A fond farewell to a good friend...

My friend & colleague, Aida is moving to Manila on a 2 year assignment for our company. She & her husband are packing up their 2 beautiful little girls and heading out bright & early on Friday morning. I wanted to make sure to pay tribute to her on this blog… if it were not for Aida; there would be no blog and I wouldn’t be working as diligently on my book as I have been. If not for Aida, I wouldn’t have a fan base in a little cul-de-sac in New Hampshire or an honorary sister-in-law in New Jersey.


I just spent the last hour writing about all of the things that I love about her; her kind heart (sniff), wonderful sense of humor (err-hum), her love for her kids (sniff, sniff)… then I realized… this was not a tribute to Aida… it sounded more like a eulogy!!! So I deleted every word I wrote, dried my eyes and imagined her laughing at me & calling me a fool!

I will miss her none the less; the smell of Beef-a-Roni wafting out of her office in the morning while constantly insisting it was healthy to eat for breakfast… the little blue container of Nivea that she carries with her everywhere… the free Altoids that I managed to snitch while she constantly left her little tins everywhere… all of the instant message interruptions while I was busy working; asking for recipes, tips & techniques so she didn’t have to pay for my cookbook!  I always tell her that with each recipe I give to her, I'll tear that page out of the book and still charge her full price… aaahhhhh… friends!

In light of her departure (not from this earth; just from this country), I decided to post one of the first recipes that I ever shared with her; “Tangy Ginger Shrimp”… it’s quick, easy and what your taste buds will experience almost compares to viewing a sunset from the famous Manila Bay… add a nice “Rum Runner” or a couple of “Mai Tai’s” and you are good to go!

Tangy Ginger Shrimp with Yellow Rice

2 lbs. Uncooked Shrimp (peeled & deveined)

5 T. Olive Oil

1 Jar Ginger Marmalade

1 Lg. Lime

1 Bunch Fresh Cilantro

2 Lg. Boxes Goya Yellow Rice

Cook rice according to package directions; keep warm. In a large skillet, heat the olive oil then add shrimp; stirring constantly. Cook for about 3-4 minutes. Turn heat to low then add the marmalade and the juice from the lime (you can actually use 2 limes if you like).

Pour cooked rice onto serving platter and top with shrimp mixture. Top entire platter with a couple of generous handfuls of cilantro.

Serve with green vegetable or salad.

**If serving as an appetizer, leave tails on the shrimp and delete the rice.

From this point forward, whenever I make this dish I will think of you fondly, my friend and quickly remember to write another page so the book is done by the time you return! Safe travels to you, Brad, Lily and Nora…

Thanksgiving is for Turkey; Everyday is for Dog Food!!!

When I was a little girl, for as far back as I can remember we always had Thanksgiving dinner at my Grandma & Grandpa Hudd’s house with the whole family; it’s one of my favorite memories! I remember that there were tables put together in the living room that spanned from one side to the other. I remember my cousin, Janet and I almost always sat together on top of the wood stove while the others packed in around us. I remember the smells of the season, the huge turkey on the table, all of the milk that was spilled, all of the laughter in the air and we all loved each other almost as much as the table full of pies in the kitchen. I also remember one year when my grandfather was late to dinner because he was out hunting… there was silence at the table as he came in the door half soused and plopped down in his chair. As my grandmother famously raised one eyebrow, all she could say was, “Oh Orie!!!” She was so mad at him but she’d never let on to us or get us upset. Way back then… life was truly magical and nothing could ever hurt us if we were together…

As I pull out another tissue, (sorry, great memories like that make me cry and I miss my grandparents so much) I suddenly feel the need to tell you about another family tradition…

My mom’s sister, Martha was the epitome of caregivers to her own and all of her siblings’ children. Aunt Martie had 4 children of her own yet never turned down an opportunity to babysit for the rest of us… all of us! She’d pick us up on a Saturday, load us up in the old Volkswagen bus and take us to her house. We played for hours together and about 4:00pm we’d start to smell the sweet scent of our favorite meal… DOG FOOD! When Aunt Martie made dog food we’d all race to the table to get the first helping and pray that there would be enough for seconds! Now… before you call child protective services on my poor, old aunt… she knew what kids liked and she mixed it all together; there was macaroni (we never called it pasta), cut up hot dogs, tomato soup, corn… I’m not sure what else, all I know is that it was delicious and we loved it! The fact that she called it dog food made it even more enticing!

On those nights, sleeping on the floor in her living room, all huddled together underneath the mounds of blankets, we had no idea that we were poor; all we knew was that our wonderful and kind aunt loved us all and hopefully we’d be able to come back next weekend! “Go to sleep you kids… the bus is leaving at 8 o’clock sharp for church in the morning and if you’re not on it; you’re not going!” We were always up and ready to go…

This is a true story and let me tell you… as we got older there were many more! In the interest of time though, I won’t even begin to share with you the story about the cats in the freezer or the spaghetti in the pockets or even the time when my cousin rolled in dog poop at a family picnic and my Aunt Martie put him in a trash bag, tied it around his neck and made him sit in the car & sweat… good times!

I would like to wish all of you a Thanksgiving filled with family, friends, good health and much joy. Remember your loved ones from holidays past and share your memories with the little ones; when they get older, they will cherish them as I do mine.

Here is a quick & easy recipe that I make for hors d’oeuvres every Thanksgiving; whether I am hosting or traveling home to be with my family…

Sausage & Cheese Stuffed Mushrooms

2 Containers Fresh Mushrooms

2 Boxes Store Purchased Stuffing Mix for Chicken

1 Stick of Butter

1/2 Large Roll of Uncooked Breakfast Sausage (or links without casings)

1 Cup Grated Romano Cheese plus more for Sprinkling

2 Eggs

2 T. Red Pepper Flakes plus more for Sprinkling

Wipe mushrooms with damp cloth to remove dirt. Gently twist stems to remove. Prepare stuffing using package directions, let cool. Chop mushroom stems. In medium saucepan, melt butter then cook mushroom stems until soft & golden. Transfer stuffing to mixing bowl. Add cooked mushroom stems, raw breakfast sausage, cheese, eggs and red pepper flakes.

With your hands, mix thoroughly until sausage is evenly distributed. Stuff each mushroom generously & place on un-greased cookie sheet. Sprinkle with cheese & red pepper flakes. Bake uncovered in pre-heated 350 degree oven 45-60 minutes or until cooked through & just starting to brown on top. Serve immediately.

May your holidays be filled with flavor!!!

Hot Pepper Sundays leave a lasting impression… is Montezuma Italian???

