Carmela Soprano's Vegetarian Baked Ziti

Mushrooms are often on sale.

When they are, pick up a few extra packages.

Along with being great as an appetizer, they can also add oomph to casseroles.





Janice's Sunday Dinner chapter in Artie's The Sopranos Family Cookbook, 

has another mushroom recipe.

It's for her Vegetarian Baked Ziti.

No, I don't think Livia made this.

It was probably from Janice's hippy days.

Yeah, there's an

Carmela Soprano's Rigatoni with Broccoli

The holiday season does bring back lots of memories of the past.

Including memories of family dinners from long ago.



Most dinners immigrant families remember weren't very fancy.

At least not on a regular basis.

Oh, there might be a roast on Sunday.

And a wonderful meal on holidays was always done.

But the only way a family could afford that was by eating simply during the week.

Carmela Soprano's Fried Mushrooms (hot appetizer)

Mushrooms are handy to have during the holidays.

They can add a classy touch to any leftover, including turkey.

They can perk up a bowl of peas or a salad.

And they're good for you!





Janice Soprano may have anger issues, but she knows the value of mushrooms.

In her Sunday Dinner chapter in Artie's The Sopranos Family Cookbook, Janice included a recipe for Livia's Fried Mushrooms.

This is

Canadian Christmas Memories by Margaret Ullrich

I wish you all a very Merry Christmas full of peace, health, joy and love.

And, of course, favourite foods.

Let's not forget television specials and Christmas music.



For those who don't know the story, the Christmas carol Silent Night was written in the nineteenth century because of a problem.      

In a small Austrian church the organ was broken and couldn't be repaired in time for the

Carmela Soprano's Pears al Vino Bianco / Pears in White Wine

Christmas parties are fun.

Full of good cheer and calories.

Yes, Christmas calories are the gifts that stay with you.



Back to Jennifer's chapter Rage, Guilt, Loneliness, and Food in 

Artie's The Sopranos Family Cookbook.

Leave it to Doctor Melfi to have a classy, lower calorie dessert.





Don't make an extra trip to the store.

A teaspoon of lemon extract and a tablespoon of vanilla

Carmela Soprano's Tiramisu / Ladyfingers and Nillas

What would Artie's The Sopranos Family Cookbook be without a chapter from

the teddy bear, Bobby Bacala?

Oh, Bobby, Bobby, Bobby…



At the start of Bobby's chapter he remembers what was important in his youth.

"Being happy meant a loving and supportive family,

a loving and supportive community and plenty of food on the table."



That's the way it was in my childhood, too.

Well, times

Lady Baltimore Cake or Cupcakes (with and without rum) - Margaret Ullrich

This time of year makes people yearn for tastes from the past.

I got an e mail from a reader asking for the frosting for a Lady Baltimore Cake.

Happy to help.



If you've never tried it, it's basically a 2-layer white cake with a fancy frosting.
It's similar to Lane Cake.

If you're in a rush, a cake mix will be fine, too.

Nobody will notice the cake with this frosting on it.





I've got

Carmela Soprano's Roast Pork Shoulder

There's another roast recipe in Janice Soprano's Sunday Dinner chapter in 

Artie's The Sopranos Family Cookbook.

Roast Pork Shoulder.

No picture.

No problem.



Okay… this could be a regular Sunday dinner.

Or a special occasion dinner.

Especially if you went overboard on the Christmas gifts.





Most of us remember sitting down to overcooked pork.

Janice said Johnny Soprano called it "

Carmela Soprano's Standing Rib Roast

Some folks have serious food traditions.

The meat and potato kind of traditions.

Fish on a holiday or holyday just won't cut it.

No problem.


There's a special meat recipe in Janice Soprano's Sunday Dinner chapter in 

Artie's The Sopranos Family Cookbook.

Standing Rib Roast.

There's even a picture of the roast all by itself.  No veggies need apply.

Yes, it's that special.





According

Carmela Soprano's Lobster Fra Diavolo / Jumbo Shrimp Fra Diavolo - Seafood in Spicy Tomato Sauce

Cards sent…  

You know there'll be a surprise card on December 23 from somebody you barely know.

House clean… It's good enough.  Just allow visitors at night and use candles.

Gifts bought… Well, most of them.
On to step 2: shop the house.



It's time to think of the big day's main course.

Twelve days to the holy feast of Christmas.

Peace on earth, good will toward men.

Yeah, right...

Carmela Soprano's Zabaglione - Marsala Wine Dessert

Got a reminder from a reader.

Not everybody's Christmas involves inviting a whole crowd.

You're right.

That doesn't mean that a smaller Christmas celebration isn't a special time.

Or that it doesn't deserve a memorable dessert.





Adriana's chapter Cibo D'Amore in Artie's The Sopranos Family Cookbook

has wonderful recipes for more intimate special events. 



Even if you're having the

Links for Manitoba Food Processors by Margaret Ullrich

About the companies who were at that Christmas party hosted by the
Manitoba Food Processors Association (MFPA) …



There were old Winnipeg favourites, like Jeanne's Bakery.

There were tasty novel food products from NuEats.



There was a wide assortment of delicious food.

Something for every taste.

And you can enjoy their products year 'round!




Please click on the links for these

Anna Sultana's Imbuljuta (Maltese Holiday Chestnut Dessert)

It's also been quite a while since I posted one of Ma's recipes.

Well, here's one of her Christmas recipes.



Imbuljuta is the traditional Maltese dessert served after Midnight Mass 

or on New Year’s Eve. 

It has an aroma of spicy chocolate and citrus.

How great is that?



We always made a trip to Corona to get a few pounds of chestnuts.

Chestnuts weren't easy to find in College Point.

So

Buying Fresh Manitoba Produce in Season - Margaret Ullrich

I recently attended a Christmas party hosted by the MB Food Processors Association (MFPA).  Of course, the food was delicious.

It was interesting to learn a bit more about the food industry in Manitoba.



I mentioned that I wanted to know when produce is in season here.

The app at the bottom of this page, which has info from Minnesota, isn't totally accurate for us.

I wanted to provide

Carmela Soprano's Struffoli (Christmas Honey Balls / Doughnuts)

Another surprise in the Cooking The Neapolitan Way chapter!

Struffoli!!

I guess it is a chapter for odds and ends in Artie's The Sopranos Family Cookbook.



Struffoli is a traditional part of an Italian Christmas.

My Sicilian Aunt Betty served it every year.

It wouldn't have been Christmas dinner without Struffoli. 





If you don't have a deep-fry thermometer test the oil:

a small bit

Carmela Soprano's Lasagne / Anna Sultana's Lasagne, Maltese Style

I was a little surprised to find this recipe in the Cooking The Neapolitan Way chapter.

I mean, I don't think Neapolitans invented Lasagne.

Then again, maybe they did.

And the recipe is a bit different from the way my Ma made Lasagne.





This Lasagne isn't something you can throw together at the last minute.

For one thing there's Carmela's Tomato Sauce.

Yes, it's better to make the sauce

Carmela Soprano's Mussels in Spicy Tomato Sauce - Zuppa di Cozze

December.

The holidays.

The family.



Time to visit the shrink, Dr. Jennifer Melfi, M.D., M.A., M.F.T.

And just as stressed out as the rest of us.





Jennifer's chapter Rage, Guilt, Loneliness, and Food has a piece about a research paper.  It covers:

Why do Italian-Americans care so much about food?

Is it a sign of some deep-seated cultural neurosis?

Guilty Eaters, Angry Eaters and

Carmela Soprano's Fettuccine Primavera - Fettuccine and Vegetables in a Cream Sauce / Wine Tips and Lacrima Christi

Artie has something similar to Carmela's Rigatoni with Sweet Sausage recipe.

In his Mia Cucina chapter in The Sopranos Family Cookbook

there's a recipe for Fettuccine Primavera.

Primavera means Spring.



No, wait, this can be made in winter, too.

The only Spring thing in it is asparagus tips.

And some folks don't like asparagus.

So, go a little heavier on the other veggies.

So, there.

Carmela Soprano's Rigatoni with Sweet Sausage and Tomato Sauce

Absolutely. 

It's been a long time since I posted one of Carmela's recipes.

So, without further delay...


Back to Carmela's Feeding My Family in Artie's The Sopranos Family Cookbook.

Ah... Rigatoni with Sweet Sausage and Tomato Sauce

It's a nice, basic family recipe.

And it uses up some of those sausages you bought on sale and froze.





Italians regard pasta the way they regard wine.

A

Haystacks, an Easy Chocolate Snack - Margaret Ullrich

Got an e mail... 

The Cream Cheese Frosting from the Red Velvet Cake was fine.

