Salmon and Asparagus party Sandwiches

May 19, 2012 by Monica in Bread, Entertaining, Events, Quick Meal, Sandwiches, Seafood

The last couple of weeks I have been dealing with some health issues and while everything turned out better than expected, there have been some adjustments, and cooking has been very low in the priority list.

That is why Sweetbites has been a bit “dark”, as they say in the theater.

Then I took a quick little weekend trip to NYC, to meet up with “my people” to do some major wedding planning.

Happy to say, that we accomplished tons in 4 days. Colors are down, flow of event, flowers, décor, wedding dress! Hair, makeup and all the stuff that you think do not take time, until you actually start to talk about it. We had a conversation about cake for hours. Especially when I announced that I did not want one.

I had a major revolt from everyone in the room. Which then erupted in cries that I was crazy and “how I could possibly NOT HAVE CAKE at the wedding”. My MOH even went has far as telling me that she would not attend unless I had cake.

I had no choice guys.

I gave in.

Fior di Latte Gelato

May 08, 2012 by Monica in Desserts, Family, Ice Cream, Sweets

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.

Nonna's Crostata

May 06, 2012 by Monica in Baking, Desserts, Family, Family Cookbook, Sweets, Tarts

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.