Allow me to start off by saying that my stepmother is an outstanding cook.
And this is a woman who at the young age of 21, married my 45-year old father and knew nothing about cooking. She was raised in a family with three older brothers, so she was more of a tomboy than a Betty Crocker or Martha Stewart-type girl.
She married into my family who were your typical Moonstruck Italians, where cooking and eating were about as crucial to them as turning ‘tricks’ are to a prostitute.
They’re MANDATORY.
I’m sure the first question out my relatives mouths when my father told them that he had asked my mother to marry him were, “But Frank....CAN SHE COOK?”
My mother was honest with my father before she married him and said that she knew nothing about cooking, cleaning, or raising his children because she was just a child herself.
However, she ended up surprising the hell out of herself and my family because she quickly discovered that she was born with a natural ability to not only cook, but also maintain a brilliant household.
And I’m not just saying this because she’s my mother, but this lady made Susie Homemaker look like a novice.
Our home always felt comfortable, relaxed and welcoming. And at the same time, spotlessly clean!
I am extremely blessed and proud to have her as my second mother. And I never realized this until I got a bit older and began looking back on my childhood; seeing what a great one it was, MUCHLY due to her.
Anyway, getting back to my mothers cooking….
She was one of those people who never followed recipes as they were written, but rather took the basic formula and added her own twist. She instinctively knew what to add and what to subtract, creating her own culinary masterpiece. She was like an artist - raw and intuitive.
And as far as her Italian cooking goes, her marinara sauce is so good that it would impress even the most savvy of Italian chef's. Yes….it’s THAT good!
*smacking my lips*
Bellissima!
Our Thanksgiving Day dinner was always a feast - a cornucopia of soup to nuts. We inevitably ended up having so much food left over that we could eat turkey, dressing, and all the various side dish ancillaries for the next few days.
And speaking of turkey, her bird came out of the oven so tender, moist and juicy, that it literally melted in your mouth.
However.
And this was a TRADITIONAL however.
When it came to the dinner rolls my mother always forgot they were in the oven, therefore about ten minutes after sitting down to the table and saying grace, the aroma of BURNING rolls came wafting out of the kitchen. Whereupon she would scream, “OH DAMN.…I FORGOT THE DINNER ROLLS!!!!!”
She would JUMP up from the table and RUN to oven door, throwing it open, as a large cloud of black smoke came bellowing out like the burning of Atlanta. At which point she would turn on the overhead exhaust fan, sucking out all the odor and smoke before the fire department ever got there.
God love her!
And I can still remember her bringing those poor little burnt dinner rolls to the table, telling us to eat them anyway because charcoal is good for cleaning your teeth….
Wishing you and your family a Happy Thanksgiving Day!....X
well, i went to see if my blog was still there and saw you had posted tonight but G.reader is woefully behind. this made me laugh out loud--
ReplyDeleteShe would JUMP up from the table and RUN to oven door, throwing it open as a large cloud of black smoke came bellowing out like the burning of Atlanta.
hahahaha, i can so see this as it's what i used to do too...whatever was put in last was completely gone from my head. ah... the traditional thanksgiving dinner does sound good to me after almost two years of GF living.. :( not to mention all the latest restrictions on the diet...i am now a vegan w/o nightshades(potatoes, tomatoes, chilis...) and gluten and sugar and and and and oh and ....crap!! i have no idea what i am cooking and really don't feel very inspired about brown rice and sweet potatoes.
♥ i hope you have a wonderful one and eat a roll for me. xoxox
Bwhahahaha! That is so funny Ron! Actually, it was a very sentimental tribute to your stepmom...my stepkids would never say those things about me!! I actually don't have the cooking gene. I make RESERVATIONS every year for Thanksgiving. My daughter always goes to her Dad's...so it is just me and Ben. It's a lovely and relaxing dinner at the same restaurant every year...we spend it stuffing ourselves full of turkey and enjoying the lake view. It is very different from when my own mom was alive. Good memories. Thanks for reminding me Ron and hope you are celebrating a special holiday this year!! ps. My daughter is marrying an Italian!! She better learn to cook!
ReplyDeleteWell one little teeny weeny mistake can be forgiven can't it? :)
ReplyDeleteMy grandmother (father's mother) was said to be able to literally make a meal out of a dishcloth! Having been through 'The Depression' she'd had to.
And of course the insides of the burnt rolls would have tasted delicious. I am, of course, speaking as one who knows...haha. The meals you describe sound wonderful and I love that table layout in the picture. Was that your mother's doing? It's true about the Italians love of food... again speaking as one who knows. That's one of the things I adore about visiting Italy and now that stepdaughter is with an Italian-Australian I have great hopes of some typical meals. But not pizza. Call me weird if you like but I can't take that at all. Wishing you a happy week and more especially a happy Thanksgiving.
ReplyDeleteWell, this is quite a different POV than my own post on Turkey Day dinner, Ron!!!!
