Along with the holidays, comes the usual frenzy of activities...cooking, decorating, gift buying. As much as we are eager to spend time with our loved ones, we spend more time scurrying around getting things done!
Emotions are escalated during this time...elation...grief...lonliness...frustration from the usual family dysfunction. It's all there for each of us...common threads connecting us within a diverse web of cultures and traditions. Maybe we should slow down a bit, and look into each others' eyes...take the time to see the connection between people, and share the moments that are truly meaningful.
This year, my special moments are about Ava Rose, the newest addition to the family.
Ava Rose is the daughter of my niece Lori, and her husband Mike. During my Thanksgiving visit, she was just the mere age of three months. In this short time, she has been given many nicknames..."Sweet Pea", "Chicken Noodle", "Munchkin", and "Arf" to name a few!
Ava Rose loved my storytelling. She listened with wide eyes as she learned about the big Florida palm trees and the curly tail lizards. She can't wait to come visit and take a dip in the swimming pool!
As much as I enjoyed talking to her, and holding her, the real moments involved watching Lori and Mike care for their baby girl. I'm not sure if they read up on how to be good parents, or if their parental instincts just kicked in, but I watched them in awe.
Lori gave Ava a bath as if she'd been doing this forever. Not only did she gently bathe her, but she gave her a back stroke swimming lesson that Ava thoroughly enjoyed. I then watched Lori convey her love with every soothing stroke of baby lotion, and every dab of Desitin. She talked to her baby the whole time, and Ava returned the look of love right back to her mommy!
Proud Daddy Mike was equally as skillful. He could scoop up his little girl and place her on his knee, providing the most enjoyable motorcycle ride! You could tell she felt content and protected.
I like their nickname the best..."Our Little Peanut"! And I like what new life brings to the holidays...pure joy at having the most meaningful essentials...food...shelter...and a lot of love!
Some day, our little Peanut will read this, and know that she's the best gift a family could ever receive!
In honor of our little Peanut, we give you a great cookie recipe - Peanut Butter Cookies. We give this to you with love!
From Mama Melisi and Me
Peanut Butter Cookies
Ingredients:
2 1/2 cups flour
1 cup granulated sugar
1 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
2 eggs
1 cup creamy or chunky peanut butter
1 cup butter or margarine
1 teaspoon vanilla
Mixing Instructions:
Combine the flour, baking powder and baking soda in a bowl and set aside
Take your mix master and beat the margarine or butter and peanut butter together
Then beat in the sugars, eggs and vanilla.
Add the dry flour mixture
Chill the dough.
Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper and form the dough into balls
Place 2 inches apart on the parchment paper
Flatten with a fork
Yield 6 dozen
Bake at 350 degrees for about 12-15 minutes or until lightly golden brown
Sunday, November 27, 2011
Saturday, April 30, 2011
Grace, Giggles and Grins...Portrait of a Royal Wedding
As the world watched the story of "William and Kate" unfold, reactions of the royal wedding varied. Some people were so caught up in the fairy tale, that they made their way across the pond to catch a glimpse and a wave. Others boycotted the news, due to excessive coverage of the extravagant event. I, too, struggled with both the excitement, and the absurdity.
However, the royal wedding was a portrait of prancing white horses, carriage rides, dazzling hats, parades of color, drums and bells...and two young people exchanging vows in the echo of an abbey. Don't be deceived by the pomp and circumstance. As with any art, the meaning lies beneath the surface. I sipped my coffee very early Friday morning, and searched for the meaning. This is what I found...
There were two little boys. How did they get so tall and strong? You can't help but notice their brotherly bond. Was it always there? Or did they fuse together while comforting each other in the early absence of their mom?
There was a beautiful girl. The slight tremble in her hand hinted at how nervous and overwhelmed she was. How does she step out of the car into this scene? She only manages to surface with the help of her proud father, who holds her hand. He supports her, as does her elegant sister, who gladly walks behind.
Brother Harry glances over his shoulder, and displays an impish grin. He can't wait for William to see the radiance walking into his life. He is happy for his brother!
There is a quiet expression of love between the two as William and Kate recite their vows. But the world explodes with exuberance as the married couple approaches the balcony! The bride is amazed and enchanted by the pulsating crowd. There is a kiss, some smiles, another kiss, and a giggle from Kate. If Diana were there, she would be happy for them. I can't help but think of how much she will miss.
A carriage ride is waiting for all, and I watch as two sets of parents face one another. Two different worlds in one little shell, awash in the happiness of their kids.
I have a feeling there was one helluva a good party to follow!
When you strip the bells and whistles from the portrait, here's what lies beneath...love, family, connection, friendship, tradition, and the sharing of hope for a happy future.