Before I met my husband, my girlfriend, Alyson (who was also single at the time) and I would get together every Sunday afternoon to watch movies; as singles, we knew that Sundays were a lonely day and vowed to spend ours together. Every week, she showed up with 3 movies to last us the afternoon and the exact same items were always on the menu:

1 750ml Bottle of Merlot (for Alyson)

1 750ml Bottle of Chardonnay (for me)

Fresh Italian Bread from the Bakery

Provolone Cheese so sharp it makes your gums sting

Sautéed Italian Hot Peppers (about ½ of a bushel)

Whether at her house or mine, a huge frying pan would be on the stove; one of us peeling a whole head of garlic and the other snapping stems off of the peppers. First thing’s first… OPEN THE WINE! We would sauté the peeled & coarsely chopped garlic in about ½ an inch of Olive Oil until it was just turning brown. Then we would throw in the Italian Long Hot Peppers and stir them around so they would all be coated with the oil. Wait… GLASS #2…

We’d throw in some crushed red pepper flakes, a handful of chicken bouillon powder, black pepper and garlic powder then give it another stir. With the heat on high, we would then pour in about 1 inch of the juice from a jar of Hot Cherry Peppers. As the steam erupted in the pan, we threw in some of the cherry peppers then were quick to slap on the lid and turn the peppers down low to simmer. Boy, I’m thirsty… GLASS #3…

As the smell of the simmering peppers wafted through the room, neither of us could concentrate on the movie; that’s how we knew they were done! We had 2 recliners side by side with an end table in between them. On it was now a huge basket of bread, a board filled with sliced Provolone and a frying pan overloaded with these red & green gems… WE’D BETTER FILL OUR GLASSES!

By the time the first movie was over, the frying pan would be empty. As Alyson started to cough and my eyes started to water, we shared the best part… we sopped up all of the flavored oil with whatever was left of the bread! Our mouths were on fire! IS THERE ANY WINE LEFT?

Here we were… two best friends creating a tradition; sharing our Sundays together. By movie number 2 we would both be sleeping but we were extremely content. She had seasoned me into becoming a champ at eating these delectable hot morsels and I was very proud… until about 3:00am that is…

My eyes would pop open and I would quickly wake from a sound sleep! I had all I could do to make it to the bathroom and I always spent the rest of the night right there; the great thinker! These peppers were kicking my butt and the wine was making my head pound; how could I do this to myself??? NEVER AGAIN!!!



The next day I always felt like a million bucks though; nice and trim and (err-uh) cleansed, with the faint smell of garlic still sitting in the air. AHHHHH Sundays… to this day, every time I smell garlic simmering I think of Alyson; she can eat an entire frying pan by herself now; always could! Me, on the other hand… my poor tummy just can’t take it anymore… 1 measly pepper with the seeds removed has me up for 3 days!

I read somewhere that Montezuma was some sort of Greek god or something but the real truth is that he was actually Italian… by injection, of course! His wife was straight off of the boat from Italy and she was the only one in all of the land who could grow the long red & green peppers that he loved so much. She cooked these peppers with bushels of fragrant garlic and he ate them everyday. One night while they were sleeping… someone ransacked the garden and stole every last one of her hot pepper plants. Upon discovering this the next morning, Montezuma called the village together for a meeting to see if anyone would admit to stealing his wife’s missing treasures. All inquiries were blatantly denied. He clenched his fists tight as rage ran through him and lightning smacked across the now blackened sky and he declared his revenge; great turmoil in the hollow of the belly of all common man whose lips should ever dare to touch one morsel of these beloved gems, causing relentless upset and discomfort for all of eternity! Hence; “Montezuma’s Revenge”!!!

If you’re into hot stuff… give ‘em a try; they’re worth it!

Not quite red; not quite white; something in between just right…

I went home to New York this past weekend for my dad’s birthday and to visit with some family and friends. I had been toying around with the idea of changing my hair color; I wanted a light red, not blonde but something like a pink champagne color… like strawberry. I had found the exact color that I wanted and for 3 weeks have been placing it into my shopping cart, taking it out of my shopping cart, placing it in… blah, blah, blah. I went to the store with my mom on Friday and she talked me into buying it. I carried the box around with me all weekend and after some prodding by 2 friends, 2 aunts, 1 mom and a cousin, I finally got my nerve up yesterday to actually do it. The verdict??? I LOVE IT!!! I am no longer washed out; I am warm strawberry… not quite white, not quite red… almost PINK… Sir Charles is going to flip out!!!

When trying to think of a recipe to celebrate my new ferocious, bad-ass & edgy self, my strawberry color reminded me of a story…

Many, many years ago there was a successful restaurateur in our little upstate NY berg; his name was Ralph and his restaurant was called Il Giardino (the Garden). He was busy every evening and almost all of his customers were local folks who frequented his establishment on a regular basis. The dining room and bar area had just the right lighting, white tablecloths and a touch of Hunter Green for an accent; it was cozy, warm and very comfortable. Ralph prepared traditional Northern Italian dishes that melted in your mouth and were consistently scrumptious each & every time you ordered them. One of the most charming things about this restaurant was that Ralph would come out of the kitchen every chance that he had to personally greet his diners. He knew everyone on a first name basis, would prepare all special requests and even send every table a round of cocktails to show his appreciation for their patronage. He was a stellar example of what an entrepreneur should be and I felt as if I were walking into his home each time I was there. This is where the PINK comes in…

One evening, my girlfriends & I decided to visit Il Giardino for dinner. I had ordered a classic; Veal Parmigiana with Pasta. After some Clams Casino and a nice Caesar Salad, Ralph himself brought the meals out to our table. Only mine wasn’t there. He immediately started to apologize and said that he’d had an “accident” with my dinner in the kitchen. As he knew that I was very interested in cooking, he escorted me to his kitchen to show me what had happened; it was not the first time that I had been invited in. On the stove where he usually had a pot of his mouth watering Marinara sauce and a pot of creamy Alfredo sauce was a huge pink mess (this was long before Vodka Sauce had been created). Apparently, he had slipped while holding the pot of Alfredo and the whole thing dumped right into the pot of Marinara! He asked me if I would mind ordering something else as he could not serve this sauce with the veal. After much contemplation, and with drinks in hand, we decided to make the best of it and we tasted this new concoction… it was absolutely delicious!!! So we took the tender, battered veal cutlets and laid them on a baking dish. We decided to top it with very thin slices of eggplant and tomato. We doused it all in the “Pink” sauce, topped it with fresh Mozzarella cheese and threw it in the oven until it was baked to a bubbly perfection… and there you have it… Veal Valentino was born!!! We were excited… two foodies with a new creation; what could be better than that? Veal Valentino ended up being a staple on his menu and today, every time that I prepare it I think of him. Good times Ralphie, good times…

SCORE one for the kids!!!

I awoke last Friday morning to the sound of the cold wind rattling the glass in my bedroom windows. What happened; yesterday was 70 degrees?!! Today posed quite a challenge for me… I had opened my mouth and volunteered to cater the tailgating portion of a charity soccer event that my company was sponsoring with an organization called America SCORES... 60 kids and about 20 adults and it was absolutely freezing outside!!! This organization focuses on empowering students in urban communities by using soccer, writing, creative expression and service-learning… they help to inspire youth to lead healthy lifestyles, be engaged students and become agents of change in their communities. In keeping with the theme “healthy” yet needing the food to be cold, I settled on a Chicken Fajita Bar as the menu. I had already cleaned and cooked 40 lbs. of chicken breast and my partner & I had already purchased all of the food so I HAD to do it now… even if it was only 35 degrees outside!