But, who needs a half package of cream cheese?



The kids are sooo beyond cream cheese and jelly sandwiches.

The adults, watching their fat intake, are not about to schmear it on toast.

So, what to do with half a package of cream cheese?



No problem.



The holiday season is coming.

Time for snacks and

Homemade Red Velvet Cake l Creamy Icing l Cream Cheese Frosting - Margaret Ullrich

It's funny how recipes go in and out of style.

Fondues, quiches, muffins, cupcakes...

Yep, we've eaten through them all.



Red Velvet Cake is currently enjoying a renewed popularity.

It's not a new recipe.

It's just back in demand.



So it goes.



Some folks prefer a traditional icing.

Others like cream cheese.

I've included both recipes.



Some folks prefer to slice each layer

Links for Christmas / Holiday Favorites

The holidays are the times for traditional recipes.

And it doesn't hurt to try something new.



Here's a collection of some old favorites.

And, hopefully, something that will become a new favorite.



Happy Holidays!!!




1930s Dollar Fruitcake (Winnipeg Free Press)


Light Fruitcake - Margaret Ullrich



Candied Fruit Rind - Margaret Ullrich



Brandied Fruit - Margaret Ullrich



Easy Sugar

Light Fruitcake by Margaret Ullrich

Ah, fruitcake!

The stuff of memories, legends, jokes...



Ah, holiday recipes and the memories they hold...



Even my Pop once made a fruitcake!




Please, give this recipe a look.

I mean, the holiday season is coming.

Company will be at the table, hungry.

You are going to need a dessert or two.

And this recipe can be prepared in advance.





This fruitcake recipe is traditional, but

Links for Easy Family Recipes

This is a busy time for everybody.



But, there are some things that, busy or not, you've just gotta do.

Like eat.



Okay.... these recipes are easy.

And, in many cases, cheap.





As Red Green said, "I'm pullin' for ya!"





The 1960s Co-Op Refrigerator Cheesecake





Anna Sultana's Orange Cranberry Scones



Anna Sultana's Cream Puffs



Anna Sultana's Seven Layer Dinner



Anna

Links for Spices, Spice Blends, Uses and Recipes

It's the Holiday Season!!



There are so many smells and spices in the air.

Delicious... wonderful... inviting...

Try something new!!


Allspice



Anise



Caraway



Cardamom / Sugar & Spice Blend



Cayenne / Tandoorie Spice



Celery Seed / Seafood Spice



Cinnamon / Apple Pie Spice



Cloves / Pumpkin Pie Spice



Coriander Seed / Curry Blend



Cumin / Fajita Blend



Fennel



Ginger

Peaches and Cream Dessert / Peach Melba Pie by Margaret Ullrich

Have a cup of heavy cream in the fridge?

Left over from when you made a pumpkin pie?

Half pint too small, quart too much.

Isn't that always the way.



No one wants jello in November.

Not when it's so cold outside.

It would be a shame to throw the cream away.

So, don't.



Of course you have a couple of tins of peaches on the shelf.

Just sitting there.

Getting dusty.

So, make a dessert

Fruit Bars with Canned Pie Filling by Margaret Ullrich

Cranberries all gone?

Well, selling at 1/3 the original price was a good sale.

And we are talking Winnipeggers.





Still want to make some fruit bars.

Just have some canned pie filling?

Perfect.





                    Fruit Bars



grease a 9 x 13" pan         

preheat oven to 400º           

Bake 30 min.



Mix together

2 Cups flour

2 Tablespoons sugar

5 teaspoons baking powder

1

Cranberry Crumb Bars by Margaret Ullrich (Blueberry Crumb Bars)

Guess the fellow in the produce department finally noticed.

The cranberries at regular price weren't moving.

Just sitting there.

Getting dusty.



So he marked them down.

Finally.



Now's the time to snatch up those babies.

No, I know you won't be cooking a turkey for quite a while.

No problem.

Cranberries freeze well.

Just toss the bag into the freezer.



Not all of them.

Leave a

Menu Planning with Fresh Produce by Margaret Ullrich

Got another e mail.

Recipes don't call for just one ingredient.

Nobody sits down to a plate of just one vegetable.

It would be helpful to see what's available during the same time.



I agree.

So, here's a second list, grouping the produce by when they are in season.



Some items - Kohlrabi, Mushrooms and Raspberries - are available all the time. 

Some are treats to be savored during the

Preparing Dried Beans l Sausage and Beans Cassoulet by Margaret Ullrich

We've got snow.

And it's staying.

Forget the light salads.

Time to make a casserole.





Lately the stores have been having sales on sausages.

They freeze well, so stock up.

Get a nice variety.



While you're in the store pick up a few bags of dried beans.

Yes, I know they also come in cans, ready to cook.

But dried is cheaper.

And you can control the salt content.





Dried beans

Buying Fresh Produce in Season by Margaret Ullrich

Got an e mail asking, "When is the best time to buy fresh produce?"



One of the first rules for getting fresh vegetables at their best quality 

- and cheapest price - is to buy them in season.



Okay... like everything else, that's easier said than done.



What's in season locally depends on what you mean by locally.

The fresh produce season is longer in warmer climates.

Makes sense,

Three Year Anniversary! by Margaret Ullrich

Happy Third Birthday to I'm Turning 60!!

And THANK YOU for visiting, whether you're a daily, weekly or occasional guest.

The past three years have been a time of change for me.

A lot of changes, but change can be good.





I used to send Ma recipes, especially at this time of year when there are 

brochures and leaflets in the baking section of the supermarket. 

One of the things I enjoy

Carmela Soprano's Eggplant Parmigiana

In Canada we recently celebrated Thanksgiving.

Here in Winnipeg we just had a few snow flurries.

Christmas is on its way.

It's time to get ready for winter and family dinners.





Artie's The Sopranos Family Cookbook has something from almost everybody.

Including his missus, Charmaine.

Along with a page on party tips and a menu, she gave a few recipes

in her chapter Cooking for the Whole

Pop, Ma and Halifax by Margaret Ullrich, part 12, Weeding

We didn't just take Pop and Ma to Folklorama.

A dozen years ago we took them to Halifax, Nova Scotia.



I really miss the pre 9/11 days.

No passports.

As Obama saw in the Byward Market, Canada and the U. S. are good neighbors.

The 9/11 terrorists were in the States, with all their papers in order.

All the new border security measures wouldn't have made any difference.

Oh, well...





Paul

Carmela Soprano's Linguine with White Clam Sauce - Linguine alle Vongole

The turkey left overs are either all gone or in the freezer.

I mean, enough is enough already.

The budget is still hurting from the holiday dinner.

Time to serve up some more pasta.





Natalie Del Greco's chapter in Artie's The Sopranos Family Cookbook is interesting.

I had always thought Sicily was the source for Italian food in America.

Well, I had Sicilian relatives.

So maybe that

Carmela Soprano's Linguine with Homemade Pesto Sauce - Linguine al Pesto

Okay... I hear you.

You still have some turkey left over.

The gang liked the Linguine Aglio Olio.

But, enough with the leftovers.

They'll put up with the turkey, again.

But they'd like a different starch.



No problem.



Here's another linguine recipe.

But, as with the Linguine Aglio Olio recipe, another pasta can be used.

If your supermarket is like mine, pasta is regularly on sale.

Carmela Soprano's Linguine with Garlic and Oil - Linguine Aglio Olio

Okay... time to get back to recipes.

There's probably some turkey left in the fridge.

But the potatoes and yams are all gone.

What to do for a starch...



No problem.






Dr. Jennifer Melfi not only can tell you what's wrong with you.

She can also feed you.

In Artie's The Sopranos Family Cookbook there's a chapter by Dr. M.

Rage, Guilt, Loneliness and Food.

There are a few pages about "

Thanksgiving in Canada by Margaret Ullrich, part 11, Weeding

Happy Thanksgiving!!

What is it about holidays that makes us remember the past.

Is it the heavy meal?

Is it the booze?

Is it the work that's involved?

Is it all of the above?



Whatever.



Two weeks ago I wrote about our first house in British Columbia.

I say house because our trailer was our first home.

We did a lot of living in that 8 by 11 foot box.

It got us across the country,

Taking the E Train, a tale about the New York subway system - Margaret Ullrich

     I got my first camera after I received my First Communion in 1957.  The camera was a Kodak brownie.  No flash.  The lens stayed in one spot.  You aimed and shot.



     My Aunt Helen had thought the gift pack - a camera and one roll of film - would make a nice present.  My folks didn't care.  Well, Pop said, "What the hell is that?" and Ma thought I needed more clothes but, well, a gift's

Henderson Has Scored For Canada! by Margaret Ullrich, part 10, Weeding

A few days ago I posted about how plans don't always work.

