Happy New Year!! Welcome 2012!

Wishing you a happy ending to 2011 and all the best in 2012!!
Hope you'll be celebrating New Year's Eve with family and friends and lots of good food.
Looking for a couple of festive drink recipes?How about a Candy Cane Martini or the ever popular Spiked Egg Nog!
Resolve to start the diet in 2012!

Anna Sultana's Anise Biscotti, Maltese Style

Happy New Year!!

Time to have a Biscotti.



Yes, if you're a faithful reader, I've posted Ma's Biscotti recipe already.



But, there are Biscotti and there are Biscotti.

This is a different Biscotti.

Yes it is.
This recipe used anise.





                        Anise Biscotti



Grease a large cookie sheet

Preheat oven to 400º 



Sift together

3 cups flour

1 Tablespoon baking powder

Anise Speculaas (Christmas Cookies) - Margaret Ullrich

A cookie recipe that uses anise.

Perfect.

One of your elderly relatives loves licorice.

One of your rich elderly relatives.



And he's coming over for New Year's Eve.

Time for somebody to rewrite his will.



This recipe calls for those cookie cutters.

Or that glass or knife.



The timing is for a cookie about 2 1/2 inches in diameter.

Adjust if your cutters make the cookies bigger or

Anise (star anise and ground) - Margaret Ullrich

Pepper, Cloves, Cinnamon, Ginger, Nutmeg.

Old favorites.

The only possible newbie was the Cardamom.

Unless you're Swedish.



Boring.



Well, say hello to your new little friend.

Anise.



Anise hads a licorice-like flavor.  

If you like licorice, you'll love it.

If you don't, you won't.

So it goes.



Anise comes from the parsley family.

Star anise is from an evergreen shrub found in

Christmas Greetings and A Story about Santa Claus by Margaret Ullrich

Silent Night,  

Holy Night...



The big night is finally here!!



I hope you and your family and friends are enjoying a very Merry Christmas, 

full of love, peace, health and happiness.





Last year I posted a short story about my first Christmas in College Point, 

a small town in New York, when I was 5 years old.



If you have young children, they might enjoy it.

If you'd like to see

Depression Cake (Christmas Raisin Fruitcake) - Margaret Ullrich

Nobody's touching the fruitcake.

But, a proper Christmas requires that everybody eats something 

that's got dried fuit in it.

Helps to keep things moving, so to speak.



And the dried fruit thingy should be spicy.

As in cinnamon, cloves and nutmeg.



No, we don't want Mexican just yet.

Chili pepper would just make matters worse.

It's almost Christmas.

Everybody has enough agita.

The

Nutmeg Sugar Cookies (Christmas Cookies) - Margaret Ullrich

The kids are climbing the walls.

They need something to do.



Flour companies are saying that baking together is right up there 

with praying together.

It'll create wonderful memories.

Sure, at this point you're ready to try anything.





Still have the cookie cutters - or glass - from last week?

Good.

You'll need them for this recipe, too.

Pack away the sharp knife.

Now.

Nutmeg & Mace - Margaret Ullrich

It's almost Christmas.

So, I'm giving you a two-fer.

Merry Christmas!!



What with all the fancy coffees that are out there, even at good old Micky D, 

a cup of egg nog - or a coffee with whipped cream - looks downright naked 

unless it has some brown flecks on top of it.



This is nutmeg's moment to shine!



Ah, but what do you know about nutmeg?



The seed is known as nutmeg, and the

Oh, Christmas Tree!! - Margaret Ullrich

Continued from part 1

I thought I had dressed warmly.  



That fink, the ditzy receptionist, showed up looking like the Michelin Man.  She was ready to march to Thompson if necessary.  So were the three other women co-workers.  The other wives - who all knew better - had begged off.  I was alone with four career women who were full of the 'I am woman, hear me roar' career fever.  While they

Our First Winnipeg Christmas Tree - Margaret Ullrich

God, it was cold.



I didn't know it could get that cold.

I didn't know I'd ever be stupid enough to be outdoors in that kind of cold.

I didn't know I'd been stupid enough to marry someone stupid enough to work with people stupid enough to be out in that kind of cold.



It was our first December in Winnipeg.



We had grown up in New York City.  There people went to an empty parking lot 

Gingerbread and Seven Minute Frosting / Buttermilk Substitute for Baking - Margaret Ullrich

I've never understood Gingerbread.

It seems a bit sweet to call a bread.

I sure wouldn't make a sandwich with it.





It's an old recipe.

Maybe, in those days, people just needed more calories.

Or had bigger sweet tooths.



So, I'll stick to calling it Gingerbread.

Gingercake just doesn't sound right.





Don't have sour milk?

Just pour a Tablespoon of white vinegar into a measuring cup

Gingerbread Cookies (Christmas Cookies) and Royal Frosting - Margaret Ullrich

I know, I know... 

If someone says "Gingerbread", "men" is what usually comes to mind.

Heck, there's even a fairy tale about a running Gingerbread man who could've 

been in the Olympics.



But, it's a bit of a bother to buy cookie cutters you don't use regularly.

And sometimes you've got lots of cutters, but they're in a nice safe place.

Yeah, like that's the first thing a crook wants to

Ginger (Fresh and Ground) - Margaret Ullrich

Ah!  Ginger!!

No, I'm not thinking about Gilligan's Island.



Ginger is another old favorite spice.

Especially at this time of year.



Who hasn't chomped off the head of a gingerbread man?

Or built and decorated a gingerbread house?

Speaking of building...

Egyptians were eating ginger when the pyramid of Cheops was new.



Gingerbread was popular in Greece 5,000 years ago.

By the twelfth

Swedish Cardamom Wreath for Saint Lucia Day (Christmas Bread) - Margaret Ullrich

What's a holiday without a fancy bread?



Forget about the saffron buns for Saint Lucia Day.

This is a lovely loaf of holiday bread.

And it's Swedish.



If you're baking ahead, the dough can be frozen.

Allow the braids to thaw and rise before baking.

The baked braids can be frozen, uniced.

Warm them in the microwave and ice.

Who's to know? 





Serve a wreath on December 13.

At a

Cardamom Cinnamon Cookies (slice and bake Christmas Cookies) - Margaret Ullrich

This is a handy slice and bake cookie recipe.

Great for this time of year.



Make the dough when you're watching television.

Slice and bake for a warm treat when company's coming.

They'll never know.



Well, they might notice there aren't any dirty bowls around.





For a little variety...

Make slightly fatter logs, then flatten the dough to form a long rectangle 

which, when cut, would

Cardamom / Sugar & Spice Christmas Blend - Margaret Ullrich

When it comes to spices, Swedes are big spenders.

First, there's the saffron for the buns for Saint Lucia Day.

I've already said enough about Saint Lucia and saffron.

Making real Swedish saffron buns is still on my Bucket List.



Saffron is often not found among the usual spices.

I've heard of women asking, weeks in advance, if it could be ordered for their 

holiday recipes.

Tradition is

Holiday Traditions and The First Maltese Lucia Queen (part 2 by Margaret Ullrich)

Continued from part 1


Maybe the lack of sleep was affecting my mind.  



My next goal was an authentic Swedish Saint Lucia Day for our first December 13.  



According to one big fat book, a good Swedish wife got up at four a.m. to start tossing her cookies.  God forbid any sunlight should shine on the dough or disaster would befall the household.  Every hefty housefrau hoped a crescent moon

Holiday Traditions and St. Nicholas (part 1 by Margaret Ullrich)

As far as I'm concerned, there are two questions no one should ever ask a woman.  

The first is "How old are you?"  

The second is "Have you done your holiday baking yet?"  



Why is it that, when the thermometer falls, we're supposed to bake?  

Does the Queen whip up a fruitcake before writing her speech?
I don't think so.  



I really admire women who can bake things that look good enough

Cinnamon Apple Pie in Love - a Horse's Story from The Gentle Barn

Another tale from The Gentle Barn.  When I saw the horse's name, I couldn't resist.



You are Never Too Old to Love Again 



Cinnamon Apple Pie's life partner, Momma Dear passed away last year. It was a huge loss to us all! Cinnamon and Momma were inseparable from the first time they met till the day Momma Dear passed away.



When Momma Dear died we were worried about Cinnamon and sure enough

Christmas on the Cheap by Margaret Ullrich

There are less than four weeks left until Christmas.  

     

I know, it's more blessed to give than to receive.  But, unless you have ways of shopping that you don't want the police to know about, giving means money. 

