Corn Pudding

January 13, 2014



In keeping with my new tradition of the traveling Thanksgiving, one where you show up at friend or relative's house with a dish, I was amazed to try corn pudding. I would never have had that if I had cooked dinner. In my Italian family Jennie never even heard of corn pudding and if she did she would have labeled it as ridiculous. And if she did make it my father would not have eaten it. In fact we never had turkey because he would only eat lasagna. I went to Margo's house after my dinner for the traditional Thanksgiving feast. And I wonder why I can be model thin!


Well let me tell you, corn pudding rocks! I kept going back for seconds and took some home. I wanted to eat it as soon as I got in the door but I restrained myself. I've been thinking about it ever since. Bonnie was kind enough to email the recipe and I made it last night. I really believe it goes with everything and am pretty sure you can eat it for dessert. Just saying.


I will share the recipe with you. Try it. You will not be able to resist. Many thanks to Bonnie Pyler for the recipe.



                                                Corn Pudding

1   12 oz can whole corn
2   17 oz cans creamed corn
5  lightly beaten eggs
1/2 cup sugar
4 TBSP cornstarch
1 1/2 tsp seasoned salt
1/2 tsp dry mustard
1 tsp instant minced onion ( I used onion powder)
1/2 cup milk
1/2 cup melted butter

I used slightly bigger cans of corn. This is an old recipe


Combine corn and eggs. Add mixture of sugar, cornstarch, salt, mustard and onion. Stir in milk and butter. Pour into greased 3 qt casserole. ( I used 2 1/2 qt) Bake at 400 degrees for 1 hour, stirring once.

Local Harvest

November 14, 2013



This year Josh, Jocelyn and I participated in a CSA (community supported agriculture) from Hindinger Farms. This is the farm a few streets away from my house and the place I always go to for fresh vegetables in the summer. I was really excited for it to begin.


Every week we share a box of locally grown fruits and veggies. In the beginning we got strawberries, lettuce and spinach. Then green beans and blueberries. Kale was a big thing but I never did much with that. Peaches and apples and tomatoes. Then I got a big bag of Italian plums. I wasn't sure what to do with them but I wasn't going to let them go to waste. I looked up recipes on the internet and found a plum cobbler. I had my doubts about it but I went ahead anyway. It was delicious! Definitely something I would do again. Who knew plums could taste so good.


But the real challenge was the eggplant. Jennie was the eggplant queen and she always complained about how much work it was to cook. But since she is not around to make it anymore I decided it was time to conquer that dish. I called Annie, who called her mom, and I made their version of fried eggplant. Flour instead of breadcrumbs. I'm sure Jennie used breadcrumbs but I did what they suggested. I had so much I had to freeze some of it. But the rest I made into parmigiana. It tasted almost as good as I remember. Next time I will try the breadcrumbs.


So the CSA was a success. I made spaghetti squash and this week I'm going to try turnips. We only have two more weeks of produce but I am already looking forward to next year. A really wonderful way to support your local farming community.

Laundry Day

May 22, 2013



Does anyone under thirty know how to fold clothes? I know you do, Eric. Even when you were in eighth grade and I picked you up from Cheshire Academy you were neat. Am I wrong in remembering a garment bag? Pants and shirt and jacket neatly hung up with your tie draped over the hanger. While Josh had his clothes rolled up in a ball. The shirt I so lovingly ironed totally wrinkled. Just thrown in the back of the van. I AM remembering it all correctly, aren't I?


I know my kids don't fold or iron. Ironing wouldn't even be necessary if the clothes were only folded properly. Am I the only one who feels this way? Is folding a lost art? I know it doesn't take brains just a little thought. I love to take things out of the dryer and fold them neatly. Is it something Jennie taught me? Or did I just learn by watching her?


And not only folding but laundry itself seems to be problem. Everything thrown into one wash. Whites, colors, delicates, towels. sometimes so stuffed in there I don't think they really get cleaned. Why? It actually hurts me to see it! Am I responsible for this flaw? Did I fail at some critical parenting detail? And is there still time to turn it around?

