Anna Sultana’s Pastina Soups, Pasta e Fagioli Soup and Panettone / Christmas Sadness by Margaret Ullrich

 

It’s traditional to say ‘Happy’ and ‘Merry’ when a holiday comes.
But sometimes happy isn’t what somebody is feeling.
I’m not talking about the tired, stressed feeling that is usually felt by anyone who’s in charge of taking care of meals, gifts, accommodations for guests and peace keeping that are needed during big holiday events.

During the year life happens, and sometimes life feels like a kick in the gut.
And it’s impossible to ‘just shake it off’ and get into a party mood.
And that’s perfectly normal.
I mean, who said we have to put on an act?


Say ‘Italian Food’ and people automatically picture pizza, pastries and pasta.
Well, there’s a fourth P item that every Italian, and Maltese, reaches for when needing a bit of comfort.
Pastina.
Pastina just means small pasta.
But when we picture pastina it’s a steaming bowl of chicken soup with tiny pasta.
A bowl of pastina was our first solid food.
Our mothers made it whenever someone was coming down with a cold or looking sad.
It’s called the Italian Penicillin.
A bowl of pastina is comfort, love and peace in a bowl.

It’s easy to make, and like any ancient recipe, there are variations.
I’m posting a few, as well as a recipe for Pasta e Fagioli Soup, a comforting, cheap, filling meal that's handy when the bills start coming in January.


It’s been said that man does not live by bread alone.
Well, sure, a bit of butter is always appreciated.
Panettone, a traditional Italian Christmas bread, is a soft, buttery, sweet bread filled with citrus and raisins.


There's a legend about Italy’s Christmas bread, Panettone. 

It was created in Milan by a young nobleman named Antonio, who was in love with a baker's daughter. He went to work for the baker, whose business was failing. Antonio added butter, sugar, candied fruit and eggs to the bread dough.

People loved the new creation: Pane di Toni or Tony's bread.

Soup and bread.
Take some comfort from where ever you can.


Hints:

These recipes feed four to six. You can make a double batch and freeze half.
Many stores carry boxes of ditalini, orzo, alphabet or tiny star-shaped pasta which are perfect for pastina soup. If your store doesn’t, use elbow macaroni.

The Parmesan rind adds a rich flavour.
If you don’t have a rind, you can add 1 Tablespoon Worcestershire sauce to the broth.

After the pasta’s cooked crack an egg into the pot and stir gently to create egg ribbons.

Before serving the soup, taste and season with salt and pepper.
Garnish with chopped fresh parsley (or dry), grated Parmesan cheese and a small pat of butter or a drizzle of olive oil.
A dash of lemon juice or lemon slices adds a nice flavour, too.

Serve with warm crusty bread.


About the Pastina with Fresh Tomatoes Soup…
You can add chopped chicken, diced carrots, peas and a small can of tomato sauce.


About the Pastina with Cannellini Beans Soup…
White or red kidney beans (actually any canned beans) would be fine.
This leftover soup thickens. Add broth or water when reheating to bring it back to the right consistency.


About the Pasta Fagioli Soup…
if you don’t have pancetta you can use diced pepperoni, bacon, ham or pork or make it without meat.


About the Panettone…
When kneading do not add too much flour.

 

 

                    Basic Pastina Soup

Place in a large pot
2 Tablespoons olive oil
Heat over medium heat.
Add
1 small yellow or white onion, diced
1 Cup carrots, peeled and diced
1 Cup celery (about 2 stalks), diced (optional)
2 garlic cloves, minced (optional)
Stirring, sauté until softened, about 6 to 8 minutes.
Add
5 Cups low-sodium chicken broth
1 Cup water
1 Parmesan rind
Bring to a gentle boil.
Stir in
1 Cup pastina
Reduce heat slightly and simmer for 5 to 7 minutes.
Remove the Parmesan rind.
Ladle into bowls and garnish.


                                       Pastina with Fresh Tomatoes Soup

Score a small X on the bottoms of
6 cherry tomatoes
Place them in a bowl and cover with boiling water.
Let sit for 2 to 3 minutes, then drain the water.
When they’re cool enough to handle, peel the tomatoes, then chop them.

Place in a large pot
6 cups chicken or veggie broth
Bring to a boil over high heat.
Add the chopped tomatoes to the simmering broth.
Stir in
1 1/2 Cups pastina
Reduce heat slightly and simmer for 5 to 7 minutes.
Turn off the heat and stir in
2 Tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese
Ladle into bowls and garnish.


                                       Pastina with Canned Tomatoes Soup

Place in a large pot
2 Tablespoons olive oil
Heat over medium heat.
Add
1/2 Cup diced onion
1 Cup diced carrots
1 Cup diced celery
3 garlic cloves, minced
Stirring, sauté until softened, about 6 to 8 minutes.
Add
5 Cups vegetable or chicken broth
1 (14.5 ounces) can diced tomatoes
1/4 teaspoon oregano (optional)
1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
Bring to a gentle boil.
Stir in
1 Cup pastina
Reduce heat slightly and simmer for 5 to 7 minutes.
Ladle into bowls and garnish.


                                       Pastina with Spinach Soup

Place in a large pot
1 Tablespoon olive oil
Heat over medium heat.
Add
1 small yellow or white onion, diced
2 medium carrots, diced
Stirring, sauté until softened, about 6 to 8 minutes.
Stir in
2 garlic cloves, minced
Sauté for 1 minute.
Add
6 cups low-sodium vegetable or chicken broth
Bring to a gentle boil.
Stir in
3/4 Cup pastina
Reduce heat slightly and simmer for 5 to 7 minutes
Stir in
1 handful baby spinach or kale, chopped
Cook just until wilted.
Ladle into bowls and garnish.


                                       Pastina with Parmesan Ribbons Soup

Place in a small bowl
1 large egg
2 Tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese
Beat to combine.

Place in a large pot
2 Tablespoons olive oil or 1 Tablespoon unsalted butter
Heat over medium heat.
Add
1 small carrot, finely grated or diced
1 garlic clove, minced
Stirring, sauté 2 to 3 minutes.
Add
6 Cups vegetable or chicken broth
Bring to a gentle boil.
Stir in
1 1/2 Cups pastina
Reduce heat slightly and simmer for 5 to 7 minutes.
While stirring, slowly drizzle in the egg mixture.
Let simmer 1 minute, then remove from heat and stir in
2 Tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped or 1 Tablespoon dried
Ladle into bowls and garnish.

                    Pastina with Cannellini Soup

Place in a large pot
1 Tablespoon olive oil
Heat over medium heat.
Add
1 small onion, chopped
2 carrots, diced
2 celery stalks, diced
Stirring, sauté until softened, about 6 to 8 minutes.
Stir in
2 garlic cloves, minced
                                                               Cook for 1 minute.
Add
6 Cups vegetable or chicken broth
1 (14.5 ounces) can diced tomatoes
1 (15 ounces) can cannellini beans, rinsed and drained
Bring to a gentle boil.
Stir in
3/4 Cup pastina
Reduce heat slightly and simmer for 5 to 7 minutes.
Ladle into bowls and garnish.


                                       Pasta e Fagioli Soup

Dice
4 ounces pancetta
1 medium onion
3 plum tomatoes

Place in a large pot
1 Tablespoon olive oil
Heat over medium heat.
Add diced pancetta
Sauté for 7 to 10 minutes, until the fat is mostly rendered.
Add diced onion
Cook 5 minutes, then stir in
5 cloves garlic, minced
1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
Cook 1 to 2 minutes until garlic is golden.
Add
6 cups of water
diced tomatoes
3 (16 ounces) cans cannellini beans, drained, not rinsed
1/2 teaspoon rosemary
1 Parmesan rind
Bring to a boil.
Reduce heat and gently mash some of the beans with a wooden spoon for creaminess. (optional)
Add
2 cups pastina or small shells
Reduce heat slightly and simmer for 5 to 7 minutes.
Stir and add more water if needed.
Remove the Parmesan rind.
Ladle into bowls and garnish.

                    Panettone

Grease a deep round pan (a 2 1/2 quart pot would be fine)

Heat  to scalding
1/2 Cup milk
Let it stand until it is lukewarm.

Place in a small mixer bowl
1/2 Cup butter or margarine, softened
1/4 Cup sugar
1 teaspoon salt
                                                           Beat until creamy.
Pour into a warmed mixing bowl
1/4 Cup warm water
Add
1 Tablespoon yeast
Stir until the yeast is dissolved.
Let sit 10 minutes.
Add the warm milk and the sugar / butter mixture and stir well.
Add
2 large eggs, beaten
2 Cups flour
Beat until smooth.
Blend in
1/4 Cup seedless raisins
1/2 Cup mixed candied fruits
1/4 Cup toasted almonds, chopped
1 Tablespoon lemon extract
Add enough flour to make a soft dough, about 2 cups.
Turn the dough out on a lightly floured surface.
Knead until dough is smooth and elastic.
Put in an oiled bowl, turning the dough to coat it with oil.
Cover with a damp towel and let stand in a warm place away from drafts about 1 1/2 hours, until doubled in bulk.