     

It's a little late to start a Christmas account and utility companies really lose that 

Ho Ho Ho spirit if you skip paying their bills.  

If the charge cards are maxed

German Sugar Cookies (Christmas Cookies) - Margaret Ullrich

Don't be put off by the name.

These sugar cookies travel well.

And anyone would enjoy them.





There's a bit of a story to the recipe.

During WW II these cookies were mailed overseas and they survived the 6 week trip.

They became 'German Cookies' if they were captured en route.



           German Sugar Cookies



Grease a 12 x 18" pan

Preheat oven to 350º

Bake 20 minutes



In a large

Cinnamon (sticks and ground) / Homemade Apple Pie Spice Blend - Margaret Ullrich

Cinnamon is probably the most popular spice in the world.



It's mentioned in the Bible:

All thy garments smell of myrhh, aloes and cassia (cinnamon) - Psalm 45



It's even mentioned in ancient history:

In Rome in 65 A. D. the funeral rites for Emperor Nero's wife used up the 

entire year's supply of cinnamon.



No, I don't know why her funeral needed so much cinnamon.

And I don't know

Brandied Fruit (Traditional and Quick recipes) - Margaret Ullrich

This should be started 4 weeks in advance.

Perfect for New Year's Eve.



Keep it at room temperature in plain sight.

This has to be stirred every day.

Throughout the whole month.



Well, you have to do some work to get free booze.





                        Brandied Fruit



Place ingredients in a 1 quart container with a loose fitting lid.

DO NOT use a metal container.



1  8 3/4 oz.

Storing & Preparing Spices - Margaret Ullrich

You want to take care of spices when you bring them home.

They're not as expensive as they once were.

But still, you want to get your money's worth.



When it come to storing dried spices, there are a few very simple rules:



Be sure containers are airtight.

Moisture can cause ground spices to cake.

Store them in a cool, dry place.

Keep the spice shelf away from direct light, especially

Anna Sultana's Turkey Roasted with Bacon - A Maltese Thanksgiving by Margaret Ullrich

On Thursday we enjoyed the U.S. Thanksgiving experience.

The Macy Parade, followed by the dog show, followed by the Miracle on 34th Street movie, in black and white.

And, of course, a turkey dinner with all the trimmings.



We had a lovely time.

And the dinner was excellent.

If I do say so myself.

And I do.





During the parade, Macy announced that this was their 85th parade.

And that

Cloves / Homemade Pumpkin Pie Spice Blend and Pomander - Margaret Ullrich

Cloves is the strange cousin of the spice family.

It's not an old stand-by, like pepper.

It usually just gets trotted out for holidays.



But, then the oddball becomes the life of the party!





If you're not a 'turkey for the holidays' type, you probably had ham for Thanksgiving.

And what's ham without pineapple rings?

And those little spikey things holding the pineapple slices in place.

Thanksgiving Wishes & A Turkey Tale From The Gentle Barn

May your stuffing be tasty

May your turkey plump,

May your potatoes and gravy

Have never a lump.



May your yams be delicious

And your pies take the prize,

And may your Thanksgiving dinner

Stay off your thighs!



Happy Thanksgiving, Everyone!



****

From The Gentle Barn:  A Turkey Tale





Twelve years ago a man approached The Gentle Barn and said that he purchased a turkey for

Unfriending Facebook - Margaret Ullrich

This has not been a good week for Facebook.



I had gotten an email: a senior citizen friend wanted me to see a Lady GaGa video.

I had to be over 18 to see it.

That part was easy.

But, one thing about being over 60 is you know your friends don't bother with things made for people over 18.

I didn't look at the video.

I mean, what could it possible show me that I haven't seen before?



Okay

Fancy Peppernuts (Christmas Cookies) - Margaret Ullrich

Okay, you've just bought some citron for the fruitcake recipe.

Nobody eats fruitcake, but you'd better make it.

Tradition and all that.

Yeah, life is hard.



What to do with the leftover citron?

No, it doesn't go well with cereal.



Time to make some more Peppernuts.

With citron.

These cookies are soft.

Not like the Plain Peppernuts.



Serve both.

Something for everybody. 

Hey,

Plain Peppernuts (Christmas Cookies) - Margaret Ullrich

What would Christmas be without pepper?

No, I'm not talking about the dash added to the gravy.



Although that's good, too.



Pepper is something just about everybody has in the kitchen.

The salt shaker would look awfully lonely with its buddy, pepper shaker.



Pepper is a really useful spice.

You can crack or coarsely grind peppercorns to coat steaks or chicken breasts 

before grilling.

Getting Spicy: Flavouring Oils, and Eating Dandelions and Weeds - Margaret Ullrich

Chicken isn't the only food that could use some spicing up.



For a flavored oil in your salad dressing, blanch the leaves, let them soak in your favorite oil for two weeks and then store the oil in the refrigerator.  



Think it's hard to grow herbs?

Nope. 

Many herbs are very resistant to garden pests.  You don't need to treat them with weed killers.  A good thing to remember, especially

Good Scents and Aromatherapy - Margaret Ullrich

Different scents can help creat different moods.  There have been studies on the healing properties of aromatherapy, including one in the palliative care department at the St. Boniface Hopspital.  Lavender oil was misted from diffusers to make the air smell good and to allleviate stress.



But, you don't have to buy fancy candles or sprays.  

Just go to your garden... or spice rack.



Which

Herbs & Health - Margaret Ullrich

Many herbs have a long tradition as folk remedies.  



The leaves of the violet plant contain acetylsalicylic acid.  Violet tea was drunk in small doses for coughs and heart trouble. 



Pick mature white sweet clover flowers, dry at room temperature, and use to make a soothing tea, good for coughs, colds, bronchial and nervous condtions.  

The plant is a source of the anticoagulent,

Herbal Fun - Margaret Ullrich

You might have an aloe vera in your kitchen and use it as a burn soother.  But, you might say, what can I do with fresh herb leaves and flowers?



Boil a kettle of water, snip the leaves and flowers off the stalk, simmer in water for about three minutes, take them off the heat and let steep overnight.  Non-caffeinated herbal teas are great hot or cold.  

They can also be blended with classic '

Herb Gardening - Margaret Ullrich

I once attended a class held by David Hanson of Sage Garden Herbs.  



Along with the information, David gave everyone some rosemary and thyme cuttings.  I babied the cuttings in a small jar of water on my kitchen windowsill, potted them and they smell wonderful.  



I also enjoy using fresh rosemary and thyme in my cooking.  



Now, before you "poo pooh" herbs as a hobby-type thing, price

Anna Sultana's St. Martin's Cake / Fruitcake, Maltese Style

Lest we forget...

Today is Remembrance Day.



In Malta, November 11 is celebrated as the feast of St. Martin.

il-festa ta' San Martin it-tajba lil kullhadd!



St. Martin, Bishop of Tours, was once Roman soldier.  He is one of the greatest saints of France and the most celebrated Bishop of the fourth century.



He had a great love for the poor.  Legend has it that upon seeing a beggar, 

St.

Prayer to St. Rita by Margaret Ullrich

Happy Halloween!!



Some folks were really impressed by how St. Rita was able to help me.

Well, so am I.

Since I've already published the prayer to St. Jude, I agree it's only fair to 

do the same for St. Rita, the other "Saint of the Impossible".





St. Rita of Cascia (1381-1457) lived a remarkable life.

She was a wife, mother, widow and nun.

Her husband was abusive.

Both of her sons

Prayer to A Saint by Margaret Ullrich

Just one more sleep.

Halloween.

All Hallows Eve.



Recently I posted about the feastdays of All Souls and All Saints.

I also posted about Danny Thomas and St. Jude.



Timing or what?



St. Jude is a major saint.

But there are many more saints.

I've received a few e mails asking for prayers for special patron saints.

Also for prayers for special concerns.

Some saints are experts at

Anna Sultana's Hobz - Maltese Bread l Quick Cheese Pizza

Like I said, maybe Carmela just popped into a good Italian bakery for 

a few loaves of Italian bread.

In New York, Italian bakeries are a dime a dozen compared to Maltese bakeries.

Ma had no choice.

If she wanted a taste of home, she had to bake it herself.



And so can you.



Don't get excited by the number of loaves.

Hobz loaves are small.

Orange-size balls of dough can only get so big

Anna Sultana's Crusty Italian Bread

Is there anything more basic than bread?



Carmela's Entertaining with The Sopranos included a few bread recipes, 

including a recipe for a loaf of Easter Sweet Bread in the Holidays chapter.