Well, sometimes not having a plan is the best plan.

I mean, sometimes there are greater forces at work.

We just sort of go along for the ride.

And it works out even better.





We had crossed the border into Canada the last day of June.

We didn't know what Canada would be like.

So we lived as tourists for a while.

Saw all the

Wotan, Pop and British Columbia by Margaret Ullrich, part 9, Weeding

About two weeks ago I wrote about family in literature and movies.

I just felt like it after reading Uncle Junior Soprano's  

Junior's Ten Tips to Living Long and Living Well

in Artie Bucco's The Sopranos Family Cookbook.





Recently we watched Great Performances at the Met on PBS.

PBS ran Wagner's Ring Cycle - the whole cycle - over four nights in a row.

Das Rheingold... Die Walkure...

Carmela Soprano's Escarole and Beans Soup - Zuppa di Scarola e Fagioli

Paulie Walnuts also wrote a chapter for The Sopranos Family Cookbook.  

The chapter, about his Mom, is called My Nucci.



No, Nucci is not Italian for Mom.

Nucci is from Marianuccia which means Little Marian.

Paulie had a thing for his Mom.

Well, he did until he found out Nucci wasn't his Mom.

Long story.





Back to the food...  Paulie likes to cook.

He used to prepare meals for his Mom.

Family: The Godfather, The Sopranos and Pop by Margaret Ullrich, part 8, Weeding

Artie Bucco's The Sopranos Family Cookbook has something from everybody.

Even Tony Soprano, more or less.

As seen on the show, Tony enjoyed grilling.

But he didn't enjoy talking.



Artie included Tony's advice in the chapter Grilling-Italian Style.

There are barbecue recipes.

But there's also an interesting page from Uncle Junior Soprano:

Junior's Ten Tips to Living Long and Living Well

Carmela Soprano's Pastina with Ricotta

Eleven years ago our world really changed.

September 11, 2001 was also a Tuesday.

Everyone remembers where they were when the Towers were hit.

And feels a bit down.



This is a good time for some comfort food.





Carmela's chapter Feeding my Family is really becoming a favorite.

I'm so glad I bought Artie Bucco's The Sopranos Family Cookbook.

Even if some recipes lead to laughs in the

Carmela Soprano's Escarole and Little Meatballs Soup - Minestra l Tiny Meatballs Recipe

Ah, Escarole, where have you been all my life?

I don't remember Ma ever serving it.

Then, again, we lived in College Point.



During the 50s and 60s College Point was a strictly German and Irish town.

The church suppers weren't very interesting.

More like "Welcome to the world of cabbage and boiled meat."

Oh, well, so it goes.





Since I just made the 'Schcarole for the two of us, I had a

Carmela Soprano's Sautéed Escarole or Endive with Garlic

A few of the recipes in Artie's The Sopranos Family Cookbook worried me.

Some of the ingredients, like the veal, were out of my league.

Well, asking for the veal gave the butcher a laugh.

And he did make some good suggestions for substitutions.



Ah... one day I will find, and buy, some veal.

It's high on my bucket list.





Another thing that was a problem was Escarole.

Or 'Schcarole as

Clutter Decisions by Margaret Ullrich, part 7, Weeding

This past Labor Day weekend I got started on clearing out our yard.

We weren't doing much besides watching The Big Bang Theory reruns.

They didn't have that big an assortment.

By the third go through, I was saying the dialogue along with the actors.





It's been a hot, dry summer.

And the garden and lawn look it.

I don't expect any miracles this September.

The garden won't suddenly get

Carmela Soprano's Manicotti with Ricotta Filling / Filling for Large Shells

In food, as in life, one thing often leads to another.

Everything is connected.

We are stardust.

Yeah, well, so the song says...





Last week I posted about Ma's Stuffed Shells.

I mentioned that you're supposed to put something in the jumbo shells, just like you would with the manicotti tubes.



Got some e mails...

"Can I put the same cheese stuff in the manicotti tubes?"

Sure.  

There

Carmela Soprano's Fiori di Zucca Fritti (Fried Zucchini (Squash) Flowers)

If you garden in Canada, September is a cruel month.

Plants, like tomatoes and zucchini, are still making flowers.

But you know darn well that there isn't enough time for them to ripen.

Another month, the garden will be compost fodder.



Still, there are those honking big yellow flowers on the zucchini plants.

It's a shame to just waste them.

So, don't...





In the Mia Cucina chapter of

Paul, Pop and Wasps by Margaret Ullrich, part 6, Weeding

A few weeks ago I mentioned how, while watering, one gets to really see a garden.

Last week I was giving our tomato plants a much needed soaking.

Then I happened to glance at our chokecherry.





Let me tell you about our chokecherry...

When Paul planted it in 1989 it was just a stick.

It's now about as tall as our 2 story house.

In the spring it's a mass of lovely white flowers.

Well, it

Anna Sultana's Ricotta Stuffed Shells, Maltese Style / Recipes Using Various Pasta Shapes

Got an e mail about the pasta shells in the store.

Yes, they do come in different sizes.



Some are small.

You can cook and serve them as you would elbow macaroni.

They are very nice with a seafood sauce.

Makes it look like you were going for a theme night.

Little kids really like theme nights.





Then there are the jumbo shells.

Yes, they do look like you're supposed to put something in

Carmela Soprano's Cavatelli - Homemade Pasta Shells

Okay...  The Meatless Marinara Sauce was a quickie.



Great for hot summer days.

And busy back to school days.



The recipe for Cavatelli (Gavadeel') isn't a quickie.

And not really worth the bother.



Cavatelli is Italian for pasta shells.

Yes, you can find shells ready-made, next to the spaghetti and other pasta shapes.

So, why bother?





The Cavatelli recipe is in the Sunday Dinner

Carmela Soprano's Meatless Marinara Sauce

Back in February I posted the recipe for Carmela's Deluxe Tomato Sauce.

Her Sunday Gravy is a fantastic recipe.

It has veal, pork sausages and tiny meatballs.

Something for everybody.

Not something you'd throw together at the last minute.

But worth the effort.





But, let's be honest, most of the time there isn't the time for the effort.

But the family wants dinner.

And the spaghetti

Folklorama, Pop, Zorba and Facebook's Timeline by Margaret Ullrich, part 5, Weeding

We had a wonderful time visiting countries during Folklorama!

We didn't see all of the pavilions as we had in the 1970s.

Now we pace ourselves.

And get home at a decent hour.

No more bunny hopping out the door while the pavilion is being closed at midnight!



Someone once said,

Only seeing one country is like only reading one page of a book.

We absolutely enjoyed reading more pages of the

Carmela Soprano's Balsamic Grilled Veal Chops l Balsamic Grilled Loin Pork Chops

I was getting wishes above my station and location.

Lofty dreams were filling my head.

The Salsiccie alla Griglia were great.

As were the Grilled Spareribs.

And the Verdure alla Griglia made the gang sit up and notice their veggies.

Really.



Then I noticed the Balsamic Grilled Veal Chops recipe.

The veal recipe was opposite the Grilled Spareribs recipe in the Grilling - Italian Style 

Carmela Soprano's Verdure alla Griglia - Grilled or Broiled Vegetables

When you barbecue, are your vegetables same old, same old?

You know...

Corn on the cob, potato salad, green salad.



Would Tony approve of that?

Hell no.





Grilled vegetables can be exciting!!

Really.

Check out Grilling - Italian Style in The Sopranos Family Cookbook.



If the vegetables are getting browned too quickly, move them to a cooler spot.

This recipe should feed eight.

If

Carmela Soprano's Grilled Spareribs

It's still August.

It's still hot.

They're still hungry.



Don't like grilled sausages?

No problem.

Back to The Sopranos Family Cookbook's chapter on Grilling - Italian Style.



Some hints about grilling:

If you're slow cooking, have the grill further away from the heat.

A steak cooks quickly, so have the grill about 2 or 3 inches above.



Not sure how hot it is?

Place your hand 6

Pop, The Plaza and Folklorama by Margaret Ullrich, part 4, Weeding

Here in Winnipeg, Folklorama is winding down.

We've enjoyed visiting a few old favorites, and catching the fun at new, to us, shows.



A couple of weeks ago I talked about when we had taken Pop to new places.

Sometimes it didn't quite work out.

Oh, well, that didn't make me stop trying.





In 1993 my parents visited us during August.

Pop had never been in Winnipeg during Folklorama.

So,

Carmela Soprano's Salsiccie alla Griglia - Grilled Sweet and Hot Pork Sausages

It's the middle of August.

It's too hot to cook.

But, for some strange reason, the family still wants to eat.