ReplyDeleteI admit to burning rolls quite often too. It's that whole putting them in at the last minute and then forgetting about them thing. You think you're done making the dinner, but you aren't! The damn rolls are burning in the oven! Hope you have a great weekend, Ron!
*laughing* We must have had the same step-mother. That's what mine said.
ReplyDeleteWhat is it with step-mothers and dinner rolls?
The happiest of Thanksgivings to you, sir.
No doubt you'll be upside-down with work stuff going crazy for the upcoming Holidays.
I'll hope for a sane go of it.
And in honor of those who are being asked to give up their Thanksgiving to deal with insane shoppers, I shall be staying home. :-)
so funny, because I still eat the burnt parts of rolls and toast because it is "good for my digestion"!!
ReplyDeleteHappy happy turkey day to you!
Aw, she was MADE to be your mom!
ReplyDeleteIt's so funny, neither my sister or I would ever be accused of being culinary geniuses so we both kind of scratched our heads when we thought about making a turkey. We decided to order dinners from this locally owned small caterer instead. :-)
Have a WONDERFUL Thanksgiving, my friend! And happy Black Friday. I've opted to go to work that day instead of fighting the crowds. They're won't be anyone at work anyway so I can catch up on my reading. ;-)
Happy Thanksgiving, Ron!
ReplyDeleteI can totally relate to this post on two levels. My grandmother was a HORRIBLE cook, so my mother really didn't stand a chance. My dad taught her when they got married and she turned out to be the best cook I have ever seen. Except for burining the bread. I would remember the bread was in the oven and "attempt" to remove them. Mom was extremely overprotective and would yell at me for opening the oven. I stopped trying to take them out but I would tell her they were ready. It always took her at least five minutes to come get the things out of the oven. They were blackened by then.
Fast forward to my marriage. I never learned to cook because mom was so overprotective. I was 19 before I was even allowed to pick up a knife other than a butter knife. I took a job as a short order cook in a country cafe' and learned how to make eggs, biscuits, pancakes, and other things. Today I can say my cooking if off the charts! I learned and I learned well. I still have that same inherited problem my mother had though. When I have what seems to be ten things going, I always forget the bread. Mine aren't exactly charcoal, but I do end up burning the bottoms.
Hope you have a wonderful day and an amazing Thanksgiving!
Gobble Gobble
XOXO
Love it! A woman after my own heart! Thanks for my new excuse :charcoal is good for cleaning your teeth", ha, think of all the money I'll save on dental bills!
ReplyDeleteHey, Ron, what a lovely story! Your mom sounds like such a fabulous lady. I like the line about "cooking and eating were about as crucial to them as turning ‘tricks’ are to a prostitute." And the burned biscuits! Whenever my mom overcooked pancakes she'd always tell us they were "golden brown" even though they were as black as night. Now claiming charcoal is good for cleaning your teeth--that's brilliant! Have a great Thanksgiving, buddy!
ReplyDeleteGood morning Akelamalu~
ReplyDelete"Well one little teeny weeny mistake can be forgiven can't it? :)"
Yes, absolutely, because there were a MILLION other things she was STELLAR at! She truly was/is a wonderful mother!
"My grandmother (father's mother) was said to be able to literally make a meal out of a dishcloth! Having been through 'The Depression' she'd had to."
HAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHA! OMG, I love it....'make a meal out of a dishcloth!' WOW! Now THAT'S impressive! :)
And yes, having gone through the Depression, I bet she did learn how to create something from nothing. And I also bet the meals were GREAT!
Thanks so much for stopping by, dear lady. Have a wonderful week and Thanksgiving Day!
X
Hey there Lora~
ReplyDelete"because I still eat the burnt parts of rolls and toast because it is "good for my digestion"!!"
HA! You're absolutely right! Charcoal IS good for the digestion!
Thanks a bunch for stopping by, neighbor.
Happy Happy Turkey Day to you and your family!
X
Good morning SuziCate~
ReplyDelete"Love it! A woman after my own heart!"
Yes, she truly is a wonderful lady and mother. I feel very blessed at having her in my life. And aside from the dinner rolls, she's an AWESOME cook!
"Thanks for my new excuse :charcoal is good for cleaning your teeth", ha, think of all the money I'll save on dental bills!"
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! Yea, and come to think of it, that's probably why my dentist told me during the summer that my teeth are in GREAT shape - CHARCOAL - HA!
Thanks so much for stopping by, my friend. Have a great week and Thanksgiving Day!
X
Hey there Chrissy Girl~
ReplyDelete"Aw, she was MADE to be your mom!"
She SURE was! She taught me about keeping a good sense of humor no matter what.
"It's so funny, neither my sister or I would ever be accused of being culinary geniuses so we both kind of scratched our heads when we thought about making a turkey. We decided to order dinners from this locally owned small caterer instead. :-)"
OMG....neither am I. In fact, I SUCK at cooking. And I think I'll be doing the same thing on Thanksgiving Day - ordering my dinner out.
"Have a WONDERFUL Thanksgiving, my friend! And happy Black Friday. I've opted to go to work that day instead of fighting the crowds. They're won't be anyone at work anyway so I can catch up on my reading."