But, there wasn't a recipe for basic Italian bread.

Bread to accompany meals.

Bread that, with a chunk of cheese and a bottle of wine, could be a meal in itself. 





Maybe Carmela had a really good

Bye, Bye, Carmela Soprano by Margaret Ullrich

All good things must come to an end.

It's been fun cooking my way through Carmela's Entertaining with the Sopranos.

No, more than fun.

It was a reminder of where I came from.



I was an immigrant kid, just off the boat.

Stuck in Queens.

Some of my classmates and neighbors were kind.

Some were not.



Enjoying Ma's cooking was a guilty pleasure.

I loved our food.

Packing leftovers for

Anna Sultana's Pastizzi / Ricotta Tarts, Maltese Style

Okay, the Pasticiotti was the last Soprano recipe.

It was what we've come to expect from Carmela.

Delicious.

But... a bit labor intensive.



And it's a little hard to believe that she actually would make a batch for the family.

Let alone a houseful of company.



All that work for 8 tartlets.

It was supposed to serve 6.

Right.

Can't you picture Tony eating 4 all by himself?

And JR

Carmela Soprano's Pasticiotti / Tartlets with Vanilla Cream Filling

I can't believe it.

We've cooked through Carmela Soprano's Entertaining with the Sopranos.

All of it.



And we have the extra pounds to prove it.



Okay... this is the last recipe.

I'm feeling verklempt.





In the Come to My House chapter of Carmela's Entertaining with the Sopranos, there's a recipe for Pasticiotti (little vanilla cream tartlets).  

It's a nice recipe to bake to end this

Prayer to St. Jude

I got a few emails asking for the prayer to St. Jude.

No problem.

Happy to share it.

Here's a bit of info about St. Jude.
It's good to know to whom you are talking.



                        Prayer to St. Jude



St. Jude, apostle of Christ,

the Church honors and prays to you universally

as the patron of hopeless and difficult cases.

Pray for us in our needs.



Make use, we implore you,

Ma and St. Rita by Margaret Ullrich

Okay... mind wandering time again.

I'm over 60.  It happens.



A lot of Malta's special recipes are tied to our holy days.

That's HOLY days, not holidays.

Ma's Dead Man's Bones recipe was traditional for All Souls' Day.

November 2, All Soul's Day, a holy day when we remember our dead.



On All Soul's Day we remember our not quite hallowed friends and family.

Catholics are big on the '

Anna Sultana's Ladyfingers Cookies

Before I go any further, I must say Maltese are NOT cannibals.

I don't know where our recipes got their names.

I know that a few weeks ago a posted Ma's Death Man's Bones recipe.

A simple, light cookie.

Not a bit of bone in sight.

And wasn't that a nice recipe for All Souls' Day?





Okay... this week I'm posting Ma's recipe for Ladyfingers.

Chill.

You've most likely had them before.

Carmela Soprano's Anginetti / Italian Lemon Knot Cookies with Lemon Glaze

Hopefully, all your Thanksgiving leftovers are long gone.

Or at least in the deep freeze.

No, I can't face another slice of pumpkin pie, either.



Time to have some cookies.

Simple, basic cookies.

Your waist will thank you.

Your stomach will thank you.

Your family will thank you.

Really.





In the Fit for a Bride chapter of Carmela's Entertaining with the Sopranos,
there's a recipe for

VOTE!!! by Margaret Ullrich

Lately it seems like all we Canadians do is vote.I know...What, again?How many months has it been?Been there, done that. 
Familiarity breeds contempt.
But, really, this is a new election.Not the same candidates as we had a few months ago.No, really.

It's none of my business who you vote for.I'm tired of the commercials, too.In a perfect world, they'd be able to keep all their promises.The

Anna Sultana's Ravjuletti bl-Irkotta / Deep fried Ravioli Appetizers, Maltese Style

Have leftover ravjul?

Need an appetizer? 

You're all set.





Small, deep-fried ravjul is a popular Maltese appetizer.

These are a little different from the ravjul we made last week.

They're smaller, hence the -etti added to the name.

The filling is also different.

Make both.



Well, not this week.






                        Ravjuletti bl-Irkotta



Rub together

250 g  flour

60 g

Carmela Soprano's Cheese Puffs (appetizers)

Okay... 

Thanksgiving's coming.

You've got your main courses under control.



But, you need something for a bit of a nosh.

Something to serve with appetizers or after dinner fruit and cheese.



No problem.



In the Fit for a Bride chapter of Carmela's Entertaining with the Sopranos, 

there's a recipe for Cheese Puffs.  

They look so cute in the picture.



There's ham wrapped around

Anna Sultana's Ravjul / Ravioli with Ricotta Filling, Maltese Style

Maybe I should have printed Ma's recipe first.

I know some folks don't eat meat.

Such guests are wonderful for the budget.

But they can be a nightmare for a hostess.





Okay... if you have vegetarians coming, here's a safe first course.

All cheese, no meat.

Maybe they'll just fill up on the ravjul.

More turkey for everyone else.





When Ma made ravjul, it wasn't because we were

Carmela Soprano's Cannelloni (Pasta with spinach / veal / pork filling)

Back to the Cannelloni in the Fit for a Bride chapter of Carmela's 

Entertaining with the Sopranos.



This makes a grand first course.

Especially for a big holiday dinner.

The Cannelloni can be prepared up to a day ahead.

Leaving you free to prepare other - fussier - stuff.

Just cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate.





On to the Cannelloni... 

Take the Bechamel Sauce out of the

Carmela Soprano's Bechamel Sauce

Yes, I know Carmela's Almond Roll recipe last week was long.

Brace yourself.

This week's recipe is long, too. 



Well, it could be.

But I'm splitting it.

Sort of.





In the Fit for a Bride chapter of Carmela's Entertaining with the Sopranos, 

there's a recipe for  Cannelloni.

There's even a picture.

A gorgeous, stick to your ribs main course.

Or first course, if you're feeding a crowd

Community by Margaret Ullrich

Thinking of Halloween got me thinking about Community.The Catholic Church is big on Community.For Catholics, dead or alive, you're in the community.
The All Hallowed have made it.Some of them are famous, most aren't.
The Not Quite Hallowed are getting there.Many we know on a first name basis.Departed family, friends, neighbors, store clerks.
Then there's the rest of us.Doing the best we can, with

Anna Sultana's Dead Man's Bones / Traditional Maltese Cookies for All Souls' Day

I admit that the Almond Roll with Strawberry Sauce was a long recipe.

Not complicated, but labor intensive.

One of Ma's recipes - Dead Man's Bones - is easier.



Don't panic.

No grave robbing necessary for this recipe.

It's just a name.





A lot of our Maltese dessert recipes are tied to certain holy days.

On November 1, Catholics celebrate the feast of All Saints.

All Saints, both

Carmela Soprano's Almond Roll with Strawberry Sauce and Whipped Cream Filling

It's Autumn.

I know the calendar says September 23 is the first day of Autumn.

But... get real.

We've had a couple of 0º Celcius nights.

That's Frost Warning.

Summer's over.

What do you need?  Snow?





I know it's too soon.

Last weekend it was over 30º Celcius.

But we live in Manitoba.

Like the saying goes, "If you don't like the weather, wait 5 minutes."

Don't pack away the summer

9/11 Memorial by Margaret Ullrich

Lori Hootah and Lori Sterneck Odishoo posted this idea on Facebook.  



I shared it a few days ago on Winnipeg is Better Than Chocolate.  



I'm posting it here today in case you don't read my Winnipeg blog.  



If you don't have the right candles, you still have some time to buy them. 

If you want to light other candles, that's fine, too. 

It's the thought.  



Peace, everyone.   

Labour Day by Margaret Ullrich

Labour Day is a wonderful holiday.
It's one of the few holidays when folks actually do take a holiday.The other holidays have stores open for as many hours as the law allows.And folks prowling the aisles, just like on any other day.
But nobody messes with Labour Day.Not in Canada.Not even in never-pay-full-price Winnipeg.

Maybe it's because it's the last holiday before winter hits.It's still

Anna Sultana's Kabocca Moqlija bil-Bacon / Cabbage and Bacon, Maltese Style

Like I said yesterday, it's time to cook vegetables with more heft.



Frankly, I'm a little tired of lettuce.

Lettuce is great when it's too hot to cook.

And when folks don't have much of an appetite.

Eating lettuce doesn't feel like you're eating anything.



But now it's time for real meals.

