Fruit and Veggies…serve them COLD! in this HEAT!!!

OMG!  I can not be the only one thinking it’s just waaaaaayyyy! to HOT these days!  I must be getting older, but I just can’t take the heat and either can my fruit and veggies!  I am sure most of you can barely eat in this heat, but being Italian, eating is like committing the 11th commandment…”thou shall always eat, especially pasta, no matter how hot the summer!”  So, with that said, what do you eat…you can’t turn on your oven!  So, we all start to think fruit and veggies are the way to go.  We feel lighter and healthier!  But, there’s something about eating a warm plum that just doesn’t do it for me!  SO, I have started to put most of my fruit and veggies in the “fridge”!   AND …I know that’s probably not the thing to do, but I have to tell you, a cold carrot or plum or peach taste sooooo good! 

Here’s my suggestion get out to your favorite store and buy yourself some glass pyrex with the lids…these are great! for storage and you can see exactly what you have in them!   http://www.pyrexware.com/index.asp?pageId=14

And, for those of you who read my blog often, you know I always suggest a wine!  In this summer heat you must chill a bottle of prosecco…Italian sparkling wine!   It’s a “toned” down champagne and so it the price!  Your peaches will love it and so will you!  Stay COOL!!!

Meatballsandmore is Back!!!…with spice and attitude!!! AND slow cooking for the Summer!!!

HELLO! Yes I am back.  I took some time to ride my bike this summer and try fruit and low-calorie foods and then I thought WHY!  I love food…I love wine…I love to eat…!!! SO I am off and running with my blog!  I hope to continue to share great recipe ideas with great pots and pans to make them in!!!  I will start off with my new slow cooker!  We all need this, especially in the hot months of summer!  All you have to do is plug it in, throw in all your food items, and let it cook all day!  I made the best pulled pork this weekend!  Here’s what you do…get these items:  pork loin(s),  2 cans of beef broth, 1 large can of baked beans, corn on cob, cole slaw, 1 package of dinner rolls or sandwich rolls and 1 bottle of white wine!  Put the pork loins, baked beans and beef broth in your slow cooker and set on high.  Let cook for 6-8 hours.  While you are waiting have your cole slaw and corn ready to go as side dishes.  After pork is cooked you can turn the cooker on warm and let everyone serve themselves the BEST pulled pork sandwich they will ever have!  I am telling you…you must try this!!! OH…and that bottle of wine is for you to drink while you wait on these delicious sandwiches to be ready!  I mean really…just think…you won’t have to feel rushed enjoying your wine!

love and food do go together….but what about cereal…

So…I’m thinking that love and food do mix…but why…do we always need food to be in love…or make love…or start love…well…and does it always have to be fancy…I was thinking about cereal the other day because no one ever talks about that being sexy. But, I’ve got to tell you, breakfast and early snacks can really be FUN!  When was the last time you tried Fruit Loops or Captain Crunch!  I have the best recipe for an early breakfast for you and your lovely one, before you get the day started.  Breakfast in bed is a good way to start…so follow this and let me know how your day turns out…a bowl of your favorite cereal, small glass of juice, some strawberries or favorite fruit and if you want a flower on the tray…Enjoy and you might just find that lunch time is closer than you thought…can we all say Lucky Charms! Good Morning!

My Mom taught me about…BEER!

Sunday is Mother’s DAY! and what a perfect chance to celebrate with our Mom’s.  Some of you may be going to brunch or making lunch…and some of you maybe just taking time to hang out with your Mom.  I will be taking the time to honor my Mom’s memory with…what she called “a dark and light”…which for all you beer drinkers translates to “black and tan”…the dark taste of guinness and the light taste of bass ale beers!  TOGETHER! It’s simply delicious!  You may be thinking what kind of Mother teaches her daughter about beer…well…the kind that with every sip gave me the advice that life is beautiful…so drink your favorite beer!  I think this goes best with a burger…cheese melted on top and fries!  I mean really…are we going to count calories with our Mom’s!  A great place to check out is O’Sullivans on Madison Street, Forest Park, IL…ENJOY and Happy Mom’s DAY!!!