Punch down the dough and turn out on a board.
Cover with bowl and let rest 10 minutes.
Shape dough in a round loaf and place it in the greased pan.
Cover and let rise in a warm place until doubled, about 1 hour.
Cut an "X" in the top.

Preheat oven to 375º F

Combine
1 egg yolk
1 Tablespoon cold water
Brush egg mixture over the loaf.
Bake 1 hour or until brown.
Remove from oven and let cool in pan on a rack 10 minutes.
Remove bread from pan and return bread to rack to cool completely.

                                                                                     ~~~

For another broadcast of our CKUW radio program ‘2000 & Counting’ we talked about past Christmases.
Our show was hosted by seniors who had gone through the usual types of life experiences, some good and some bad.
But we had gotten through them all.

Wishing you peace, joy, health and everything good in 2026.


I wish you all a very happy holiday season full of peace, health, joy and love.
And, of course, favourite foods.
Let's not forget television specials and Christmas music.

For those who don't know the story, the Christmas carol Silent Night was written in the nineteenth century because of a problem.      
In a small Austrian church the organ was broken and couldn't be repaired in time for the Christmas Eve Mass. So, in a couple of hours, Joseph Mohr and Franz Gruber created a simple song that could be played on the guitar.
It was called the song from heaven.
      
On Christmas Eve in 1914, the German soldiers singing Silent Night brought a touch of humanity to World War l. The British soldiers responded with another carol, The First Noel. For a few hours, peace returned, thanks to music.


The first year I was on the CKUW radio show 2000 & Counting, Older and Wiser I prerecorded our two holiday shows. That year the holidays occurred on Tuesday, the day we usually broadcasted, and we wanted to be home.
I taped each person telling a story and their favourite Christmas carol recording.
The segments filled the two hours easily.

Normally we did our shows live and, as our listeners knew, we did make mistakes. 
With prerecording, we were able to edit them. We sounded pretty good.


Maybe that's the problem with modern life.
We hear recordings and see shows that have had dozens of retakes.
Sometimes they show the bloopers.
It's pretty funny to see that even big stars make mistakes.

But, most of the time, all we only see a smoothly running show where everyone always says the right thing, the dinner is cooked to perfection and all problems are resolved with everybody hugging each other within a half an hour.

It can leave one feeling like he's been cheated, or that he should try harder.


The first Christmas was a stinker. Being in a big city with no available rooms is not fun. Add to that Mary was about to have her first baby in a barn with just a carpenter there to help.

I don't think any Christmas has ever gone according to plan.
And maybe Christmas just isn't supposed to be perfect.


A first Christmas away from all that's familiar can be rough.
Our first married Christmas was a big change.
Paul and I are originally from New York City.  Tons of people.
I came from a huge family - a first generation immigrant family.
My parents and their siblings couldn't get enough of each other.   
 
But, there we were in 1972, all alone in Surrey, British Columbia.
The two of us in a basement apartment watching Perry Como's Christmas Special.
It was something from home for us.
This was in the days before Skype. We hadn't seen our relatives for six months.    
When we watched Perry Como, it was good to know our folks were watching it, too.
For an hour, we were all together.
Then we went to bed for a long winter's nap.
     

The next morning we awoke hearing our puppy happily yelping and splashing in water.
No, he wasn't in a basin or a tub.
     
Surrey in those days was very rural. 
There were open drainage ditches running along the lengths of the residential blocks. The ditch in front of our house had gotten plugged. The rain had soaked our lawn and was seeping through three walls of our apartment. We were rapidly being flooded.

We piled things onto our bed.
The folks upstairs helped us carry everything else into their apartment.
Within a half hour water covered about two feet of our first Christmas tree.
We were safe and dry upstairs, sharing a cup of coffee.
Then we heard our phone ringing.

My folks had said they would call on Christmas Day.
If we didn't answer they phone, they would worry.
This was in the days before cell phones.
Our only phone was on the table in our apartment.
Our flooded apartment.

We braved the icy water and the risk of electrocution to answer the phone.
We wished my folks a Merry Christmas.
Keeping our teeth from chattering, we made small talk.
No mention of of our apartment suddenly becoming a wading pool.
What would've been the point of worrying them?


Living in British Columbia is just a memory.   
Perry Como's Christmas specials are just a memory.
My parents, also, are just a memory.
But thanks to memories, we can enjoy a Christmas from the past.


During the holidays people often feel a bit down.
If this is your first Christmas after a major loss or change, be gentle with yourself.
Forget 'the rules'. Do what will make it easier for you.

It won't be perfect.
So what?
It will be real… another Christmas memory.

Anna Sultana’s Tomato Tortellini Soup, Meatball and Potato Stew and Cinnamon Rolls / Christmas Gift Ideas

 

This year has been a bit different.
I won’t bore you with the details.
Suffice to say, we’re in good health and doing as well as can be expected for a couple of seniors.
Hope you are well, too, and looking forward to the holiday season.

Okay… nothing’s perfect.
The holiday season usually brings out the best in people.
It’s a great time for making memories.
 

It’s also a great time for making a lot of work for everyone.

There are a ton of things to do, but we still have to eat.
And, with the way food prices have been, we have to keep an eye on what we’re buying.
Soup is always great for the budget.
It usually uses items we already have in our kitchens, and it can be stretched with an extra cup or two of liquid.

Tortellini can be found, in two pound packages, in the deli section of most supermarkets.
If you have a small household, don’t be discouraged by the size of the package.
Half can be cooked and served with tomato sauce.
The rest can be used in a soup, making enough for two or three meals.
Everyone knows soup gets better with age.


Hints:


If you don’t have fresh garlic, use powder, as much as you prefer.



About the Meatball and Potato Stew…

You can add more water to adjust the thickness of the sauce.



About the Cinnamon Rolls…



If you don't have self-rising flour you can substitute for 1 Cup self-rising flour
1 Cup all purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
Stir or sift together.

Want to make more so you’ll have some on hand?
9 Cups all purpose flour
3 Tablespoons baking powder
2 1/4 teaspoons salt
Stir or sift together.
Store in an airtight container in a cool, dark place. It should last for about one year.

Do not over-knead or the cinnamon rolls will be tough.

Leftovers can be wrapped and stored in the refrigerator for up to 1 week.
Rewarm in a 300° F oven about 10 minutes, until warmed through.


                                                               Tomato Tortellini Soup

Finely chop
1 medium onion
spinach or kale, enough for 3 Cups

Slice into 1/8 inch thick pieces
2 carrots
1 stalk celery

Mince
3 cloves garlic

Place in a dutch oven
1 Tablespoon olive oil
Heat oil over medium heat.
Add onion, carrots and celery.
Stirring frequently, cook for 5 to 7 minutes, until slightly softened.
Add
garlic
1 teaspoon salt
Cook another minute.
Add
1 796 ml / 28 ounce can crushed tomatoes
4 Cups water
1 teaspoon dried basil
Bring to a boil.
Add
500 grams / 1 pound fresh tortellini (either cheese or meat)
Cook 2 minutes less than package directions, about 5-8 minutes.
Stir in spinach (or kale), and cook another 2 minutes.

Serve hot.





                                                               Meatball and Potato Stew

Finely chop
1 medium onion

Mince
2 cloves garlic

Halve and cut into 1/4 inch slices
2 medium potatoes

Place in a bowl
454 g / 1 pound lean ground beef
1/4 Cup dried parsley leaves
half of the chopped onion
the minced garlic
1 teaspoon allspice
1 teaspoon paprika
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1/4 Cup dry bread crumbs
Knead the mixture until well combined.
Form into 12 balls.

Place in a dutch oven
2 Tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
Heat oil over medium heat.
Place the meatballs in the pot and brown all sides.
Place the meatballs in a bowl and set aside.

Place in the same dutch oven
the remaining half of the chopped onion
Cook until soft, about 3 to 4 minutes.
Add
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon allspice
Stir to combine.
Place the meatballs around the perimeter of the dutch oven.
Place potato slices between the meatballs, then place the rest in the middle.
Pour over the potato slices and meatballs
1 796 ml / 28 ounce can crushed tomatoes
1 Cup water
Cover and cook on medium heat for 15 minutes.
Uncover and check the potatoes for doneness.
If they are still firm, reduce heat and simmer for another 5 to 10 minutes.

Serve the stew over rice and garnish with parsley, if desired.




                                                               Cinnamon Rolls

Yield: 15

Place the rack in the middle of the oven.

Preheat oven to 350° F
Grease a 9x13 inch baking dish or line with parchment paper.