I'm glad I watched the grace, giggles, and grins of the royal wedding. Deep down, I think there's a little royalty in all of us!
Here is a cookie recipe that would surely please you, and the royals: Linzer Tarts! (It even sounds royal!) Linzer Tarts are a treat for any special event!
We offer it to you with love,
From Mama Melisi and Me
Linzer Tarts
Ingredients:
1/2 lb margarine
1/2 lb crisco
1 cup sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 eggs
5 cups flour (sprinkle with a little cinnamon)
Directions:
Cream the 2 shortenings
Add sugar, vanilla and eggs
Beat well
Add the flour gradually, mixing well after each addition
Cool for about 1/2 hour in the refrigerator
Preheat oven to 350 degrees and line cookie sheets with parchment paper
Take a portion of the dough and roll out on a floured board (about 1/4 inch thick)
Cut with circle cutters - this will be the bottom of the cookie
Then prepare the same amount of circles for the top, but cut out small circle in the middle
(I use a thimble)
Make 1 tray for bottoms and 1 tray for the same amount of tops
Bake for 10 minutes or a little longer if necessary
When all circles are cool, place a teaspoon of Raspberry seedless jam on the bottoms
Top with the circle with the hole in the middle
Sprinkle with powdered sugar when serving
However, the royal wedding was a portrait of prancing white horses, carriage rides, dazzling hats, parades of color, drums and bells...and two young people exchanging vows in the echo of an abbey. Don't be deceived by the pomp and circumstance. As with any art, the meaning lies beneath the surface. I sipped my coffee very early Friday morning, and searched for the meaning. This is what I found...
There were two little boys. How did they get so tall and strong? You can't help but notice their brotherly bond. Was it always there? Or did they fuse together while comforting each other in the early absence of their mom?
There was a beautiful girl. The slight tremble in her hand hinted at how nervous and overwhelmed she was. How does she step out of the car into this scene? She only manages to surface with the help of her proud father, who holds her hand. He supports her, as does her elegant sister, who gladly walks behind.
Brother Harry glances over his shoulder, and displays an impish grin. He can't wait for William to see the radiance walking into his life. He is happy for his brother!
There is a quiet expression of love between the two as William and Kate recite their vows. But the world explodes with exuberance as the married couple approaches the balcony! The bride is amazed and enchanted by the pulsating crowd. There is a kiss, some smiles, another kiss, and a giggle from Kate. If Diana were there, she would be happy for them. I can't help but think of how much she will miss.
A carriage ride is waiting for all, and I watch as two sets of parents face one another. Two different worlds in one little shell, awash in the happiness of their kids.
I have a feeling there was one helluva a good party to follow!
When you strip the bells and whistles from the portrait, here's what lies beneath...love, family, connection, friendship, tradition, and the sharing of hope for a happy future.
I'm glad I watched the grace, giggles, and grins of the royal wedding. Deep down, I think there's a little royalty in all of us!
Here is a cookie recipe that would surely please you, and the royals: Linzer Tarts! (It even sounds royal!) Linzer Tarts are a treat for any special event!
We offer it to you with love,
From Mama Melisi and Me
Linzer Tarts
Ingredients:
1/2 lb margarine
1/2 lb crisco
1 cup sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 eggs
5 cups flour (sprinkle with a little cinnamon)
Directions:
Cream the 2 shortenings
Add sugar, vanilla and eggs
Beat well
Add the flour gradually, mixing well after each addition
Cool for about 1/2 hour in the refrigerator
Preheat oven to 350 degrees and line cookie sheets with parchment paper
Take a portion of the dough and roll out on a floured board (about 1/4 inch thick)
Cut with circle cutters - this will be the bottom of the cookie
Then prepare the same amount of circles for the top, but cut out small circle in the middle
(I use a thimble)
Make 1 tray for bottoms and 1 tray for the same amount of tops
Bake for 10 minutes or a little longer if necessary
When all circles are cool, place a teaspoon of Raspberry seedless jam on the bottoms
Top with the circle with the hole in the middle
Sprinkle with powdered sugar when serving
Sunday, January 16, 2011
Liver, Lentils, and Vitameatavegamin!
There are many things about "moms" that make them special. They deliver us...care for us...nurse us when we're sick...prepare us for life! So when a "mom" becomes ill, and the roles reverse, it's startling, and difficult to accept. This is what happened when Mama Melisi visited Florida!
For most of her two week stay, everything was fine. But, two days before departure, she came down with severe chills, and a 103 fever.
I was advised to take her to the hospital, where they quickly ran a cat scan. She was diagnosed with "diverticulitis", or an infection in her colon. When the blood work came back, it showed that the infection was serious.