Okay... fire up the grill.

It gets you out of the kitchen.

And it can make for some fun family moments.

Who can forget Tony using a string of sausages as a stripper's tassles?



Before you do that, make sure the cameras are all packed away.

Really.

And avoid lighter fluid.

Carmela Soprano's Sfogliatelle / Shfooyadell' (Baked Ricotta-Filled Pastries)

It's summer.

It's hot.

It's certainly too hot to make Sfogliatelle.

Or Shfooyadell' if you want to sound like a paisano.



For the most part, I really like Artie's The Sopranos Family Cookbook.

The Sfogliatelle recipe is in the If I Couldn't Eat, I'd F**king Die chapter. 

This chapter is making Artie's Mia Cucina chapter look practical. 

I mean, you could f**king die making some of the

Carmela Soprano's Osso Buco a la Bucco / Braised Veal Shanks (Braised Rabbit in White Wine)

For the most part, I like The Sopranos Family Cookbook.

Artie's Mia Cucina chapter is about his training and his own creations.

It's also a laugh riot with my local butcher.



In May I  tackled Artie's Quail Sinatra-Style.

More or less.

I used cornish hens.

Nobody from the mob dropped by.

And it turned out fine.            



Okay... this recipe calls for veal shanks.

Right.

In this

Caterpillars to Butterflies by Margaret Ullrich, part 3, Weeding

The Mama Robin and her chick have come back to our yard.

Compared to the youngster who was here a few weeks ago, this kid is better behaved.

He likes to walk around and explore.

He doesn't just stand and squawk, with its mouth wide open.

He's actually trying to find his own food.





A few years ago I bought a package of butterfly-attracting plants.

There were four different types of plants

Carmela Soprano's Cannoli Dessert with Ricotta Cream Filling

Cannoli was a holiday staple at Aunt Betty's house.




They came fresh in a nice white box.




From a local bakery.



And we ate them right away.



They don't keep well.

The shells get soggy.



In Malta we also have a dessert called Cannoli.

It's way easier than Carmela's recipe.

And healthier.

Check out my Ma's recipe for Cannoli.

Easy, right?





Italian Cannoli, like doughnuts, are

Carmela Soprano's Ziti al Forno / Baked Ziti with Tiny Meatballs

Ah!  Ziti al Forno!

It's perfect for a holiday dinner.

Like the August long weekend or Labor Day.



This recipe, in The Sopranos Family Cookbook's Feeding My Family chapter, 

is another macaroni and cheese dish.

But, what a macaroni and cheese dish!

It has little meatballs!



Ziti al Forno can be proudly served at any big family gathering.



But, be warned:

It can't be thrown together at

Carmela Soprano's Penne alla Vodka / Penne in Cream Sauce

I've enjoyed remembering when Paul and I travelled across Canada 40 years ago.

But I've gotten some e mails. 

Where are the recipes?



You're right...

Back to The Sopranos Family Cookbook.

Artie's chapter Mia Cucina is about his training and his own creations.

In it he also talks about a recipe that annoyed his parents.

Penne alla Vodka.



Vodka?



Actually, it's really good.

And pretty

Pop and The Godfather by Margaret Ullrich, part 2, Weeding

Tonight there's going to be a full moon.

No, I won't say anything like "Hail, Luna" to the moon.

I also won't howl at it.

I just like having a sign that a month has passed.



Since being over 50, I've lost a time marker, a period.

Yes, ladies, that period.

It had marked the ending and beginning of another cycle.

It had been the messenger of good and bad news.

But now it's gone.

So, in

Weeding by Margaret Ullrich, part 1

I love planning a garden.

I love planting a garden.

I love watering a garden.

I love harvesting a garden.

I hate weeding a garden.



A week ago I weeded my garden.

Well, I had to.

The weeds were almost as tall as the zucchini plants.

Not good.



There aren't too many things that remind me of my Pop.

He often worked two jobs during my childhood.

Weeding always reminds me of Pop.



One

White Rock, British Columbia, by Margaret Ullrich, part 24, Transplanting

Things have settled down in our neighborhood.

The boy's body was found.

He hadn't been mugged.

Apparently he'd gotten into a disagreement with friends.

Then he decided to run into the pond and go under the surface.



Winnipeggers are still friendly and honest.

But Winnipeg has reclaimed the title Murder Capital of Canada.

The Winnipeg Free Press even has a map of where the murders happened

Vancouver, British Columbia, by Margaret Ullrich, part 23, Transplanting

A teenaged boy drowned in our neighborhood.

The police recovered his body almost a day after the boy had raced into the pond.

He was running from two people trying to help after he had been assaulted.

The Albina Park retention pond is full of seaweed, so he probably got tangled.



The area around the pond is popular with walkers.

After our walk, we chatted with neighbors while the diver

The Rocky Mountains / Hope, British Columbia, by Margaret Ullrich, part 22, Transplanting

It rained all day yesterday.

Then it rained all night.

I'm not complaining.

The ground had been so dry it was getting cracks.



Usually when we've camped in the woods, it felt damp.

There was a cool heaviness in the air.

If we were living in New York or Vancouver, we probably wouldn't notice it as much.

But here in Winnipeg we get a dry heat.

So we really notice moisture, whether it's a

The Rocky Mountains / Kamloops, British Columbia, by Margaret Ullrich, part 21, Transplanting

Today started with a hazy morning.

Paul and I went for a walk.

It began raining when we were a block from home.

When we passed under a street light, something white landed in front of us.

Three crows were perched on the street light's cross bar.

The white stuff was a load of bird poop.

The heavy rain and poop missed us by that much.

Timing is everything.





Now that we're retired it

The Rocky Mountains / Golden, British Columbia, by Margaret Ullrich, part 20, Transplanting

Both robin parents are busy feeding the babies.

We watched one parent feeding and fussing over the nest.

Then the other parent, beak full of worms, came.

The parent who'd been on the nest left to find more worms.

No, I can't tell which is Mama.

They've been doing this all day.

I wonder when the babies will be able to find their own worms?





It's been hot and hazy in Manitoba.

The haze

Wild Rose, Alberta, by Margaret Ullrich, part 19, Transplanting

It's a sad day in Winnipeg.

The Wagon Wheel, A local institution, is closing after 60 years.

It was a popular restaurant downtown.

Its sandwiches were the stuff of legend.



Friday the 13th.

According to superstitions:

Don't cut your hair.

Don't do laundry.

Do relax and enjoy the weekend.



Many years have two Friday the 13th's in them.

We also had a Friday the 13th last April.

The

Medicine Hat, Alberta, by Margaret Ullrich, part 18, Transplanting

It's official!!

The baby robins have hatched.

This morning when Mama Robin, with a worm, flew back to her nest, 

we saw a few tiny open beaks poking up over the rim.

After she had fed them, she settled down on top of her babies.

The sky had clouded over and it looked like it was going to rain any minute.



I can't imagine sitting on those sharp beaks.

It gives a whole new meaning to

Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, by Margaret Ullrich, part 17, Transplanting

Sometimes life just gives you little gifts.

During our walk this morning there was an excellent cloud cover.

The clouds softened the worst of the heat wave we've been having.



We each got a free Slurpee at our local 7-11.

Today is July 11.

That's 7/11.

It was their official birthday.

A Slurpee's brain freeze is like a slap in the face when summer is blasting away.

A Slurpee on 11/7 just

Winnipeg to Moosomin, Saskatchewan, by Margaret Ullrich, part 16, Transplanting

I just brought in our recycling box.

I should've worn oven mitts.

We're having a heat wave, and it'll be hotter tomorrow.

Just like the furnace during winter, our air conditioner is going full blast.

Winnipeg weather sure can go to extremes.



First thing this morning I hosed down our garden.

I don't know if it did any good.

The zucchini plants are looking wilted.

The tomato plants aren't

Pye's Landing, Ontario, by Margaret Ullrich, part 15, Transplanting

Someone once said Memory gives us the power to gather roses in December.

Forty years ago we ate our very first A & W teen burgers.

In honor of that anniversary, today we gathered our own roses.

We walked over to our local A & W for teen burgers for lunch.

Of course, we also had A & W root beers.





Tyndall Park is an area that has grown in the twenty-four years since we moved here.

There

Kenora, Ontario, by Margaret Ullrich, part 14, Transplanting

They say a body in motion tends to stay in motion.

Well, a person getting started on a computer hook up tends to get started on 

more computer hook ups.



Yesterday I hooked onto our bank's computer system.

It was so easy.

Paperless is the way to go.

I feel like a twit for not doing it sooner.



Well, just like marijuana, the bank's site was the gateway for me.

