Zuppa Inglese

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This past Monday was Tom’s birthday.  And a couple of weeks ago as we were sitting planning “Tomfest” (as he likes to call it) I asked the question that I was dreading: “So, what do you want me to bake for your birthday?”

Notice that I did not say, “What type of CAKE you want for your birthday?”

See the cake crazy person in the relationship is me – Tom is all about pies and cooked fruit desserts.

Remember this one?

I was hoping that he did not… Because ever since I made that thing, he has been sending hints left and right for a do over.

I have been busy ignoring him.

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Fior di Latte Gelato

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It’s almost summer, which means that most of us will start cleaning out the grills, the backyards and prepping ourselves to melt under some of that Florida sunshine.

Not that we are not already doing that, but we may hold onto a couple of more weeks before we start to venture out of our nice cool a/c comfort.

Other than thinking about all the mouthwatering grilled food that we will be making, we are also thinking of food that will cool us off.

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Nonna's Crostata

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My maternal grandmother was a true Italian socialite.  She had the most active social life of anyone that I have ever met.  When I was growing up, spending time with her meant going to afternoon coffee dates with her friends.  Playing canasta or poker at the country club most of Saturday afternoons and if there was a birthday, wedding, baby birth, baptism or any type of celebration within a 50-mile radius in our city, she was there, my sister and I at her heels.     

She was generous, funny, and knew EVERYONE. What she was not, however, was a fan of a kitchen.  Unlike my paternal grandmother, Nonna Franca was not a slave to her kitchen.  She could cook, but it was easy dishes, something that she could put together fast and be out of there to meet her social circle at the next bingo game.

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