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…
As the child of Italian immigrants, I learned to cook, sew, garden, swear colorfully in Italian, forage for food, and keep pushing ahead. One thing I did not learn was to swim. My father said he learned to swim in the Ohio River in the 1920s, so he saw no need to spend money on swim lessons. My mom couldn’t swim a stroke, so she didn’t think they…
I’ve been working on my book for the past several weeks and came across a chapter that will help you all realize how lucky you are that we live in 2024 and not 1960. It can be summed up in one word, appliances. Take a trip down memory lane with me and relive the hell that was laundry day in the Tunno household… All my young life I…
It’s been tough getting into the Christmas spirit after recently losing Uncle Richard and my nephew Marc last December, but I’ve busied myself with walks, spending more money than I should, hosting friends, stressing out over whether I’ve gotten enough gifts for people, and non-stop baking. The worst thing about getting older and losing the elder in the family is realizing that elder post is now filled by…
My mom’s handsome hero, Bob Barker passed away over the weekend. Someone posted that he lived as close to 100 without going over, which is dark, Price is Right humor. I think Mr. Barker would have probably chuckled at that. Thank you to all my friends who said they were thinking of me and my mom. I know I’ve posted, “Da Holy Hour,” many times now, but in…
I went to a fundraiser last Friday for Cystic Fibrosis and left realizing how thankful I was to have children who were healthy. My daughter’s had her health challenges, but has handled them beautifully and is a healthy adult now. When I think of people who have to deal with cancers, heart conditions, Cystic Fibrosis, and other life-threatening illnesses, yet don’t let these obstacles beat them down, I…
Jump on your holiday gift buying now and spend December eating bonbons by the fire. …
I am one of the lucky ones. I get to have two of my three kids for Thanksgiving, and given the state of things today, that’s pretty great. I can’t wait for life to change for the better, but so far, 2020 has been inconvenient, but not tragic. Again, I know I’m lucky. I’ve had time to think, write, and figure out my next steps. I’m so very…
It’s New Year’s Eve. I am snug on my couch in my flannel pajamas with my fuzzy, cream bathrobe on, keeping an eye on Topper, cozy in the corner. I am having a cocktail of Maker’s Mark whiskey and Canada Dry Ginger Ale with TWO cherries and am incredibly content. I’ve never been one to traipse around in high heels at New Year’s Eve parties. I always hated…
Each winter my mother and I sported a light coat of flour from December first to the 25th. My mom flew into a baking frenzy and I was recruited to grease pans, sprinkle sugar on hot fried twists of lemony dough, and run up and down between our upstairs and downstairs kitchens like lightning for whatever mom needed because she always said, “Honey, you gatta da fresh a…