Simple goodness

One of the best things I remember about school lunches, was the no-bake chocolate oatmeal cookies. Come on, besides sitting next to Connie and Stephanie (and giggling over Tommy and Allen) and mashed-potatoes and yeast roll day, you know this was your favorite, too! This easy, no-frills, zero complications morsel is forgiving, too. You can…

Perfection and Ravioli

Boy, what a year it’s been! We’ve all had things that challenged us, and if we’re lucky, we didn’t break. Cracked maybe, but like the Japanese art of kintsugi, our “gold-filled resin” will highlight our personal strengths, our forged bonds we’ve made with our neighbors. [Kintsugi is the Japanese art of repairing broken pottery. If a…

Un Pranzo Semplice

We took the opportunity to visit our dear cousins, Pietro and Lucia and Lucia’s sister Luisa up north near Trieste, and c.b.m (cousins-by-marriage) Roberta, her family, Fabrizia and her family near Aviano. If you’ve ever heard the stories of our time at Aviano, you’ll quickly know that these kind, generous folks are dear to us….

Very vanilla cupcakes 🧁

Have you been searching for that seemingly elusive, delicate, yet very delicious vanilla cupcake? I certainly have, until now! It’s my brother-in-law’s birthday tomorrow, and I decided to bake a few treats to celebrate how wonderful, kind and generous he is. Happy birthday, Tom! 1 3/4 c AP flour 1 c raw sugar 1/3 tsp…

We bought some cheese…

Well folks, the time has finally arrived! Tony and I have begun the sometimes arduous, but always incredible adventure that we’ve talked and dreamed of for more than 30 years: the Sicily house renovations have begun! I will chronicle our journey as we go, but will start off with a few pictures. First off, Sicily…

Lemon Cream Pie🍋

If you’re looking for a perfect, creamy, tart dessert for your summer cookout, this tart lemon cream pie is not only delicious, but fast and simple, too! Lemon Cream Pie 🥧 2 – 8 oz blocks of cream cheese 1 – 14 oz can of sweetened condensed milk 4 T fresh lemon juice 1/2 c…

Everyday Focaccia

I know, I know… I’m evil. I am a bread-eating, carb-loving gal who doesn’t believe that all gluten is bad. For thousands of years, all of our ancestors have been making and eating some type of bread, whether flatbread, crispy, cracker-like breads, crunchy-crusted loaves, water, and ground up grains have shaped how we eat. Read…

Sweet Pepper Relish

Serve this mouthwatering, addictive condiment on crisp, buttery crackers with goat’s cheese or cream cheese, or use in place of the three standards (ketchup•mayonnaise•must-ard) Sweet Pepper Relish 3 lbs medium hot chilies, mixed 2 lbs yellow and red sweet pepper 1 lbs tomatillo 1 lbs tomatoes 4 lg sweet onion 15 cloves garlic 2 c…

Death of the Cabbage Rose…

I was SO cocky. I was just so sure of myself. “Wait for help!”, they said. “I’ve got this!”, I said. “You’re going to wear yourself out!”, they cried. “It’ll be easy!”, I vehemently assured them. And then, those darned cabbage rose wallpaper demon spirits set out to put me in my place, arms dangling…

New Mexico Red Chile Sauce

You can take the girl out of New Mexico, but you will never take New Mexico out of the girl! Whether cooking for the holidays or a birthday, or just because it’s taco Tuesday (or Wednesday, Thursday, Friday…), one of my favorite cuisines is and will always be, New Mexico style Mexican food…and yes, there…

Cinnamon Roll Biscuits 

Yes, biscuits! If you’re looking for a good, flakey, layered with butter, cinnamon and raisins biscuit lightly kissed with creamy, silk-like glaze – look no further!  Crazy menopausal cravings are worse than the pregnancy ones for me- sweet one minute salty, the next… moist (sorry Tyler) one bite, then crunchy the next… wonderful woes of…