I went to a few local

Trowbridge Falls, Ontario, by Margaret Ullrich, part 13, Transplanting

It was not a good idea to have nachos last night.

The nachos were good.

Our sleep was not.

That wouldn't have happened forty years ago.

Then we had cast iron stomachs.





Today was 'catch up with the twenty-first century' day.

A few months ago our bank sent a notice:

Go online or pay a fee for receiving a monthly paper statement.

I liked getting a regular statement.

But not enough to

Thunder Bay, Ontario, by Margaret Ullrich, part 12, Transplanting

It's hard to be a weather forecaster in Manitoba.

As the saying goes, If you don't like the weather, just wait 5 minutes.

Today was supposed to be another hot, sunny day.

It had clouded up overnight and we had a drizzle this morning.

Don't have to water the garden today.



The garden is doing well.

The zucchini and tomato plants have flowers.

The grapevine has little green grapes.

The

Lake Superior, Ontario, by Margaret Ullrich, part 11, Transplanting

After the rain, the heat broke a bit.

We walked to the Winnipeg Free Press Building to pick up a few copies of 

their weekly community newspapers.

Paul is their editorial cartoonist.

He likes to see how they re-designed his cartoon in the six weeklies.

It all depends on how much copy there is from the editor or columnist.

He also keeps a few copies for his portfolio.





Forty years ago it

Fun in The Soo, Ontario, by Margaret Ullrich, part 10, Transplanting

Last night was cloudy.

We couldn't even see the full moon.

Even though it was cloudy, it was still light by the time we went to bed.



When we awoke the sky was darker than when we had gone to bed.

By 8:00 a.m. the rains came.

It poured until 1:00 p.m.

On the one hand it was a relief.

On the other, we knew it was going to be even muggier.



Well, nothing's perfect.



The Mama Robin was

Saulte Ste. Marie, Ontario, by Margaret Ullrich, part 9, Transplanting

The Mama Robin is still on her nest.

The heat has been brutal.

There are constant warnings to stay hydrated and cool.

We've got fresh water in a bird bath right under her nest.

Even for Manitoba, it's damn hot.

Oh, well, what doesn't kill you, makes you stronger.



We haven't gotten the rain we were supposed to get yesterday.

I won't fault the weather announcers.

I still cringe when I

Sudbury, Ontario, by Margaret Ullrich, part 8, Transplanting

Last night.

Bedroom.

Fireworks!



Happy 145th Birthday, Canada!!

Since July 1 was on a Sunday, today is also a holiday.

Nice to have a day to recuperate.





Riding Mountain is about a 3 1/2 hour drive from our home.

Some native Winnipeggers have told us they could make the drive in 2 1/2 hours.

The best we've ever done was 3 1/2 hours.



Yesterday we had a fine time in Riding Mountain.

Niagara Falls, Ontario by Margaret Ullrich, part 7, Transplanting

July 1 is a cosmic convergence moving day for me.



On July 1, 1952, Pop, Ma, Uncle Charlie and I moved from Corona to College Point.

Pop had bought a storefront duplex.

We were moving into a two bedroom apartment.

I actually remember walking through the side door, through the hall, to the entrance to our apartment's kitchen.

I was twenty six months old.

The hall and the kitchen were dark.

Niagara Falls, Ontario, by Margaret Ullrich, part 6, Transplanting

Another hot day.

The neighborhood is pretty quiet.

Some folks have gone away for the holiday weekend.

Others, after doing chores in the morning, are staying indoors, like us.



This has been a strange summer.

Dry Monday to Friday, rain during the weekends.

Not good if you've been looking forward to weekends as a time to relax.



Holiday weekends come with such high expectations.

There

Aurora, New York, by Margaret Ullrich, part 5, Transplanting

Today was a hot, sunny day, as was on June 29, 1972.



Since we're now retired, we're not tied to a 9 to 5 schedule.

During the Summer we're "early to bed and early to rise".

Yes, it's weird to go to bed when it's still bright outside.

It's also weird to have have about 8 hours of light in the winter.

The weirdness and daylight evens out.



During the summer, the best time to take a walk is

Kingston, New York, by Margaret Ullrich, part 4, Transplanting

It's going to be another hot day today.

God bless whoever invented central air conditioning.

Our lilies are starting to bloom.

Our other plants are starting to wilt.

Yes, I watered them.





A week ago a robin was frantically building a nest in the grapevine which shelters our kitchen window. 

After she'd built it, she disappeared.

We were worried she'd had a bad encounter with one of

Trailerites in New York by Margaret Ullrich, part 3, Transplanting

Getting rid of the chives really improved our lives.

This morning we saw a goldfinch in the bird bath.

Never saw one when we had chives.

Who knew they were so picky?





Remember how I said that sometimes it feels like I'm living in an eternal rerun?

Well, this afternoon I watched an old favorite on Turner Classic Movies.

The Long, Long Trailer.



It's a 1954 comedy starring

Albany, New York or Bust by Margaret Ullrich, part 2, Transplanting

It's interesting to see robins searching for worms.

Mama Robin sticks her beak into the dirt and digs.

She really does toss out the dirt.

Our yard's walkway is littered with the dirt from her digging.



Mama is totally giving the cold shoulder to Junior.

He's right behind her, a really noisy fellow.

He can chirp all he wants, as far as Mama is concerned.

He's bigger than she is. 

Time

Transplanting by Margaret Ullrich, part 1

Things have gotten a bit busy.

Nothing major, just stuff.

Stuff like gardening.



We don't have a huge garden.

Food: five rhubarbs, eight tomatoes and two zucchini.

Flowers: irises, lilacs, alyssums, bleeding hearts, lilies and daisies.

A grapevine provides shade over our kitchen window.

The branches from a chokecherry Paul had trained into a tree provides more shade.

Grass and white

Safety Hints for Seniors - Margaret Ullrich

Recently two elderly women were robbed in Winnipeg.  

One was over 90 years old.

A friend reminded me of a piece on Senior Safety I had written in 2005 for the radio show "2000 & Counting".

I'm posting it here and hope it helps keep others safe... 





     One thing I've heard a few seniors say is that they're lonely.  They can't remember the last time the kids called and said, "Let's meet

Carmela Soprano's Quail Sinatra-Style, with Stuffing and White Wine Sauce

Our local grocery's staff is beginning to look forward to my Soprano-inspired visits.

I'm becoming good for a laugh.

This week was no exception.





Artie Bucco is a bit more chatty than Carmela is.

It's just as well he never got into 'The Business'.

Loose lips sink ships is still a good motto.

And no one wants to sleep with the fishes.



Anway, Artie has a chapter about his training and

Dump Cake with crushed pineapple and cherry pie filling l Dump Cake with Eggs l Flavour Variations - Margaret Ullrich

When you're right, you're right.

Where's a quick dessert to go with the Seven Layer Dinner?



Here's a quickie.



And it bakes at the same temperature as the Dinner.



Perfect.





No, Ma didn't make it.

She drew the line at cake mixes.



If you don't have such scruples, this is a handy recipe to have.





                        Dump Cake



Preheat oven to 350º

Grease a 9 x 13 inch pan

Anna Sultana's Seven Layer Dinner (casserole recipe)

Lately stores have been having 'case lot' sales.

And 'buy one, get one free' sales.

Gotta love those sales!!



Okay... now to cook that stuff.

Especially before the veggies turn into compost.



But who wants to slave in the kitchen now that Spring is finally here?

Winters in Manitoba are long enough.

And the yard is calling.

I mean, the garden isn't going to plant itself.





Ma didn't

Anna Sultana's Rouladen (German Style Simmered Beef Rolls)

Got a few emails after I posted Carmela Soprano's Braciole.

I had mentioned that it's similar to the German recipe Rouladen.



So, folks asked, what's this Rouladen?

Think of it as the German Braciole.

You just can't keep a good idea down on the farm.

Or just in Cooking the Neapolitan Way.





How did Ma know about Rouladen?

We lived in College Point, an Irish / German town.

The grocery

Anna Sultana's Queen Elizabeth Barley Water Drink for Skin Care

Ma's Queen Elizabeth Cake is becoming popular.

Guess everyone wants to celebrate Queen Elizabeth's Diamond Jubilee.

Well, it is easier - and cheaper - to bake a cake, than to fly to London.



When Prince Charles and Lady Diana got married, lots of folks baked something 

fitting, such as scones, to have something proper to munch while watching 

the fun on the telly.

Same thing happened

Anna Sultana's Other Bragoli with Leftover Pork and Bread Crumbs

A little over a year ago I posted Ma's recipe for Beef Olives / Bragoli.

Well, that was one recipe for Ma's Braġoli.

That recipe calls for ground pork, chopped ham and bacon.



