Category: Growing up in East Harlem, NY
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Christmas With The Family
Christmas is such a joyful time of year—a time to give thanks for our blessings. But some people seem to forget this message and turn it into something materialistic. What happened to the true Spirit of Christmas? I thought I’d write another Christmas post because right now, I’m really feeling the spirit. Yes, it can…
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Thanksgiving Has Passed, Now It’s Time for Christmas
Thanksgiving is behind us, and now it’s time for the Christmas season! Does anyone else feel like the holidays start way too early? I saw Christmas ornaments and decorations up as early as October, almost skipping over Thanksgiving entirely. What’s up with that? I hope you all enjoyed the stuffing video. I’ve realized I need…
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Thanksgiving Day is Coming – Election Day is Over, Whew!
Hi Everyone, It’s the day after Election Day, and all I can say is, “Thank God it’s over.” I’ve never seen such terrible things said on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and everywhere else—between friends and even family—about the candidates. People are unfriending each other over political beliefs. Wow! As the kids say these days, “That’s rad.”…
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Summer’s Over
I apologize for taking so long to write another blog, but summer has been such a busy time. Not only are we squeezing in social gatherings, but we’re also swamped with the expenses that come with them. Still, I managed to create a couple of cooking videos for Nanny’s Italian Kitchen. I hope you had…
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Reflecting on Father’s Day: A Personal Journey
Father’s Day has always been a bit of an enigma for me. My mother and father separated in the 1940s when I was only four years old. In those days, especially among Italians, divorce was almost unheard of. Catholics, particularly Italian Catholics, stayed married regardless of their circumstances. My father didn’t come around much when…
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The Changing Role of Mothers: Then and Now
Mothers are indeed a special breed. Back in the 1950s and 60s, the societal expectation for women was clear: have a boyfriend, get engaged, marry, have children, and stay at home with the kids. If you didn’t have a boyfriend by 21, you were often considered an old maid. Women were expected to take care…
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Reflections on a Birthday and Cherished Memories
This past Sunday was my birthday, and I was overwhelmed with joy from the many well wishes I received from friends and family through calls, texts, and Facebook messages. Thank you all for making my day special! Isn’t it funny how quickly birthdays seem to pass by? When we’re young, we can’t wait to grow…
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Making Lasagna: A Sunday Tradition
Here’s another of my cooking videos, the third in a series, where we’ve already covered making meatballs and sauce (or gravy). Now, it’s time to bring everything together with lasagna. Once you have the meatballs and sauce prepared, assembling the lasagna is a breeze. There’s nothing more satisfying than enjoying a piece of lasagna for…
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Is it Gravy or Sauce?
Technically, gravy is any sauce made with meat or meat drippings. Growing up in East Harlem, we always called the Sunday sauce “gravy.” In fact, we didn’t refer to it as pasta; it was “macaroni.” I’m not sure why it was called gravy, but that’s just how it was, and it’s been that way forever.…
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How to Make Pizza Rustica (Pizzagaina)
This is my recipe for my delicious home made Pizza Rustica or as some people call it Pizzagaina. It’s an Easter tradition favorite in my home. Enjoy! – Hedy