Something steaming... soups, casseroles, cooked vegetables.

Broccoli is nice.

Cabbage is nice,

Carmela Soprano's Broccoli with Garlic and Hot Pepper

Summer is drawing to a close.

Here we are... Labour Day, the start of Autumn.



Well, it is, for all practical purposes.



Time to get back to routine.

Time to pack away summer clothes.

Time to get back to real meals.



Summer is the time for salads.

But now it's time to eat vegetables with more heft to them.

It's time to make like a bear and bulk up for Winter.



Broccoli and pasta is

Cocked Up by Margaret Ullrich

Yesterday I wrote about how the British had come to Malta.They were invited there to help kick out Napoleon.Napoleon had said he just wanted some water.Yeah, right.Then he took over the place.Doesn't make one feel warm and toasty about the French.
Well, along with eating, the Brits and Maltese did a bit of talking.We learned some of their recipes.And they learned some of our language.
Ah, yes...

Anna Sultana's Meat Pie, Maltese Style

The English were in Malta from the time of Napoleon to 1964.

That's quite a while.

Too long to go without comfort food.



If you've ever been to England, you know Brits like meat pies.

Well, the cooks in the Maltese restaurants aimed to please their customers.

They got some English cookbooks and learned how to make meat pies.

So did the Maltese mothers.



And who could blame them?

Carmela Soprano's Stromboli Bread with Provolone and Meat Filling

This has been a hell of a summer in Manitoba.

First we thought we needed to build an ark.

Water, water, everywhere.



It's been tinder dry for weeks.

Our lawns are brown.

The weather folks have been saying "30% chance of rain."

Every night practically.

Who are they kidding?

I haven't seen anybody carrying an umbrella.



The lousy weather hasn't stopped folks from eating.

And since

Bye, Bye, MSOS & Aqua Books by Margaret Ullrich

Maybe there's something in the air.
On July 31, The Manitoba Society of Seniors shut its doors.The MSOS, a non-profit organization, had been in Manitoba for over 30 years. 
MSOS members paid an annual fee of $20; $30 for a household. In return they received free personal income tax preparation, the monthly Journal, Fifty and Beyond, as well as recreation and travel discounts. 
Now if one was over

Anna Sultana's Tomato Sauce with Fresh Tomatoes and Bacon, Maltese Style

I guess I'm my father's daughter.

My yard isn't complete unless I'm growing a few vegetables.

Especially tomatoes.



But, I'm also my father's daughter in that I'm annoyed at the fact that, just when they're red and ready to eat, tomatoes are at bargain prices in the stores.

Isn't that always the way?





Funny thing about most tomato sauce recipes.

They usually call for canned tomatoes.

Carmela Soprano's Quick Tomato Sauce

You may have noticed Carm mentioning Tomato Sauce a few times.

Big surprise.

I mean, she did write an Italian cook book.



If you'd like to go for the total Carmela experience, then have I got the recipe for you.

In the Graduation Parties chapter of Carmela's Entertaining with the Sopranos, there's a recipe for Tomato Sauce. 

Yes, the Tomato Sauce she's mentioned in quite few of her recipes

Unsandwiched II by Margaret Ullrich

Maybe I wasn't clear last week.I got a few e mails.Annoyed e mails.
First off, I really admire grandparents who do more than an occasional babysitting.Sudden expenses can send the best of budgets into a tailspin.In today's market, jobs can suddenly end.Marriages can end, too.Emergencies happen.
And elderly parents can need help.A fall can change things drastically.The parents were there when

Anna Sultana's Broiled Chicken Oregano, Maltese Style

I have a confession to make.

Ma never served ground chicken.

We ate chicken.

But Ma left it up to our teeth to do the grinding.





To be honest, I don't remember ground chicken being in the store until recently.

Maybe it just didn't sell in my neighborhood until recently.

Maybe it's something new.

Like raspberry vinegar.





Here's a nice easy chicken recipe.

The meat is still on the

Carmela Soprano's Little Chicken Meatballs in Tomato Sauce

Don't get upset.



The recipe for Little Chicken Meatballs is in the Graduation Parties chapter of 

Carmela's Entertaining with the Sopranos. 



I know the graduation season is long gone.

The stores have Back-To-School sales.

Yeah... Time flies when you're having fun.



Anyhow, I don't think this is only for June.

I mean, along with the meatballs, there's also a recipe for Tomato Sauce.

Unsandwiched by Margaret Ullrich

Summer is a great time for get-togethers.Graduations, weddings, anniversaries, reunions.Facebook is abuzz with folks planning for or returning from visits.
It's a little easier to travel when you don't have to pack 20-pound coats.Cheaper, too.Gotta love the itemized airline surcharges.They really think that makes the final ticket price more acceptable.Right.

I grew up in a just-off-the-boat

Carmela Soprano's Hot Meatball & Mozzarella Heroes

In the Small Events for Men Only chapter of Carmela's Entertaining with the Sopranos, I found Hot Meatball and Mozzarella Heroes. 



No, Carm isn't being snarky about Tony and his crew.



This is a recipe for a hot sandwich.

Nice if you have some spare time.

Also if the weather is not too hot.

If it is - or you have a steak - then check out Ma's recipe for Beef Rollettes.





Back to the

Anna Sultana's Beef and Bacon Rollettes, Maltese Style

We're still in the middle of a rather hot summer here on the prairies.

It really isn't a great time to fire up an oven.



But people still get hungry.



Some folks just say "The hell with it" and hand out cold cuts.



Well, Ma figured if you had a butcher you REALLY trusted, that's okay.

In a pinch.

Can't be too careful.



But, then again, Ma had a way of making something quick and hot.

Peppers And Pop And Grandpa by Margaret Ullrich

Last week I wrote about how things link together when you're 'of a certain age'.

A word leads to a memory which leads to another word, and then another memory...

Well, guess what? 

It's happened again.





Yesterday I posted Carmela's recipe for Stuffed Hot Cherry Peppers.

Hope you don't make them if you have a delicate stomach.

Well, you've been warned.

Back to the links...   

The

Carmela Soprano's Stuffed Hot Cherry Peppers

This is another do-in-advance, easy recipe for the holidays.

Or a little something to jazz up a large family dinner.

Or a busy Christmas/New Year get together.





In the Small Events for Men Only chapter of Carmela's Entertaining with the Sopranos, there's a recipe for Stuffed Hot Cherry Peppers.

You just have to pick up a jar of hot peppers, anchovies and capers.

Easy, but a little

Anna Sultana's Bebbux bl-Arjoli / Snails with Arjoli Sauce, Maltese Style

Here in Manitoba this is another holiday weekend.

This Monday is called "Civic Holiday".

I'm not kidding.

Or complaining.

Summers are short here and we can always use another long weekend.





Malta has quite a few festas and holidays on its calendar.

It's an awfully good idea.

And it's traditional.

No way would a parish give up the chance to celebrate its patron saint.

And the tourists

Bread And Pop by Margaret Ullrich

One of the funny things about being over 60 is how things link together.A word leads to a memory which leads to another word, and then another memory.And so it goes.... like making a 1000 piece puzzle in the brain.
After 60, one has quite a pile of words and memories to link together.

We've been having a heat wave and I posted some easy-on-the-chef recipes.Yesterday I wrote about Carmela's

Carmela Soprano's Grilled Bruschetta / Grilled Garlic Bread

Some people are too damn picky.

These people are usually the ones who don't have to cook dinner.

They usually say a meal isn't a meal unless there's something hot.



And they don't just mean the cook.



Alright, humor them.

Yesterday I gave some suggestions for cheese and fruit combinations.

Yes, those were just suggestions.

If you prefer cheddar, I ain't gonna argue.





In the Adult

Anna Sultana's Fruit & Cheese Combinations

My Lord, it's been hot here in the prairies.

A lousy, muggy hot.

A lousy, muggy, too-hot-to-cook hot.



So, don't.



Okay, I know they still want to eat.

But, to be honest, not a heavy meal.

Just something light.



What could be better than fruit and cheese?

Throw in some nice bread - and maybe some cold cuts - and you've hit the 

major 4 food groups.

Then again cheese is a protein as

E. T. Is Home by Margaret Ullrich

Last week I wrote about being an immigrant kid.
Trust me, it's a lot easier being an immigrant adult.
As a child, you really have no say in where you live.Or in how your new country regards you.Or in how your native-born classmates treat you.Or in what paperwork your parents fill out for you.
Combine the confusion over who you are with the usual crap that happens as you pass from infancy through

Anna Sultana's Vittorin - Jam Pie, Maltese Style (Traditional for the Feast of Il-Vittorja)

Okay... the worst of Carmela's Entertaining with the Sopranos is over.