For the filling

Place in a small bowl
1/2 cup of the sugar
1 Tablespoon ground cinnamon
Mix together and set aside.

For the cinnamon rolls

Melt
1/2 Cup unsalted butter

Place in a large bowl
5 cups self-rising flour
1/4 cup granulated sugar
Stir to combine.

Place in a medium bowl
2 cups whole or 2% milk
4 Tablespoons of the melted butter (1/2 of the butter)
Mix together and add to the flour mixture.
Stir with a wooden spoon until all flour is worked into a soft dough.

Generously flour a work surface and a rolling pin.
Place the dough on the surface.
Sprinkle with flour, then knead until the dough is fairly smooth, sprinkling with more flour if needed.
Roll the dough into a 24 x 10 inch rectangle about 1/4 inch thick. 

Brush 2 tablespoons of the melted butter onto the surface of the dough.
Leaving a 1/2 inch border, sprinkle the cinnamon sugar mixture over it evenly. 

Starting at the long end closest to you, roll the dough up tightly into a log.
Pinch the seam together at the top, then place the log seam side down.
Cut the dough into 15 pieces. 
Place the cut rolls cut-side up in the baking dish. 


Brush the tops of the cinnamon rolls with the remaining 2 tablespoons of melted butter. 

Bake 35 minutes, until golden-brown, and a toothpick inserted in several spots comes out clean.
Place the baking dish on a wire cooling rack and allow to cool 15 minutes.

For the glaze

Place in a medium bowl
2 cups powdered sugar
1/4 cup whole milk or 2%
1/4 teaspoon fine salt
Whisk until smooth
.
Drizzle the glaze over the rolls. 


                                                       ~~~


Back in November, 2002, I wrote an essay for the CKUW radio show ‘2000 & Counting' about getting Christmas gifts. 
It was a meant as a light piece, filled with hints.

Many of our listeners were seniors or college students, folks known for having to stretch their dollars.

It's been a few years, but we’re still facing problems in the supply chain.

Christmas 2024 is only a couple of weeks away. How did that happen?

Okay… listen up! There are five weeks left until Christmas. That means gifts. I know, I know, it's more blessed to give than to receive. But, unless you have ways of shopping that you'd like to keep secret, giving gifts means money.  



It's a little late to start a Christmas gift account at your bank and the utility companies really lose that Ho Ho Ho spirit if you try to skip paying their bills.  

If the charge cards are already maxed out - or you just want to keep your nearest and dearest on a cash and carry basis - gift getting is going to take a little effort. Desperate times call for desperate measures. As we're all stuck with holidays - oh, lucky us - I'll tell you some of my desperate measures.


Live off your hump. You know what I mean. Things like the 18 cans of tuna you have left from the time you bought 20 cans so you could get 50 bonus airmiles. Now's the time to crack those babies open. I know the family hates tuna. That's why there are 18 little cans of fishies swimming around your pantry. 
Well, the family would hate a Giftless Christmas even more. 


Think about it. Lousy dinners happen to everybody. But the family Grinch who comes up giftless at Christmas gets blabbed about throughout the neighbourhood and the generations. 
You don't want to be remembered by your great-great-grandchildren as Granny Grinchie.


Try creative cooking. Pretend you're on the TV show Iron Chef. You've just been given a tube of ground beef, a bag of marshmallows, a jar of salsa, a bottle of raspberry vinegar, a carton of frozen spinach, a jar of maraschino cherries and a box of rice-a-roni. Think only a nut throws odd things together? How do you think raspberry vinegar was invented? 
If the family gets snarky, tell them you found the recipe in a magazine. Drop names. Martha is always good, and if they can't appreciate all the effort you put into making dinner interesting… Well! 
You know the speech. 
Remember, guilt, when the other person has it, is a good thing.

Go ethnic. Granny's recipes don't have to be saved for Folklorama. God bless family. Go to an Italian restaurant and get a load of the prices they charge for a plate of Pasta Fagioli. That's two cheapies: noodles and beans! Grandma would die laughing if she saw those prices. Starch and beans got millions of people through tough times. Go thou and eat likewise.

Beans aren't good enough? Go past the recognizable cuts and shop the mystery meats. Put enough spices on them and the family won't know what hit them. I once made spaghetti and meatballs using animal organs only a mother could love. Guess what? Hubby had invited a friend. Well, the buddy was getting a free meal, so I followed the Cook’s Golden Rule: Don't apologize and don't explain. 

The buddy said it was delicious, like the meatballs they serve at the Bay. 
Hmmm… I notice the Bay is still in business. There's more than one way to skin a cat.

Shop your house. No kidding. Grab a bag and stroll through your house. Look for things somebody foisted… uh… gave to you. Well, why should you be stuck with it until you're six feet under? Unless it was made by your preschooler - don't even think it, they DO remember - you're free to pass it on to someone else.
Just don't give it to the person who gave it to you.

Pack your own. Ever notice the little overpriced goodies the stores stuff into baskets and bowls? One current gift item is a box of pasta, a tin of sauce, some cheese and some wooden spoons nestled within a large bowl. 

Are you too stupid to do the same thing? I didn’t think so. It's one way to get rid of some of those extra airmiles purchases. Let somebody else eat the tuna. 

Still thinking about the folks in the flyers looking wildly happy over a toaster?  
Toss the flyers. Those models were paid big bucks. Stores want you to buy. A stress-free family holiday is not their goal. If they had their way you'd replace everything and pay 50% interest. 

Remember how the best presents were things that showed that someone cared? 
Maybe somebody hunted down an out-of-print book by your favourite author. 
The gadgets that looked amazing seem strange on December 26.  

While you're shopping, get yourself some treats.  
I have a friend who picks up a bag of  pfeffernusse cookies every year. When she feels like all she's doing is giving, giving, giving, she pops a pfeffernusse into her mouth and gives herself an old time Christmas. It doesn't take much.   

God bless us, everyone.

Happy New Year! Anna Sultana's Cotechino with Lentils, Lentil Soup, Baked Frittata / Cornbread with Sausage, Hoppin' John / Christmases Past by Margaret Ullrich

Wishing you all the blessings of the season
and a New Year filled with all the best!
Thank you for visiting
hope to see you again in the new year!
~ Margaret

We’ve made it through 2022!!!

That alone gives us a reason to celebrate.
We’re not totally done with Covid-19, so please stay safe and take precautions.
Maybe a bit of menu planning will give us some more luck as we enter 2023.

Southerners have a saying Peas for pennies, greens for dollars, and cornbread for gold.
Other foods that are supposed to bring you good luck, wealth and health are:

Pork - pigs move forward when they eat and represent wealth and progress in Europe.

Lentils - Italians eat golden lentils on New Year’s Eve to boost their fortunes.

Tomatoes - Italians believe tomatoes bring good health.

Sauerkraut - Germans and Eastern Europeans eat a heaping plate of sauerkraut for wealth.

Grapes - Spaniards eat a grape at each stroke of midnight, with each representing a month in the new year. If one grape is bitter, watch out for that month!

Ring-shaped cakes - are a symbol of coming full circle.
 
Fish - scales resemble coins, and fish swim forward in schools, representing power and progress. 

Pomegranate - Greek families toss a pomegranate against their front door when the clock strikes midnight. The more seeds the more luck you’ll have. Put your pomegranate in a plastic bag to avoid a mess.

Mandarin oranges - bring prosperity. Having one with the stem and leaf attached will bring a long life and fertility.


Back to American Southerners and Hoppin John…
Hoppin’ John is traditionally eaten on New Year’s Day to bring luck. In 1847 it was mentioned in The Carolina Housewife. It is made with black-eyed peas, rice and pork, and is often served with collard greens and cornbread.

Make extra. If you have leftovers it implies that you are frugal and promises greater prosperity. Sometimes a dime is inserted in the dish before serving. It is said that wealth awaits the diner who gets the dime.
Eating all but three of the black-eyed peas on your plate promises luck, wealth, and romance.

Hints:

Cotechino is an Italian pork sausage seasoned with clove and nutmeg. It has a mild flavour.
If you can’t find it in your local store, a pork loin roast seasoned with clove and nutmeg and roasted would do nicely. Adjust cooking time so that the meat is cooked thoroughly.

Lentil to liquid ratios varies depending on brand so follow the directions on the package.



About the Cornbread with Sausage…
If you don’t have any stale bread, just cut slices into 1 inch pieces, put pieces on a baking tray, cover with a paper towel and let the bread sit on the counter for a few days.

About the Hoppin' John…
If you want a meatier Hoppin' John you can add cubed ham or 2 or 3 chopped pork chops.

If you want more vegetables add chopped green bell pepper or carrots and a can of tomatoes.

You can cook the rice separately, then place it on a large platter and spoon the cooked black-eyed peas over the rice.