And you too, girl! Have a WONDERFUL Thanksgiving Day!
And speaking of BLACK FRIDAY....UGH! I am NOT looking forward to Friday :( - PRAY FOR ME!!!!!
X to you and the gang!
(((( Chrissy ))))))
Hey Bijoux~
ReplyDelete"Well, this is quite a different POV than my own post on Turkey Day dinner, Ron!!!!"
HA! It's so funny, because when I read your post last week I was suddenly reminded of our Thanksgiving Day burnt dinner rolls, and HAD to post about it. So, thanks for the inspiration!
"It's that whole putting them in at the last minute and then forgetting about them thing. You think you're done making the dinner, but you aren't! The damn rolls are burning in the oven!"
Yes, that's it - putting them in at the last minute and then forgetting about them. It's a totally understandable mistake.
Thanks a bunch for stopping by, my friend. Have a great week and a faaaaaaaaabulous Thanksgiving Day!
X
Hiya Mel~
ReplyDelete"*laughing* We must have had the same step-mother. That's what mine said."
HAHAHAHAAHHAAAHHA! Isn't that a GREAT line? Pure GENIUS!
"No doubt you'll be upside-down with work stuff going crazy for the upcoming Holidays.
I'll hope for a sane go of it."
Thank you, dear lady. Yes, starting the day after Thanksgiving it does start to get crazy in my line of work. However, the worst part is about three days before Christmas - Oy vey! And I can hardly believe it's here already!
"And in honor of those who are being asked to give up their Thanksgiving to deal with insane shoppers, I shall be staying home."
Good for you! If I wasn't in retail you would NEVER see me in a store on Black Friday.
Thanks oodles for stopping by, Mel! Have a great week and a Happy Happy Thanksgiving Day!
(((((( Mel ))))))
X
Good morning Valerie~
ReplyDelete"And of course the insides of the burnt rolls would have tasted delicious. I am, of course, speaking as one who knows...haha."
OMG....I cannot believe you said that because my mother would also tell us, "Just eat the INSIDES!" HA!
"The meals you describe sound wonderful and I love that table layout in the picture. Was that your mother's doing?"
Yes, my mother had a knack for whipping up food and making it seem effortless. No, the photo you see I got online. However, she always had such a lovely way of making a GREAT Thanksgiving Day dinner table presentation. She would always set the table the day before, and then place a bed sheet over it to keep it fresh and clean.
"It's true about the Italians love of food... again speaking as one who knows. That's one of the things I adore about visiting Italy and now that stepdaughter is with an Italian-Australian I have great hopes of some typical meals."
Don't you just ADORE Italian food? Italians make cooking a religious experience! And I fear that if I ever visited Italy I would never come home. Not only because of the food, but also because of the whole Italian cultural ambiance - passion!
Thanks so much for stopping by today, dear lady.
Wishing you and happy week and a beautiful Thanksgiving Day!
X
Ah! That wonderful time of eating and eating and eating is once again with us. I too have wonderful memories of feasts gone past. Where the table was covered with food. Every square inch had some delicious morsel on it. We would start with a wonderful homemade soup. Then came not one but three kinds of pasta, Ravioli, Gnocchi, Spaghetti then the different meats in the homemade sauce, Sausage, Meatballs, Braschol, Pork. Next was the turkey about 28 lbs. Stuffed with bread and mushrooms. With the Turkey was mashed potatoes, rosemary potatoes, sweet potatoes, green beans, atrichoke, broccoli rabe. With the homemade bread. After we ate this we had the salad to help digest. Then we went to the living room to sit and fart and sleep as the women cleaned the table and washed. After about two hours we filed back into the kitchen dinning room to eat again this time we had desserts, pies, cakes cannoli almond cookies then came the mixed nuts and coffee expresso etc. We would finish with fruit. The day was fluid with wine for the adults and lemon soda for the kids. The best part of the day was the love that we had for each other. We could always count on my grandfather for the loudest and longest FART. Now that was thanksgiving.
ReplyDeleteRuupha!!!! Excuse me
Dave
Good morning bichonpawz~
ReplyDelete"That is so funny Ron! Actually, it was a very sentimental tribute to your stepmom...my stepkids would never say those things about me!!'
Thank you, dear lady. My stepmother truly is a wonderful human being. VERY special.
Oh, but I'm SURE your stepchildren feel the same way about YOU too!
" I actually don't have the cooking gene. I make RESERVATIONS every year for Thanksgiving."
Oh dear, neither do I. That's the one Italian gene I NEVER got. In fact, I can't stand to cook. Usually, Thanksgiving Day I have dinner at a restaurant with a friend. There's this really cool diner a few blocks from where I live, which serves an AMAZING Thanksgiving Day dinner plate.
"My daughter always goes to her Dad's...so it is just me and Ben. It's a lovely and relaxing dinner at the same restaurant every year...we spend it stuffing ourselves full of turkey and enjoying the lake view."
That sounds WONDERFUL!
