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