                        Cotechino with Lentils

Serves 4

Chop
1 onion
1 celery stalk

Poke with a fork
1 pound Cotechino
Place it in a large pot and cover the meat with cold water.
Add
the chopped vegetables
3 bay leaves
Over high heat bring to a boil, then lower heat to simmer for 45 minutes.
Remove the Cotechino and let it cool.
Slice in 1/2 inch thick slices and place on top of the lentils.

While the pork is cooking dice
1 large onion
1 carrot
1 stalk celery
1 clove garlic

Place in a large pot
2 Tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
Place pot over medium heat.
When hot add the vegetables and garlic and lower heat to medium.
Cook until lightly browned.
Add
4 Cups water or chicken broth or beef broth
Stir in
2 Cups dry lentils, washed
Bring to a boil, lower heat to simmer and cook, stirring occasionally, until lentils are tender.
Remove from heat and stir in
1 Tablespoon dried parsley
Salt and pepper to taste
Lentils should not be too dry or too soupy.


                        Lentil Soup

Serves  6 to 10

Chop
1 medium red onion
2 celery stalks
2 carrots
4 cloves garlic

Put in a deep pot
1 pound dry lentils, washed
Add
the chopped vegetables and garlic
4 bay leaves
1 Tablespoon rosemary
Salt and pepper to taste
Cover the pot, let come to a boil and let boil for 10 minutes.
Lower heat, uncover the pot and simmer.
While the lentils are simmering boil 4 Cups water in a medium pot. Add it to the lentils if they are too dry.
Stop cooking the lentils when they reach your desired tenderness.
Taste the lentils and salt and pepper to taste.
Serve with a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil.


                        Baked Frittata

Grease an 8 inch square baking pan

Slice
5 medium red potatoes

Chop
1 onion (enough for 1 Cup)
1 green pepper (enough for 1/4 Cup)

Place in a medium bowl
12 large eggs
3⁄4 Cup Parmesan cheese, grated
1⁄2 Cup water
1 teaspoon dried basil
1⁄2 teaspoon salt
1⁄2 teaspoon black pepper
Beat until blended.

Place in a large skillet
1⁄4 Cup olive oil

Add the potato slices and sauté for 10 minutes. Add
the chopped onion and green pepper
1 teaspoon garlic powder

Sauté until tender, then add
4 Cups chopped broccoli, frozen or fresh

Cover and cook 5 minutes.
Arrange the vegetable mixture in the prepared pan.
Pour the egg mixture over the vegetables.
Sprinkle over the eggs / vegetable mixture
1 1⁄2 cups Mozzarella cheese, shredded 

Bake, uncovered, at 350º F for 35 to 40 minutes or until set.

                        Cornbread with Sausage

Grease an 9 x 13 inch baking pan

Crumble into a large bowl
3 Cups stale cornbread
3 Cups stale white bread

Chop
2 onions
3 celery stalks
1 cored, peeled apple
2 cloves garlic

Place in a large pot
1/2 pound butter
Melt over medium heat and add
1/2 pound sausage meat
the chopped vegetables
Add
the chopped apple and the garlic
1 Tablespoon dried parsley
1 bay leaf, crumbled
1 teaspoon thyme
1 teaspoon sage
Stir to blend well, salt and black pepper to taste, and pour into the prepared pan.
Bake at 350° F for 40 to 45 minutes or until golden brown on top.


                        Hoppin' John

6 servings

Chop
1 onion

Place in a large pot
1 1/2 Cups dry black-eyed peas
1 pound ham hocks

the chopped onion
1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
1 teaspoon garlic powder
salt and pepper to taste


Cover with
4 Cups water or chicken broth

Bring to a boil, reduce heat to medium low and cook for 1 1/2 hours.
Remove ham hocks.
Cut the meat into pieces and return the meat to pot.
Stir in
1 1/2 Cups long grain white rice

Cover and cook until rice is tender, about 20 to 25 minutes.
Season to taste with salt and pepper.
Sprinkle over top
1 Cup Cheddar cheese, shredded (optional)
Serve with cornbread or Cornbread with Sausage.
 

                                                            ~~~
This was a holiday piece I wrote a few years ago for the CKUW radio show ‘2000 & Counting’ when we decided to chat about past Christmases… both good and bad.

I wish you all a very happy holiday season full of peace, health, joy and love.
And, of course, favourite foods.
Let's not forget television specials and Christmas music.

For those who don't know the story, the Christmas carol Silent Night was written in the nineteenth century because of a problem.      
In a small Austrian church the organ was broken and couldn't be repaired in time for the Christmas Eve Mass. So, in a couple of hours, Joseph Mohr and Franz Gruber created a simple song that could be played on the guitar.
It was called the song from heaven.
      
On Christmas Eve in 1914, the German soldiers singing Silent Night brought a touch of humanity to World War l. The British soldiers responded with another carol, The First Noel. For a few hours, peace returned, thanks to music.


The first year I was on the CKUW radio show 2000 & Counting, Older and Wiser I prerecorded our two holiday shows. That year the holidays occurred on Tuesday, the day we usually broadcasted, and we wanted to be home.
I taped each person telling a story and their favourite Christmas carol recording.
The segments filled the two hours easily.

Normally we did our shows live and, as our listeners knew, we did make mistakes. 
With prerecording, we were able to edit them. We sounded pretty good.

      
Maybe that's the problem with modern life.
We hear recordings and see shows that have had dozens of retakes.
Sometimes they show the bloopers.
It's pretty funny to see that even big stars make mistakes.
But, most of the time, all we only see a smoothly running show where everyone always says the right thing, the dinner is cooked to perfection and all problems are resolved with everybody hugging each other within a half an hour.

It can leave one feeling like he's been cheated or that he should try harder.


The first Christmas was a stinker.  Being in a big city with no available rooms is not fun. Add to that Mary was about to have her first baby in a barn with just a carpenter there to help.
I don't think any Christmas has ever gone according to plan.
And maybe Christmas just isn't supposed to be perfect.


A first Christmas away from all that's familiar can be rough.
Our first married Christmas was a big change.
Paul and I are originally from New York City.  Tons of people.
I came from a huge family - a first generation immigrant family.
My parents and their siblings couldn't get enough of each other.     
But, there we were in 1972, all alone in Surrey, British Columbia.
The two of us in a basement apartment watching Perry Como's Christmas Special.
It was something from home for us.
This was in the days before Skype. We hadn't seen our relatives for six months.    
When we watched Perry Como, it was good to know our folks were watching it, too.
For an hour, we were all together.
Then we went to bed for a long winter's nap.
     
The next morning we awoke hearing our puppy happily yelping and splashing in water.
No, he wasn't in a basin or a tub.
     
Surrey in those days was very rural. There were open drainage ditches running along the lengths of the residential blocks. The ditch in front of our house had gotten plugged. The rain had soaked our lawn and was seeping through three walls of our apartment. We were rapidly being flooded.

We piled things onto our bed.
The folks upstairs helped us carry everything else into their apartment.
Within a half hour water covered about two feet of our first Christmas tree.
We were safe and dry upstairs, sharing a cup of coffee.
Then we heard our phone ringing.
My folks had said they would call on Christmas Day.
If we didn't answer the phone, they would worry.
This was in the days before cell phones.
Our only phone was on the table in our apartment.
Our flooded apartment.

We braved the icy water and the risk of electrocution to answer the phone.
We wished my folks a Merry Christmas.
Keeping our teeth from chattering, we made small talk.
No mention of of our apartment suddenly becoming a wading pool.
What would've been the point of worrying them?


Living in British Columbia is just a memory.   
Perry Como's Christmas Specials are just a memory.
My parents, also, are just a memory.
But thanks to memories, we can enjoy a Christmas from the past.


During the holidays people often feel a bit down.
If this is your first Christmas after a major loss or change, be gentle with yourself.
Forget the rules. Do what will make it easier for you.

It won't be perfect.
So what?
It will be real… another Christmas memory.

Anna Sultana's Pasta e Piselli, Shrimp Carbonara, Tomato Bruschetta, and Bagna Cauda / Oh, Christmas Tree! by Margaret Ullrich

 

Happy December!
Somebody once said
Life is not measured by the number of breathes we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.
I’m wishing you a few breath taking moments this holiday season!
Stay safe and well!

It looks like the holiday season this year is going to be a return to December as it should be.
Gatherings, customs and food.  Yes, lots of food!

After our tree hunting adventure way back when, we gathered in a co-worker’s home, where she had a platter of cookies, and apple cider simmering in a huge slow cooker.
Ma would’ve been horrified.
All that work should have rewarded with more food.

This is how she would’ve done it.
Well, to be honest, she would’ve just gone to a lot and bought a tree.
Followed by a food spread with a bit more heft.