I can now honestly tell you that neither a hurricane nor a monsoon could ever keep me from doing this again and by the time the event was over I had dozens of new friends and had helped put smiles on the faces of these extraordinary children that live in a place where life challenges them daily. I work with other charities, however, this one allowed me to actually interact with these children. They made some really cute comments to me about the food and were extremely grateful for all of the efforts… they figured we’d bring chips & soda and never dreamed it would be fresh chicken breast with all the fixins’ for make-your-own fajitas. One little girl with “low fat” pudding all over her face came to me and said, “Toni, I’ve just GOT to thank you… I just had a party in my tummy!”  I think I laughed & cried at the same time.

When all was said and done I was relieved to find out that we will have many opportunities to work with these kids in the future. I met my husband for dinner that evening and he even noticed that I was flying high! I feel sorry for people who have so much and don’t give anything back… they’ll never experience the sheer joy of actually making a difference.

I returned home with about 30 red & green peppers, a bag of onions that Danielle just could not get through after slicing the first bag, salsa, sour cream and a big bag of shredded cheddar cheese. First I thought, “Bonus!” But then I started to feel guilty; this food did not belong to me, it was purchased by funds provided by my company. What to do, what to do??? Finally, it came to me… I just added a couple of extra ingredients and came up with a new recipe; Spicy Stuffed Sombreros!  I brought them into work and fed some of my coworkers and co-volunteers. Feedback was great and I could finally feel good about having the leftover ingredients and a new recipe for the book! This is one of those things that you kind of just throw together; no measuring! With all of these tasty ingredients there is no way they could come out bad!!! So… in honor of those special kids from “Eastie”… give this recipe a try, close your eyes and feel the joy of knowing that YOU can make a difference!

Spicy Stuffed Sombreros

Red and/or Green Bell Peppers

Brown Rice (cooked & cooled)

Canned Black Beans

Italian Hot Sausage (removed from casings, cooked and crumbled)

Ground Beef (browned & drained)

Bread Crumbs

Shredded Cheddar Cheese (don’t be stingy)

Salsa

Sour Cream

Slice off top of peppers and remove core.

Combine the next 6 ingredients in a bowl and generously stuff it into the peppers. Carefully place in a baking dish and top each pepper with more cheddar cheese.

Cover with foil and bake in a 375° oven for 1 hour. Turn oven off, uncover peppers and leave in oven for 15 minutes.

Serve with lots of salsa and sour cream! Soooooooo yummy!

A couple of shots from the day:

This one’s for you, Renee!

At the end of August, my husband & I traveled back to my hometown for the wedding of one of the sweetest girls I have ever known, Renee. As expected, it was quite a joyful celebration on a day only God could have created and the bride and groom were jubilant. I spent a lot of time that day noticing how much Renee had changed; how she had flourished into a gorgeous young woman. The skinny, freckle-faced kid with the braces and frizzy hair who I had always thought was so cute was now tall and poised; scarlet locks framing a flawless face with the smile of an angel… she was stunning! When had this happened?  Here I was, standing there the entire evening trying to balance myself on my new "skinny heeled" shoes... I tipped a couple of times but never managed to hit the floor, thank goodness!  Where was MY youth?!!! Time passes much too swiftly for this old girl and I’m pooped just thinking about it.

Anyway, Renee and her handsome hubby, Paul both work hard and have extremely busy lives. As a new bride, she is fairly green around the kitchen (though she sure knows where to find the hooch in the fridge) and I promised to post some quick & easy recipes for her to try out on the mister. Well Renee… I hope you’re reading… this one is great for a quick weeknight meal. It boasts of being so quick & delicious that it will not only tickle his tongue, it will also tickle his fancy and leave plenty of time for you to reap its rewards… if you know what I mean!

Fiesta Chicken & Rice


6 Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts
1 pkg. Taco Seasoning Mix
Non-Stick Cooking Spray
1 jar Chunky Salsa
1 8oz. pkg. Shredded Cheddar Cheese
1 pkg. Yellow Rice Mix (Follow package   directions to prepare)
1 Lime
Sour Cream
2 handfuls Chopped Fresh Cilantro

Rub chicken with the taco seasoning on both sides. Place in re-sealable plastic bag and refrigerate overnight.

The next day after work, coat an oven safe frying pan that has a lid with the cooking spray and heat on medium heat until pan is nice and hot. Arrange chicken slices in the pan and cook, turning once, until lightly browned on both sides. Pour in the salsa, cover and turn heat off. Transfer to a 350 degree oven for 25 minutes. Top with the cheddar cheese and place uncovered dish back in the oven for 5 additional minutes.

Divide yellow rice onto plates. Top with chicken breast.

Slice the lime into wedges and squeeze 1 wedge onto each chicken breast. Top each with a dollop of sour cream and lots of cilantro!

*You can top with sliced jalapeno peppers to add extra spice.
**Serve with fresh spinach and re-fried beans for a well rounded meal.

And now for the two of you, my 5 simple rules for happiness...

(1) Free your heart from hatred.
(2) Free your mind from worries.
(3) Live simply.
(4) Give more.
(5) Expect less.

If you had to sum up the rules to live a happy healthy life these five would most likely come up on top. So keep them with you. You can drop them in a jacket pocket, string them on a necklace, and even place them under a pillow. Anyway you chose to keep them close to you will benefit you and your soul and the many lives and souls you chose to share them with.

I love you guys!!!

♪ Happy Birthday Dear Neicey, Happy Birthday to YOU!!! ♪

Today my cousin, Denise celebrates her 44th birthday… we call her Neicey and she looks like she’s 24!!! She informed me last week that Chicken Marsala is her all-time favorite meal and asked me if I would share my recipe with her boyfriend, Chris who was planning on making it for her birthday dinner. Most of my recipes are either in my head or jotted down on one of the 500 yellow stickies that I have splattered everywhere and this one was no exception. Because I love her so much and I wasn’t there to make it for her myself, I needed to insure that Chris would be able to make it PERFECT! I spent extra time rummaging around in my brain to make certain to include every step until I was confident that he would be able to easily reproduce this mouthwatering symphony of flavors… it had to be PERFECT!!!

