Author: Marisa B

Still Here!  Crock- Pot Corned Beef !

Still Here! Crock- Pot Corned Beef !

Our weekends go way to fast, it’s all a blur!

Vegetable Minestrone

Vegetable Minestrone

Nick’s Favorite Soup (he doesn’t like soup…but loves this one)

 

Vegetable Minestrone

Liebster Award,

Liebster Award,

Last week my new friend Marissa over at Heels and Daffodils
Thank you Ms. Marissa I love receiving awards; so sorry it took me this long to honor it and complete it.  There are rules for accepting the Liebster Award; the rules are simple but unfortunately, I cannot follow one important rule, which is, choose 11 bloggers, with less than 200 followers.  Folks, I am a newbie blogger, I do follow quite a few blogs (bloggers) but these few have more than 200 followers.  Therefore, what I thought of doing was to look for new blogs that I could add to my list, which I did, and yet I do not feel comfortable to randomly give them awards without getting to know them first, and them getting to know me.  So I decided to follow the rules sans choosing 11 blogs but adding an amendment to the rules if you have stumbled upon this post and you are in fact a blogger consider yourself awarded with the Liebster Award, Yay!  If you are not a blogger and reading this for your enjoyment and pleasure, I sure would love to hear from you too, and kindly do me the honor of answering question 11 in the comments, pick any 3 additional questions and answer those as well.
Consequently, without any more delay, here are the rules and let me begin:
1. Each blogger should post 11 random facts about themselves.
2. Answer the questions the tagger has set for you, and then
create 11 new questions for the chosen bloggers.
3. Choose 11 new bloggers (with less than 200 followers) to pass the award to and link them in your post.
4. Go back to their page and tell them about the award.
5. No tag backs.


11 Random facts about me:
    1. I am early riser but not a morning person; I wake in the morning before everyone does, as early as 4 or 5 AM, have my cup of coffee in quiet and I write, surf the net, do yoga or on rough mornings watch infomercials.  Some mornings are more productive than others are, and I will start to clean. On Sundays after my first cup of coffee, I cook for the week and our Sunday meal.
 
2     2. Having said all of the above, I don’t go to bed early at all, there is always something to do and after I do it, I like to veg in front of the TV and watch something; usually a show I have on DVR.
3    3. I love yoga; I really do, it is so healthy and the results are amazing!
4     4.One of my favorite things I like to do lately is crochet; I taught myself a year ago and so far, I made a couple of shawls, scarves, and a hat.
      5. I love music; all different genres and this drives my husband to the point that he shakes his head. A song from Les Miserable can be followed by a song by White Stripes which will lead to a song from Neil Diamond, continue the madness with  Antonio Vivaldi and carry on  to something by Louis Prima.
       6. I am afraid to mail any letters, I hate putting letters in mailboxes; it doesn’t stop there either I also hate to seal an overnight envelope.  (I still do all of that, but I hate it.)
7   7. I worry about everything.
     8. I journal and follow a format, one of my daily questions to myself is; what can heal you today? I have answered at times with “listening to Joni Mitchell,” or “listening to Van Morrison”.
     9. Lately I am more disappointed than I am not…..not sure why but it’s a little bit of everything.
10. My husband told me once that I don’t know how to load a dishwasher and I agreed.
11. With the exception of my family; sisters, parents, Aunts, Uncles and cousins  my husband is the only person that I know the longest; who is followed by brother-in-law Neil.
Now for the fun part Marissa’s questions to the nominees:

  1. How did you come up with your blog name? Mangia, Mangia…No talk, translate as Eat, Eat… no talk and it is what my grand pa would say before our Sunday family dinner; I remember laughing when he said it.  I started to say it, after adopting my kids, wanting to bond and create a positive food experience for them.
  2. Are you a realist or an idealist? Realist….I used to be an idealist but that was 100 years ago.
  3. What is your biggest pet peeve? I know this is weird and why should I care but people who wear pajamas out in public.
  4. Are you a saver or a spender? Saver
  5. Are you a touchy feely person? No, but I will hug back if I am being hugged.
  6. What would you do with your life if nobody was watching, judging or commenting? Travel, roam and write. 
  7. What is your favorite flavor of ice cream? Jamocha Almond Fudge
  8. Are you superstitions? Don’t walk under a latter, black cat crossing you path, a rabbits foot will bring you luck etc… Yes, do not put shoes on the table.
  9. Do you take morning or night showers? Morning showers
  10. You get an unexpected check from your insurance company for $1000 dollars what do you do with it? Pay bills if anything is  owed; or I put it in the bank.
  11. What was the last perfume you bought? Chanel # 5; 3 ½ years ago I treated myself!
Now here are my questions, enjoy:  
 
  1.   If you could go back in time and meet yourself at 17 years old, what you tell your younger self?
  2.   What is your favorite go to food when you are stressed?
  3.   What fictional book influenced your life?
  4.   If you didn’t know how old you are; what age would you be or think you are?
  5.   What is your favorite family meal tradition?  (we like Friday night movie night)
  6.   How would you describe your personality as an egg?  i.e.  “over easy”  “1 egg short of a 3 egg     omelet”
  7.   If you can have a dinner with 3 people, in history or someone you know or  knew personally,  alive or dead; who would it be, and why?
  8.   What would you serve or cook at that meal?
  9.   Do you believe in Choice or Destiny?
  10.   What music do you have on your music device that would actually surprise your friends and family?
  11.  Describe a memorable meal you ate?

 

Hope you enjoy this post and like my questions, more importantly I hope that these questions and learning things about me peaks your interest.  Happy Liebster Award!!!!!!!
 
 
 
 This is what we ate on Sunday; Raviolis with meatballs… I will write about during the week!
Mangia, Mangia…No Talk!

 

We are having Pizza …again!

We are having Pizza …again!

Saturday was pizza night

Sfingi Obsession…

Sfingi Obsession…

This was a sign, I know a sign when I see it ….we are making Sfingi kids, and bringing it to Aunt Silvana’s house!

My Tiny Kitchen

My Tiny Kitchen

The other day I came across this saying; and it made me laugh!

La cucina piccola fal la casa grande. -Italian proverb
Translation: A small kitchen makes the house big!  

This is my kitchen; that is the space I work in, literally 12 inches! I call it “my corner!”

 

Two pots cooking something yummy!

 

 This is on the opposite side of “my corner” where I can plug in my electrical cookware.
 

 

It is so tiny that it becomes messy if I take out a fork! Yet I persevere; I chop, dice and produce meals for my family and friends.
This is how I like it!

 

 

 My kitchen scrubbed clean!

Things in my kitchen that I love!  

 

 

 

 

 

La cucina piccola fal la casa grande. -Italian proverb
Translation: A small kitchen makes the house big!
… I must be living in a Castle!


Mangia, Mangia…No Talk!
 
 
 
 
 
 



Oscar Night!

Oscar Night!

Did everyone get to watch the Academy awards last night? We did.  I thought Seth McFarlane did a good job.  It is a long show….you know?  We all watched together… I did not have the right frame of mind, this time, to make it into 

Oscar! Oscar!

Oscar! Oscar!

Secondo: “Sometimes the spaghetti likes to be alone.”  Scene from Big Night