Hints:

About the Pasta e Piselli…
If you’re in a rush, instead of cooking the pasta separately you can place 2 1/2 quarts water in the dutch oven instead of 2 quarts, add the onion, etc. and proceed with the recipe.
When you add the peas also add the 1 pound elbow macaroni. Then cook, stirring occasionally, until the pasta is al dente.
Add the parsley, taste and season and add more water if you want, along with the oil.

About the Shrimp Carbonara…
For a little more flavour you could add a bit of garlic.
You could use evaporated milk or heavy cream instead of the cream cheese.
This recipe also works with strips of chicken breasts.
The sauce can be served separately so that each person can add as much, or as little, of the sauce and cheese as he wants.

About the Bagna Cauda…

It can be used as a dip for vegetables, such as roasted peppers, or, using olive oil instead of butter, as a hot salad dressing.
For a bit of crunch you can add chopped walnuts.
Don’t dip bread into the pot until everyone has had his fill. Bread would absorb too much of the sauce.
It can also be served over polenta and sprinkled with Parmesan cheese and pepper.





                        Pasta e Piselli

Chop
1 large onion

In a large pot place
4 quarts water
salt to taste
Bring to a boil.
Add
1 pound elbow macaroni
Cook, stirring occasionally, until the pasta is al dente.
Drain and set aside.

WHILE THE WATER IS BOILING:
Place in a dutch oven
2 quarts water
the chopped onion
Bring to a boil, then lower heat and simmer 30 minutes.
Add
1 pound peas
Continue to simmer for another 10 minutes.
Add
1 Tablespoon dried parsley
Taste, then season with salt and pepper.
Add the cooked pasta, mix well and drizzle olive oil over the top.



                        Shrimp Carbonara

Serves 4

Chop
4 slices bacon

In a large pot place
2 quarts water
salt to taste (optional)
Bring to a boil.
Add
1/2 pound spaghetti
Cook, stirring occasionally, until the pasta is al dente.
Drain and set aside.

WHILE THE WATER IS BOILING:
Place the chopped bacon in a dutch oven and cook until crisp.
Remove bacon from skillet with slotted spoon and drain on paper towels.
Drain bacon drippings, reserving 1 tablespoon in the pan.
Add
1 pound large shrimp, uncooked, deveined and peeled
Cook and stir on medium heat 5 minutes, or until the shrimp turns pink.
Stir in
1/2 - 1 Cup frozen peas or mixed vegetables or broccoli
Cook 1 minute.
Add
1 Cup cream cheese
1/2 Cup milk
Cook and stir 5 minutes, or until the cream cheese is melted and the sauce is thickened.
Do not let the sauce come to boil.
Add the drained spaghetti to the dutch oven.
Mix lightly and add
1/4 Cup grated Parmesan cheese


                        Tomato Bruschetta

Stem, seed and dice
4 large ripe tomatoes

Mince
2 cloves garlic

Place in a small bowl
the diced tomatoes and the minced garlic
salt and pepper to taste
1 Tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
Mix well.

Cut into 36 slices
1 baguette
Place the slices on a large cookie sheet.
Brush bread slices with
1/4 Cup extra virgin olive oil
Broil under preheated broiler until toasted.
Remove from heat and place slices on a platter.
Top slices with the tomato mixture.
Garnish with chopped fresh basil (optional)

                        Bagna Cauda

Finely chop
4 cloves garlic

Place in a saucepan
1/2 Cup butter
the chopped garlic
2 cans anchovies fillets, including the oil
3 Tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
Fresh pepper to taste.
Stir and cook gently for 10 minutes.
Serve with raw or slightly blanched sliced vegetables and crusty bread.


                                                            ~~~
For another broadcast of our CKUW radio program ‘2000 & Counting’ we planned to reminisce about when we had gone out into the woods to chop down a Christmas tree.
Yes, this was, and is, a popular Winnipeg Christmas tradition.
And, yes, in Manitoba it can get cold enough to make trees brittle!


God, it was cold.

I didn't know it could get that cold.
I didn't know I'd ever be stupid enough to be outdoors in that kind of cold.
I didn't know I'd been stupid enough to marry someone stupid enough to work with people stupid enough to be out in that kind of cold.

It was December in Winnipeg.

Paul and I had grown up in New York City. There people went to an empty parking lot where the trees had magically appeared, like the pre-wrapped ground beef at the local supermarket. No questions asked. No one wanted to get too personal with an ornament that would be out with the trash in a matter of weeks.

At the New York parking lot we'd browse, find a tree we liked and switch the price tag with the cheaper tree which no one liked. Then we'd carry the tree to the clerk, who gave us the fish eye as he noticed the fullness of such a good find, sighed and took our money. The whole deal was done in ten minutes. Another Christmas had begun.

Apparently, that isn't good enough for Winnipeggers.
Oh, no, they have to get down and dirty with their holiday bushes.


I'll never forget how happy Paul was when he came home and told me we'd been invited to join his co-workers, a group of Winnipeggers, for a real, old-fashioned Christmas experience. If I'd had a clue I'd have realized that giving birth in a barn, unaided, would've been an easier old-fashioned Christmas experience.
We were going to chop down a real Christmas tree, just like our ancestors.

Well, my parents are from Malta, a sunny Mediterranean island. It just wasn't in my genes to know how to dress for a freezing, miserable, forced march through a blizzard-hit forest. The windchill - which I still didn't understand - was in the exposed skin can freeze in 2 minutes range.

That didn't sound good, so I said, Thanks, but no thanks.


Somehow Paul convinced me that his entire future career prospects, our unborn children's college fund, our grandchildren's lives and our golden years' security and comfort would all go up in smoke if I didn't join in the mighty tree hunt.

His Jewish co-workers were going. Everybody, even that ditzy receptionist who always dressed like a showgirl wannabe with skirts up to there, was going.

So, we were going.


God, it was cold.

I thought I had dressed warmly.
That fink, the ditzy receptionist, showed up looking like the Michelin Man. She was ready to march to the North Pole for the perfect tree, if necessary. So were the three other women co-workers. The other wives - who all knew better - had begged off. One was even pregnant. Or so she said.

I was alone with four career women who were full of the 1970s I am woman, hear me roar career fever. While they talked shop I felt as welcome as a lump of coal in a kid’s Christmas stocking.

The Jewish co-workers - who I had hoped would keep the tree hunt frenzy within limits - had turned into lumberjacks. They were also ready to march to the North Pole for the perfect tree, if necessary.

After walking five minutes I couldn't feel my toes. We hadn't even gotten out of the parking lot. I was doomed.

I didn't know it could get that cold.
We marched. Finally, someone approved of a tree. The men chopped. The tree crashed. The branches that hit the ground broke off the tree.

I said, The bare side could be placed against a wall.

The heat from their glares should have restored my circulation. It didn't. We marched. Someone approved of another tree. The men chopped. The tree crashed. It broke.


God, it was cold.

We were doomed to spend all day wandering like Flying Dutchmen on a quest to find the perfect unbreakable tree. The lot was littered with other broken felled trees. Some trees had landed across their comrades in a criss-cross pattern that looked like a cradle.
A cradle, something soft, something to receive and hold...

Hold it… something to catch a damn tree!

Dripping snot and tears had frozen my mouth shut. If I'd had the equipment I would've written my idea in the snow. I slapped my face trying to restore circulation to my lower jaw. Finally my lips parted. I clutched Paul's arm.

Cradle... tree... cradle, I mumbled and criss-crossed my arms.

The women thought I was pregnant and wanted a homemade cradle. Thank God, months of marriage, misery and love had united Paul's mind to mine. Months of marriage had also taught us that Paul was no carpenter. He knew the homemade cradle idea was bunk. Paul caught on to my pantomime and told the others of my plan.

Someone approved of another tree. It could land on four broken trees. The men chopped. The tree landed on its fallen comrades. It survived.
We marched. Someone approved of another tree. It, too, survived.

Christmas was saved.


God, it was cold.

I didn't know it could get that cold.
I couldn't believe it.
Some fool was planning the next year's tree chopping expedition.

Anna Sultana’s Gnocchi with Sausage & Tomatoes or with Peas & Pancetta; Homemade Gnocchi / Proof That God Is Not A Woman by Margaret Ullrich

 

Goodness! A week has gone by since I posted the tortellini and spaghetti recipes.
Gotta love tortellini and spaghetti.
Great budget stretchers.

Another budget hero, gnocchi, is easy to make and is a great way to use up leftover boiled or baked potatoes.
Along with these recipes, they can also be pan-fried and served with tomato sauce or butter and cheese.

Just like tortellini, gnocchi can be found in most supermarkets, usually in the deli section.
Shelf-stable gnocchi, usually packaged in vacuum-sealed containers, can be found in the pasta aisle.