Good luck trying to find a Pizzelle iron.





Since the Pizzelle was a holiday cookie, I thought I'd look up a Maltese holiday treat.





Vittorin is traditionally made for the feast of Il-Vittorja.

No idea who he - or she - is.

Malta has a lot of festas for parish patron saints.

Some are just local favorites.

Some

Carmela Soprano's Pizzelle - Italian Lace Cookies / Waffle Recipe

I should call this post Pizzelle, more or less.



I've been dreading this recipe.

The recipe isn't hard.

It doesn't have any exotic ingredients.

Well, except for one item.



If you don't have a Pizzelle iron, you'll understand.  

That's right, a Pizzelle iron.





In the Holidays chapter of Carmela's Entertaining with the Sopranos, there's a recipe for Pizzelle, also called lace cookies.

E. T. Call Home by Margaret Ullrich

Last weekend we got a double dose of patriotism.July 1 - Canada Day.Followed by THE FOURTH of July.  It needs no other name.
We had a relaxed weekend.On the first there were fireworks a couple of blocks from our house.Our local representative put on the show at a school and sold pizza.On THE FOURTH we watched A Capitol Fourth on PBS.Fireworks up the wazoo.Gotta love tax dollars - either Canadian

Carmela Soprano's Green Beans in Tomato Sauce

Green beans are like eggplants.

You can't eat just one.

And there isn't just one way to cook them.



Last week I posted Ma's Green Bean Salad recipe.

But Carmela's Red, White and Green Salad was perfect for the holiday weekend.

Well, I thought it was.



In the Come to My Home chapter of Carmela's Entertaining with the Sopranos, 

there's a recipe for Green Beans in Tomato Sauce.



I

Anna Sultana's Dandelion Salad, Maltese Style

Summer is really here.

Last month it was a treat to do yard work.

I mean, we'd been stuck indoors for quite a few months.

So it was fun to be out in the fresh air, digging, planting, mowing.

Yessiree.... in the garden from dawn to dusk.





Well, it's too damn hot for that kind of nonsense now.

And our yards are beginning to show that we've lost interest.



The dandelions are back.



Now

Carmela Soprano's Red, White and Green Salad

No kidding.

This is a real recipe.

I didn't make it up for the Fourth of July.



Well, these are the colors of the Italian flag.

What could they use for the American flag.... blueberries?



Maybe not.





In the Graduation Parties chapter of Carmela's Entertaining with the Sopranos, there's a recipe for a Red, White and Green Salad.  

It's a nice, simple recipe.

Perfect for a holiday

HAPPY CANADA DAY!!

Celebrate Canada Day with William Shatner / Captain Kirk!!

Who can do it better?

Anna Sultana's Green Bean Salad Dressing, Maltese Style

A little while ago I wrote about how Pop kept us fed while he was out of work.

We really depended on his garden.

Especially the green beans he grew.

And grew.



Here's one of Ma's green bean recipes.

Of course it has the Maltese touch.

Garlic.

Good for what ails you.





                        Green Bean Salad



Wash and remove tips of

1 pound fresh green beans

Cook in salted water

Cooking Pop by Margaret Ullrich

Some folks have asked me why I've been writing about Pop in this blog.

'Turning 60' is mostly about food and recipes.

Wasn't that Ma's domain?



Well, Pop cooked, too.

He was in charge of our meals from 1952 to 1955.

It wasn't by choice.

It was that, or go hungry all day.





When we moved to College Point in 1952, Ma also worked at Lily Tulip.

For the 50s, she was a woman ahead of her

Carmela Soprano's Peaches in Red Wine

What can I say?

Sometimes great minds just think alike.



And sometimes everybody is sick of cooking.

Especially during the summer.





When it comes to summer, what can beat fresh fruit?



In The Final Celebration chapter of Carmela's Entertaining with the Sopranos, 

there's a recipe for Peaches in Red Wine. 



About the wine, Carmela said "preferably homemade".

Why do I have trouble

Anna Sultana's Peaches in Wine

We're almost done with June!



Next weekend is Holiday Time, both in the US and Canada.

Look, I'm all in favor of just getting a bucket and relaxing.

So was Ma.

I mean, she wasn't a martyr.

And it gets awfully hot and muggy in New York.





This is a really easy dessert.

Nothing last minute.

Nothing to bake.



Peaches are fairly reasonable now.

They can be peeled and sliced before your

Father's Day by Margaret Ullrich

A few weeks ago there was an article called Daddy-Daughter Date in the newspaper.No, they weren't going all pervy.The Winnipeg Free Press is a family paper.No funny business.Hey, this is Winnipeg.
The date in the article took place in Chicago.A nice dinner and a Tony-award-winning comedy.Shopping at the Oprah store.No funny business.Hey, we're talking Oprah.

Daddy-Daughter Date.What can I say?

Carmela Soprano's Roasted Beef Tenderloin - Holiday Dinner Menu

Tomorrow's the big day for Dads.

Happy Father's Day!!



I have yet to meet a Vegetarian Dad.

Dads I've met refer to salads as 'rabbit food'.

And not with a smile on their faces.





That's right, Dad, or hubby, will be expecting meat.

A nice cut of meat.

No, you can't get away with hot dogs.





In the Fit for a Bride chapter of Carmela's Entertaining with the Sopranos, 

there's a

Anna Sultana's Laham fuq il-fwar - Steamed Beef with Garlic, Maltese Style

Don't panic at the title.

And don't get snarky about the second word.

Fuq is Maltese for steamed.

It's just Steamed Beef with Garlic.

Don't panic at the 'Steamed' Beef.

It'll work.



If Dad's the type of guy who gags at the cost of high end roast, 

this will make him smile.

This is a recipe for beef rump, an economical cut.

But it won't be tough.

And it's easy to make.

Trust me.

Feeding by Margaret Ullrich

Last week I wrote about how Pop had kept us fed after Lily Tulip moved to New Jersey.

We were well-fed from his garden.

Especially from the green beans he grew.



A few friends e mailed me and asked if we were vegetarians.

Uh, are you kidding?



To paraphrase a rather famous quote, "Man does not live by green beans alone."





Like I said last week, Pop was a farmboy.

He was a MALTESE

Carmela Soprano's Panna Cotta with Raspberry Sauce and Blueberries

Wasn't Ma's Prinjolata easy to make?

It uses ingredients you can keep in the pantry.

It can be prepared in advance.



And it's easy on the budget.

Yah, Ma!!





Okay... now we'll have a recipe from Carmela.



Check out the Dinner for Twelve chapter of Carmela's Entertaining with the Sopranos.  There's a recipe for Panna Cotta with Raspberry Sauce and Blueberries.



Carmela has a different

Anna Sultana's Prinjolata - Maltese Carnival Sweet with Butter Cream Filling

You've had a few days to get used to June.



Not so bad, is it?



Time to plan something special for a dessert.

For Father's Day.

For weddings.

For graduations.

For whatever.





Maltese recipes, for the most part, are pretty simple.

Mostly fruit and something dairy.

Great for the health, lousy for the presentation.





Okay... the family is expecting something pretty.

They've been

Weeding by Margaret Ullrich

There must be something in the air.Maybe the planets are in alignment... or out of it.
Last week I weeded out a few FaceBook friends.I was a little nervous about it.I was afraid I'd get a tearstained email.Or a FaceBook message.With a sad face or a :-(  
Nope.
To be honest, I don't thing they even knew or cared.
I feel like a weight's been taken off my shoulders.Or at least my computer's mail

Carmela Soprano's Eggplant Fritters (appetizer)

In food, as in life, timing is everything.



Like I said a few weeks ago, eggplants are like potato chips.

It's hard to stop at just one.

There are so many recipes.

That eggplant sure does get around.



In that post I mentioned a recipe for 'The Imam Fainted'.

This weekend on CBC Manitoba Weekend Morning Show, Chef Karen Peters cooked a Turkish eggplant dish called Imam Baldi.



Is that a

Anna Sultana's Fritturi tal-Pastard - Cauliflower Fritters / Cauliflower Casserole, Maltese Style

June... time for graduations, weddings, Father's Day.



Time to feed the family.

Big time.



Yeah, I hear you.

You just get finished paying off Christmas, and now....



Okay, don't panic.

You've lived through June before.

You'll do it again.





