum paste candy called?"
"Marzapan."
CLICK!
"Tony Curtis's real name?"
"Bernie Schwartz."
CLICK!
"That ship that sank? Not the Titanic."
"The Andrea..."
CLICK!
"...Doria. Got it."
That's just rude!
Also, it's not always convenient to call Mom anyway. So, I'd have to save up my queries and remember them later.
Then one day, God gave us Google, and it was good.
Now, I don't have to remain curious about anything for long. In addition, my questions are usually answered with words and pictures and video clips.
Wiki-pedia has replaced the encyclopedia (remember THOSE?). Never mind accuracy or truth. It's INSTANT ANSWERS! The day I can walk over to a bookshelf and shout, "Why does my cat purr?" and a book comes flying off and opens itself up the relevant page, reads itself to me and shows me adorable kitten videos, well, then I would give up Google. But that's not going to happen.
One of my favorite things is to Google part of a song lyric that I sort-of-kind-of heard half of and .25 seconds later - there it is. Wow!
I'm quite certain there is an epedemic of web self-diagnosing going on. On more than one occaision, I've walked into the doctor with the name of the medication I was sure I needed. Let those who have not Googled a symptom cast the first stone.
I have spent many a sleepless night researching whatever is worrying me within an inch of its life. In theory, knowledge is power. In reality, I wish I could Google my problem and have Google answer with, "Don't worry Joanne. Everything's going to be OK."
On some level, I'm sure there are synapes dying because Google. The stuff I used to have to reach way back into my brain to remember is now literally at my fingertips.
The beauty of the search engine - that nothing is unknowable - it also the thing that makes me uneasy. While I love Google, Google Earth creeps me out. The camera swooping down from outer-space until it gets to my driveway is disconcerting(is that me in the window??). No more naked pilates!
We also love to Google because if ever there is a debate about a correct answer, we have an uninterested 3rd party to resolve the issue. And by the way, women are correct 73% more often than their husbands.
I know it's true because I Googled it.
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