Thanks so much for stopping by. Wishing you and Ben a lovely and relaxing Thanksgiving Day!
X
" ps. My daughter is marrying an Italian!! She better learn to cook!"
You said it - HA!
Good morning Linda~
ReplyDelete"well, i went to see if my blog was still there and saw you had posted tonight but G.reader is woefully behind."
Yes, that sometimes happens to me too. In fact, sometimes a bloggers post won't even show up on my G. reader.
"She would JUMP up from the table and RUN to oven door, throwing it open as a large cloud of black smoke came bellowing out like the burning of Atlanta."
OMG, it was so funny because I can STILL remember the smell of those burning dinner rolls like it was yesterday. Our Thanksgiving Day dinners wouldn't be complete until we had the burning of Atlanta - HA!
"i have no idea what i am cooking and really don't feel very inspired about brown rice and sweet potatoes."
I'll probably be going to a diner with a friend of mine on Thursday. They serve a GREAT Thanksgiving Day dinner special, which includes EVERYTHING!
Thanks so much for stopping by, dear friend. Wishing you and your hubby a flawless Thanksgiving Day!
Have a super week!
(((((( Linda )))))
xoxoxoxo
P.S. hope you're feeling better.
Hey there MYFWBS~
ReplyDeleteHAPPY THANKSGIVING to you too, girl!
"My grandmother was a HORRIBLE cook, so my mother really didn't stand a chance. My dad taught her when they got married and she turned out to be the best cook I have ever seen."
Funny you mentioned that because my father was also an outstanding cook and taught my mother a thing or two. His meat balls were the BEST ever! OMG...the were HEAVENLY. Crisp on the outside, yet tender and moist on the inside!
" I was 19 before I was even allowed to pick up a knife other than a butter knife. I took a job as a short order cook in a country cafe' and learned how to make eggs, biscuits, pancakes, and other things. Today I can say my cooking if off the charts! I learned and I learned well."
WOW! And I bet your cooking IS off the charts because you learned by working in a restaurant. And btw, I LOVE country/southern food! It truly is a glorious feast for the palette!
Thanks so much for stopping by, girl. Wishing you, your family, and friends an amazing Thanksgiving!
Enjoy your week!
Gobble Gobble!
XOXO
Hey Rob~
ReplyDeleteThank you, buddy. And yes, my mother is a fabulous lady. I'm truly blessed.
"I like the line about "cooking and eating were about as crucial to them as turning ‘tricks’ are to a prostitute."
Tee, hee! You know 'us' Italians when it comes to food, right?
It's like a Roman food ORGY.
"Whenever my mom overcooked pancakes she'd always tell us they were "golden brown" even though they were as black as night."
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! Oh, how FUNNY! That's BRILLIANT!
Isn't it funny how we remember all those precious moments in our childhood?
Thanks so much for stopping by, Rob. Wishing you and your sister a GREAT Thanksgiving Day!
Have an awesome week!
X
Hiya Dave~
ReplyDelete"I too have wonderful memories of feasts gone past."
Yes! And I bet you do, my fellow Italian friend!
"Every square inch had some delicious morsel on it. We would start with a wonderful homemade soup. Then came not one but three kinds of pasta, Ravioli, Gnocchi, Spaghetti then the different meats in the homemade sauce, Sausage, Meatballs, Braschol, Pork. Next was the turkey about 28 lbs. Stuffed with bread and mushrooms. With the Turkey was mashed potatoes, rosemary potatoes, sweet potatoes, green beans, atrichoke, broccoli rabe. With the homemade bread. After we ate this we had the salad to help digest."
OMG...what a FEAST!!!!!!!! And you're right....true Italians ALWAYS eat their salad LAST because it helps with digestion!
"After we ate this we had the salad to help digest. Then we went to the living room to sit and fart and sleep as the women cleaned the table and washed."
Bwhahahahahahahahahaha! OMG, that made me HOWL! And it's TRUE!
"The best part of the day was the love that we had for each other. We could always count on my grandfather for the loudest and longest FART. Now that was thanksgiving.
Ruupha!!!! Excuse me"
Bwhahahahahahahahahaha! HILARIOUS, Dave!!!!!!
Thanks sooooooooooo much for stopping and sharing your touching and HUMOROUS comment, buddy!
You ROCK!!!!!!
Wishing you and your family a Happy and Blessed Thanksgiving Day!
X
P.S. Ruupha!
Your mom is a very special woman. You've spoken of her before and I admire her. She definitely took on a handful for love. Obviously burnt dinner rolls at Thanksgiving never stopped you from loving her.
ReplyDeleteWith me, it's always forgetting the damn cranberry sauce. Someone is always going the gas station stores to see if they have any! LOL
Have a very happy Thanksgiving, bro!
Wait a second. Atlanta burned? I knew Chicago burned. Hell, even Seattle burned. But Atlanta, too?
ReplyDeleteKids really need to be careful with matches...
Rolls are an integral part of Thanksgiving dinner. I'd probably burst into tears if I burned mine. I'll be extra diligent on Thursday after reading this post, Ron.