Families in Malta face the same June crunch.

And Maltese sure do like to eat.



Maltese mothers live by two rules:

If you can fill their

Whack 'Em by Margaret Ullrich

We've just gotten back from a small trip to Dubuque.We had a lovely time.If you get the chance, drop by there.They have a beautiful arboretum and a fascinating Riverboat Museum.

Now, I admit, I don't travel easily.
I'm always afraid I've forgotten something.I know, my husband tells me we're not going to the middle of nowhere.If I've forgotten something, I can always buy it there.I just can't

Carmela Soprano's Zuppa Ingles, Neopolitan Trifle

I hope you found my Ma's Cannoli to be a nice simple recipe.

Something you can whip up on short notice.

Or on a hot summer day.



We had a couple of below-freezing nights last week.

I still have hope that Spring will come.

And Summer.



Call me a cock-eyed optimist.



Cannoli is an easy recipe, using items usually in the house.

Wish I could say the same for Carmela's Zuppa Inglese.  

Anna Sultana's Cannoli - Spongecake with Custard Filling, Maltese Style

Right off the bat, I have some explaining to do.



If you go to an Italian restaurant and order Cannoli, you'll get a deep-fried tube with a ricotta and chopped citron filling.



Well, except for the dairy and chopped citron filling, Ma's Maltese Cannoli isn't like Carmela's Cannoli.



Don't panic.

Ma has a good dessert.



Even healthier than the famous one.

No frying.

Less calories.

Crazy-free Cul by Margaret Ullrich

There had been other craziness:B had burned all of A's financial papers - not good for someone with his own business.There was a scorch mark in the yard, near A's bed.A had thought that was where B had cremated his dog.After having allowed him to do his business in the house for a few months.Yes, B's dog had died.
The storage shed is packed with wood - source unknown.
All the usual items of

Carmela Soprano's Potato Pie

Okay... You now know about the great Maltese comfort food.

Ross Fil-Forn

Baked Rice.

A one dish meal.

A miracle.





But Maltese eat more than just rice and pasta.

Malta produces a surplus of potatoes.  

Enough to export to other countries, primarily Holland.

So there.





In the Come to My Home chapter of Carmela's Entertaining with The Sopranos, Carmela has a recipe for Potato Pie. 

Anna Sultana's Ross Fil-Forn - Baked Rice, Maltese Style

Okay... now we're talking Maltese comfort food.



It's funny how Americans think folks in the Mediterranean just eat pasta.

That just isn't so.



Don't get me wrong...  I've never met a noodle I didn't like.



But Ma filled us up on lots more than just pasta.

We had pots of potatoes and rice, too.

And not just boiled up and served with a dab of butter.



I mean, you've seen what can be

The New Canada by Margaret Ullrich

I work as a poll clerk.I cross off your name so that no one else can come and pretend to be you.Right.The days of 'Vote early and vote often' are long gone.It's hard enough to get people to vote, never mind pretending to be someone else.But sometimes politics, like money, can make people act crazy.I mean, did you hear some of their campaign promises?
It's a government job.It's like doing the

Carmela Soprano's Caponata, Italian Style Eggplant Appetizer

Okay... I told you there's an Italian recipe like the Maltese Kapunata.



And, lucky for us, in the Small Events for Men Only chapter of Carmela's 

Entertaining with The Sopranos, Carmela has a recipe for Caponata, also known as Sweet-and-Sour Eggplant.

No, it's not a Chinese recipe. 





Like I've said before, I don't know who put together this book.

Perfect Lent recipes in the wedding

Anna Sultana's Kapunata, Maltese Style Caponata, Eggplant Appetizer

Okay, I know how it is.

Eggplants are like potato chips.

It's hard to stop at just one.



Maybe I am overstating it, just a teenie bit.



But really, eggplants are a staple in the Mediterranean.



If you flip through an Arabic cookbook, you'll see a recipe for 'The Imam Fainted'.

It uses eggplants.

No, the Imam didn't faint because it smelled funny.

Legend has it that the Imam's new

Mother's Day by Margaret Ullrich

Happy Mother's Day!!Wishing Moms and their families a lovely day!

May is a busy month for Catholics.Little seven and eight-year-olds are receiving their First Communion.The first big day in a Catholic's life.I mean, who remembers being baptized, which usually happens when we're infants.

Paul and I are Eucharistic Ministers.That means we help give out Communion at Masses.Extra hands means that

Carmela Soprano's Meatless Eggplant Rollatini

Okay... you bought the eggplants, but you don't have any meat in the house.

Not even the fake stuff.



Don't panic.



How about cheese?

Yes, this is for an Italian recipe.

Mozzarella, not American.

In a pinch, the plastic wrapped slices will do.

It's gonna melt, so who's to know?





And some Romano.

That's what Carmela uses.

Hey, if you prefer Parmesan, I won't tell.

Maybe even

Anna Sultana's Bringiel Mimli - Stuffed Eggplant, Maltese Style

Like I said last week, what a time this has been!

Last Monday was Election Day in Canada.

It was time for a change.

We now have a majority government.

The tax money saved from annual elections will be spent on more useful things.

We can only hope.



On to something nearer and dearer to our hearts...

Mother's Day!



You bought something you KNOW she'll like.

You invited your parents for

Being 61 by Margaret Ullrich

Well, I made it.I'm 61.Okay... it doesn't feel much different from being 60.But, here it is.Alrighty then... I'm 61.
Last week was Easter.In case you're wondering about my effort to avoid Facebook for the last week in Lent, well, it didn't go so well.

Elisabeth Sladen passed away.If you're a fan of Dr. Who, she played Sarah Jane.The most beloved of the Doctor's companions.
Well, I posted about

Carmela Soprano's Chopped Vegetable Salad and Balsamic Oregano Salad Dressing

Okay... we've all got leftovers from last Sunday.



Hope you had a nice Easter.

Time to get back to normal meals again.  

Time to use up some of the leftovers. 

I mean, did anyone eat all the radishes?





In the Adult Birthday Parties chapter of Carmela's Entertaining with The Sopranos, Carmela has a recipe for Chopped Salad. 





This must've been a recipe Carmela had from her early days

Anna Sultana's Orange Cranberry Scones

What a time this has been... and will be.

Last week was Easter, with all that entails.

This weekend started out with the Royal Wedding.

With all THAT entails.

Thank goodness that wasn't our problem.

But, didn't the bride look elegant!

God bless them.





Next Sunday is Mother's Day.

No, you can't buy marked-down Easter candy for Mom.

She knows rabbits aren't traditional for Mother's Day

Happy Easter!!

The Promise of Easter.... 



May joy fill your day



Hope light your path



And the many



blessings of Easter



warm your heart....



Wishing everyone a Happy Easter!!

A Traditional Family Easter (part 5 by Margaret Ullrich)

 Continued from part 4

   Aunt Demi announced, “We are having a traditional Maltese Easter dinner.  With a traditional figolli.”

    “Do you think our Blessed Mother baked a mermaid?” Aunt Rita sneered.  

    Demi lunged.  Liz wrote.  





    The lamb was ready.  If this dragged on much longer it would be a lump of coal.  



    Ma sighed, glared at her sisters-in-law and said, “I don’t

A Traditional Family Easter (part 4 by Margaret Ullrich)

Continued from part 3


    After forty days of fasting and scrubbing, Demi and Rita were lean, clean, Easter tradition machines.  Filled with the holiday spirit, they glared at each other.

    “What the hell is that?”  Aunt Demi spat.

    “It’s a dove, a symbol of peace, you idiot,” Aunt Rita shot back.  

    “It’s Easter.  We don’t need a damn dove.”

    “Throw that fish back in the sea.

A Traditional Family Easter (part 3 by Margaret Ullrich)

Continued from part 2


    In College Point, as Easter approached, the bakeries filled with cross buns, pretzels, braided almond loaves, Easter cookies and marzipan treats.  There were also large decorated sugar Easter eggs which had a hole in one end.  When we looked into the hole we could see tiny bunny villages.  There were also hot cross buns.  Ma knew about the cross buns.  Since Malta

A Traditional Family Easter (part 2 by Margaret Ullrich)

Continued from part 1


    During my earliest years in Corona, a small town in Queens, New York, Easter was Italian.  Palm Sunday was the Day of the Olive.  Small blessed olive branches were offered as tokens of peacemaking.  For Easter breakfast we had Colomba di Pasqua.  Colomba is bread shaped to look like a dove, the symbol of peace, and covered with almond paste and almonds.  An Italian

A Traditional Family Easter (part 1 by Margaret Ullrich)

In 2007, the following story was published in 'A/cross sections : new Manitoba writing', which was edited by Katharine Bitney and Andris Taskans and published by the Manitoba Writers Guild.  The book is still in the library system, adult nonfiction section.  Check it out.  There are lots of stories and poems by Manitoba writers in it.