Ma had another recipe.

It's a little simpler.

A recipe she pulled out when she was using up a bit of leftover pork.

No ham.



And more of a budget stretcher.

It calls for bread crumbs to soak up some of the flavor

Carmela Soprano's Braciole / Stuffed Beef Rolls in Tomato Sauce

Last weekend we watched the movie Sex and the City on TV.

Not the second movie.

The good one.



Anyway, when I saw Kim Cattrall rolling up raw fish sushi rolls, 

then posing as a human platter with sushi on her naked body 

- a little something to spice up Valentine's Day - I got to thinking.

It was time to try something new.

We were getting in a rut.

Night after night.

Same old, same old

Anna Sultana's Risotto, Maltese Style, with Variations

Risotto is a fairly simple recipe.
If you don't use champagne and truffles, as Carmela did in her recipe.

Time consuming, but easy.



For special occasions, Ma would make some.

But, it had to be a special occasion.

A really special occasion.



Ma served risotto as a side dish.

It went further that way.

Usually a cup of raw rice stretched to 6 servings.

Ma made sure of that.

Carmela Soprano's Risotto with Truffles and Champagne

The Queen and Mother's Day got me thinking about The Sopranos.

I don't know why.

Maybe it's early dementia.

Whatever... 



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

No, really, it was.



Last February I posted a recipe for Tomato Sauce from The Sopranos Family Cookbook.

Yes, the Sunday Gravy recipe.
It also includes a recipe for meatballs.



The post got

Anna Sultana's Mother's Day Brunch: Baked Bread Pudding

Time sure does fly.

We were just talking about Wills and Kate's first anniversary. 

And taking a look at plans for Queen Elizabeth's Diamond Jubilee.



Don't worry.

They're not expecting a gift.



But next week is Mother's Day.

And, yes, she IS expecting a gift.





A staple of comic strips and sit coms is the Mother's Day Brunch.

The kids cook up something awful.

And, of course, they

Anna Sultana's Queen Elizabeth Cake (Date and Walnut Cake) l Brown Sugar Coconut Topping

Time sure flies.

It's been a year since Wills and Kate got married.

I can remember when Princess Di showed off her bundle of joy.





I wonder if Kate smirked when she said, "For richer, for poorer."

What, like they'd lose a castle or two?

Never mind.

They looked adorable.

They kissed twice on the balcony.

Her sister's rear end made world news.





And this year we're celebrating Queen

Kids' Favourites - Healthy Style

Make a big difference by making small changes. By simply switching one ingredient for another, you can reduce the amount of fat, salt and sugar. Here’s how to makeover your kids favourite foods so they can become heart healthier.Mac ‘n’ cheese
Try our recipe for homemade macaroni ‘n’ cheese. When using boxed kinds, add frozen peas and carrots while boiling the noodles and use low-fat milk. You

Baked Chicken with Ginger root (Hawaiian Style) - Margaret Ullrich

Hawaiian style chicken.

A recipe that just screams "Let's eat outdoors."

Perfect for late April.



Ginger root can be found fresh in the produce section.

Slice and use, just like fresh garlic.

But, if you want to use up some of your ground ginger, 

One teaspoon ground ginger equals two tablespoons chopped fresh ginger.



Some substitution math:

Four tablespoons equal one quarter cup.

So

Baked Chicken with Curried Fruit (Middle Eastern Style) - Margaret Ullrich

Hold it!

Don't put the curry powder away just yet.



This is a nice, simple Middle Eastern recipe with a fair bit of fruit.

Both in solid and juice form.

The leftover dates can be cut up and put on your oatmeal.

They're handy to have in the kitchen.

They don't get mushy like bananas.

Dates - the perfect breakfast fruit.



Don't have cornstarch?

Three tablespoons flour equals one and a

Baked Chicken with Curry Powder (East Indian Style) - Margaret Ullrich

Okay... if you're East Indian, this is 'same old, same old'.

You were probably weaned on it.

Time to go out and get a bucket of KFC.



But, if you're not East Indian, this will make the family sit up and take notice.



And you can use your home-made curry powder.

As mild or strong as you want.



Don't have chick-peas?

No problem.

Peas work well, too.

Frozen or canned.

Baked Chicken with Cardamom (Middle Eastern Style) - Margaret Ullrich

As you learned last December, cardamom is a member of the ginger family.

The rich branch of the ginger family.



Okay, cardamom is a little expensive.

But, it's sweet.

A no-calorie sweet.

And cardamom adds a nice touch to Middle East recipes.



And other recipes, too.



This recipe also use some of the coriander and cumin.

And the bulgur, which will get a fried-rice texture.

Handy, eh?

Baked Chicken with Coriander (East Indian Style) - Margaret Ullrich

By now coriander should be an old friend.

Especially if you've been making your own Curry Blend.

As mild or as strong as you like.



You're free from being a slave to what's on the grocery spice shelf!!

Okay, it's not exactly Freedom 55, but its nice.



And so is this recipe for chicken.



Rice is nice, and easy.

But, if your grocery store has an East Indian section, check out the starch

St. Gregory and Malta

On the Wednesday after Easter, the country of Malta celebrates the feast of St. Gregory.
Since the late 17th century, the Maltese people have marked this national feast with a religious procession, led by the Bishop of Malta.  The procession starts at the chapel of St. Clement (outside the town of Zejtun) to St. Catherine Church, today called St. Gregory Church, in Zejtun.  After Mass people

Baked Chicken with Cinnamon (Greek Style) - Margaret Ullrich

Surprise, surprise!  The kids liked the bulgur.

And it's not hard to prepare.

And you still have over half a container of the stuff.



You also have about half a head of garlic.

And assorted bags of spices you bought a few months ago.



Don't panic.

Here's a nice Greek recipe that uses some of those ingredients.

And some of the currants from the hot cross buns.

Waste not, want not.

Easter Wishes to Friends and Visitors

May joy fill your day,

Hope light your path,

And the many blessings of Easter 
warm your heart....

Wishing you a Happy Easter!!
Thank you for visiting!

Baked Chicken with Paprika (Austrian Style) - Margaret Ullrich

When I posted about Paprika, I included two Chicken Paprikash recipes.

A difficult recipe and an easy recipe.



Well, here's the simplest of all.

Hey, even Austrian Moms love short cuts.



If you want to add some variety in the starch department, 

make some potato pancakes.

Yes, there are mixes for that, too.



It's finally Spring.

Why cook anything the hard way?

Baked Chicken with Basil (Middle Eastern Style) - Margaret Ullrich

Ah... Basil.

You've already used it when you made my Ma's meatballs.

Well, now's the time to taste what it does to chicken.





A dinner main course usually has three basic parts.

Meat, vegetables and starch.



And, in North America, the starch is usually rice, potatoes or pasta.

And we wonder why the kids are bored at dinner time.





There's a world of starches out there, folks.

And

Baked Chicken with Garlic (Italian Style) - Margaret Ullrich

I know, garlic doesn't get sold by the clove.

You've got a head - minus one clove - sitting on the counter.

It looks like a seven-year-old's grin.

No, don't lose your head.

The garlic head, I mean.

We'll use more garlic in other recipes.

And let's not forget my Ma's fenek bit tewm.



If there's one thing I learned from writing this blog,

it's that Italian recipes are popular.

Whether

Baked Chicken with Thyme (Mexican Style) - Margaret Ullrich

Got an e mail from an empty nester-friend asking for some chicken ideas.

She asked if I had some simple recipes that would leave enough for a second meal.

Translation: four pieces of chicken.



No problem.

Found 10 easy recipes.

They can be increased if you have a bigger family.

Or want more leftovers.





Chicken doesn't get any respect.

It's a regular main course in many homes.

Cooked

The Great Figolli Fight - part 3 - Margaret Ullrich

continued from part 2

     For my family, Easter was a simple celebration with lots of traditional foods.  There weren't any problems until the year my mother's brother Charlie married an American girl.  Ma invited Charlie and Liz for Easter.  Liz wanted to learn more about Maltese customs.  Aunt Demi, Pop's oldest sister, heard that we had invited Charlie and Liz.  Aunt Demi worried that our

Anna Sultana's Kwarezimal and Figolli - part 2 - Margaret Ullrich

continued from part 1

     When I was seven I had to follow the Church's rules during Lent.  I ate kwarezimal, an almond cookie iced with honey and chopped pistacchio nuts.  Ma said we could eat it during Lent because it didn't have any fats or eggs.  



     For Maundy Thursday Ma baked bread in the form of a ring.  It was sprinkled with sesame seeds and pierced with roasted almonds.  Our

Easter Bread and Food Traditions - part 1 - Margaret Ullrich

     Easter has more customs than the Bunny has eggs.  A popular tradition is to gather together and share a feast.  Over the centuries women have made this a glorious occasion with beautifully decorated eggs, colorful cakes and sweet breads.



