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My husband and I are usually up by 5:30 am each morning, even on weekends! One morning as I’m having my breakfast, I turned on the television and was channel surfing. On CreateTV, which is a public broadcasting station, they were running an episode of Lidia Bastianich’s cooking show.

​As I’m eating my oatmeal, I’m watching Lidia make Baked Rigatoni with Tomato Sauce, Meatballs, and Eggs. Even though it was early morning, this pasta dish looked delicious. I realize eggs (hard boiled) are an unlikely ingredient in a pasta dish, but that did not deter me. The meatballs are made with Italian sausage. Other ingredients include sweet soppressata salami, San Marzano tomatoes and caciocavallo cheese, which is a dried mozzarella cheese
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​What an awful morning it was today. Despite the downpour this morning, grocery shopping had to be done. While checking off the items on my Wegmans’ shopping app, I was trying to figure out supper for tonight. My initial plan was to prepare a pasta casserole, but then saw Wegmans reduced the price of scallops. The fishmonger said that over the weekend and today, scallops had a special price of $14.99/lb., down from a high of $18.99/lb. I couldn’t resist this impulse purchase. 
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Mother’s Day is a few short weeks away. You could take mom out on her special day, but do you want to spend it with hundreds of other families in a crowded restaurant? One thought is to treat mom to a special meal at home. I know, you don’t cook,  but that doesn’t mean that it’s too late to try. I think any mom would be thrilled if someone cooked for her for a change!

Back in December 2012, Southern Living Magazine had an article entitled “All I Want for Christmas is a Magical Morning.” The magazine took classic southern cake recipes and turned them into layered pancake recipes. The recipes included Hummingbird, Italian Cream, Carrot Cake, Red Velvet, German Chocolate and Caramel Cake pancakes. The only one that I have tried so far is the red velvet and my, oh my, are they decadent! 
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​About five years ago my daughter followed The Whole 30®
Program. Recently she gave me the book “THE WHOLE30” to help me lose a few pounds. I read the parts of the book outlining the dos and don’ts of what not to eat. An abbreviated overview of the don’ts include: No added sugar (for me that is table sugar and maple syrup), alcohol in any form (including cooking), and grains (for me morning oatmeal and rice), legumes (different types of beans, including peanut butter!), dairy (for me milk, half and half, ice cream and yogurt) and no baked good (NO cookies, yikes!)
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​In the March 2017 issue of Southern Living Magazine there was a recipe for Chicken Fricassee with Spring Vegetables. The dish made with cremini mushrooms, carrots, leek and spring asparagus, sounded wonderful. Not only was the recipe a one pan dish, but unlike the traditional fricassée de volaille à l’ancienne, this one can be made in 45 minutes. In doing a bit of research on the web, there are many variations of this French recipe. I must say, my husband and I thoroughly enjoyed this the other evening. As the weather hasn’t quite warmed up yet, it was a satisfying meal on a still rather chilly spring day.
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Once you get to a certain age, mine being 62, shopping for a birthday gift for me can be difficult. My daughter and her family have solved this problem by purchasing gourmet Italian foods. I’ve been the recipient of wonderful Italian olive oil, luscious jam and nut spreads, pesto and more. ​
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I hope everyone enjoyed their holiday yesterday as mine was certainly filling. There was antipasto, penne vodka pasta, ham, chicken Marsala, corn casserole and roasted vegetables. By the time dessert came out, my nephews and their families had left and  we had more desserts than we could eat. So today, it was penance for the rich foods eaten on Easter. 

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​Easter in an Italian family may be celebrated with several different specialty items such as Pastiera (wheat pie) Quaresimali (Lenten biscotti) and Pizza Rustica. Pizza Rustica also called pizza ripiena (stuffed pie) or some Italian Americans call it pizza gain, as my family does. Pizza gain is a savory dish filled with ricotta cheese, diced cheeses and pork products. It is made to celebrate the end of Lent and the fasting from eating meat. As I now have a granddaughter, I felt the need to continue the family tradition of making pizza gain.  
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​Just about every morning I make the quick version of oatmeal dressed with a bit of brown sugar, chopped walnuts and craisins. On the weekend my husband makes his long cooked version of oatmeal topped with bourbon infused maple syrup, chopped walnuts and craisins. However, in the March 21st issue of the New York Times food section, Melissa Clark’s A Good Appetite column had a recipe for Brown-Butter Chocolate Oatmeal.  Intriguing, right? 
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Recently I was given four pheasant breasts from a former co-worker. Her husband belongs to a New Jersey hunting club and periodically goes hunting for various game birds. My husband enjoys eating wild game. It’s unfortunate that when you visit a local restaurant it’s just by chance you’ll luck out and find venison or quail on the menu.
Last fall, I contacted local area restaurants where I’ve heard game has been served. Apparently, the chefs must rely on local hunters to provide the game for impromptu meals.​


​meet donna

A former teacher, shop-a-holic, empty-nester redefining quick, family approved dinners.

​If you have questions or comments, click on the envelope icon above to contact me directly. 

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