Have a wonderful holiday!
Hey Lady Nitebyrd~
ReplyDeleteThank you for your sweet words....
"Your mom is a very special woman. You've spoken of her before and I admire her. She definitely took on a handful for love. Obviously burnt dinner rolls at Thanksgiving never stopped you from loving her."
And you're right...those burnt dinner rolls at Thanksgiving never stopped any of us from loving her. She truly IS a special woman.
"With me, it's always forgetting the damn cranberry sauce. Someone is always going the gas station stores to see if they have any! LOL"
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! And it's ironic you mentioned 'cranberry sauce' because that was always a mandatory staple at our dinners. My mother LOVES cranberry sauce!
Thanks so much for stopping by, Sis!
Have a great week and a VERY Happy Thanksgiving day!
X ya!
Howdy Mark~
ReplyDelete"Wait a second. Atlanta burned? I knew Chicago burned. Hell, even Seattle burned. But Atlanta, too?
Kids really need to be careful with matches..."
Bwhahahahahahahahahahaha! HILARIOUS!
"Rolls are an integral part of Thanksgiving dinner. I'd probably burst into tears if I burned mine. I'll be extra diligent on Thursday after reading this post, Ron."
Yes they are. So, my suggestion is to cook them first, BEFORE you sit down to eat. Or, you may have to dial 911 -HA!
Thanks a bunch for stopping by, buddy! Wishing you a great week and a VERY Happy Thanksgiving Day!
X
P.S. I bet you can't WAIT for Tara to arrive!!!!!
Ron, what a lovely tribute to your mother. Funny and touching. She sounds like such a special lady.
ReplyDeleteAnd I really got a sense for how wonderful your Thanksgiving Day dinners were (burnt rolls and all) :)
That last photo made me really laugh!
Happy Thanksgiving Day, Ron! And have a wonderful week.
Hola Denise~
ReplyDeleteThank you. Yes, she really is a VERY special lady. I feel incredibly blessed to have her in my life. You would love her. She's VERY funny!
"And I really got a sense for how wonderful your Thanksgiving Day dinners were (burnt rolls and all) :)"
Yes, they were. In fact, my parents had such a magical way of making ALL the holidays special for us. They were like 'kids' themselves!
Thanks so much for stopping by, girl. Always so nice to read your comments.
Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family!
Enjoy your week!
X
P.S. God, can you believe that Christmas is just around the corner???
Charcoal is good for cleaning your teeth! BWAHAHAHAHA!!! I love it. I will have to remember that the next time I burn something! Bless her heart. She sounds like a wonderful woman and sounds like she stepped up to the challenge and overshot it. You are indeed a lucky family!
ReplyDeleteHiya Peg~
ReplyDelete"Charcoal is good for cleaning your teeth! BWAHAHAHAHA!!! I love it. I will have to remember that the next time I burn something! Bless her heart. "
Tee, hee....isn't that hilarious? She's so funny!
"She sounds like a wonderful woman and sounds like she stepped up to the challenge and overshot it. You are indeed a lucky family!"
Yes, she is, and thank you for sharing that. I feel amazingly fortunate to have her as my mother. She's a GEM!
Thanks so much for stopping by, dear friend. Always a delight to read your comments.
Have a great week and a HAPPY Thanksgiving Day!
X to you and your family!
Ron, we have something in common, wonderful step-moms!
ReplyDeleteYour mom sounds just awesome. A child-bride who could out-do Martha Stewart! Wow! The rolls story is just too funny. "Charcoal is good for cleaning your teeth"---gosh, all these years I've been using Rembrandt toothpaste which costs a king's ransom!
I only made one turkey my whole life. It turned out good, but I hate cooking. My mom does our Thanksgiving dinners and everyone normally brings a dish to help out because there are so many of us. Funny, the rolls are normally a little late, but not burnt. If she does ever burn them, I'll tell everyone to clean their teeth!
Happy Thanksgiving!
Oh yeah, it is Thanksgiving. Here in France it has a tendency to slip me by, if I'm not around American friends... this year not! But soon on that side of the Pond... Things have moved!
ReplyDeleteWhat precious memories. Comfy and clean home is such a treasure. It can give you a profound feeling of safety fr the rest of your life. And if you never really had that, like some of us, you can create it now. Love 'ya!
"She was one of those people who never followed recipes as they were written, but rather took the basic formula and added her own twist. She instinctively knew what to add and what to subtract, creating her own culinary masterpiece. She was like an artist - raw and intuitive."
ReplyDeleteWow. That's how MY MOM cooks too!
Have a wonderful, and happy Thanksgiving my friend!
Hey there Meleah~
ReplyDelete"Wow. That's how MY MOM cooks too!"
*smiling*
And isn't AMAZING just how GREAT their cooking is?
Bellissima!
Thanks so much for stopping by, girl! Have a wonderful week!
Wishing you and your family an AWESOME Thanksgiving Day!