     And that's where Easter goes to hell in a bread basket.



     According to tradition, an angel appeared to Mary to tell her that Jesus would

Saffron Paska (Saffron Easter Bread) - Margaret Ullrich

Easter, just like Christmas, comes with its own recipes.

Ah, tradition...  Gotta love it.

Or at least do it.

If you want to keep peace in the family.



Here's an old favorite.

Or, hopefully, a new one.





                        Saffron Paska



Combine

1/4 Cup boiling water            

3/4 to 1 ounce saffron             

Let steep until cool, then strain. 



Scald and cool to

Thyme (whole and ground) / Thyme Salad Dressing - Margaret Ullrich

You're right.

Some of those spice jars and bags are holding leaves.

Not seeds that look like beebee pellets.

Not ground seeds that look like some weird pepper.

We're talking leaves.

Some big, some teeny tiny, some ground up.





Okay... let's pick up a jar.

Let's look at thyme.



You've sung about thyme and its leafy buddies. 

Are you going to Scarborough Fair?

Parsley, Sage, Rosemary

Cream Puffs - Baked Sfingi / Zfineg ta San Guzepp or Valentine's Day Cream Puff Heart - Margaret Ullrich

It's official!

It's Spring!

Really Spring for us in Manitoba, where we've been having 

record breaking warm days!!

Hurrah for Spring!!





I wasn't surprised to see that my post on Carmela Soprano's Sfingi, Anna Sultana's Zfineg ta San Guzepp was the week's top post.



Hurrah for Saint Joseph!!

Hope everyone had a wonderful time.





One thing that bloggers do, besides writing, is check

Eat local / Canadian Farmers Markets

Spring kicks off the growing season in Canada. It’s time to start filling your grocery cart with local produce. When you buy from Canadian farmers, the food tends to be fresher, more nutritious and doesn’t require travelling long distances – which helps our environment, too.


Walk the aisles of your grocery store and look for some local foods including vegetables, fruit, meat, fish and dairy.

Nutrition myths - busted

Nutrition myths are like fast food restaurants – they are everywhere, they’re hard to avoid, and they can derail your best intentions to follow a healthy, balanced diet. To mark Dietitians of Canada’s Nutrition Month, let’s skip the fast food in favour of some home-cooked truths.




MYTH: A low-carb diet is the best way to lose weight. 

TRUTH: In a recent survey of Canadian dietitians, 97

Mustard (seeds and ground) / Homemade Hot Chinese Mustard - Margaret Ullrich

Mustard is not a mystery ingredient.

It's probably the first spice a kid grabs.

Especially in the summer.

I mean, what's a hot dog without mustard?



Everybody knows that creamy golden glop on top.

And prepared mustard comes in such a variety of strengths.



Notice I said "Prepared".



Yes, mustard, as most folks know it, is prepared.

Prepared from, you guessed it, seeds.



Just like

Heart Healthy Mushroom Squash Soup

You may have noticed the Red Dress Campaign last month.
If you didn't have time to check it out, no problem.You can visit The Heart Truth website now.
You can even email them a question through the site.
It does have a few sponsors.Like The Heart and Stroke Foundation.

And it does have recipes.A nice soup would be perfect right about now.

                        Mushroom and Roasted Squash Soup

Heart Healthy Macaroni and Cheese

I know February was Heart month.But heart attacks aren't very fussy about when they strike.And heart attack is the number one killer of women in Canada.
You know the rules:Get active.Live smoke free.Reduce stress.

The Heart and Stroke Foundation has an excellent website.There are recipes.And they don't taste like they're healthy.
Here's one of their recipes.Enjoy and stay well.

Caraway Butter for Vegetables / Caraway Seed French Bread / Caraway Seed Noodles - Margaret Ullrich

Want some actual Caraway recipes?

Okay... here are a few simple recipes to get you started.





Fennel would work well in these recipes, too.

Or any other favorite savory spice.

Just saying...





Caraway Butter for Vegetables



Melt 4 Tablespoons butter

Add 1/2 teaspoon caraway seeds, more or less

Heat until butter is lightly browned.



Pour over hot cooked cabbage, cauliflower,

Caraway (seeds and ground) - Margaret Ullrich

Caraway is another spice that I'm sure you've tasted.

Especially if you like German food.



But Caraway, just like Fennel, just doesn't get any respect.

Now is the time to respect Caraway by buying a bag or jar of seeds.

Trust me, they won't just sit there.





Some uses for those Caraway Seeds...



Add a few to meat loaf along with some dillweed and ground allspice.

Sprinkle a few on

Fennel (seeds and ground) - Margaret Ullrich

Okay...  Fennel ain't famous.

But, it's still good.



And you've probably been enjoying it already.

Really.



Do you like sweet Italian sausages?

Surprise!

You can thank fennel for that.



You can also turn plain sausage meat into sweet Italian sausages by working in 

fennel seeds and sage and refrigerating the sausages overnight before cooking.





Wondering what else you can do with

Easy Homemade Hot Cross Buns - Margaret Ullrich

One a penny, two a penny... hot cross buns;


If you have no daughters, give them to your sons.



Yeah, right.  Try getting 2 buns for a penny. 

Even when they are on sale.

As they are now, now that Lent is here. 



Okay, these will cost more than a penny to make, but they are cheaper than 

store-bought, and you can serve them fresh and warm from the oven.



And the recipe includes

Ash Wednesday / A New Start - Margaret Ullrich

Ash Wednesday.  The start of Lent.

Don't worry.  I'm not trying to convert you.

We Catholics aren't exactly the most assertive bunch.



Who could forget Father Mulcahey on the TV show M*A*S*H?

Remember how on one show he was trying to comfort a young soldier, 

who then admitted that he wasn't Catholic?

The best Mulcahey could muster was a shy, "Would you like to be?"

And how about when

Apple Cobbler & Apple Crisp (also Rhubarb and Peach Variations) - Margaret Ullrich

Who couldn't use a few more apple recipes?



By the way, these recipes also work with other fruit.

I added the rhubarb and peach variations after the basic recipe.



Enjoy!





                        Apple Cobbler



9 x 13" pan

Preheat oven to 375º

Bake 25 minutes



Combine in a large pot

6 apples, cored and sliced                  

1/2 Cup sugar (more or less)             

2

Spicy Apple Oatmeal Cookies - Margaret Ullrich

Apples are on sale this month.

So buy a big bag... or two.



Don't worry about finishing them off at one sitting.

They're great in all sorts of desserts.

Including cookies!



Hope you bought some allspice, too.





                        Spicy Apple Oatmeal Cookies



Grease 2   9" x 13" pan

Preheat oven to 350º

Bake 45 minutes



In a medium bowl combine

2 Cups flour

2 teaspoons

Apples, Apples, Apples - Margaret Ullrich

One of my favorite movies is Mr. Mom.



Remember the scene where Michael Keaton went to get a few groceries?

Ham and cheese.

What could be simpler?

So he thought.



Remember the varieties that were rattled off at him in the deli section?

The poor guy didn't know what had hit him.

Michael really thought there was only one kind of cheese.

And only one kind of ham.





Well, there's a

Allspice (whole berry or ground) - Margaret Ullrich

Allspice!  

A spice for all seasonings!



Just so you know... allspice is not a blend.

It's a fruit.

Just like a berry.

Really.



In 1493 Christopher Columbus discovered allspice in the West Indies.

It's the berry of the West Indian tree Pimenta dioica of the myrtle family.

Lucky for us.



It looks like a dark peppercorn.

It has a mildly pungent flavor.

And it goes with just about

Easy Stewed Chili Chicken - Margaret Ullrich

Got an e mail asking for another quicky chicken recipe.

No problem.



This recipe uses chili seasoning.

Which you've just made.

With the red pepper.



Kismet or what?





Variations:

If you want to make this a one pot meal, add a few peeled and sliced carrots 

to the pot while the chicken is simmering.

A few quartered potatoes can also be added, if you don't want rice.

You might also

Easy Fudge Cake - Margaret Ullrich

Carmela Soprano's Baci Cake is sure popular.

Especially around holidays.



Since the recipe was posted on January 8, 2011, it's had over 300 hits.



But, it is a bit of a hassle to make.

Here's a simpler recipe.

It's your Valentine's Day, too.

And you have way better things to do than make a cake.



Well, I sure hope you do.





                        Fudge Cake



grease 

13 x 9 x 2

Easy Chicken Paprikash and Homemade Spatzle - Margaret Ullrich

When you're right, you're right.