Last night, Chris and Neicey’s children prepared Triple Mushroom Chicken Marsala using my recipe. After the meal, she sent me a text telling me how great it tasted. I thought that I’d feel a sense of pride somehow because it was MY recipe but that’s not what I felt at all… I read her words and all I could feel was the warmth, caring, tenderness and love that her family put into the entire evening; they could have served her corn flakes and she would have been just as happy. It wasn’t the food… it was the people and the love that they share; the food was just the one ingredient that gathered them together. I am a happy girl! May God bless you and may this recipe bring you all together…

Triple Mushroom Chicken Marsala


8 or 10 Boneless Chicken Breasts (pounded or thin fillets)
Flour (enough to coat chicken)
4 Large Eggs
1/3 Cup Milk
Vegetable Oil for frying
2 Pkgs. Brown Gravy Mix (dry)
1 Cup Cold Water
1 of Stick Butter
2 Cans Beef Broth
1/3 Bottle (or more to taste) Marsala Wine
Dash or two of Worcestershire Sauce
White Mushrooms (sliced)
Cremini Mushrooms (sliced)
Shitake Mushrooms (sliced)
Salt & pepper
Large handful of Parsley

Make sure that chicken breast cutlets are pretty thin. Pour flour onto a plate; adding more as needed. Dredge chicken cutlets in the flour making sure to coat each piece completely. In a medium bowl, whisk the eggs & the milk together. Pour enough oil in a frying pan to amount to 1 inch. Heat oil over medium high heat. When the oil is very hot, take a floured piece of chicken, dip it in the egg mixture and place it in the hot oil. You will only need to cook each piece for about 1 minute; turning once until the batter starts to brown (first piece sometimes does not brown). Repeat this process until all chicken pieces have been battered. Drain onto a paper towel lined baking dish.

Place the water into a medium saucepan; turn on heat to medium low. Whisk in the packages of gravy mix and stir until all lumps are gone and gravy starts to thicken. Add the stick of butter & stir until melted. When butter is melted, add the broth, Marsala wine and the Worcestershire sauce. Continue to stir until mixture starts to bubble then turn off the heat.

Remove paper towels from the baking pan and stack the chicken at an angle like a row of dominos that has been tipped over. Pour all sliced mushrooms on top of the chicken. Pour the gravy mixture over the chicken & mushrooms. Sprinkle lots of parsley on the top. Cover with foil and bake at 375° for 40-45 minutes (sauce should be simmering). Remove foil and serve immediately. This chicken will melt in your mouth... ENJOY!

Spiders & Measuring Cups; my two biggest phobias…

SPIDER
Pronunciation: \ˈspī-dər\

Dictionary Definition: any of an order (Araneae syn. Araneida) of arachnids having the abdomen usually un-segmented and constricted at the base, chelicerae modified into poison fangs, and two or more pairs of abdominal spinnerets for spinning threads of silk for various uses, as in making cocoons for their eggs or webs to catch prey.

Toni Taverna’s Definition: A huge, hairy, volatile & venomous insect that is on this earth for the sole purpose of terrifying me and eventually leading to my demise.

When my brothers and I were kids we lived in a nice house on the top of a hill in Middletown, NY. One summer, the town decided to replace the broken down slabs of slate on our street with shiny new concrete sidewalks. We were aware that it would take some time to complete the project but we also knew it would lessen the number of daily bumps & bruises we sustained from bike riding on the existing ruins and we were very excited. Before we knew it, there were crews of large, burly men, backhoes, dump trucks, concrete mixers and plenty of dust right outside our window… but it was what emerged on the inside of our house that was terrifying to me… SPIDERS… BIG, HAIRY SPIDERS!!!

Apparently, these horrific creatures liked the peace & quiet of our house as much as we did. They were everywhere; in the cellar, on the walls in our bedrooms, in the corners of the living room and the ceiling of the kitchen. Now my mom said that I exaggerated the size of these creatures, or at least she did until the day when she frantically called my dad to come home and kill the “tarantula” by the washer & dryer in the basement! Just like NEVER swimming in the ocean after seeing “JAWS”, that summer planted a life long fear into me that has done nothing but escalate through the years! To this day, if I see a spider I wrap my arms around myself and freeze in my tracks; those treacherous beasts will be the death of me yet!

MEASURE
Pronunciation: \ˈme-zhər

Dictionary Definition: A fixed or suitable limit.

Toni Taverna’s Definition: A confinement of personal expression.

I think my mom’s despise for cooking and her love for baking all stem from the (what I call) mind-numbing undertaking of measurement. When you cook “real food”, there is almost always room for modification; with baking… just about every ingredient must be measured exactly or you will run the risk of your final creation falling, clumping, burning or not tasting like it should.

Why would I rather create an exquisite work of art satiated with flubs, flaws and feelings when I could simply paint by numbers and express someone else’s vision? It’s personal… the love of cooking & entertaining is very personal to me and each individual dish comes from my hands and my heart. Like a snowflake… no two are alike.

Okay, okay… enough of the fluff! Below is an example of a recipe which needs no measurements; just your fingers to lick and taste, allowing you to create… not re-create…

Hot & Bubbly Spinach Artichoke Dip

Thawed, frozen chopped spinach
Marinated artichoke hearts chopped
Cream cheese
Sour cream
Mayonnaise
Grated Parmesan Cheese
Shredded Cheddar Cheese
Salt
Garlic powder
Paprika for sprinkling


Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Squeeze all water out of spinach then combine all ingredients in a bowl; mix together thoroughly. Pour mixture into a glass baking dish. Sprinkle Paprika on top so dip turns golden brown. Bake for approximately 45 minutes or until dip is bubbly and heated through. Serve with assorted crackers and tortilla chips.

So if you’re feeling a little blue today, go into the kitchen and express yourself then join me for dessert… chocolate cake with chocolate frosting baked by someone else… hey, I never said I didn’t like to eat it!!! Cioccolato è amore!

All Loafed Up with My Family!!!

For anyone who knows the maternal side of my family, you know that they (especially you Uncle Bill) will use ANY excuse to have a party… ANY! We have hosted events such as “Mother’s Day Happy Hour”, numerous “Baked Bean Tosses”, the christening of the “Chickie-Pooh”, “General Montgomery Day Bashes”, “Happy Halloweenie” barbeques and “Crazy Hat Parties” for Easter Sunday. Our most recent excuse for a party was historic though…


One evening, I was talking to my uncle on the phone and it appeared to me… shockingly… that he was a little tipsy; it was a Saturday and that’s the only day of the week that he allows himself to indulge. He puts on no airs about himself and he has a distinct “rural sophistication” like none I’ve ever known before… the man drinks the best Merlot and top shelf Single Malt Scotch out of a mason jar!!! He asked what I was doing that evening and I told him that I had a meatloaf baking in the oven. “Meatloaf? Meatloaf? I LOVE meatloaf!” he exclaimed, and before anyone knew what had hit them, “THE 2009 HUDD FAMILY MEATLOAF COOK-OFF” was born!

There were big meatloaves, small meatloaves, meatloaves with ketchup, meatloaves with BBQ sauce, beef meatloaves, turkey meatloaves, road kill meatloaves; one loaf in particular looked like a shriveled up old dinosaur’s pee-pee (didn’t touch that one) but hey… everyone gave it their best shot! Meatloaf isn’t my specialty but mine was baked with roasted garlic, peppers, onions and sour cream and I won 2nd prize… which was nothing.

My cousin’s husband, Todd took home 1st prize… which was nothing… but the title was well deserved as his loaf had a huge log of cheddar cheese oozing out of the middle of it… can you say Yummmmmeeeee?

