Scattered Thoughts From A Maryland Cottage

Scattered Thoughts From A Maryland Cottage
The Yin and Yang of Thankfulness
Showing posts with label Italian. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Italian. Show all posts

Monday, September 26, 2011

Stormy Spree.... shop, swap!

Charcoal   Gray  Silver   those are my hues of the day.
Benvenuti!
Stormy weather adventure...
put on a load of wash
wait stop! you can do that any dreary day...
phone some friends
555-1234 or whatever their numbers are
put a pot of mocha java whatever on
(no calories on yucky days)

and have a magazine swap!
(or cds, jewelry or dvds)
It's really a hoot - you plan ahead by setting a bag or box aside
marked "rainy day loot" with whatever you and your friends like to swap -
be it books, cookbooks, recipes, costume jewelry, yard sale goodies your not 
in love with anymore, videos you want to pass on, writing paper and cards, the sky is the limit.... you can even just gather things for donation!
You cannot wrap up children or husbands - they are too prescious and they tend to jump out of the packages... I've tried. Jenn

Monday, December 27, 2010

Snowed In With Family...Devine!

This is my favorite view when I visit my
family at the Jersey shore...but not this Christmas! 
always kids - laughing, chattering, wonderful kids
my cousins Casey on the left and Jamie 3rd from the left
family that surrounds me with smiles and I give them right back!
we missed Matt and Connie this year....
but they're doing their thing and happy in South Korea! 

the girls have very cool boyfriends = nice too
 And then the snow began....
22"   
we played
we laughed
we sang
we ate

and ate...
cookie swaps
ule log
music everywhere
the WI
Balderdash
Dance Revolution
Madison wanting food
and going out!
 the men in the family shoveled us out
I love my family more than...
snowflakes on my tongue!
 
   


Friday, June 4, 2010

Not Just Any Day At The Beach ... Recipes, Family and Summer NJ Style!

    hot news, hot grill and ME going on and on..

I'm always looking for new recipes for the grill. Something light. Don't get me wrong...coming from an Italian family - we're big on sausage, peppers and onions, lots of garlic, LOTS of garlic. Pasta, bread. Fresh crunchy crust bread. In fact the best bagels I've ever had are in New Jersey . They have a French Toast bagel that is....well it's yummo and not listed in the calorie counter book. I'm sure it's several days of Weight Watcher points. Holy Canoli! So, moving right along....

I've seen several recipes for Shrimp Skewers that sounded delish. Lemon wedges in between those garlic marinated plump babies along with red onions. Lime marinated sea creatures ready to be inhaled after you have roasted them with avocado wrapped pancetta. Ohhh Mama Leone! Slices of bread ready to sop up the juices. Yes... bellas SOP!
                
You Will Need

1/2 fresh pineapple, trimmed and cut into 1-inch chunks
3 medium nectarines, cut into 1-inch chunks

3 medium pears, cut into 1-inch chunks

3 medium fresh peaches, cut into 1-inch chunks

3 to 4 medium plums, cut into 1-inch chunks

10 apricots, halved

3 tablespoons honey or light corn syrup, warmed

What to Do
1. Thread fruit alternately onto metal or soaked bamboo skewers.

2. Grill, uncovered, over medium-hot heat until fruit is heated through, about 6 minutes, turning often. Brush with honey or corn syrup during the last minute of grilling time.

Serves 6

From Taste of Home Backyard Grilling
or...
How to make Grilled Fruit Skewers
1. Soak the skewers in cold water for 30 minutes.
2. Prepare a charcoal grill to medium heat.
3. Start threading the fruit onto the skewers,
beginning with strawberries, then pineapple,
then papaya, and mango. Continue alternating among the four.
 4. Grill the fruit, turning as necessary, for about 6-8 minutes.
 Grill time will vary depending on ripeness of fruit.
5. Remove the skewers from the grill and serve over scoops of Butter Pecan Ice Cream.
Ingredients
skewers
1 container large strawberries, cleaned
2 mangos, peeled and seeded
1/2 large papaya, peeled and seeded
1/2 pineapple, peeled, cored and cut into even pieces
1 carton Butter Pecan Ice Cream

I'm an only child. When I was little I used to pretend I had 9 brothers and sisters. In fact, I used to tell people I had 9 brothers and sisters when I would first meet them. I think of was about 7. Then my mom would call and say "Can you please send Jennifer home, she's an
only child and I am a little protective of her." Awww Mooommm! But when I was with my cousins ... that Big loving family with the open door policy - heaven.
Two Grandmas lived there always.
Friends could stay over, friends could move in.
When I would ask if there was enough dinner for me to stay, my cousin Linda 
 would say "if we can feed 8, why can't we feed 1 more?".  So when I drive up from Maryland to be with the Mondelli's ... it's not about
romance
it's about.... family        
9:32 am doctor called blood work fine - ct scan clear - 1 year cancer free
thank you with all my heart for your prayers  Jennifer

Wednesday, October 7, 2009

Pignoli Cookies - One of My Family's Favs!


rocco rocco rocco rocco rocco rocco rocco rocco rocco rocco

PIGNOLI COOKIES2 (8-oz) cans almond paste (not marzipan), coarsely crumbled1 1/2 cups confectioners sugar1/2 teaspoon salt2 large egg whites2 tablespoons mild honey1 cup pine nuts (pignoli; 4 1/2 oz)
Preheat oven to 350°F. Pulse almond paste in a food processor until broken up into small bits, then add confectioners sugar and salt and continue to pulse until finely ground, about 1 minute. Beat together almond mixture, egg whites, and honey in electric mixer at medium-high speed until smooth, about 5 minutes (batter will be very thick). Spoon half of batter into pastry bag if using (keep remaining batter covered with a dampened paper towel) and pipe or spoon 1 1/2-inch rounds about 1 inch apart onto 2 parchment-lined baking sheets. Gently press half of pine nuts into tops of cookies. Bake cookies in upper and lower thirds of oven, switching position of sheets halfway through baking, until golden, 12 to 15 minutes total.
Yield: Serves: 4Published: 02/14/06 Recipe from Rocco DiSpirito cookbook all rights reserved
rocco can cook rocco can cook rocco can cook rocco can cook
pignoli cookies pignoli cookies pignoli cookies pignoli yum cookies pignoli cookies pignoli cookies pignoli cookies yum!!
*** I purchase my Almond Paste by the pound through the Holland American Bakery on my trips to northern NJ but you can order it and have it shipped (very nice to deal with) by calling 1-973-875-5258 or www.hollandamericanbakery.com

Thursday, October 1, 2009

Birthday weekend with pals in PA....

My friend Boobie and I hit the road last weekend for my birthday.... it was a hoot! The only negative was the 6 lb. weight gain which I am certian is all water weight! I couldn't be the Bloody Mary's on Sunday, the home-made ravioli and wine on Friday, the pastries and cookies from Little Italy all
weekend!!!!!!
Happy Birthday was had by all.... now H2O is had by ME!!!!!
Oh, and there is an adorable King Charles Cavalier residing in Bobbie's sister's home named "Leo". The Reading Glass Outlet is great and if you're ever in the area - the outdoor Italian market is the bomb!!!!