((((( Meleah ))))))
X
Bonjour Susu~
ReplyDelete"Oh yeah, it is Thanksgiving. Here in France it has a tendency to slip me by, if I'm not around American friends..."
HA! OMG....that's right, I forgot they don't celebrate Thanksgiving.
"What precious memories. Comfy and clean home is such a treasure. It can give you a profound feeling of safety fr the rest of your life. And if you never really had that, like some of us, you can create it now."
You said it....."you can create it now."
((((( Susu )))))
Thanks so much for stopping by, beautiful lady! Wishing you a wonderful week and a Happy and Blessed Thanksgiving Day from the U.S.!
Ciao.....X
Helloooooooooooo Pamela~
ReplyDelete"Ron, we have something in common, wonderful step-moms!"
Yaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay! And aren't we lucky?
"Your mom sounds just awesome. A child-bride who could out-do Martha Stewart! Wow!"
Yes, she IS awesome. She's one of those people who has the ability to put everyone at ease; making them feeling comfortable and at home.
"The rolls story is just too funny. "Charcoal is good for cleaning your teeth"---gosh, all these years I've been using Rembrandt toothpaste which costs a king's ransom!""
OMG...that's ANOTHER thing you and I have in common....I use Rembrandt toothpaste too - I kid you not! And you're right....it costs a king's ransom! But, it's so good, isn't it? It really makes your teeth WHITE!
"I only made one turkey my whole life. It turned out good, but I hate cooking."
Yes, as I've shared on your blog, I hate cooking too. And you have ONE up on me because I've NEVER cooked a turkey in my life!
Thanks so much for stopping by and for your sweet words, dear lady.
Wishing you and your family a HAPPY HAPPY Thanksgiving Day!
X
It IS amazing.
ReplyDeleteI can't even follow directions to make something edible!
"I can't even follow directions to make something edible!"
ReplyDeleteBwhahahahahahahahahha! OMG...that made me HOWL because I'm the SAME WAY!!!!!!
LIBRA'S!
If I was ever filthy rich, the first thing I would do would be to hire a chief to COOK for me because I HATE it!!!
X
Oh hell yes!
ReplyDeleteI need a CHEF to make a friggen sandwich!
Bwhahahahahahahhahaha!
ReplyDeleteOMG...that CRACKED. ME. UP!
X
My late grandmother did the exact same thing I kid you not!
ReplyDeleteLike your mom, she was an amazing cook, but for some unknown reason the rolls were always ummm.... "well done".
She had the same problem with pancakes. Funny thing is she would put them on the platter with the burnt side down as if we'd never notice. It became a running joke with us and provided many years of laughs.
Hey on a separate note, I finally got a couple of days off and read your last couple of posts too. Colorforms... Wow!! I had forgotten about those. I remember having a couple of different sets and playing with them. Don't remember the plastic high though.
Hope you can share Thanksgiving with someone and have a great day of it.
Howdy Jeff~
ReplyDelete"My late grandmother did the exact same thing I kid you not!
Like your mom, she was an amazing cook, but for some unknown reason the rolls were always ummm.... "well done"."
Bwhahahahahahahaha! LOVE IT...."well done." What a nice way of putting it!
"She had the same problem with pancakes. Funny thing is she would put them on the platter with the burnt side down as if we'd never notice. It became a running joke with us and provided many years of laughs."
OMG...how FUNNY!!!!!! I bet they resembled great BIG kettle-cooked potato chips - HA!
"Hey on a separate note, I finally got a couple of days off and read your last couple of posts too. Colorforms... Wow!! I had forgotten about those. I remember having a couple of different sets and playing with them. Don't remember the plastic high though."
Oh thanks, buddy! And yeah....the plastic HIGH was the best! And the best part is that it didn't make your eyes all bloodshot - HAHAHAHAHAHA!
Thanks so much for stopping by! Always FAB to see ya!
And yes, I'll be having dinner out with a friend but making an early night of it because I have to work BLACK FRIDAY!!!!!!
Wishing you and your family the bestest Happy Thanksgiving Day!
X
BAH! Wow...those muffins actually scared me for a second! ;-)
ReplyDeleteBut hey, if it's only the muffins that received extra time in the oven, so what?! That's nothing compared to the feast she delivers. Gotta love the moms who not only tackle this yearly tradition, but always seem to go above and beyond year after year.
Way to go, mom! :-)
Hey there Herman~
ReplyDelete"BAH! Wow...those muffins actually scared me for a second! ;-)"
HA! Aren't they some SCARY rolls???? They look like rocks of TAR!
"That's nothing compared to the feast she delivers. Gotta love the moms who not only tackle this yearly tradition, but always seem to go above and beyond year after year."
Yup...you said it!
Way to go, MOM!
Thanks for stopping by, buddy! Have a great week and a Happy Thanksgiving Day!
Gobble...Gobble!
X to you, Karin, and Mr. Tyler!
i do the same thing with pancakes EVERY TIME!!! the last batch onto the pan burns because i forget them. You lucked out.... you got 2 great moms.... my stepmom was a terror. We were all frightened to death of her, even as adults.
