Frosty the Snow Cone Man proudly sits on top of my refrigerator. I believe he’s considered an antique now, as am I. Frosty is a plastic toy from my childhood. He was sold in the 60s as a gadget to help kids make snow cones…and friends (according to this advertisement). I don’t remember the commercial, or an influx of friends, but I know I begged for him and…
I was listening to Alexa broadcasting my favorite news program this Memorial Day morning and realized, once again, how lucky I am to be here. I wouldn’t be if it wasn’t for the ultimate sacrifice a couple of soldiers made during World War II. This is a re-post of a blog I wrote seven years ago, but it means just as much to me now as it did…
I didn’t know I was different. I just assumed everyone’s mother had an electric Jesus she told her problems to and a collection of saints that could fill a room. I thought everyone invited you in, filled the table with food, then cried when you didn’t eat enough. Then I got older and saw very calm white women on TV who baked cookies, wore pearls and aprons and never…
It’s amazing how much a reasonably confident bread baker can learn by screwing up a recipe. This week was a learning experience for me after attempting my mother’s scrawled Easter Bread recipe. I learned: Once it finally rose, my mom’s bread looked pretty good. I was feeling very positive, but was still concerned because I’d never used her recipe before. So, I decided to make that Finnish Spring…
I am hosting Easter on Sunday. I’ve bought almost everything I could think of, so since Easter is a few days away, and I was feeling both nostalgic and brave, I thought I’d give my mom’s original Easter Bread recipe a try. This meant putting my faith in Mom’s words on a yellowed, grease-spotted paper that’s more than 40 years old. I found the spots reassuring thinking she…
When you move to a new area it takes a while to discover all the hidden gems. Living in Harmony, PA was easy because it only had about seven businesses. Pittsburgh is a little more daunting, but my nephew, Matt recommended a little area called Millvale. It’s one of those formerly beaten up Pittsburgh towns that looks a little gritty, but is resurrecting itself, one small business at…
Ever try a recipe and think, Wow, this is so good, it couldn’t possibly be better? That’s what happened to me in 2014. Then you make the recipe again, change something, and think, Whoa, I am a genius! I had my genius moment with lemon ricotta cookies, a recipe I got years ago from Theresa, my ex’s lovely first wife and all round good human. The first time…
I’ve been enjoying the tentative little tendrils poking their tiny heads out of the ground wondering if it’s OK to be out. They must know these are dangerous times. Old Man Winter can come back and blow through at any moment. But the more days we get in the 50s and 60s, the bolder they get. Daffodils don’t give a damn. As soon as there’s a thaw, they…
I was at Giant Eagle today. It’s a strange name for a grocery store and people here often pronounce it as Jiiiihn Iggle, but at least it’s not a Piggly Wiggly. I was browsing because I just got my refund from Social Security and was feeling as flush as a retiree on Social Security can feel, so I decided to stock up a bit. I was looking at…
Happy Valentine’s Day! I wish you happiness on this love-fest of a day, which I detested in college because the parade of flowers always went to the other girls, but never to me or my close friends. Of course I was jealous! Who doesn’t want someone who you’re crazy about to love you back and lavish you with gifts? I’d like to say I’m much more mature now…