Ma never served homemade gnocchi. We had lots of potatoes - mashed, baked, boiled, pan-fried, and roasted. Ma never got really fancy with her potatoes. Interesting since Malta produces enough potatoes to export to Holland.

I would compare the gnocchi to Ma's ravioli - Ravjul in Maltese. They're both starchy. They're both filling. They both cook in boiling water.


Hints:

About Gnocchi with Sausages & Tomatoes…
Use any sausage you like. You can go spicy, as with jalapeño sausages, or mild with breakfast sausages, if that is what you have in your fridge.
Parmesan cheese also goes well with this dish.

Don’t use a non-stick skillet if you want the sausages to have a nice crisp surface.
Two cups of tomatoes, sliced, can be used instead of the cherry or grape tomatoes.
Don’t have fresh basil? Dried basil (about 2 Tablespoons) works well.
Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.

About the Gnocchi with Peas & Pancetta…
No pancetta? No problem. Bacon is fine and will add a stronger, smoky flavour.
Canadian bacon, salt pork, prosciutto, smoked ham, or smoked sausage are also good.

About the Gnocchi…
The shaped gnocchi can be refrigerated overnight.

To freeze uncooked gnocchi place them in a single layer on a heavily floured parchment-lined baking sheet, letting them air dry at room temperature for 1 to 4 hours.
Transfer the baking sheet to the freezer and freeze until solid, about 1 hour.
Transfer frozen gnocchi to freezer bags and seal.
Gnocchi can be frozen up to one month. Do not thaw before cooking.

Gnocchi is also delicious with tomato sauce, or bolognese sauce, or just some butter, with or without garlic and sage.


                        Gnocchi with Sausages & Tomatoes

Serves 4

In a large pot place
4 quarts water
salt to taste
Bring to a boil.
Add
1 pound frozen or shelf-stable gnocchi
Cook for 2 minutes or according to package directions.
Drain and toss with a drizzle of olive oil.
Place in a 10-inch or larger skillet
2 Tablespoons olive oil
Heat over medium heat and add
9 ounces cooked sausages, sliced into 1/4-inch-thick coins
Cook until the sausages begin to brown, 2 to 3 minutes.
Push the sausages to the edge of the skillet and turn the heat up to high.
Add
1 pint cherry or grape tomatoes, sliced in half lengthwise, skin down 
Cook 1 to 2 minutes then stir in the sausage and cook about 2 minutes more.
Stir in gnocchi and cook until all is combined, but the tomatoes are still firm.
Remove the skillet from the heat and stir in
1/2 to 1 cup loosely packed fresh basil leaves, thinly sliced
Season with salt and pepper and serve immediately. 


                        Gnocchi with Peas & Pancetta

Serves 4

Finely chop
2 Tablespoons onions
1 teaspoon garlic

In a large pot place
4 quarts water
salt to taste
Bring to a boil.
Add
1 pound frozen or shelf-stable gnocchi
Cook for 2 minutes or according to package directions.
Drain and set aside.

WHILE THE WATER IS BOILING:
Place in a skillet
1 Tablespoon olive oil
4 ounces pancetta, diced
Lightly brown the pancetta over a low flame.
Add the chopped onion and garlic and fry 3 minutes.
Add
1 Cup frozen peas
1/2 Cup chicken broth
Cover and let simmer until peas are tender but not mushy.
Stir in
1 Tablespoon butter
1/4 Cup cream or evaporated milk
Let simmer on low to form a thin sauce.
Add salt and pepper to taste.
Add the cooked gnocchi and let simmer on low heat to form a thin sauce.
Add salt and pepper to taste.
Drain the gnocchi and add to the pan with the peas.
Add
2 Tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese and stir on low heat 2 minutes.
Serve immediately.


                        Homemade Gnocchi

Serves 6

Preheat oven 400º F

Pierce with a fork
2 medium russet potatoes
Place potatoes on a baking sheet, place in oven and bake until tender, about 1 hour.
Let cool completely.
Cut in half, scoop the flesh into a medium bowl and mash.
Transfer to a large bowl and stir in
1 1/2 Cups flour
1/2 Cup ricotta
1/4 Cup grated Parmesan cheese
1 large egg
3/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper

Divide dough into 6 equal pieces.
Working on a lightly floured surface and sprinkling with additional flour as needed to prevent sticking, roll each piece into an 18-inch long rope, about 1-inch in diameter.
Using a sharp knife, cut each rope into 3/4-inch bite-size pieces.
Transfer to a baking sheet.

In a large pot place
4 quarts water
salt to taste
Bring to a boil.
Working in 3 batches, cook gnocchi until tender, stirring occasionally, about 4 to 6 minutes.
Drain well and serve or use as an ingredient in the above recipes.
 

                                                                ~~~
Another essay I wrote for the CKUW radio show ‘2000 & Counting' was about the sexuality of God. Okay… we were getting desperate. But some valid - and not so valid - points were brought up.
Here was my view on the issue, and a few of my female co-hosts agreed.

Whenever I wonder if God is a man - which I admit isn't often - all I have to do is remember the ho-ho-ho good time we women have during holidays.

Yep… God is a man.

He sits and expects a holiday to happen. It happened last year, right? No problem. He just sat and wallah! A holiday complete with a big dinner, a fancy dessert and gifts.


Okay, ladies, we know holidays take a ton of work. Remember the commercial in which we heard Nat King Cole singing about Mrs. Santa Claus? We saw a woman throwing toys into a cart with one hand, keeping a toddler from jumping out of the cart with another hand and clutching a preschooler with another hand.

Of course she had three hands. She was a Mom.

Admit it. We don't have holidays because we like them. They're part of our culture, our civilization. Yeah... So is cleaning the toilet.
But women are tradition keepers, so we keep responding like Pavlov's dogs when we read stuff like:

While winds howled, we gathered around the fire and sorted recipes.
At the oak table the children chopped fruit and raisins,
while Papa happily crushed nuts and spices in the grinder.

Let's think about that little scene... Sorting recipes? We now have mixes.
Children chopping raisins? Sure. Yank a gameboy out of a kid's hands, give him a big sharp knife and some raisins and you'll both end up on the 6 o'clock news.
Papa crushing his nuts in a what? No, thank you.

Remember how we thought technology would give us loads of leisure?
Uh huh. Technology means that in a public washroom, you and a dozen other women can hear your cellphone playing Up a Lazy River. Oh, for the days when we could pee in peace.

Think you can rest when you're retired? Surprise! You've unloaded your youngest, just to be begged by your oldest - the one with the Masters degree you worked to pay for - to babysit her kids while she and her partner hold down a couple of Macjobs apiece.
Oh, and your Mom could now use some help.

And now the holidays are back.

Okay, grab a pen and paper and sit down. Why are you doing this?
For some Jesus is the reason for the season. Okay, that's a start.
God became human. Humans can't become God.
So get rid of the crap that's crept into the creche.

What's important to you and your family?
Not to the neighbours, not to the in-laws and not to the stores. Set your own priorities.
Don't let the urgent, like making fancy decorations, keep you from the important, like spending time together.
If anyone tries to talk you into doing something extra, just say NO.

Back to the old time Christmas. Maybe chopping and crushing was their idea of a crackerjack good time. But, if your kids just want Oreoes, why stay up till midnight making weird sugar cookies that can't fit into a glass of milk?
I know. It's tradition.
Delegate the cookies. Bang open a tube of cookie dough and let the kids get creative while you take pictures. They'll actually eat those cookies.

Did you invite someone who thinks store bought is not fit for the holidays?
Stock up now, destroy the wrappings, toss your cookies into bread bags and freeze them.
Remember how in the 60s we distressed furniture?
When it's Show Time, pop the cookies into the oven for nice burnt edges.
And muck up the fruitcake's icing.
The snob will praise you and wolf down anything that doesn't look like it was made by a professional.

Speaking of professional, avoid The Stewart.
If you do watch Martha, remember: It's TV. Look at the credits. She has an army helping her. They bake 30 cakes and she shows the best one. She doesn't do all that work when she's bone tired after putting in a 12 hour day.
Martha is human, too.
You've seen blooper shows. Trust me. Martha bloopers.

Do you have a friend who thinks she's Martha?
Whoopee for her.
Like your Mama done told you, If your friend jumped off a bridge would you do it, too?
There has to be something your pal hates to do. Swap your expertise for hers.
Yes, you are good at something. She bakes, you wrap. See?

Ever feel that if you don't do everything the family's been doing since the Stone Age, the holidays will be ruined forever, it will be all your fault and the family will never recover?
That's Mama Guilt.
According to a psychologist, Guilt feelings are a messy mixture of insecurity, self-doubt, self-condemnation, self-judgment, anxiety and fear.
Dump the guilt.
Make a list of the things you think you have to do, including making that relish that's been in the family since the Black Death.
After dinner, before everyone runs off, read the list.
If something gets big smiles, it's a keeper.
If you say relish and people make barfing sounds, cross it out.
If your family's polite, think about last year.
If you were serving leftover Christmas relish with the Easter ham, lose the recipe.

