It’s been a while since I wrote a blog, but it’s been a rough year. I think of my sisters every day and can’t absorb the fact that I will never see them again. I’ll have to wait for my time.
Wintertime is a difficult time to begin with because it’s cold, your cooped up, and you don’t get out as often as you would like. Coupled with the fact that the holidays are near and you already have a tendency to be emotional makes it even more difficult.
Cooking and Baking
But on the bright side it is also the time of year when I make more videos for my YouTube Channel “Nanny’s Italian Kitchen.” In case you haven’t watched or subscribed, here’s the link: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCCVDEufSGd-NBIZYE514yDQ
Hopefully there are some recipes you can enjoy cooking or perhaps there was a family recipe that was lost. Maybe mom or grandmother made something special that they never wrote down. For whatever reason, I hope you enjoy the channel.
Holiday With Family
Holidays are the time to enjoy the family. Watching my grandchildren having fun is a beautiful thing; especially the little ones.
The Thanksgiving holiday in our family has been more Americanized. Growing up with a huge Italian family we had many courses with lots of entrees and desserts up the kazoo.
A typical holiday dinner included antipasto, a lasagna, turkey with stuffing, a roast of either leg of lamb, pork loin or something similar.
The sides dishes were usually stuffed artichokes, mushrooms, potato croquettes, candied sweet potatoes, salad, broccoli rabe, and more.
We had cookies, Italian pastries, demi tasse coffee with anisette, roasted chestnuts, assorted shelled nuts, figs, fennel, and pomegrantes for dessert — Are you stuffed yet? We started around 2 pm and ended around 8 pm or after.
Family Bakers
I can’t say I ever remember my grandmother, aunts or mother baking. Except for the traditional Neopolitan Pastiera, none of them ever baked. I’m an anomaly. I learned how to bake when I was just 10 years old.
It started for me in Sixth Grade Economics Class, but I didn’t really get into it until after I was married. I would take a basic recipe and tweak it until I had it just the way I wanted it. I could literally taste anything and for the most part tell you what the spices were and most of the ingredients. I’m funny that way. 😊
Thanksgiving is two weeks away and I’ve prepared my menu. Happy Thanksgiving and truly be grateful for family.
So sorry to hear about your sisters, I figured something was up as you hadn’t typed anything in a while. May God bless you and your angels get you thru the holidays, I know you will be OK. I had a crazy health scare myself, a nuts and wild year. But 2020 will be great, and the holidays will be happy I know (gotta stay positive).
Anyway, you need to come down to southeast FL for a month or 2, get out of that dreary cold. Thanks for the stories and recipes. Love, prayers and wishing us all more great times ahead.
Hi Angela,
Yes it was a rough 12 months. Losing both my sisters within a year of each other was hard. I think of them every day. I’m seriously considering moving down to North Carolina. These winters in New York are depressing and brutal. Let’s not even mention the cost of living here. I could retire in North Carolina and live comfortably. The expenses are one-third of New York’s.
Thanks for the blessings and the same to you and your family.