Speed Dating

February 21, 2013



Have you heard of speed dating? I find the concept very interesting. A group of single people meet and do a sort of musical chairs. They spend ten minutes talking to a member of the opposite sex at each table. At the end of the evening you hand in a form listing your choices. The moderator then puts you in touch with anyone who expressed an interest in you. I think.


Anyway I thought that would be the best use of my very limited time. Ten minutes with each person to ask important questions. I wouldn't have to waste a few hours being with someone I knew I could never hit it off with. So, what to ask?


My list? Do you have a job and health insurance? A quick check of the teeth. Sense of humor and ability to make fun of yourself ( so important if you are to spend even a modicum amount of time with me.) Directness. Tell me what you want, for god sake! We were all in the kitchen at work discussing "the list."


The one thing I did not think to ask was brought up by one of my colleagues. "How much credit card debt do you have?" WOW!!! Having never had credit card debt myself I never even considered that question. See? It takes a village. But is that a question to ask at speed dating? And since I never plan to remarry again should I even care about that? And the other thing to consider is the fact that I am a nurse. This same colleague also pointed out that I did not want to be a caregiver to a needy man. And as my friend Jill stated I don't want to be "a nurse with a purse." Or as Jennie put it, "You'll always have a job!"


So I'll have to think a little more about speed dating. And I guess about dating in general.

All Gone

December 27, 2012



I just finished reading "All Gone, A Memoir of My Mothers Dementia with Refreshments" `by Alex Witchel. Ms Witchel is an author and columnist for the New York Times. The book vividly describes her mother's decline from a college professor to someone who did not always recognize her children. And the toll it took on the author. She turns to her mothers cooking to bring her back and shares the recipes for many of her favorite childhood meals.

It captured my feelings when I am in the kitchen cooking old Italian peasant recipes. Calm and secure. Like I did when I was young and thought I would always have my parents and sister to rely on when things got hard. So cooking keeps me from getting panicked or overwhelmed. I think of all the meals Jennie made and remember thinking to myself, "How can she stand doing this day after day?!!" Not to mention the countless dishes to be washed. How boring! But I find myself doing a lot of it myself now. Maybe it kept HER from feeling overwhelmed. Like there was a sense of order to the world. If only I had known then I may not have given her such a hard time about EVERYTHING!!

I recommend this book to anyone who has lost their mother. It is painful but ultimately heartwarming. A real tribute to their close relationship. And to those of you still lucky enough to have your parents this book will make you appreciate them even more.

The End of Your Life Book Club

November 28, 2012



I've been reading The End Of Your Life Book Club. It's a true story written by Will Schwalbe. It is    about his mother's terminal illness. He accompanies her to many of her doctor's appointments and chemotherapy sessions. They both shared a love of books and they decide to read the same ones while she is ill and discuss them. Not your typical book club where people eat, drink and maybe discuss books. This woman clearly loved reading and shared it with her children.

Although she is dying it is not a sad book. It is heartwarming to think of the tremendous love they have for each other. I hope I never have to endure such a book club in my own life but I would like to think that I instilled a love of reading in my own children.

I remember as a kid Jennie would say to me, "You always have your nose in a book." Not as a compliment though. She thought I should be helping around the house more. Unless I was studying. That was sacred. But reading for pleasure was not encouraged. So I studied a lot. Books transported me to places I never thought I would visit. It make me experience things vicariously through the characters. I could be anyone and go anywhere. I loved getting lost in a good story and I still do.

But if I DO need an end of my life club I would like it to be movies. There is nothing better than sitting in that dark theater (if everyone is being quiet!) and pretending to be the leading lady (especially if playing opposite George or Brad or my all time favorite Robert Redford) So I hope my kids keep that in mind. But what I'm really hoping for is a quick and painless "end of my life club."

