Barefoot in the Park in Winnipeg by Margaret Ullrich

Last summer I posted about our move to British Columbia in 1972.

I explained that I had been deeply impressed by seeing Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz's 

movie The Long, Long Trailer when I was in elementary school.

Inspired by Lucy's adventure, I was sure that one day I, too, would live in a trailer.





A few years later, Neil Simon's Barefoot in the Park premiered on Broadway in 1963.

That

Regina - Qu'Appelle - Moosomin - Brandon - Portage la Prairie - Winnipeg by Margaret Ullrich

Last Sunday we watched the 85th Academy Awards, hosted by Seth MacFarlane.

Lots of old favourites.

And many Taurus stars, I was proud and happy to notice.



The Oscars show is a regular 'must see' show for us.

On April 10, 1972, two days after we had married, we were watching The Oscars.

Helen Hayes, Alan King, Sammy Davis, Jr. and Jack Lemmon were hosting.

The French Connection was the

Lethbridge to Medicine Hat to Moose Jaw to Regina by Margaret Ullrich

Waking in Lethbridge thirty-eight years ago was a good thing.
We had slept well the night before.
Supper at a normal hour, no paint fumes, no more mountains to drive through.
Lethbridge in 1975 was a quiet town, with half the population it has now.




The mild chinook winds were making Alberta quite comfortable that February.
We drove 51 km northeast to Taber, the intersection of Highway 3 and

Trail to Crowsnest Pass to Lethbridge, Alberta by Margaret Ullrich

One day down… Three more to go...

The paint fumes combined with the stress of driving through mountains got to us.

We asked the motel clerk where we could get something for our stomachs.

He pointed out the drug store, and we got some gravol.

After we paid our bill, the clerk said there had been an avalanche the week before.

We really didn't need to know that.



Driving up the hill to

Surrey to Hope to Osoyoos to Trail by Margaret Ullrich

Tomorrow is the second full moon of 2013.

In 2011 and 2012 we were having mild winters.

Well, mild for Winnipeg winters.

There wasn't much snow.

We had thought that was due to global warming.

Nope, just a fluke.



This year we're having a more normal Winnipeg winter.

An exposed skin freezes in a matter of seconds winter.

We had replaced our windows last year.

Now, thanks to the

Carmela Soprano's Ricotta Cheesecake / Uses for Ricotta

A little while ago I posted Carmela's Ricotta-Pineapple Pie.

And, yes, I do like it better than Carmela's New Jersey Cheesecake.

It's an almost guilt-free cheesecake.



Ricotta is low in fat.

It is similar in texture to cottage cheese, but lighter.

And, like cottage cheese, it is a dieter's friend.



It can be a substitute for mayonnaise in egg or tuna salad.

It can be used as a sauce

Carmela Soprano's Pizza Rustica recipe / Pizza Gaina / Italian Easter Pie with Ricotta and Meat

It's Louis Riel Day in Manitoba.

Family Day in Ontario, Alberta and Saskatchewan.

We're also in the Church season of Lent.

That means Easter is coming.

That means it's time to make traditional recipes.

Remember: 

For the traditionalist, holy day does not mean holiday.





Some readers told me that I hadn't given a proper recipe for Pizza Rustica.

It's an Easter recipe in Entertaining with

Carmela Soprano's New Jersey Cheesecake recipe / Graham Wafer Crust

The post about Carmela Soprano's Ricotta-Pineapple Pie got some folks curious.

Curious enough to request the recipe for Carmela's New Jersey Cheesecake.

Yes, the post I did in 2010 did not have an actual recipe.

All it had was a beginner blogger getting herself into a lot of trouble.





Back to the cookbook Entertaining with The Sopranos… 

Here's the straight recipe.

No wisecracks.

I've

Carmela Soprano's Uova in Purgatorio - Eggs in Purgatory / Valentine's Day Traditions

Happy Valentine's Day!

January's flower is the carnation.

The carnation should have been the flower for February.

The deeper red carnation represent true and lasting love.

Deep pink and light red symbolize a relationship full of admiration and respect.





In Korea, young girls braid three carnations in their hair so they'll be lucky in love.

Live outside of Korea but you're looking for

Carmela Soprano's Ricotta - Pineapple Pie (Cheesecake)

I haven't posted a dessert recipe in quite a while.

Well, what with trying to drop the holiday pounds, it didn't seem like a good idea.

But Valentine's Day is coming up.

And what's a Valentine's Day without a dessert?





Carmela's chapter Feeding my Family in Artie's The Sopranos Family Cookbook has a nice dessert recipe.

Ricotta - Pineapple Pie.

This recipe comes highly recommended by

Carmela Soprano's Chicken with Parsley Crumbs / Chinese New Year Traditions

Kung Hei Fat Choy!

Happy Chinese New Year - the Year of the Snake!

The festivities last until the full moon rises, about 2 weeks from now.

Plenty of time to party hearty!!





There are many different traditions observed over the New Year period:

• Decorate your house with apricot and peach blossoms, 

                 symbols of new beginnings.

• Share a New Year’s feast: enjoy uncut

Carmela Soprano's Pasta e Patate - Pasta and Potatoes

Those were three very nice recipes for Valentine's Day.

But we're still in the middle of winter.

And sometimes nothing hits the spot like a big plate of carbs.





In Artie's The Sopranos Family Cookbook, Junior's chapter, The Soprano Family Tradition, is my go to chapter for memory meals.

When a family is right off the boat there are so many things that have to be bought.

Clothes, bedding

Carmela Soprano's Veal Scaloppine Marsala with Risotto

Talking about Carmela's Truffle Risotto and Ma's Risotto got me thinking…

Valentine's Day doesn't have to mean a special trip to the store.

With a little extra effort, something from the freezer can be something special.





There's a couple's dinner in Adriana's chapter Cibo D'Amore in Artie's The Sopranos Family Cookbook that I actually believe Adriana could afford to prepare often.

I mean,

Carmela Soprano's Shrimp Scampi - Shrimp in Garlic Butter Sauce

Ah, yes, a Tad's steak dinner was once the food of love.

It was our weekly date dinner.

But, we're not teenagers any more. 

And we'd like to get older.

Which means watching our cholesterol.

And saving steaks for extra extra extra special occasions.





Think that means folks over 60 can't celebrate Valentine's Day in style?

No way.

Adriana La Cerva's chapter Cibo D'Amore has something

Carmela Soprano's Filet Mignon with Red Wine Sauce

Today is Groundhog Day.

No, you don't have to cook one.

And, if you live in Manitoba, the shadow doesn't make any difference.

We will have winter weather for another couple of months.

At the very least.

Makes Groundhog Day a waste of time for the groundhog, 

but what else does he have to do?





Groundhog Day is a reminder that we have to get ready for Valentine's Day.

Even though Carmela