    I made a loaf of soda bread to serve with the

Anna Sultana's Kwarezimal - Almond Biscotti, Maltese Style

On Saturday I posted Carmela Soprano's Quaresimali.



I know, I have a hard time picturing Carmela making them, too.

It's not that they're hard to make.

But can you picture Tony and AJ sitting down to a plate of them?

Would Christopher bring a box of them to the guys hangin' at Satriale's?

No way.

Well, maybe during Lent.





Kwarezimal is a Maltese Lent basic item.

It is called a Lenten

F. B., or not F. B. - Being 60 (week 50 - by Margaret Ullrich)

It's Palm Sunday.Oh, crap.
I didn't do anything on my Lent List.I didn't even manage to read that little black book every day.Don't be ridiculous.Not THAT little black book.I haven't had a little black book like that for over 40 years.Well to be honest, I never had a little black book like that.At most I had a page's worth of phone numbers.Not a whole book's worth.We're talking the 60s.Now folks

Carmela Soprano's Quaresimali, Cinnamon Nut Biscotti

Hoo boy... Tomorrow is Palm Sunday.



Lent's almost over.

And all that suffering you planned to do during this Lent... well, if intentions counted for anything, they'd be printing holy pictures with your face on them right now. 



Can't exactly use "Time flies when you're having fun" as an excuse for not doing anything on your Lent List.



Okay... I'm not here to make you feel guilty.

Anna Sultana's Qassatat tal-Pizelli, Small Pies with Peas, Maltese Style

Yesterday I posted Ma's Qassatat ta I-Irkotta, small ricotta pies.



A friend e mailed and asked if there was anything similar for the lactose intolerant.

No problem.



Qassatat ta I-Irkotta can easily be prepared as Qassatat tal-Pizelli.

A Qassatat with a peas filling.

Great for the lactose intolerant and vegetarians in the crowd.

And everybody else.



                        

Anna Sultana's Qassatat ta I-Irkotta - Small Ricotta Pies, Maltese Style

On Saturday I posted Carmela Soprano's La Pastiera.

Last year it shared a post with my Ma's Qassatat ta I-Irkotta, small ricotta pies.  

Just a few sentences.

Sorry.

Live and learn, right?





They're both pie recipes, have a ricotta filling and a crust.

There the similarity ends.

Ma's recipe is 100% simpler.



You can prepare it for lunch the same day.



And, it's healthier.

Watching

Mother's Daughters - Being 60 (week 49 - by Margaret Ullrich)

I got a few emails about a piece I had written a couple of weeks ago.I had compared my childhood to Loretta Lynne's Coal Miner's Daughter.I said my siblings had the Crystal Gale experience.
I guess I wasn't clear enough.
It wasn't about the green "Alien Registration" postcard every year.It wasn't about being the go-between, the translator.It wasn't about the paper trail I have to show to explain

Carmela Soprano's La Pastiera - Easter Ricotta Pie, Italian Style

Okay... we're in the homestretch for Easter.
Time to get back to basics.
I'm not talking theology.
Nope.
Something more important.


Even people who aren't religious - the C & E relatives - are expecting you to do your bit for their holiday enjoyment.


It's time to start pulling out the Easter recipes.




Last April I just gave a quick comparison of Carmela Soprano's La Pastiera (also known

Anna Sultana's Figolli recipe / Traditional Maltese Easter Sweet with Royal Icing and Almond Filling with and without eggs

On Saturday I posted the recipe for Carmela Soprano's Easter Sweet Bread.



The picture of the Sweet Bread in Carmela's Entertaining with The Sopranos cookbook inspired me to write a post last year about the Easter Breads of my youth.  



That post was recently included in Dust & Fire, Writing & Art by Women 2011, which was published by the Women's Studies Department of Bemidji State

The Voice of Canada - Being 60 (week 48 - by Margaret Ullrich)

Last week I was in Bemidji, Minnesota, to read my story Easter Bread at the launch of Dust & Fire, Writing & Art by Women 2011.
The launch had been organized by the Women's Studies Department of Bemidji State University.  It took place on March 25 at the American Indian Resource Center, a fairly new building on campus.

This was the fifth time in my life that one of my stories had been published

Carmela Soprano's Italian Easter Sweet Bread

Last year I wrote about the Easter Breads of my childhood.



The memories were triggered by a picture of a loaf of Easter Sweet Bread in the Holidays chapter of Carmela's Entertaining with The Sopranos. 



If you're Italian, I'm sure you've sat down to an Easter Sweet Bread.  

And I'm also sure you were either pro or anti eating the colored eggs.  

That weird green circle was spooky.

Anna Sultana's Brodu tac-Canga - Meat Soup, Maltese Style

On Saturday we got back to Lent.  

I posted Carmela Soprano's Green Bean, Potato and Red Onion Salad.

I find it a little hard to believe Tony ate many salads.



Well, maybe he did during Lent.

Not Janice.  No way.

Meadow, for sure.



Back to Lent, Maltese style.

We had more soups than salads.

The water did wonders to kill the hunger pangs.



Hey, we were on an island.

Water, water,

Sisters, Sisters - Being 60 (week 47 - by Margaret Ullrich)

In the classic Christmas film White Christmas Rosemary Clooney and Vera-Ellen sang a duet about being sisters.



Even Bing and Danny sang it, but that's another story.

Don't even think it.

We're talking Irving Berlin.

He didn't even think it.



The thing about the song was that sisters are close, up to a point.

Well, duh.





Even that country music icon, Loretta Lynn, had a sister issue.

Carmela Soprano's Green Bean, Potato and Red Onion Salad

Did you get compliments for making Carmela Soprano's Cream Puffs?

Did folks say "Oh, you shouldn't have?"

Good.

A little guilt, when your guest or the family has it, is a good thing.





Okay... speaking of guilt, it is still Lent and we should eat simply.



In the Welcome to the Family chapter of Carmela's Entertaining with The Sopranos, Carmela throws together a Green Bean, Potato and Red

Anna Sultana's Hot Cross Buns

Last Sunday I wrote about the Catholic Church customs that ruled our meals 

during Lent.  



Hot Cross Buns are a Maltese Lent staple.

Yes, they are.



Okay, it's originally an English recipe.

But the English had been in Malta since the time of Napoleon.

Thanks to Napoleon, I was born a British subject.

Long story.  Google 'Malta'.

Even though Malta became independent in 1964, some

The Stork from Ireland - Being 60 (week 46 - by Margaret Ullrich)

Last week I had a few thoughts about my 61st birthday coming in a few weeks.This time of year I think about birthdays.Family birthdays.
When I was born, it was pretty simple for my parents.I was born at home.In the same bed in which I was conceived.Hey, they didn't do kinky.The doctor came to the house.That's just what they did in Malta in 1950.

Five years later, Ma was pregnant again.This time

Carmela Soprano's Cream Puffs / Baked Sfingi and Ricotta Cream Filling

Time flies.  

Last year I posted Carmela's Sfingi recipe since it's traditional to make them for the feast of St. Joseph, March 19, in both Italy and Malta. 



Ahh, Tradition.  

Gotta love it. 



Okay... I'm trying to get through her cookbook, so I'm not going to repeat it here.  

Just click on Sfingi above and you'll see what I wrote.





In The Final Celebration chapter of Carmela's

NY Daily News' Irish Soda Bread - Margaret Ullrich

Okay... tomorrow's St. Patrick's Day and you want something easy - and cheap - to mark the occasion.



Irish Soda Bread goes well with a corned beef and cabbage dinner, or anything else.  



And the cops will love you.  



Here's the Irish Soda Bread recipe that I clipped from The New York Daily News fifty years ago.  

Absolutely Hobbit free.  





                        IRISH SODA BREAD

Don't Tell Me About St. Patrick (part 2 - by Margaret Ullrich)

There's lots of stuff about Ireland on the internet.  

Did you know that corned beef is not the national dish?  It was eaten as a last resort during hard times.  

Irish coffee was the invention of the Buena Vista Cafe in San Francisco.  

When Irish Eyes are Smiling is an American song.  

And many Irish people consider green to be an unlucky color.