ReplyDeleteWhen my youngest son couldn't be home for Christmas last year (for the first time in his life) he decided he'd invite friends and neighbors make them a turkey dinner. after collecting recipes from me for all of his favorite Christmas foods, (including his Great Grandma's famous eggnog) he did it. And he did it beautifully. as we both have Macs, we were on IChat off and on all day, carrying our laptops around the house comparing turkeys and Christmas trees, exchanging Christmas wishes.... even watching each other open gifts..... not quite as nice as having him home, but pretty nice.
Good morning Grannyfiddler~
ReplyDelete"i do the same thing with pancakes EVERY TIME!!! the last batch onto the pan burns because i forget them. "
Well, I got good news for you....I probably would have burned ALL the batches because (for being an Italian) I CAN'T cook. My idea of cooking is adding a banana to my cereal - HA!
Yes, we very lucky and blessed to get such a great mother. She's truly the coolest lady.
"And he did it beautifully. as we both have Macs, we were on IChat off and on all day, carrying our laptops around the house comparing turkeys and Christmas trees, exchanging Christmas wishes.... even watching each other open gifts..... not quite as nice as having him home, but pretty nice."
*smiling*
OMG....how faaaaaaaaaaaaabulous! What a clever and great idea that was! I bet you both had a such fun experiencing Christmas day that way.
Thank GOD for the Internet, right?
Thanks so much for stopping by and sharing your holiday story. That was GREAT!
Wishing you and your family a Happy and Blessed Thanksgiving Day!
Enjoy your week!
X
Your mother sounds exactly like my mother. She was a brilliant cook and never used a recipe in her life. I followed suit and also never used recipes, though I don't do cooking any more. It's Mo's thing and I happily bowed out of the kitchen long ago :)
ReplyDeleteIn my usual manner, I forgot again, though I have an excuse this time. We don't have Thanksgiving in the UK :)
ReplyDeleteHappy Thanksgiving to you.
Hey there Babs~
ReplyDelete"Your mother sounds exactly like my mother. She was a brilliant cook and never used a recipe in her life."
Isn't that AMAZING???? Me on the other hand, could follow a recipe and still not have it come out tasting like FOOD - HA!
"I followed suit and also never used recipes, though I don't do cooking any more. It's Mo's thing and I happily bowed out of the kitchen long ago :)"
Yaaaaaaaaaaaaay Mo! Could you come to my house and cook for ME????? Pretty please?
Thanks so much for stopping by, my friend! Have a grrrreat week!
X
aw....thank you, Babs!
ReplyDeleteX to you and Mo!
Hahahahah! What a great post. You were indeed blessed to have such a wonderful step-mother, and if all she did wrong was burn the dinner rolls, she must be pretty nearly perfect!
ReplyDeleteI usually forget something at one of those important festive meals, too, and sometimes it's more important than dinner rolls ... like the time I forgot to do something different for my turkey hating son. Ooops.
that's a great Thanksgiving memory :) and an unbeatable tradition! Bless her heart - hopefully it was a source for merriment and laughter. She sounds like an incredible woman. I hope she's passed along her secret for a delicious marinara sauce, that would be a real treasure to keep in the family for certain!
ReplyDeleteMy mom made delicious yeast dinner rolls that were so delicious they enticed my younger brother to learn how to cook. He became very proficient in the kitchen at a young age. Still is to this day.
Great memories - thanks Ron. Sending love and warm wishes for the best Thanksgiving ever!
Hey there Diane~
ReplyDeleteYES, it was SUCH a source for merriment and laughter. That's the thing my mother taught me....to laugh at yourself!
"She sounds like an incredible woman. I hope she's passed along her secret for a delicious marinara sauce, that would be a real treasure to keep in the family for certain!"
Thank you. And yup, she really IS an incredible woman. Not only when comes to her cooking, but more so because of her unconditional love.
"My mom made delicious yeast dinner rolls that were so delicious they enticed my younger brother to learn how to cook. He became very proficient in the kitchen at a young age. Still is to this day."
Oh, how WONDERFUL!!!! My brother also learned how to cook. In fact, he's a chief. And a really good one.
Thanks so much for stopping by, dear friend. Hope you're enjoying your week and getting ready for Thursday, as I'm sure your lovely home will be warm, cozy, and festive!
Happy Thanksgiving Day!
Much X to you and Cristybella!
Hey Jay~
ReplyDeleteGREAT to see ya, my friend!
Thank you. Glad you enjoyed.
"You were indeed blessed to have such a wonderful step-mother, and if all she did wrong was burn the dinner rolls, she must be pretty nearly perfect!"
Yes, I feel VERY blessed to have such a wonderful stepmother. And you're right...if all she did was burn the dinner rolls, she is perfect!
"I usually forget something at one of those important festive meals, too, and sometimes it's more important than dinner rolls ... like the time I forgot to do something different for my turkey hating son. Ooops."
HA! But I'm SURE your meal was faaaaaaaaabulous!
Thanks so much for stopping by. Hope you're having a super week!