My other cousin’s husband, Tom was the big competitor though… he antagonized my aunt & uncle for days before. Unfortunately for him, he was sick that day and by the time my cousin brought it over for him we were all “meatloafed out”. Therefore, Tom won the Boobie prize which was something! It was a key chain that moaned certain sexual sounds when you pushed a button which I had recycled from a previous gift given to me by a hot women’s underwear model… you know who you are, Joe! I don’t think Tom appreciated being sick that day or the wonderful prize that he won but I’ve got a sneaking suspicion that the key chain will be showing up again somewhere soon!

Moral of the story… food & family are the best reasons to celebrate; even if they do look like a dinosaur’s pee-pee!!!

It's Thursday and today... we celebrate life!!!

I am fortunate enough to work with a great group of people here in Boston. One of my coworkers, who I am proud to call “friend”, hosts a “Big Fall Bash” on her property in Wayland, MA on the first Saturday in October every year. The guest list for this little gathering can easily be compared to the prominence of the ET Emmy Party this year… she surrounds herself with family, friends and all those dear to her heart. This coming Saturday is when the 6th annual BFB was scheduled to take place but, unfortunately, we’re supposed to get a nasty storm this weekend so my friend was forced to cancel the festivities. She had previously told me that she had never had to cancel and that it was always a great day.


She announced the postponement today (‘til October 2nd, 2010)… her signature smile unfaltering, yet we all knew there was nothing insignificant about her decision. She is a breast cancer survivor; she started this joyous celebration 6 years ago when she learned that she has a LONG life ahead of her. No amount of wind or rain could ever change that fact but still, the cancellation of her celebration of life was unquestionably disheartening. That’s where my coworkers & I came in! We have deemed today, Thursday, October 1st, the “Celebration of Life Day” and today… we celebrate with her! So… what comes to my mind first??? FOOD of course!!! What could I prepare for her that was delicious, healthy and festive??? Got it!!! Thai Vegetable Rolls w/Spicy Peanut Sauce… these little gems would definitely send a ray of sunshine her way...

Thai Vegetable Rolls w/Spicy Peanut Sauce

Vegetable Rolls:

Large Flour Tortillas

Fresh Spinach

Snow Peas

Red Bell Peppers

Zucchini

Carrots

Scallions

Do not cook spinach; simply soak in hot water or microwave. Julienne peppers, zucchini and carrots into match sticks. Microwave all veggies except spinach and scallions for 3-5 minutes (they should still be crunchy). Fill first third of tortilla with the veggies. Grab veggies and tortilla and roll as tight as you can. Seal edge with warm water or peanut butter. Wrap each roll very tightly in plastic wrap. Repeat with remaining tortillas and veggies. Refrigerate for a few hours or as long as overnight or freeze for just an hour. Remove rolls from plastic wrap and cut slices about two inches wide on a slight angle. Arrange rolls on a platter on their sides so the colorful veggies show. Serve with peanut sauce.

Spicy Peanut Sauce:

Store Purchased Asian Marinade and/or Dressing

Creamy Peanut Butter

Brown Sugar (to taste)

Tabasco or Red Hot (to taste)

Chili Powder

Combine dressing and peanut butter in blender. Blend on medium speed for a few minutes. Mixture should have the consistency of a smooth cake batter. Add a generous amount of brown sugar and hot sauce and continue to blend for a few more minutes. Just keep tasting until it’s to your liking. Pour in bowl and place in center of platter. Sprinkle the Peanut Sauce with chili powder and garnish platter with some sliced scallions. If you want to serve with two sauces, ranch dressing makes a decent second choice.

The perfect nibble to remind us all of the bright colors & vast flavors of life! We love you Sue!!!

It's all Greek to me!!!

This past Saturday, I went with my girlfriend, Kathleen (Mrs. Nolan to those of us who love her), to a small market in the heart of Peabody, MA that specializes in fresh cuts of meat, home cooked delicacies, out of the ordinary condiments and all foods Greek. I never saw so many olives in one place! Some items were very expensive and others extremely reasonable. It was evident from the warm hospitality of the place that this was a family run operation.


Mrs. Nolan had been told to make sure to purchase some of the unbelievably fresh Feta cheese as it was deemed, “the best ever”! Now I’m not a huge fan of Feta; only on the occasional Spinach Salad with Bacon, Shrimp & Warmed Dijon Vinaigrette… but that’s a recipe for another day! This Feta cheese however… was the BOMB! There were 3 different varieties and one of the butchers let us taste them all. We both opted for the strong imported one and each bought a pound of it. Mrs. Nolan purchased a few other things and as we drove away I was quite pleased with my purchase. When I got home, reality set in… “What the hell am I going to do with this huge block of Feta cheese?!!”

The next day while my Sunday Pot o’ Sauce was workin’ on the stove and the Patriots were workin’ on the field, my hubby & I cracked a couple of cold beers and were looking for something to nibble on. I remembered the block of cheese that was taking up so much room in my fridge and scouted around my kitchen for something to add to it for a quick-n-easy snack. This is what I ended up with:

Maria Aphrodite Bruschetta


6 thick slices of dense whole wheat bread like Ciabatta or Tuscan Pane (toasted)
Olive Oil for drizzling
¼ lb. of Feta cheese (crumbled)
6 slices of roasted red peppers
6 thin slices of tomato
1 handful of fresh basil (torn into pieces)
1 handful of Kalamata olives (coarsely chopped)
Shaved Romano cheese

Arrange toasted bread slices on a serving dish; drizzle with olive oil. Divide the Feta cheese between the toast and press down a little to keep it in place.  Then stack on the roasted pepper slices, the tomato slices, the basil and the chopped olives. Drizzle again with olive oil. Using a vegetable peeler, shave the Romano cheese over the top of the bruschetta.

These were so simple yet SO DELICOUS! Who would have known that when Italy teamed up with Greece they would create such a festival of flavors in your mouth? Ottimo!

Lasagna; from Holiday to Everyday!

I went to see my hairstylist, Sir Charles the other day. That dark haired cutie has a nice svelte little physique that makes him appear to live on nothing but fish, chicken and veggies. However, when I asked him what his favorite food was he said, “Pasta baked with lots of cheese” and being the foodie that I am, he got me thinking about my comfy sweats, nesting with my husband on what was to be a rainy Sunday; a little wine, football and a big pot of sauce… what could be better than that? How about my 3 cheese spinach & sausage Lasagna? Now, you know that I pride myself on easy entertaining but Lasagna is such a long process and therefore I am not ambitious enough to make it very often. My mom (the one who doesn’t cook) used to make it when we were kids; always for our Christmas dinner. Therefore, it always seemed like “Holiday Food” to me.