Mama Melisi struggled with that relentless fever - breaking and spiking. Many nights I would stand over her hospital bed snarling, "Out, Damn Fever, Out", until finally the demon retreated. During this time, she also became a human spout...I dare not say from where...causing a total of 20 pounds to be lost!
Along with hospitals, come countless characters, who you get to know very quickly. The Happy Black Vampiress loved to pay Mama Melisi a visit in the wee hours of the night. She sauntered in wearing ruby red lipstick and light blue garb...always a smile on her face as she drew bottles of red stuff that resembled Sutter Home splits!
Then there was the hospital roommate, Jolly Mrs. Claus! After all, it was December, so maybe her shoulder injury came from lifting too many heavy toys! One night, Mama Melisi was making her way to the bathroom. Mrs. Claus happened to be standing in her path, back side to her, wearing that ever too small hospital gown. My mom, being half asleep, thought she was staring at a walking/talking chicken pot pie!
Finally, there was the cafeteria lady who I saw religiously at every meal. We struck a conversation, and I told her about my mom. During the nights I was really worried, she reassured me that Mama Melisi would be ok. With her Creole accent, she closed each night by saying, "I will pway for her"...and I knew the nice stranger would!
I like to think that I helped Mama Melisi by being with her...except the night I sent her falling through the portable commode the first time I rigged it. Or the time I insisted she get a sleeping pill...which was more like a hallucinogen. In the middle of the night, my mother declared that she was "bombed", and by morning could recount hallucinating that she had gone to Thailand for Thai food!
After nine days, Mama Melisi was released from her medical carnival! However, she was too weak to travel back to Jersey. She came to my home, visited my doctor, and was declared anemic...lacking not only in iron and hemoglobin, but also in protein, Vitamin D, folic acid, even cholesterol! You name it, she was deficient in it! Hence...she was placed on a high iron diet.
Not liking red meat, her meals consisted of leafy green spinach, lentils with pastina, and...LIVER! Trying to be supportive, I ate whatever she ate...including the chicken liver! There we were, sitting at opposite ends of the kitchen table, each with sauteed liver in our plates. And then I turned into "Lucy", sampling "Vitameatavegamin" for the first time.
"Hello friends, I'm your Vitameatavegamin Girl. Are you tired, run down, listless? Do you poop out of parties? Now, you can spoon your way to health!" I scooped the chicken liver, held it up and said, "It's so tasty, too" I placed it in my mouth, shuddered in absolute horror, and with a forced smile said, "Just like candy!"
It worked! The next few weeks, her numbers were on the rise, and she was slowly gaining her strength. After a total of seven weeks in Florida, and lots of liver and lentils, Mama Melisi could go home!
I'll never forget her "medical episode"...tucking her in, giving her a spoon of honey for good measure, and kissing her goodnight. Moms aren't supposed to get sick. But if they do, we can only hope that we could do a little bit for them...in return for all they did for us!
This post...the last one of the year...comes late. But it comes as a dedication to all the moms who have been there for us. And it comes, more than ever, with love...From Mama Melisi and Me!
Here it is...her high, iron diet. We give you both recipes...lentil soup and, for those who are brave, chicken liver and caramelized onions. Again, we offer these to you with love!
From Mama Melisi and Me
Lentil Soup
Ingredients:
1-8 oz bag of lentils
3 cups of water
1 can chicken broth (low fat low sodium)
1/2 cup chopped celery
1 cup sliced carrots
1 chopped onion
1 tablespoon minced garlic
2 tablespoons chopped parsley
2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
salt and pepper
Preparation:
In a 6 qt pot, combine all the ingredients
Simmer the soup with the lid tilted on the pot
Cooking time is approx 1 hour to 1 and 1/2 hours
Check the lentils after 1 hour (They should be soft to the bite)
If not, give more cooking time
Can always add a little extra oil at the end
* Lentil soup has a tendency to be thick. It can be thinned out with chicken broth or water to your liking.
** Also, pasta is usually added to this soup. You can cook small ditalini pasta separately and add as much as you wish to the soup.
Chicken Livers and Caramelized Onions
Ingredients:
1/2 lb chicken liver
1 large onion sliced
salt and pepper
1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
olive oil
Preparation:
Take a saute pan and drizzle olive oil over the bottom
Add the sliced onion, and saute until golden
Add the chicken liver, salt, pepper and balsamic vinegar
Cover and saute for about 10 minutes
Stir and continue to cook for 5 more minutes
Check to see if done (Add more time if needed)
For most of her two week stay, everything was fine. But, two days before departure, she came down with severe chills, and a 103 fever.