Cooking Class

October 25, 2012



This past Monday I attended my first cooking class at Adult Ed. It is called "The Passion of Italian Cooking." Passion is a good word for Italians. As I always try to explain to people, I'm not yelling, I'm Italian. When I grew up there was a lot of yelling and screaming. But I never doubted for a second that I was loved. At the end of our marriage I heard many times that HIS parents never fought. But they divorced. Maybe they should have had a fight or two.

Anyway many of the things the chef talked about were very reminiscent of my upbringing. The Italian grandmothers and moms teaching their kids how to cook the old world dishes. I never cooked with my mother. I was too busy having fun to be bothered. Jennie always said, "You'll miss me when I am gone." And I would make fun of her. But now I do miss her terribly. Fortunately before she died one of her caregivers copied many of her recipes and gave them to me. I had already conquered eggs and potatoes and chicken soup with her coaching me over the phone but now I can do many of her peasant recipes almost like she could.

The only things I can't get right are her meatballs and sauce. I have tried and tried and can't get them to taste like hers. So whenever I go out for Italian food I always order a side of meatballs no matter what I am having. I did learn how to make a quick marinara sauce Monday night so I have added a new, simple, quick recipe to my list. There really should be no reason for anyone to use jarred sauce. EVER!

Cooking Therapy

October 8, 2012



I have found that cooking cheers me up. Hey Mom, I AM turning into you! Bet you never thought it would happen! I spent the weekend cooking up a storm. Sorry, Jill. No jewelry shopping.

Made a vat of chicken soup and froze some in anticipation of that scratchy throat I know will come some cold bitter night. Then lots of vegetarian meals for Hilary. String beans with potatoes and carrots in sauce, beans and macaroni and cream of tomato and basil soup. I used the last of the basil from my deck. There is just a little left for me to freeze and use in the winter. The smell of fresh basil in the middle of winter is awesome. If I don't stop cooking I will be using the bariatric toilets we had installed at work!

I also had the yard work done this weekend by a very nice young man. It made me both happy and sad. Glad to see everything looking neat but sad that it is being done by a stranger. Looking out the kitchen window and seeing someone I don't know in my yard. But next time he comes I WILL know him. He'll be Brian, the guy who takes care of my lawn. I even talked him into eating some of the food I made. See, I am getting just like Jennie.

The garden is gone too. I had Brian take it out. I really hate yard work. I hate digging in the dirt, sweating and getting accosted by bugs. Next year will just be the herb garden on my deck and maybe some flowers. The tomatoes at Hindinger's were better than any I could have grown and they are practically in my back yard.

Am I feeling better? Maybe, a little. Baby steps, as Bill Murray said in "What About Bob." One of the funniest movies ever!

Thanks, Mom

August 17, 2012



Jennie used to make this cold string bean and potato salad, the Italian kind, with olive oil and vinegar that I used to turn my nose up at as a kid. So ethnic! And cold beans! UGH! I never ate it but she kept making it anyway. But guess what I have been craving? Yes, cold string beans with potatoes.

For a long time I didn't think I could replicate my mother's recipes. I was actually afraid to try. But slowly I conquered eggs and potatoes, chicken soup and her delicious stew. Even escarole and beans, which I never thought I could make like she did. I still haven't mastered her sauce or meatballs and don't think I ever will.

Yesterday I bought green beans and fingerling potatoes at Hindinger's. I boiled them and dressed them with oil, vinegar and Dijon mustard and added some basil, parsley, dill and red onion. OK, so just a bit more upscale than Jennie would have liked (she would never use Dijon mustard or dill) but still delicious. I know she is smiling down at me.

 Although she didn't say "I love you" very much she thought cooking good meals was the same thing. So thanks, Mom. For all the love and the delicious food. And thanks for encouraging me to be a nurse instead of the medical secretary I wanted to be so I could get married sooner. We see how that turned out. "Become a nurse, you will always have a job." But especially thank you for making me get my Bachelor's Degree in Nursing back when it wasn't so popular. You were right after all!