Office and Organization Parties were once a fun way for spouses to meet the other important people in their mate’s life.
Now both spouses have been invited to parties - and guess what, they're always on the same night - and The Wives and The Husbands can't face another plate of appetizers.
Stay home. Your pals will save you a copy of the secretary's xeroxed butt.

Cards used to be nice and simple, with pretty pictures and cheery messages.
Just sign and send. Then some fool started printing up long bragging letters.
Don't write The Letter. Your friends will love you.

Back to the three-handed Mom pulling toys off the shelves like they were free samples.
There are four weeks left until Christmas.
Think that's a long time?
How many New Year's resolutions have you done in the last eleven months?
Neither have I.

Anna Sultana’s Spaghetti alla Carbonara, Sausage or Meatball Soup with Tortellini, Baked Broccoli and Tortellini / A Christmas Bargain by Margaret Ullrich

I won’t lie to you.
Any and all shopping this holiday season is going to be a challenge.
The supply chain has gotten all tangled up, meaning staples we’re used to finding aren’t in their usual places, while something that must have been gathering dust in some warehouse since the last century is suddenly in a store.
And, thanks to higher transportation costs, the prices - even for that piece of junk from the 1990s - are unbelievable.

Okay… if you remember the inflation we had during the late 70s and early 80s you’ve been through something like this before.
We got through a messed up economy then and we can do it again.

Break it down into manageable pieces.
We do have to eat.
Regular meals are always good.
Food prices have gone up, so we have to do a bit of work.
We’ve done it before and we can do it again.

Here are four of Ma’s budget savers.
These recipes were old standards a hundred years ago and will do their magic now.
Ma used to make her own tortellini and ravioli.
Yes, well that was then, this is now.
Tortellini and ravioli can be found in most supermarkets, usually in the deli section.


Oh, if you’re curious about a recipe mentioned in the story, just copy it and paste it in the ‘Looking for a recipe?’ space, click ‘Search’ and enjoy!


Hints:

About the Spaghetti alla Carbonara…
You can use any type of pasta you have in the house.
Carbonara comes from the Italian word for coal, carbone, because it was a dish eaten by coal miners and sellers. 



About the Sausage Soup with Tortellini…
Packaged sausage meat can be found in the store.
If you have sausages on hand, remove the meat from the casings.
The leftover soup freezes very well.

About the Meatball Soup with Tortellini…
You can use homemade meatballs made from
1 pound ground beef or pork or a mixture of the two
1 large egg
1 Tablespoon dried parsley
2 garlic cloves, chopped finely or 2 teaspoons garlic powder
1 Tablespoon Parmesan cheese
Or you could buy frozen meatballs.

Baked the Broccoli and Tortellini…
You can stir 1/3 Cup cooked chopped bacon or ground meat or poultry into the pasta mixture before spooning it into the prepared casserole dish.



                        Spaghetti alla Carbonara

Serves 4

Have on hand
1/4 pound grated Romano cheese

In a large pot place
4 quarts water
salt to taste
Bring to a boil.
Add
1 pound spaghetti or other pasta
Cook, stirring frequently, until the pasta is al dente.
Drain the pasta and set aside.

WHILE THE PASTA IS COOKING:
Place in a small bowl
3 large eggs
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
Beat well and set aside.

Cut in small pieces
1/4 pound bacon or pancetta

Place in a dutch oven
2 Tablespoons olive oil
Fry the bacon pieces over medium heat, about 4 minutes.
Turn down the heat to very low.
Add the drained spaghetti and the beaten eggs.
Toss the pasta very quickly and thoroughly.
Add 1/8 pound Romano cheese and toss again.
Garnish with fresh pepper and 1/8 pound Romano cheese.


                        Sausage Soup with Tortellini

Finely chop
1 medium onion
3 cloves of garlic

Place in a dutch oven
1 pound sausage meat
the chopped onion
Sauté the sausage and onion over medium high heat until the sausage is no longer pink.
Add the chopped garlic and sauté for 1 minute.
Reduce heat to medium and add
2 teaspoons dried basil
1 teaspoon dried oregano
2 Tablespoons tomato paste
Cook 1 to 2 minutes and add
1 28 ounce can crushed tomatoes
4 Cups beef broth
Simmer over medium heat 10 minutes.
Add
2 3/4 Cups cheese tortellini
Reduce heat to medium low and simmer for 10-15 minutes.
Add
1/4 Cup half and half cream or evaporated milk
Stir until combined.
Season the soup with salt and pepper to taste.
Serve hot with grated Parmesan cheese and parsley.


                        Meatball Soup with Tortellini

Finely chop
1 medium onion
1 small zucchini
2 carrots
2 stalks celery

Place in a dutch oven
6 Cups water or beef broth
1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce (optional)
1 teaspoon tomato paste
the chopped vegetables
Simmer over medium heat 20 minutes.
Add
1 pound meatballs
Simmer over medium heat 45 minutes.
Add
2 3/4 Cups tortellini, meat or cheese
Add more liquid if you want a thinner soup.
Simmer over medium heat 15 minutes.
Serve hot with grated Parmesan cheese and parsley.


                        Baked Broccoli and Tortellini

Grease a 2 quart casserole dish that has a cover (or cover with foil)

Place in a medium pot
1/4  Cup margarine
Melt over medium heat.
Blend in
1/4 Cup flour
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
Stir in
2 Cups milk
Cook and stir over low heat until thickened.
Stir in
1/2 Cup grated Parmesan cheese
Remove from heat and set aside.

In a large pot place
4 quarts water
salt to taste
Bring to a boil.
Add
2 3/4 Cups cheese tortellini
Cook, stirring frequently, 5 minutes.
Add
3 Cups broccoli florets
Cook another 5 minutes.

Preheat oven 350º F

Drain the pasta and broccoli and place in the prepared casserole dish.
Add the sauce and mix lightly.
Top with
1/4 Cup grated Parmesan cheese
Cover and bake 20 - 25 minutes.
Remove dish from oven and heat broiler.
Broil uncovered casserole 4 inches from heat 3 to 5 minutes, until cheese is lightly browned.

                                                       ~~~
Back in November, 2002, I wrote an essay for the CKUW radio show ‘2000 & Counting' about getting Christmas gifts.  
It was a meant as a light piece, filled with hints.
Many of our listeners were seniors or college students, folks known for having to stretch their dollars.
Now, in addition to Covid-19 and its variants making us nervous about going to crowded places, we’re facing problems in the supply chain.
Christmas shopping never gets any easier.  Darn!!


Okay… listen up! There are five weeks left until Christmas. That means gifts. I know, I know, it's more blessed to give than to receive. But, unless you have ways of shopping that you'd like to keep secret, giving gifts means money.  

It's a little late to start a Christmas gift account at your bank and the utility companies really lose that Ho Ho Ho spirit if you try to skip paying their bills. 
 
If the charge cards are already maxed out - or you just want to keep your nearest and dearest on a cash and carry basis - gift getting is going to take a little effort.  

Desperate times call for desperate measures. As we're all stuck with holidays - oh, lucky us - I'll tell you some of my desperate measures.

Live off your hump. You know what I mean. Things like the 18 cans of tuna you have left from the time you bought 20 cans so you could get 50 bonus airmiles. Now's the time to crack those babies open. I know the family hates tuna. That's why there are 18 little cans of fishies swimming around your pantry.
Well, the family would hate a Giftless Christmas even more.
Think about it. Lousy dinners happen to everybody. But the family Grinch who comes up giftless at Christmas gets blabbed about throughout the neighbourhood and the generations.
You don't want to be remembered by your great-great-grandchildren as Granny Grinchie.

Try creative cooking. Pretend you're on the TV show Iron Chef. You've just been given a tube of ground beef, a bag of marshmallows, a jar of salsa, a bottle of raspberry vinegar, a carton of frozen spinach, a jar of maraschino cherries and a box of rice-a-roni. Think only a nut throws odd things together? How do you think raspberry vinegar was invented?
If the family gets snarky, tell them you found the recipe in a magazine. Drop names. Martha is always good, and if they can't appreciate all the effort you put into making dinner interesting… Well!
You know the speech.
Remember, guilt, when the other person has it, is a good thing.

Go ethnic. Granny's recipes don't have to be saved for Folklorama. God bless family. Go to an Italian restaurant and get a load of the prices they charge for a plate of Pasta Fagioli. That's two cheapies: noodles and beans! Grandma would die laughing if she saw those prices. Starch and beans got millions of people through tough times. Go thou and eat likewise.
  