French fries…who knew they could be so sexy!…

I LOVE FRIES!…OK…I said it…and I know you are thinking it too!…We all love those fried potatoes dipped in whatever sauce we crave!  I was going thru my favorite drive thru for a little snack and noticed this cute couple in their car sharing their food. I just, for some reason, could not get my eyes off them, this girl was feeding him the french fries and after each one they would kiss.  WOW, I thought how sweet, I should try that at home!  So it got me thinking…the foods we stay away from because they are bad for us could actually be GOOD for us…!  So off to try my treats!  I made my fries at home…I cut potatoes into large wedges and mixed them with some of my favorite Italian salad dressing, put them in the oven for about an hour and half at 350 degrees.  Chilled a bottle of wine/chardonnay…cause these potates aren’t the kind you drink with a soda!  Now all that was left to do was pack it all up, get in the car, grab mr.jones and feed him fries and kiss!…hmmm.  It looked so much easier at the drive thru, but I must say my homemade fries were tasty…we never made it to the car…but that’s not the only place you can kiss…try it! May I suggest Cupcake Vineyards Chardonnay! 

date night, popcorn and “good lovin”…

I went to see a movie this weekend with my husband. I love to go to movies,  it’s the only time I really get popcorn.  I love it …all loaded with butter…oh so bad for us…but it tastes great!  Sitting there enjoying my treat with a large “pop” I once again noticed the dress code of the couples in the theatre.  I told my husband that no one, except us, is going to be “getting it on” tonite.  LOOK at this crummy crowd…I wanted to stand up in front of the large screen and say” instead of previews before the movie…I am going to tell you all how crappy you look on your date nite”…but, I sat and just critique everyone…Ladies and Gents…take some time to get ready for your date with that special someone…I was so glad for that group when the lights went down…all I heard was the crunchin’ of popcorn…no smoochin’ with that group!

In Italian…it all sounds better…

Well Easter has passed, but I am still making my delightful desserts and getting ready for my cooking class on Saturday, April 24th at Whole Foods in Palatine.  I can’t wait to make my pizacane…or meat pie…or calzone…as most Americans will say…why is it that meat pie just doesn’t sound pretty or romantic or delicious!  I noticed that when I say “pizacane”  I get a reaction, an interest if you will, as too what I am talking about…most people will ask…”what do you mean” and I gladly tell them.  This is no meat pie…this is a recipe passed down from my great aunts and grandmothers…a tradition that my father would call his brothers and over the phone they would have the ceremonial cutting of the “pizacane”! This is what I’m saying…in ITALIAN it always sounds better…and let me tell you tastes better too!  The ingredients speak for themselves…Italian sausage, ricotta cheese, romano cheese, eggs, and a pie crust and you’re good to go!  Serve with a chilled white wine and breakfast never tasted so good!  Join me on Saturday April 24th and I can teach you how to make this…sounds better in Italian dish…call 847-776-8080! Class is free! Ciao Bella!…see what I mean…Enjoy!

why men cheat…they want a different side dish!

OK…really…I am watching the today show and they are talking about men getting some “strange”…WHAT is that…this guy basically says that men want variety.  Well, do you think women always want a salad with no dressing!…I mean really…so I am thinking ladies you need to try a different side dish…cause it sounds like its our job to keep the dinner on our table…if you know what I’m saying.  I keep trying to bring my cooking to this blog, but it just keeps taking me to other topics…like this!  So, let do this…ladies try to add some spice to your cooking…like crushed red pepper flakes and high heels…and let me know how your dinner turns out…men…your thoughts…

Cheese pizza or all the toppings…a relationship-breaker!

I LOVE pizza, its my favorite food ever!   It’s the way my husband won my heart!…well that…and that story for another time.  I love to ask this question “what do you like on your pizza”…I think it tells a lot about someone.  A pizza date can be very romantic, the wine, the candles, the pizza…but if its loaded with “all the toppings” it can be hard to handle…kind of like someone who says it all on the first date.  I just got through reading a list of things that drive women crazy when meeting a guy…and I am sure its the same for guys…you don’t need to list your entire life out on the first try.  So, I am suggesting that you just get cheese on your pizza and save all those favorite toppings for future dates…BELIEVE me! there will be other dates…and you will get your pepperoni…well you get the picture!  Besides, with all those toppings how can you kiss at the end of the date…the garlic will drive any good vampire away! MAMA-MIA!!!

It’s an Italian sausage in that Easter Bunny’s hand…

OK. Some of you may know or not…I’m 100% Italian…so the way I see it…no Easter Bunny is going to be “snackin” on a carrot…not in my basket…its Italian Sausage all the way!  I am getting ready to make my calzone!  We call it “pizzacane” an Italian pie and when trying to say it…do add a little Italian impression…thanks!  My Dad’s family from Naples would make this incredible dish every year for Easter…so now I can share with you…and the best part…even though…most eat this for breakfast…you can have this with wine!  YES…I must drink with everything…how else to get thru the day!!! SO, grab a bottle of your favorite…like a chilled sauvignon blanc…pie crust (ready made), 1lb ricotta cheese, 1lb Italian sausage, 3 eggs, little romano cheese, and parsley and bake for an hour…contact me if you need more help with the recipe…Enjoy…!