With the smell of simmering meatballs & a rich, thick sauce swimming around my senses yesterday, I started to get a little lazy. “There must be an easier way to make the Lasagna”, I thought. Now some things you just don’t tamper with; they now sell “no boil” pasta sheets which are very thin, taste like paper and extremely expensive. I like my Lasagna noodles sturdy enough to stand up to the mountains of cheese & spicy crumbled sausage so these no boil gizmos are not for me. Then it came to me… why did I have to boil the Lasagna noodles anyway? Maybe I could just use a little extra sauce and bake it just a smidge longer. And that I did… No standing by the huge pot and continuously stirring so they don’t stick together or the incessant testing to make sure not to overcook them. No lining my entire counter top and kitchen table with them while waiting to build my masterpiece. I just layered them uncooked with the sauce, cheeses, spinach and sausage like usual, covered it tight with foil, baked it at 375° for an hour & a half, uncovered and baked it for another 30 minutes and voila’… it was my best Lasagna to date! Just ask my husband… and the other 20 people that benefited from the fact that I cook for an army!


So, although I didn’t elaborate entirely on my recipe (why would you buy the cookbook if I did?) I did, however, give you a tip that will save you so much time & effort while preparing this Italian classic as hearty and delicious as your great grandmother’s was… NO NEED TO BOIL... MANGIA!

There’s a fungus among us!

After selling my catering business in New York and before I moved to Boston, I worked for a steel erection company which had a New York office but was based out of Pittsburgh. There were only a few of us who worked in the actual office; most of the employees worked on separate job sites all over the city. I quickly became really good friends with some of them; most who were young engineers, far away from their homes and families. They used to share the rent on multiple bedroom apartments and, as they didn’t know many people outside of work, would spend most evenings & weekends together. Every once in a while they would come to my upstate home in Newburgh for a home cooked meal or I would go into the city & stay with them for the weekend… we ALWAYS had a great time together! This one time in particular…


I had gone down to the Bronx after work on a Friday to stay with my friend, Tim and go out with the crew to their favorite Irish pub for drinks. I remember it being about a mile from Tim’s apartment; it was in the spring but a slight chill still lingered in the air and the walk was refreshing. I remember sitting on a barstool drinking Vodka Gimlets for hours. The air was a lot more “refreshing” when we left the pub that night and it was the only thing that kept me from tossing my cookies! Needless to say, the next day we were all pretty hung over. Tim & I went to the mall and chowed down on cinnamon buns and coffee before going clothes shopping for the remainder of the morning. By the time we were heading back over the Tappan Zee Bridge, I had decided to stay for one more night and had offered to cook dinner for the whole gang. I have so many fond memories of that day… fresh bread from the bakery and cappuccino & pastry on Arthur Avenue, the outdoor vegetable stand where we got tons of huge mushrooms and also going to the Italian butcher to get the most gorgeous chicken breast that I had ever seen. Yes… food can be gorgeous! It would have been a perfect afternoon had I not seen all of the dead animals hanging in the window; talk about tossing cookies!!!

There ended up to be about 20 of us around the dinner table and the menu was:

Mandarin Orange Salad with Sweet Citrus Dressing
Fresh Bread with Garlic Butter
Triple Mushroom Chicken Marsala
Horseradish Garlic Mashed Potatoes
Oven Roasted String Beans

Everyone had a blast however… before, during then after dinner drinks… we were loaded… again! Tim was supposed to go into work at 11pm that night on one of the NYC bridges but he was passed out on the floor. I didn’t want him to get in trouble so I decided to “call him in sick”. I knew his supervisor, Pat so I disguised my voice when I said, “Hello, this is Tim’s mother. I’m afraid that he’s not feeling well and will not be able to make it in tonight.” Pat asked what was wrong with him and I said that I didn’t know. He proceeded to hound me for every gorey symptom or ill sign that Tim had. He badgered me for so long that I became frustrated... Did he know it was me? Pat asked, “Well… what did he have for dinner? Maybe he has food poisoning!” At that point I exploded at the thought of my cooking being insulted and said the only thing that came to mind, “He had Chicken Marsala with lots of mushrooms, you moron… he’s got a yeast infection!!!” Pat hung up on me; Tim got in trouble on Monday morning.

Lesson learned… don’t do anyone any favors when your own brain is soaked in Chardonnay!

Asparagus & the unflattering side effect… Who knew??? He did!!!

I must tell you that I work as the Executive Assistant to one of the “Big Cheeses” in my company and he is, by far, the coolest boss that I’ve ever had! (Please don’t tell him; I’ll never live it down!) In the almost 2 years since I have worked for him he has taught me so many things about the Corporate Communications industry, introduced me to a boatload of people, made me laugh everyday and also practices quality of life within the workplace like no executive I have ever met; he is a very intelligent, nice man and I am very fortunate to have this job. Being so “worldly”, he knows a little bit about almost everything and each conversation that I have with him is a (err-umm) new adventure. As an example…

I tend to always cook for an army and my boss reaps the rewards from this; I bring in leftovers whenever I can. One sunny Sunday afternoon, after previously marinating my chicken and while my husband was on the golf course, I decided to throw together the ingredients for a new recipe that I had been thinking of and serve it to my hubby that evening with a nice Bombay Sapphire Martini when he got home. The recipe is called Lemon Chicken & Asparagus Bundles. It has a nice presentation, it’s light and very easy to make. Dominic LOVED it!

On Monday morning I brought some in for “Mr. Cheese” to have for lunch. When I put it in front of him, he glanced at it and said, “Did you know that asparagus makes your pee smell funny?” Horrified that he would even know this little tidbit of information, I told him to stop making things up and taste the delectable bundle of chicken. I left his office and ran straight to my computer to Google this new and fascinating information. It happened to me all of the time but I had no idea what it was from… I eat this crisp green veggie at least twice a week! As I scanned through some of the sites that had come up I learned that he was once again correct… asparagus DOES make your pee smell funny!!! I felt like a weight had been lifted off of my shoulders and was very grateful to my clever and oh-so-informative employer!  I had thought there was something wrong with me and was procrastinating calling my doctor for fear of bad news!

He liked the chicken by the way but I try not to give him asparagus very often... it sends my mind to a place where I don't want to be!!!

Lemon Chicken & Asparagus Bundles

1 bottle of Honey Mustard Dressing

Juice of 1 Lemon

½ cup Dry White Wine

2 lbs. Boneless Skinless Chicken Breast

(pounded or filleted very thin)

1 med. bunch of Asparagus

6 thick slices of Swiss cheese

Zest of 1 Lemon

Salt & pepper to taste

Pour dressing, lemon juice and wine in a plastic re-sealable bag. Place chicken breasts in the mixture, squeeze out any excess air and seal the bag. Knead the bag with your hands to marry the ingredients and wake up the marinade then chill in the refrigerator overnight.

Trim the bottom of the asparagus stalks about an inch. Place stalks in a steamer or pot with just a little water & steam just until they become bright green in color. Drain them then run them under cold water to prevent further cooking. Set aside.

Remove chicken breasts from bag and shake of any excess marinade; discard the rest of the marinade. Lay the chicken flat on a large cutting board or clean work surface (yes; this will be a little messy). Top each breast with 1 slice of cheese then place 4 or 5 stalks of asparagus on the cheese at the end of each breast closest to you. Starting with that end, roll each piece of chicken & cheese tightly around the asparagus and secure with 2 or 3 toothpicks.

