Carmela Soprano's Polpettone - Meatloaf, Italian Style

Some folks like something different for Valentine’s Day.

And some folks like something familiar, basic comfort food.

And, wouldn’t you know it, these folks usually end up marrying each other.

And, wouldn’t you know it, they have to celebrate Valentine’s Day together.



I've got just the thing in Entertaining with the Sopranos.

Carmela has a meatloaf recipe, Polpettone.

Really, this recipe

Carmela Soprano's Spaghetti with Red Clam Sauce

The Valentine wish with the picture of the puppy reminded me of the dogs in Disney’s cartoon Lady and the Tramp.

Remember the scene in the restaurant?

The one where they shared a plate of spaghetti to the tune Bella Notte?

Not a bad way to celebrate St. Valentine’s Day.



If you’re craving an Italian dinner but it’s too late to make a reservation in the local Italian restaurant - or you just

Wishing you a day filled with all you hold dear…

Wishing You a Happy Valentine’s Day!



Life is never measured 

by the years you have lived,

but by the love you have shared,

and the people whose hearts you have touched.


Thank you for visiting!!

Carmela Soprano's Chocolate Fudge Sheet Cake

Valentine’s Day is coming.

Some folks celebrate by going out.

Some folks celebrate by staying home.

To each his - or her - own.



We’ll most likely be staying home.

And that’s where a really good cake recipe comes in handy.



Back in July, 2010 I mentioned the recipe for Carmela Soprano's Chocolate Fudge Sheet Cake.

I gave the ingredients for the frosting, but not for the cake itself.

Do you know who I am? by Margaret Ullrich

This has been a brutally cold winter just about everywhere.

Most of our friends have been staying in and catching up on chores.

We’ll be free to do a lot of socializing once it gets warmer.
If that ever happens.



I’ve just thrown out another whole cartload of recyclables.

Things collect when you've lived in a house for almost 26 years.

It's funny but things that once seemed so important,

Carmela Soprano's Prosciutto Bread / Glazing Bread Loaves

Along with homemade soups, fresh breads are great during a long cold winter.

Homemade breads are hot, soft and smell delicious.

And the heat from the oven doesn’t hurt.

It’s better than a portable heater, so making bread is a two-fer.



Sometimes I had trouble believing what I read in Entertaining with the Sopranos.

I can picture Carmela baking bread.

Sure, there are all sorts of ‘buy and

Carmela Soprano's Chicken Paillards with Tomato-Olive Salad / Chinese New Year Traditions for the Year of the Horse

January 31 is Chinese New Year - Kung Hei Fat Choy!

It will be the Year of the Horse, so there will be surprises in adventure and romance.



Chinese New Year runs for 15 days, ending on the full moon. 

Homes are cleaned before the beginning of the new year.

So you’ve got a few days to get ready.

And put away all cleaning equipment before New Year's Eve because good fortune may be swept away

Carmela Soprano's Pasta E Ceci (Pasta and Chickpeas) l Preparing Dried Beans

Along with the bills January, in the northern hemisphere, means winter.

And it’s been a brutally cold winter this year.

This is a soup recipe, great for making one feel warm and toasty.

Soup is also good for the budget.

The extra water is supposed to fill you up.



Back in 2010 I posted about a few recipes in Entertaining with The Sopranos.

About is the operative word - no ingredients,

Carmela Soprano's Pasta Piselli (Pasta with Peas and Eggs)

It’s January.

The bills have just been flying in, as if they were Harry’s invitations to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry that were delivered by a zillion owls.

I mean, they are just everywhere and there’s no avoiding them.



Still, one has to eat.

And it would be nice if the food tasted good, too.

Cheap wouldn’t hurt, either.





Back in 2010 I posted about Ma’s Ross fil-forn

Eaton’s original Red Velvet Cake by Margaret Ullrich

When I was the mom of a preschooler back in 1984 I had a dream for my future.

This goal crystallized for me in a moment of crisis.