I was advised to take her to the hospital, where they quickly ran a cat scan. She was diagnosed with "diverticulitis", or an infection in her colon. When the blood work came back, it showed that the infection was serious.
Mama Melisi struggled with that relentless fever - breaking and spiking. Many nights I would stand over her hospital bed snarling, "Out, Damn Fever, Out", until finally the demon retreated. During this time, she also became a human spout...I dare not say from where...causing a total of 20 pounds to be lost!
Along with hospitals, come countless characters, who you get to know very quickly. The Happy Black Vampiress loved to pay Mama Melisi a visit in the wee hours of the night. She sauntered in wearing ruby red lipstick and light blue garb...always a smile on her face as she drew bottles of red stuff that resembled Sutter Home splits!
Then there was the hospital roommate, Jolly Mrs. Claus! After all, it was December, so maybe her shoulder injury came from lifting too many heavy toys! One night, Mama Melisi was making her way to the bathroom. Mrs. Claus happened to be standing in her path, back side to her, wearing that ever too small hospital gown. My mom, being half asleep, thought she was staring at a walking/talking chicken pot pie!
Finally, there was the cafeteria lady who I saw religiously at every meal. We struck a conversation, and I told her about my mom. During the nights I was really worried, she reassured me that Mama Melisi would be ok. With her Creole accent, she closed each night by saying, "I will pway for her"...and I knew the nice stranger would!
I like to think that I helped Mama Melisi by being with her...except the night I sent her falling through the portable commode the first time I rigged it. Or the time I insisted she get a sleeping pill...which was more like a hallucinogen. In the middle of the night, my mother declared that she was "bombed", and by morning could recount hallucinating that she had gone to Thailand for Thai food!
After nine days, Mama Melisi was released from her medical carnival! However, she was too weak to travel back to Jersey. She came to my home, visited my doctor, and was declared anemic...lacking not only in iron and hemoglobin, but also in protein, Vitamin D, folic acid, even cholesterol! You name it, she was deficient in it! Hence...she was placed on a high iron diet.
Not liking red meat, her meals consisted of leafy green spinach, lentils with pastina, and...LIVER! Trying to be supportive, I ate whatever she ate...including the chicken liver! There we were, sitting at opposite ends of the kitchen table, each with sauteed liver in our plates. And then I turned into "Lucy", sampling "Vitameatavegamin" for the first time.
"Hello friends, I'm your Vitameatavegamin Girl. Are you tired, run down, listless? Do you poop out of parties? Now, you can spoon your way to health!" I scooped the chicken liver, held it up and said, "It's so tasty, too" I placed it in my mouth, shuddered in absolute horror, and with a forced smile said, "Just like candy!"
It worked! The next few weeks, her numbers were on the rise, and she was slowly gaining her strength. After a total of seven weeks in Florida, and lots of liver and lentils, Mama Melisi could go home!
I'll never forget her "medical episode"...tucking her in, giving her a spoon of honey for good measure, and kissing her goodnight. Moms aren't supposed to get sick. But if they do, we can only hope that we could do a little bit for them...in return for all they did for us!
This post...the last one of the year...comes late. But it comes as a dedication to all the moms who have been there for us. And it comes, more than ever, with love...From Mama Melisi and Me!
Here it is...her high, iron diet. We give you both recipes...lentil soup and, for those who are brave, chicken liver and caramelized onions. Again, we offer these to you with love!
From Mama Melisi and Me
Lentil Soup
Ingredients:
1-8 oz bag of lentils
3 cups of water
1 can chicken broth (low fat low sodium)
1/2 cup chopped celery
1 cup sliced carrots
1 chopped onion
1 tablespoon minced garlic
2 tablespoons chopped parsley
2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
salt and pepper
Preparation:
In a 6 qt pot, combine all the ingredients
Simmer the soup with the lid tilted on the pot
Cooking time is approx 1 hour to 1 and 1/2 hours
Check the lentils after 1 hour (They should be soft to the bite)
If not, give more cooking time
Can always add a little extra oil at the end
* Lentil soup has a tendency to be thick. It can be thinned out with chicken broth or water to your liking.
** Also, pasta is usually added to this soup. You can cook small ditalini pasta separately and add as much as you wish to the soup.
Chicken Livers and Caramelized Onions
Ingredients:
1/2 lb chicken liver
1 large onion sliced
salt and pepper
1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
olive oil
Preparation:
Take a saute pan and drizzle olive oil over the bottom
Add the sliced onion, and saute until golden
Add the chicken liver, salt, pepper and balsamic vinegar
Cover and saute for about 10 minutes
Stir and continue to cook for 5 more minutes
Check to see if done (Add more time if needed)
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