    

Finally I found The Traditional Irish

Don't Tell Me About St. Patrick (part 1 - by Margaret Ullrich)

Remember how we were all gaga about the dawning of the Age of Aquarius?  



I mean, even if you didn't know enough Astrology to know your own sign - let alone what house you were mooning - you couldn't avoid Hair, the song, play or movie.  And everybody saw the 5th Dimension on the Ed Sullivan Show.  Remember how they just stood there, swaying and singing When the moon is in the seventh house

Anna Sultana's Soppa tal Kirxa - Tripe Soup, Maltese Style

On Saturday I posted Carmela Soprano's Italian Tuna Salad.  

Something she must have dished up for many Lenten meals.

She probably did use imported Italian tuna packed in olive oil.

Well, whoopee for her.

Not everybody has Carmela's 'resources'.



Back to eating off the hump.

Our waists will be slimmer and our shelves will be clearer.





We knew it was Lent when Ma dished up more soups.

A Late Lent - Being 60 (week 45 - by Margaret Ullrich)

Here we go... another Lent.It's a bit late this year.Easter's not until April 24.A week before my 61st birthday.
It's a little weird having Easter and my birthday so close together.Lent is a time to take stock, to make changes in one's life.The original time to make resolutions.To see the 'Big Picture'.This year it's a little bit more.A last minute wake up call before another birthday comes.
I

Carmela Soprano's Italian Tuna Salad using Canned Tuna

Last week I prepared Carmela Soprano's Veal Rollatini with Peas.





I know... 

it was a bother to make and the vegetarians in the family were giving you The Look.


The Look that Paulie Walnuts gives on a bad day.

A bad day for someone else.

You felt like you were Big Pussy on the boat ride.

The non-return boat ride.



Well, so much for the fancy shmancy dinners.



Last Wednesday was Ash

Anna Sultana's Maltese Bragoli, Beef Olives with Tomato Sauce with Peas, Maltese Style

On Saturday I posted Carmela Soprano's Veal Rollatini with Peas.  

The whole idea was: take a bland piece of meat and wrap it around something with a bit more flavor.



Okay... everybody, including Maltese, has been doing something like that for a long time.

If you're on a budget, it's called "stretching".



Most people don't use meat for a stretcher.

That's kind of like gilding the gold.

Charlie Sheen of Winnipeg - Being 60 (week 44 - by Margaret Ullrich)

Things have settled down to a nice quiet routine in our cul de sac.
A comes after work and does a bit of cleanup, with a friend's help.He spent his first night alone in his house last night.He's keeping to himself, not dropping by to say hi or to chat, as he used to do.
Well, to be honest, nobody's in any rush to chat with him, either.

I mean, it's one thing watching the goings-on of Charlie

Carmela Soprano's Veal Rollatini with Peas / Chicken Pork Rolls

Last week I prepared Carmela Soprano's Poached Chicken with Pesto, a nice simple recipe that I plan to use during the summer.  



Carmela thought it was fit for a bride.  

I don't think so.

I'm thinking more something for a casual get together.



To be honest, I can't picture Carmela making poached chicken for a wedding.

Well, maybe for Janice.

Definitely not for Meadow.





Okay... this

Anna Sultana's Pigeon Stew - Chicken Stew, Maltese Style

On Saturday I posted, with some variations, Carmela Soprano's Poached Chicken with Pesto.  

No big deal.

Well, does everything have to be a production?



I've been trying to pair up Carmela's and Ma's recipes.

This is another easy one.

This also calls for poultry.

This also calls for some variations.





If you saw the movie Mary Poppins you probably remember the scene where she's singing

Sam Katz & the Crazy - Being 60 (week 42 - by Margaret Ullrich)

Last Sunday A and a few friends continued the purging of B.



When neighbors saw the grey Honda instead of the truck, or the white car, or the 

U Haul, they figured B was totally gone.



During the evenings, Christmas lights were turned on, as a welcome home.

People began parking in the bay again.

Life was returning to its usual hum drum self.

It was good.



A and friends returned during

Carmela Soprano's Poached Chicken with Homemade Pesto Sauce

Last week I prepared Carmela Soprano's Pizza Di Scarola, which, I admit, was a bit of work.



So, this week I thought I'd do something simple.

This is so simple, I don't know how she had the nerve to include it in the book.

Maybe she was tired from making Pizza Di Scarola, too.

Oh, well, winter is dragging on, so we all can use a break.





Okay... in the Fit for a Bride chapter of

Anna Sultana's Torta tal-Lampuki - Fish and Vegetable Pie, Maltese Style

On Saturday I posted Carmela Soprano's Pizza Di Scarola.

Hope the kids didn't get excited and expect something like a take-out pizza.

Sorry.

Just tell them it's a learning experience.



If the kids got to this post first, they're probably going to be expecting something like a cake from a fancy bakery.

Again, sorry.



Just a reminder, pizza is Italian for pie.

Torta is Maltese for pie.

Cul de Sac Crazy VI - Being 60 (week 42 - by Margaret Ullrich)

Last Sunday Paul and I wondered if B would ever leave.
A's white car was still parked in the back. No sign of A.No sign of B.
That Monday we celebrated a subdued St. Valentine's Day.

At 4:00 am, on Tuesday morning, we woke to the sound of a car's engine being revved.B was back to his old habit of idling his engine.No one else was up at that hour.Really, our neighbors keep pretty regular

Carmela Soprano's Pizza Di Scarola - (escarole or romaine or spinach bread)

On January 15 I posted the recipe for Carmela Soprano's Mostaciolli, some very nice chocolate cookies with rum frosting.





Yes, I know that's a long time to go without a Soprano recipe.

I'm sorry.

But, I hope you've enjoyed the other recipes, or at least found them useful.

I mean, there isn't an old Italian recipe that uses up some of the stuff we bought for the holidays.

Stuff like Ritz

Cul de Sac Crazy V - Being 60 (week 41 - by Margaret Ullrich)

Timing is everything.  
Last Sunday Paul and I were enjoying the prospect of a life without B. Windows open during summer nights. Gardening without the fear of B wanting to talk. Usually about some hare-brained scheme that would 'fly under the radar'.  Hanging laundry without the fear of B wanting to talk. Sitting in our yard without the fear of B wanting to talk.  
We weren't alone in picturing

Lindy's Cheesecake with Red Cherry Glaze, New York Style Cheesecake - Margaret Ullrich

Valentine's Day is coming up.  

Last year, around this time, I talked about Carmela's New Jersey Cheesecake.



Oy... 

That led to the Great Cheesecake Battle.

I know better now.

Never dis anybody's cheesecake.





But, in every genre, there is an icon.

In horror, there's Stephen King.

In cheesecake, there's Lindy's.



I know, nothing can compare with the Co-Op Refrigerator Cheesecake.

Cul de Sac Crazy IV - Being 60 (week 40 - by Margaret Ullrich)

Alrighty... on January 30 at 5:00 pm we last saw that neighbor B's buddy had wedged his car perpendicularly between A's white car and B's green truck in the cul de sac, while B was shoveling snow onto the little circle in the middle of the cul.
Both cars' hoods were up.The friend was trying to boost some life into A's white car.After sitting there for three months, it was going to take a while.No

Anna Sultana's Fenek fil forn (Roasted Rabbit or Chicken, Maltese Style)

A few folks still think I overdid the holidays with Carmela's Entertaining with The Sopranos booze recipes and want more recipes from Ma.



No problem.





A staple when I was growing up was rabbit.  

Pop had a few cages of rabbits in the garage.  

Boy and girl rabbits.

Well, they did the deed.

The rabbits, I mean.

We had lots of rabbit meat.

No questions asked.



Here's a simple recipe

Cul de Sac Crazy lll - Being 60 (week 39 - by Margaret Ullrich)

I was really hoping I'd have some good news to report.
No such luck.

Okay... on January 19 B was back.At least his truck was.  No sign of life from the house.Everyone was thinking the worst.Don't ask what we thought the worst was.

On January 22, at 9:30 pm, B drove his truck from the carport, which faces the back lane, to the cul de sac and backed onto his front lawn.  Excuse me our front lawn

Date Squares / Matrimonial Cake - Margaret Ullrich

Got an e mail for another date recipe.



Sure.

We're all in this together.

Next year we'll know better.

Right.



This is also called Matrimonial Cake, but you cut it into bars.

Who cares.  

It uses up those dates.





                        Date Squares

                                                            

grease an 8" square pan         

preheat oven to 325º           

bake