Preheat grill to a medium setting. Place chicken bundles seam side down on the grill and cover for about 5 minutes. Carefully turn them and cover for another 5 minutes. Check & make sure they don’t burn. Cook uncovered for another 15-20 minutes or until chicken is cooked through and juices run clear.

Remove bundles from the grill & place on a cutting board. Let stand for at least 5 minutes. Carefully remove the toothpicks & slice into 1” pieces; revealing the asparagus & melted cheese inside. Arrange on a platter and top with the lemon zest, salt and pepper… ZING!!!

This entrée is pleasing to both the palate and the nose!!!


Enjoy!

But the Butt is your Best Bet!!!

When I was in my early 20’s, I shared a two story apartment with my friend, Jake. We had a perfect agreement; he would pay the bills and I would buy the groceries, cook & clean. I thought it was working out great until I realized that my idea of cleaning and his idea of “dirtying” were on opposite ends of the spectrum. Let’s just say that his bathroom floor closely resembled the untamed tresses of Don King on a bad hair day! I feared I’d have to use a lawnmower to get through it! I have since become a much tidier housekeeper…
It was during this time that I discovered just how much I loved to cook. I was not very good at it but I enjoyed it and picked it up pretty quickly. One crisp Autumn Sunday morning, I decided to try my hand at real Italian “gravy”. I figured Jake would be home for dinner that afternoon; I could let it simmer yet it would be ready when he came home. The one thing that I did know about making a good sauce was that you had to put pork in the pot and let it cook for a long time. Since it was my first time and I wanted it to be perfect, I went to the butcher and bought about a dozen of the leanest center cut pork chops I had ever seen… not an ounce of fat on them and boy were they expensive! I browned them in the oven then threw them into the pot with the rest of the ingredients. It was just about 2pm; I put the flame on simmer and decided to dive into Jake’s bathroom… how hard could it be to clean? A gag-filled 3 hours later it was spit-shined and I was happy. The smell of tomato sauce wafted through the apartment; it was 5pm… Jake would be home any minute. The table was set; I opened a bottle of Chardonnay, poured a glass and turned on a movie. 6pm… no Jake… another glass of wine. 8:30pm… still no Jake… another glass of wine. Two movies and 2 bottles of Chardonnay later, it was time for bed. I stirred the sauce, made sure the top was secure, turned it off and left a note for Jake to help himself to it and the loaf of Italian bread on the counter to sop it up with. At around 1am I heard Jake fumble for his keys, come into the apartment & shut the door behind him. I was certain that after he ate he would put the now cooled sauce into the fridge… I slept like a baby that night; dreaming of a quaint villa on a beautiful Italian hillside (that part’s not true… but it sounded good!)

When I went into the kitchen the next morning for my coffee I noticed that the pot was still on the stove; uncovered, the loaf of bread was gone except for what was on the floor, there was an empty 2 liter bottle of soda in the sink and the backsplash of the counter was drizzled in red. When I started to ladle the leftovers into a container I kept coming up with bones; no meat attached; just bones. I was THRILLED!!! My Italian gravy came out perfect… the meat was so tender that it fell off of the bones! I couldn’t wait to hear what my roomy had to say about how delicious it was!!!

I was quite disheartened when he told me (honestly but not to hurt my feelings) what had REALLY happened and that they were the worst pork chops he had ever eaten! He had come home after being over-served in one of the local pubs and he was famished. He ate every bit of meat off of every single bone then threw the bones back in the pot so I wouldn’t notice!!! He said that the meat was so dry & shriveled up that it took him the entire bottle of soda just to wash it down and had he been sober… he never would have touched it! Cooking tip – FOR TENDER SLOW COOKED MEAT, ALWAYS USE A CHEAP CUT OF MEAT THAT HAS LOTS OF FAT RUNNING THROUGH IT LIKE PORK BUTT!

I do laugh about it with him sometimes today… but only because I can confidently say that I now make the best damned Italian gravy this side of Palermo; always loaded with Pecorino Romano cheese, spicy meatballs, tender sausage and pork butt that melts in your mouth!

Gusto Dell'Amore (Taste the Love!)

Let them eat cake!!! (Chocolate cake, that is…)

My birthday is August 15th and my friend, Jess celebrates her birthday that week as well. Jess was away on vacation this year and I was sick with the Swine-ish Flu and out of work for a whole week. Little did we know that there was a celebration that had been planned for us by our colleagues while we were out which had to be cancelled. Neither of us ever thought twice about it. Last Thursday, September 17th, Jess & I were called into a meeting downstairs in one of the conference rooms. When we walked in we were greeted with a hearty, “Surprise!!!” from a room full of people! There were platters of cheeses & crackers, crudités, fresh fruit with dip, Buffalo wings, nachos, creamy pizza dip & cookies; it was wonderful! There were two gorgeous hydrangeas festively decorating the table as well; one for each of us. Then I spotted them… like a blood hound sniffing out a fox… like Jimmy Durante in a pastry shop… CAKE!!! There were two huge cakes on the table; one was all vanilla and one was head to toe chocolate. To my extreme delight, the chocolate one was for me… yippee!!! The first bite sent me into a semi-comatose contented bliss which led to me eating two huge pieces and I enjoyed every calorie, carbohydrate and gram of fat in each delectable bite!!! Someone after the fact admitted to me that they were apprehensive about entertaining and cooking for me because I do it well. This was probably the 10th time I’ve heard that said recently so I thought I should address it.


The best ingredients put into any gathering are the people who attend; the food is simply the glue that unites them. The thoughtful preparation and presentation on that day were blatant… these people put caring and friendship into everything they prepared and ordered! There were many different conversations going on and as I glanced around the room; everyone was laughing, smiling and relaxing… mission accomplished! Having only been in Boston five years so far, a week ago I would have told you that I had just a handful of friends and lots of colleagues. Today it’s a different story… I feel very blessed and want to thank all of you who participated.

So anytime you’d like to have me over… cook for me… make burgers… order pizza or Chinese… it doesn’t matter; I will cherish the time as I cherish all of you…

One quick hint though… If you serve CHOCOLATE CAKE I will love you forever… YUMMY!!!