Happy Thanksgiving Day, Jay!
X to you and your family!
Hey again Jay....
ReplyDeleteI stopped by your blog to leave a comment and could not get your page to show up. I know you had some issues with your sever, so I just wanted to let you know. I'll try to stop by again later.
HA HA! I wish I could cook like my Italian side, that's for sure! My kids tell me I dry out the chicken. Well, not ALWAYS!
ReplyDeleteHappy Thanksgiving right back at you... may your life be forever blessed!
Hiya Katherine~
ReplyDelete" I wish I could cook like my Italian side, that's for sure! My kids tell me I dry out the chicken. Well, not ALWAYS!"
Meeeee too! Cooking is NOT part of the Italian gene I got. I don't even know how to COOK chicken, let alone drying it out - HA!
Thank you so much for stopping by, my friend.
"... may your life be forever blessed!"
You too! Happy Thanksgiving!
X
Hope you have a wonderful day today! I have a feeling the same thing happened while I was growing up. My mom was not a good cook but she tried over the holidays. I'm not ashamed to admit that I do enjoy the green bean casserole with the Durkee onions on top. Last year at my friend's house, we left the cranberry sauce in the fridge and it never got eaten. I was a bit annoyed since I was the one to make it.
ReplyDeleteTake care and get some rest. I have a feeling your busy work time is just ramping up.
Happy Thanksgiving Day, Jen!
ReplyDelete"I have a feeling the same thing happened while I was growing up. My mom was not a good cook but she tried over the holidays."
Aw....god love her!
" I'm not ashamed to admit that I do enjoy the green bean casserole with the Durkee onions on top."
OMG...meeeee too! I love how the CRUNCHY onion top tastes with the green beans!
"Last year at my friend's house, we left the cranberry sauce in the fridge and it never got eaten. I was a bit annoyed since I was the one to make it."
Well, I'm impressed because I wouldn't even begin to know HOW make cranberry sauce. I always just get the canned stuff.
Thanks so much for stopping by, my friend. Yes, tomorrow is going to be INSANE for me, so today I'm just laying low and resting up!
Enjoy your day!
X
...ha,ha,ha...God I love this story! Thank you for that Ron! :o)
ReplyDelete...Yeah, it used to be that being a good cook, baker, seamstress, homemaker was a prerequisite to a successful marriage. My, how times have changed.
...Your stepmother sounds like a total GEM! And might I add what a fine job she did in the raising of you. And to give you those memories of holidays gone by is priceless!
...Funny thing, I, more times than I care to count, have forgotten about the rolls in the oven. When I host a large gathering, I usually have several things getting ready to all go to the table at once and I would use our oven timer for other dishes only to forget about the damn rolls! Oh well, there's been times where we've peeled off the burnt parts and buttered the soft centers. ;o)
...I got an idea. Maybe your stepmom would like to share some of her wonderful recipes here on your blog? Kinda like a guest post or somethin', yes? *wink*wink*nudge*nudge*
...I wish for you and your family a most wonderful and delightful Thanksgiving Day ever! Just so you know, you will be on my list of blessings today, and every day.
...(((hugs)))
...Blessings :o)
Hellooooooo dear TJ~
ReplyDeleteTee...hee!
You're so welcome. Glad your had a giggle :)
"Yeah, it used to be that being a good cook, baker, seamstress, homemaker was a prerequisite to a successful marriage. My, how times have changed. "
Yes...have they changed! And I'm kinda glad though because nowadays, many men and women SHARE the experience of homemaking, as both usually work outside jobs.
"..Your stepmother sounds like a total GEM! And might I add what a fine job she did in the raising of you. And to give you those memories of holidays gone by is priceless."
Thank you. Yes....she is a GEM! I just spoke to her this morning and she told me that she read this post a few days ago and really enjoyed it. She laughed!
"Oh well, there's been times where we've peeled off the burnt parts and buttered the soft centers."
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! Yes, we did too!
"...I got an idea. Maybe your stepmom would like to share some of her wonderful recipes here on your blog? Kinda like a guest post or somethin', yes? *wink*wink*nudge*nudge*"
What a GREAT idea! And I may just ask her to do that! I would actually love to interview her on my blog because she's quite funny and very interesting. She may be taking a basic computer course at the library soon to learn more about computers because right now my brother has to show her how to get online.
Thank you so much for stopping today, dear lady. Hope you had a lovely Thanksgiving Day and ate LOTS of turkey and pumpkin pie!
"Just so you know, you will be on my list of blessings today, and every day."
Ditto to you!
((((( TJ ))))))
X
that's great you can appreciate your stepmother and she was actually an asset to the family and not an *** like mine. ;)
ReplyDeleteHey ladyV~
ReplyDelete"that's great you can appreciate your stepmother and she was actually an asset to the family and not an *** like mine. ;)"
HA! Yes, I've heard similar stories from other people who have stepmothers. I feel soooooo blessed to have gotten the lady we did. She's the best!
Thanks for stopping by, girl!
Have a super weekend.......X