Need something healthy, delicious, inexpensive and easy to make as an appetizer for Thanksgiving? I’m going to say hummus, and you’re going to yawn and say, “Yeah, big deal, I can buy that at the store.” But you will be oh so wrong. You can get it, but it won’t be nearly as good as the recipe I’m about to share. Trust me, I used to buy Sabra…
Are you in charge of Thanksgiving dinner this year? Freaking out that your turkey won’t wow them? Wondering how you will fit 15 people around your six person table? Stressing over how on earth it will all be ready at the same time? Or, how to politely stuff a sock into the mouth of the person who bring up politics? Fear not! People will be so grateful they…
Easy Delicious Dinner Ideas• Random Thoughts
Elections and Something to Eat Afterward!
November 15, 2024
No matter where you stand on politicians, I think you owe it to yourself to volunteer at the polls at least once in your life. I did it for the recent presidential election and am so glad I did. Even though the day was long, 6 a.m. to 9 p.m., it was actually fun and pretty wonderful to see democracy in action. I met some wonderful people and…
Pickled peppers. Unless I was doing tongue twisters to prepare for a voiceover, the words pickled peppers never came out of my mouth. Then, I tasted my brother Bernie’s pickled peppers and was smitten. I couldn’t believe they could be so perfectly crisp, and taste so delicious. I even liked the spicy, hot ones, a minor miracle for my wimpy tastebuds. I begged my brother to tell me…
As you know, I count my blessings every day that I grew up with a “colorful” mom, who helped make me the food-loving goofball I am today. But she wasn’t alone because another mom, Mrs. Carolyn Riley, was there reinforcing all the good lessons and helping me to mature. If you ever think what you say and do doesn’t affect your kids’ friends, here’s proof it does. The…
Cookies
These Pumpkin Cookies Will Take You and Your Diet Down, and You’ll Go Happily!
October 9, 2024
I won’t post something unless I’m positively sure it’s mind-blowing, so I was happy to try these autumnal Pumpkin Ricotta Cookies, but wasn’t sure about posting the recipe. Then I tweaked it, baked them again, and was still a little iffy, but the third time was the winner. (Yes, three times! See what I do for you?) I’d also bought three cans of pumpkin at Costco and couldn’t…
The guilt that consumes a first generation Italian American woman who is gifted a giant bag of home grown tomatoes cannot be overstated. The first thing she thinks is, “Oh God, what will my parents think if I don’t can these?” Never-mind that her parents passed away anywhere from a year to decades ago, the disgrace over not utilizing every fruit, or vegetable down to its nub will…
Years ago, when I didn’t have nearly as much weight to lose as I do now, I joined Weight Watchers with my friend Joan. We had fun losing weight together, but I quickly realized she was so competitive, if she could have gotten weighed naked, she would have. I wasn’t thinking about my weight loss down to the ounce, but apparently she was. I had to laugh at…
I’m reading a ton of memoirs as I put the final touches on my book about my mom. If I ever finish it, consider it a miracle. As I was re-reading a book by Molly Wizenberg, a former food blogger, my pesto-ometer went off. (Her blog, Orangette, was well written, had lots of great recipes, and even won a James Beard Award.) She’s moved on to a different…
Who knew that something as innocent as letting go of bunches of balloons on my wedding day would haunt me 37 years later? I know I’ve been on this environmental kick lately, but I walk every morning and see a lot of trash. It makes me crazy…correction, crazier, to see all the crap people toss out the car window or just drop without thinking about it. So, this…