Beans aren't good enough? Go past the recognizable cuts and shop the mystery meats. Put enough spices on them and the family won't know what hit them. I once made spaghetti and meatballs using animal organs only a mother could love. Guess what? Hubby had invited a friend. Well, the buddy was getting a free meal, so I followed the Cook’s Golden Rule: Don't apologize and don't explain.
The buddy said it was delicious, like the meatballs they serve at the Bay.
Hmmm… I notice the Bay is still in business. There's more than one way to skin a cat.   
  
Shop your house. No kidding. Grab a bag and stroll through your house. Look for things somebody foisted… uh… gave to you. Well, why should you be stuck with it until you're six feet under? Unless it was made by your preschooler - don't even think it, they DO remember - you're free to pass it on to someone else.
Just don't give it to the person who gave it to you.
   
Pack your own. Ever notice the little overpriced goodies the stores stuff into baskets and bowls? One current gift item is a box of pasta, a tin of sauce, some cheese and some wooden spoons nestled within a large bowl.
Are you too stupid to do the same thing? I didn’t think so. It's one way to get rid of some of those extra airmiles purchases. Let somebody else eat the tuna.


Still thinking about the folks in the flyers looking wildly happy over a toaster? 
Toss the flyers. Those models were paid big bucks. Stores want you to buy. A stress-free family holiday is not their goal. If they had their way you'd replace everything and pay 50% interest.
     
Remember how the best presents were things that showed that someone cared? Maybe somebody hunted down an out-of-print book by your favourite author. 
The gadgets that looked amazing seem strange on December 26.  
     

While you're shopping, get yourself some treats. 
I have a friend who picks up a bag of  pfeffernusse cookies every year. When she feels like all she's doing is giving, giving, giving, she pops a pfeffernusse into her mouth and gives herself an old time Christmas. It doesn't take much.   

God bless us, everyone.

Anna Sultana’s Ross il-Forn and Macaroni and Cheese / My Daddy-Daughter Date

 

Well, here we are, the last weekend in August.
There are a few more official summer days we can enjoy this week.
Let’s make them good ones!


Covid-19 is still affecting our food supplies, giving us record-breaking high food prices.
Supply chain problems are also affecting what we can actually find on the store shelves.
It’s time for us to get back to cooking basics.

Rice, pasta, eggs and cheese can usually be found in grocery stores.
They are sometimes on sale.
They can be prepared in dozens of meals at reasonable prices.
Maybe that’s why they are in so many Comfort Food recipes.

Have a large bag of rice in your pantry?
Make a pot of ross il-forn.
Macaroni was on sale and you have cheese in your fridge?
Make a pan of macaroni and cheese.


Hints:

Either recipe can be served with a salad or cooked vegetable.

About the Ross il-Forn...     
it’s an easy, economical recipe, but it has to bake for 90 minutes, so plan ahead.

About the Macaroni and Cheese...
Instead of the dry mustard you could also use onion powder, Worcestershire sauce or prepared mustard.

Old Cheddar Cheese is usually used in the traditional recipe, but this recipe also works with Gouda, mozzarella, marble cheese, Feta, Asiago, Emmental - also known as Emmenthaler, Emmenthal or Emmenthaler - or jalapeño cheese or your favourite blend.

Instead of topping with tomatoes you can use buttered breadcrumbs:
Place in a small pot
2 Tablespoons margarine or butter  
Melt over medium heat.
Add
1/2 Cup fine breadcrumbs 
1 teaspoon salt                 
1/2 teaspoon pepper         
Stir to coat the crumbs.


                                                               Ross il-Forn

Finely chop
1 onion
2 slices bacon

Place in a dutch oven
3 Tablespoons vegetable oil
Fry over medium heat
the chopped onion and bacon                     
           
After the bacon has cooked add
12 ounces ground beef or pork, or a mixture of the two
Stir until the meat has browned.

Add
28 ounces canned diced tomatoes, undrained                                    
2 teaspoons salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
Simmer for 30 minutes.

Preheat oven to 350º F  

Mix into the sauce
1 1/2 Cups uncooked white rice
4 large eggs, beaten
1/2 Cup grated Parmesan cheese
2 1/2 Cups water
Stir well, cover and bake 30 minutes.  
Take the pot out of the oven and stir the mixture thoroughly.
Sprinkle on top
1/2 Cup grated Parmesan cheese
Continue baking for 60 minutes.
                                                                               

                                                               Macaroni and Cheese

Grease a 9 x 13 inch pan

Grate
1 pound old Cheddar Cheese
Set aside.

In a large pot place
4 quarts water
salt to taste
Bring to a boil.
Add
4 Cups elbow macaroni
Cook, stirring frequently, until the pasta is al dente.
Drain the pasta well and set aside.

WHILE THE PASTA IS COOKING:
Place in a dutch oven
1/2 Cup margarine
Melt over medium heat.
Blend in
1/2 Cup flour
2 teaspoons salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
Stir in
4 Cups milk
Cook and stir over low heat until thickened.

Preheat oven 350º F

Stir in
the grated cheese
1/2 teaspoon dry mustard
Add the cooked macaroni and stir gently to mix well.
Turn into the greased pan.
Spoon over the macaroni
28 ounces canned whole tomatoes, drained
Bake 40 minutes.


                                             ~~

PBS recently had a documentary, 'On Broadway', about the history of Broadway over the past 60 years.
Ah, Broadway… what changes you’ve seen since the 1960s!
I wouldn’t recognize the place now.

The PBS show reminded me of a story I wrote a few years ago about when Pop was my escort for our first taste of New York culture.


A few weeks ago there was an article called Daddy-Daughter Date in the newspaper.
No, they weren't going all pervy.
The Winnipeg Free Press is a family paper.
No funny business. Hey, this is Winnipeg.

The date in the article took place in Chicago.
A nice dinner and a Tony-award-winning comedy.
Shopping at the Oprah store.
No funny business. Hey, we're talking Oprah.


Daddy-Daughter Date.
What can I say?
Been there, done that.
More or less.

The pair in the article was going for a bonding experience.
When Pop and I had our date, I was a teenager living at home.
We’d had more than enough bonding.
The date wasn't our idea.
We were being ordered to go out together.

The date was Ma's idea.
No funny business. Hey, we're talking about my Ma.


One of the illusions about New Yorkers is that they fill their days going to plays, symphonies, operas and ballets.
Yeah, right.
Maybe some folks live like that.
The folks who live in Manhattan.
Not the bridge and tunnel crowd of New York.
Not folks, like us, who live in Queens.


One of the perks of colleges in New York during the 60s were the ticket offers.
We're talking plays on Broadway, opera and ballet at Lincoln Center.
Discounts, two-fers, buy two/get one free.
Anything to get butts into the seats.
If New York had had dollar stores then, they would've sold tickets there.

I was going to Pratt and had my own column in the school paper.
Shakespeare it wasn't, but I was being published every week.
I wrote about the tickets available at the student services' desk.

I picked up tickets every week, along with press releases.
They were reference material for my article.
After I wrote my piece, I just tossed them.
It was only a matter of time before I'd want to use one.

Only problem was, all the shows were in Manhattan.

Let me explain.
Ma had a terror of me going into Manhattan alone.
My choice of colleges was limited to what was on Long Island.
So I ended up at Pratt.

Pratt was in the heart of Bedford Stuyvesant, Brooklyn, a rather unpleasant area.
My first week at Pratt, the top story in the school paper was the rape, in broad daylight, of two nuns.
It had happened a couple of blocks from our campus.
We were being told to "Be Careful". Okee dokee.


I really wanted to see The Nutcracker.
It was being performed at Lincoln Centre.
Ma panicked when she heard where I wanted to go.
The only way I could go to Lincoln Centre was if my Pop took me.
Pop was outnumbered.
The poor guy was going to get some culture.


Showtime!! We were in our bargain balcony seats at Lincoln Center.
Pop wasn't thrilled.
He was more uncomfortable than Cher's Dad was in the movie Moonstruck when they met at Lincoln Center.

The music began.
Pop settled down in a chair and, within minutes, was sound asleep.
Or so I thought.
He was wide awake for the belly dancing bit.
Then he was asleep again.
So much for sharing great art in Manhattan.


A few years after our date, my parents visited us in Winnipeg.
Lucky for Pop, Winnipeg keeps farmer's hours.
The theatre, ballet, etc. shut down in the summer.
Paul and I decided to take them for a riverboat ride.
That's what passes for an experience in Winnipeg.

So we went to the Red River.
Pop wasn't thrilled at the idea, but he was outnumbered.  Again.
We were on the deck.
Pop settled down in a chair and, within minutes, was sound asleep.
Or so we thought.

Ma and I started talking about what to make for supper.
Ravioli... lasagna... ross il-forn?
Pop muttered, "Ross fil forn."
Then he was asleep again.

I'll always wonder if Pop did actually watch and hear The Nutcracker.