I was on the third floor.

Yes, the third floor where the crystal and fine china were on display.



I had to pay a cashier and had let go of my son’s hand.

In less than a heartbeat he was racing toward the crystal and fine china department.

Of course he wouldn’t

Cold, Clutter, Coyotes, Cory Monteith and Yukon Cornelius (Larry D. Mann) by Margaret Ullrich

We are two weeks into the new year 2014.
We have been through an extremely cold period across most of North America.
Hope you all have been safe and warm.


Most folks around here just stayed indoors, which can be a good thing.
As the saying goes, It’s an ill wind that blows no one good.
This has been a perfect time to catch up on chores.


I have thrown out quite a bit of stuff during the past

Carmela Soprano's Arugula and Mushroom Salad

Okay… Carmela’s Antipasto was a bit of a job.

Not to mention being not quite diet friendly.

But there are salads, and then there are salads.

And the recipe for Arugula and Mushroom Salad from Entertaining with the Sopranos is more diet friendly.



One slight problem…

Same as with Carmela’s Watercress and Orange Salad, I couldn’t find arugula.

I substituted iceberg.

I suppose romaine would

Carmela Soprano's Sfingi (St. Joseph's Day Zeppole)

Salads are great.

They leave plenty of room for desserts.

To my way of thinking, it all balances out in the end.



I’ve noticed that people have searched for traditional recipes at a variety of times.

I’ve seen people look for fruitcake recipes in the spring.

Maybe they just like to plan ahead.



If you’re in the mood for a doughnut - or just want to get ready for the feast 

of St. Joseph

Carmela Soprano's Octopus Salad

Back to the salads…

In March, 2010 I compared Ma’s and Carmela’s recipes for Octopus Salad.

Well, to be honest, I nattered on about the problems with making Octopus Salad.

Especially when one lives in the Canadian prairies.



I searched in the frozen food section.

I asked the butcher /  fish monger of our local stores.

I had to settle with something called Seafood Combination.

That’s

Handy Links, Especially for Winnipeggers

Winnipeg 311 / City Services links
My Right Care for all medical questions!
Global News, CTV News and CBC News
What you can recycle


Hot Zones for deer and motorist collisions


The Canadian Mental Health Association


SENIORS RESOURCE COUNCILS IN MANITOBA
Please check these Safety Reminders


The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's National Weather Service


Highway conditions

Carmela Soprano's Antipasto

After a few days those commercials to join a gym can get to you.

I know we’ve all overindulged.

And now we all want to lose a few pounds.

But a salad just seems like such a letdown from all the fun holiday food.



In Entertaining with the Sopranos there’s a compromise.

Antipasto.

Yes, I know that basically it’s a salad.

But it just has a certain festive flair to it.



Back in 2010 I gave

Carmela Soprano's Watercress and Orange Salad

In that post in 2010 along with the gnocchi I also mentioned trying to serve Carmela's Watercress and Orange Salad from the cookbook Entertaining with the Sopranos.

Trying is the operative word here.

No problem with finding the navel oranges.

I just couldn’t find watercress.



Instead I bought some romaine. 

I never did find watercress. 

If you can find watercress in you neighbourhood,

Carmela Soprano's Gnocchi

We’ve been in 2014 for a week already.

Farewell to another holiday season with its traditional recipes.

It’s time to get back to regular meals.



Back in 2010 I quickly posted about Carmela Soprano's Gnocchi.

I know the post was lacking in measurements and directions.

I’m sorry about that - it’s time to give you the details.



I’ve always have a problem with guessing how many potatoes to

New Year, New Moon by Margaret Ullrich

Happy New Year!

A fresh start, a clean slate.

Here we are, facing a year as bright and shiny as a brand new penny.

If you still have pennies, that means something.

In Canada pennies have become non-legal tender.

They figured out it costs more to make pennies than a penny is worth.



We’ve been having a colder than normal December.

So cold that Winnipeg is being compared to Mars.

The