Keep an eye on the peas…

I don’t know about you but I love nice, plump, sweet peas. Fresh, frozen or canned… they’re like the burst of a melodious choir dancing on my tongue! My older brother, Larry, not only does not like peas but I don’t think any of his six gorgeous kids have ever had them… I’m pretty sure he has forbidden them from his wife, Linda’s grocery list and from his home in general. I remember one time when he was about 8 or 9 years old…



Our cousins had just moved to New York from Albuquerque and were staying with our grandparents until their house was ready. We were all so elated that they moved close to us and spent lots of time there with them. I have so many fond memories of that time; sliding down a banister that I now realize is only about 3 feet long… the sound of my grandfather’s steps approaching as Janet & I pretended to sleep; hiding under the covers of the bed we just broke by jumping on it… picking string beans from the garden for my Aunt Joan to prepare for dinner… and Uncle Billy’s huge dog, Teddy in the yard next door. One memory that stands out in my mind is one of the many times we were all sitting around my grandmother’s kitchen table having dinner; if Grandpa was home that made about 18 people! Money was tight and it was an unspoken rule that we finish every bit of food on our plate. When everyone was just about finished, my mom noticed that the measly 20 peas that she had put on Larry’s plate were still there. She told him that NONE of us were allowed to leave the table until his plate was clean. After many dirty looks shooting his way we all got engrossed in other conversations and soon heard Larry proudly announce, “I’m done!” As we were very anxious to go outside and catch the last bit of daylight before bedtime… we all bolted up from the table in delight! Just then you heard my Aunt Joan bellow, “Hold it! No one moves until Jeremy cleans his plate!!!” Jeremy sat right next to Larry; Jeremy had a measly 20 peas on his plate… Larry had none.


I always wondered if Larry would resign to eating peas if I could find a way to prepare them that would knock his socks off; like this easy recipe below:


Easy Creamy Carbonara


1lb. package of Fettuccini

1 bag of Frozen Peas

2T Olive Oil

1 medium Vidalia Onion (chopped)

½ package of Pre-Cooked Bacon (chopped)

1 stick of Butter

1 pint of Half & Half

½ container of grated Pecorino Romano Cheese

Salt & Pepper to taste


In a large pot of salted boiling water, cook Fettuccini using package directions until just short of done; pasta should still be a little firm.


While the pasta is cooking, heat the olive oil in a skillet on medium heat; add onion and cook until opaque, then add the bacon. Stir for 3 or 4 minutes then remove from heat.


During the last 5 minutes of cooking the pasta, add the frozen peas. Drain Fettuccini and peas in a colander. Place butter in the hot pot and top with the pasta & peas. Stir until the entire stick of butter is melted. Pour the onion & bacon mixture into the pasta and peas. Add the Half & Half, stirring constantly and then the grated cheese; the cheese will thicken the liquid. If it’s not thick enough for your liking, just add more cheese. Season with salt & pepper.


Can you say, “Come to mama!!!”? This took longer to write than it takes to cook… you’ll love it! LARRY WOULD TOO!!!

Boost your roots... YIKES!

For those of you who don't know me, I can typically be picked out of a crowd by my (clear throat) “boys” and for my sometimes crazy hair. I LOVE funky hair and though I am an old lady, my hairstylist, Sir Charles is clearly not. When I first met him he said, “Honey… I know what you want! I’m gonna make you look FIERCE!!!” ... and fierce I am!  He’s a great guy and always makes me feel like a hot, young chick while I’m in his chair; he’s not bad on the eyes either guys; and I DO mean guys.

I always complain because my hair is so thin and it takes me a long time to style so I bought something yesterday called “Root Booster”. This morning, I followed the directions and sprayed it directly onto my roots while my hair was damp then proceeded to blow dry my hair upside down. When I lifted my head & looked in the mirror… I had so much hair that I scared the crap out of myself!!! I spent more time trying to tone it down than it normally takes my thin hair to style. Lesson learned…
I was thinking however… can you imagine how cool it would be if there was a root booster that was digestible? I could turn a lame burger patty into a quarter pounder… or penne pasta into manicotti shells! It’s really too bad that I didn’t know about this product at the beginning of the summer… maybe it could have helped my poor hubby’s tomato garden this year! God bless him though; he tries!  Guess it's a good thing that I'm a magician with various products on my refrigerator door because although there are so many tips & tricks of the trade; there clearly are no magic root boosters!

As for the root booster & me… that relationship is over. I think I’ll send it to my brother, Tommy; he needs it MUCH more than I do!

Montgomery Molly Strikes Again!

If you live anywhere near the Hudson Valley in upstate New York; and parts of Florida & Mass now that I think of it… you are well aware that I did not get the gift of flavor from my mom. She’s an ace with Hot Dogs and she also makes a mean scrambled egg but she absolutely DESPISES cooking… that’s why I weigh about 50lbs. more than she does! She does like to eat however but only if someone puts it in front of her. If you take her out for pizza, it’ll take her an hour to eat one piece but when you reach into the fridge the next day for the leftover 3 slices… they’re mysteriously gone!

Quite a few years ago my brothers gave her the name of “Montgomery Molly” because they failed to see the charm in her enthusiastic disco moves… kind of like Willy Nelson meets John Travolta on steroids! Just kidding, Mom… we all love you and your dance moves!  She's just very... "country" I guess you'd say. She almost had a cow when I told her that John-Boy was caught with Grandpa backstage on the set of the Waltons with their overalls down around their ankles!  And let's not even go into my rendition of "Fairy on the Prairie"!!!

My mom does not, nor does she want to own a computer but my cousin, Janet, who is visiting with her for a few days let her read my blog for the first time yesterday on hers. A little while later, my phone rang and on the other end I heard, “Hello, is this Chicken Cozy Cooking?” I said, “Mom… it’s CHIC… you know, sheik!” She just said, “Oh.” And when I hung up the phone after she told me that she was proud of me, I could definitely hear their wine glasses clinking and the faint sound of “On the road again” in the distance!!!
Thanks for always standing behind me, Mom… and Janet!

Lobsters & Champagne… Happy Anniversary!

Yesterday, September 13th was Dominic & my 1st wedding anniversary. As we had a party to attend yesterday, we had made the decision to go out to a really nice restaurant in Boston to celebrate… being sure of course, to take a taxi so we could drink our Martinis of choice. Many of you may not know this but I enjoy eating out as much as I enjoy cooking! Hmmmm… guess I just enjoy eating in general! When we woke up on Saturday morning it was raining pots n’ pans outside and by 3:00pm we knew that neither of us felt like getting out of our sweats. What to do, what to do? Well… we ran down to our local fresh seafood shack & bought 2 2lb. lobsters. Add a quick appetizer, a salad, some candles and a bottle of Moet Brut Champagne to the mix and voila’… a dinner truly fitting for the occasion was born! We also dove into the top layer of our wedding cake which my mom had kept in her freezer for us for a year. Believe it or not… it still tasted great! Dom says our wedding cake tasted like the best Devil Dog he’s ever had and he’s correct!

As my anniversary gift to you and so you’ll always have something on hand for unexpected guests or occasions, this is what I served as a quick appetizer before we dove into the lobsters…

1 Block Cream Cheese
¾ Cup of Ketchup
1T of Prepared Horseradish
1 Can of Tiny Shrimp

Place the block of cream cheese on a small platter keeping it in tact. Mix the ketchup and horseradish together to make cocktail sauce (yes… it’s just ketchup & horseradish- no need to add anything else!). Pour the cocktail sauce over the block of cream cheese. Pack the shrimp on the top. Serve as a spread with some nice sturdy crackers like bagel crisps. You could even go crazy and add a snip of parsley or a wedge of lemon as a garnish!

If you always have these 4 ingredients on hand, you’ll always have something you can whip up quick!

Happy Anniversary, Dom… I love you!