That recipe for Chicken Paprikash and Spatzle is a hassle.

Not the best thing for a weeknight dinner.

Especially when you have to help the kids with a project that's due tomorrow.





This recipe is quicker.

Not quite as good as the other recipe.

Well, what quickie ever is?



But, if you're in a rush, it'll do jusy fine.

Life's too short to stress out

Crushed Red Pepper / Homemade Chili Seasoning Mix and Taco Seasoning Mix - Margaret Ullrich

I know how it is.

You're in a rush.

They're both red and they looked the same.

Some twit had put a bag in the wrong place.





Got an email asking if crushed dried red pepper can be used in place of paprika.

Ah... not really.



Paprika is ground from dried sweet red peppers.  

Crushed dried red pepper is made from hot red peppers.

Paprika is milder than crushed dried red pepper.

Trust

Chicken Paprikash and Homemade Spatzle - Margaret Ullrich

You're absolutely right.

I shouldn't have posted about Paprika without including a recipe.

And the Homemade Meat and Poultry Seasoning Mix wasn't enough.



Sorry.

Here's a nice chicken recipe.



Like the Beef Stew, you have to start this a couple of hours before you need it.

But, it's an easy recipe.

And the stove does most of the work.



You just can't throw Chicken Paprikash together

Anna Sultana's Tomato Sauce and Homemade Meatballs, Maltese Style

What is it with Carmela's recipes?
I'm thinking about her Sunday Gravy / Tomato Sauce.

Don't get me wrong.

Her recipes are good.



But, if you have to watch what you eat - or are on a budget - her recipes sure 

can give you and your wallet ajita.





Ma's recipes are a bit easier.

And healthier.

And cheaper.

Much better recipes for when you're paying off the holiday bills.





Like I

Heart Smart Eating

February is Heart Month.Here are some tips from the Heart and Stroke Foundation.  Please check out the recipes!Be well!!

Top 10 tips for heart-smart eatingBy Cara Rosenbloom, RDChoosing better-for-you foods and using heart-smart cooking techniques can help you control risk factors for heart disease, such as high cholesterol and elevated blood pressure. Here are 10 ways to be good to your heart. 

Carmela Soprano's Sunday Gravy (Tomato Sauce with Meat) and Homemade Meatballs

Okay... it's February.

The holiday bills have been coming in.

And they're doozies.

Oh, well, Christmas comes but once a year.

Yeah, I know, that doesn't help.





Unfortunately, the gang wants to eat real dinners.

Recently Safeway had a sale on pasta.

Guess even store manager got their holiday bills.





Whether it’s Sunday dinner at Tony’s house or at Artie Bucco’s Nuovo Vesuvio

Paprika / Homemade Meat and Poultry Seasoning Mix - Margaret Ullrich

Got a couple of emails from folks I had left holding the bag.

The bag of Paprika, to be exact.



I had said, "Don't be afraid to buy a bag of paprika.

We'll have some more fun with it in a few weeks."



Well, a couple of folks reminded me it's been a few weeks.

Sheesh!



So, without further ado, here's the scoop on Paprika.





Paprika is ground from dried sweet red peppers.  

It can be

Spaetzel, Knaidlach & Knepp (Homemade Noodles) - Margaret Ullrich

No, that's not the name of a law firm.

They're nice, simple, cheap homemade pasta.





Pasta and noodles used to be a nice cheap thing to buy.

Well, not anymore.

But, they are still cheap to make.

And easy.



Pick a recipe according to your taste or salt restrictions.





                        Spaetzel (German or Hungarian Style)



German:

1 1/2 Cups flour

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/4

Sloppy Joes and Homemade Sloppy Joe Seasoning Mix - Margaret Ullrich

Those packages of pre-mixed spices are handy.

But, if you use them a lot, the cost does add up.

And if you're making Sloppy Joes, you're not on a steak budget.





Make the seasoning at home and buy the leaner ground meat.

Less fat to drain.

Healthier, too.



We're all in this together...





Sloppy Joe Seasoning



2 Tablespoons dry minced onion 

2 teaspoons green pepper flakes

2

Celery Seed (or ground) / Homemade Seafood Spice Blend - Margaret Ullrich

We all know about celery.

The dieter's friend.

Yeah, that's how it's sold.

But, that's not how it goes.



Usually it goes, as a wilted or slimy mess, into the compost or garbage.



Sometimes a recipe calls for celery.

But usually not very much celery.

Back to the compost or garbage.

What a waste...





Welcome to Celery Seed!! 

It has the flavor of celery, but doesn't wilt or need

Use It - NOW! - Margaret Ullrich

According to the church calendar, the Christmas season is over. The Boxing Month Sales are almost over. People are trying to find some corner where they can stash away the bargains. 
Ah, holidays. Does anything else make us work this hard?
A few weeks ago everyone was talking resolutions. The usual plans to stop smoking, lose weight and get into shape. Fine. Health is important. 
But, I didn't

Homemade Candied Fruit Rind Snack - Margaret Ullrich

Citrus fruit is a good buy right about now.



The only problem with citrus is all that rind.

If you've got a composter, it's smelling lemon fresh.

If not, your garbage can is.





Fruit Rind can also be made into a snack.

Yes, really.



Have I ever lied to you?



            Homemade Candied Fruit Rind

              

Makes 1 1/2 pounds of candied rind



Peel rind in quarters of

3

Chicken Souvlaki with Homemade Tzatziki Sauce (Greek yogurt dressing) - Margaret Ullrich

I know... That honking big box of chicken breasts was a really good buy.

And we Winnipeggers love really good buys.



What we don't love is the same old chicken, night after night.





Here's an easy recipe that'll use up 1 1/2 pounds of breasts.



The Tzatziki Sauce is a Greek style yogurt dressing.



Yes, I know you can buy it ready made.

But, sometimes you've got to wonder about store

Coriander (seed and ground) / Homemade Curry Spice Blend - Margaret Ullrich

Coriander seed is another unsung hero in the kitchen.

Especially since I can't spoof it like I did Cumin.

Aren't you glad of that?





Coriander seeds are the seeds of the cilantro (Chinese parsley) plant.

In case you've never tried it, cilantro tastes like a sweet lemony sage.

So, give it a try the next time you roast a chicken.





If you've bought a bag of Coriander seeds but don't want

Beef Stew and Homemade Dumplings - Margaret Ullrich

Got an e mail...

The Vegetarian Chili is great, and goes well with burgers.


Okay.  I can take a hint.

Nothin' spells lovin' like a roast in the oven.

Or a beef stew.



This is an old favorite recipe.

And it has some vegetables.

And some meat.

Next time stew meat is on sale, try this recipe.



Fair warning, you have to start a stew 3 hours before you need it.

No, you don't work on it

Vegetarian Chili and Toppings - Margaret Ullrich

Like I said, the weather's been weird.

And cold!

Now's the time for something warming.

Bring on the stews, casseroles and chili.

Yah!!





I know what you're thinking.

I've gotten a bit of flack from some folks.

Vegetarians, to be exact.

I've had too many meat recipes.

I don't think so, but some folks do.



Before you vegetarians e mail me, read on.

This is a vegetarian recipe.

Happy

Cumin (seeds and ground) / Homemade Fajita Spice Blend - Margaret Ullrich

He'll be cumin 'round the mountain, when he comes.....



Sorry.

Cumin really is too good a spice to be stuck in a bad joke.

What can I say?

Let's just blame it on the weird weather we've been having in Winnipeg.





Cumin isn't as famous as pepper or cinnamon.

But it is essential in curry and chili powders.

Yes, those are blends of spices.

Now you know.





Cumin seeds can be stirred

Paprika: Homemade Spice Blends for Fish, Salads and Seasoned Butter - Margaret Ullrich

Want more Spice Mix recipes?

Okee dokee...



Don't be afraid to buy a bag of paprika.

We'll have some more fun with it in a few weeks.





Fish Seasoning Spice Blend



1/4 Cup paprika

2 teaspoons salt

1/2 teaspoon basil leaves, crushed

1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper

1/4 teaspoon ground marjoram

1/4 teaspoon ground thyme

1/16 teaspoon ground black pepper



Makes about 4 Tablespoons



**

Cayenne (ground red pepper) / Homemade Tandoorie Spice Blend - Margaret Ullrich

Man does not live on bread or cookie alone.

Although, during the holiday season, it sure seems that way.



It's January.

On to the more savoury spices.

The main course spices.

Spices like cayenne.



Did you always wonder what the heck cayenne is?

It's ground red pepper.

Really.



Cayenne goes well with many recipes.



Cayenne gives a lift to egg dishes.

Stir a bit into cream cheese