Hello again, hello
Just called to say hello
Hello, my friends, hello…..Adele, “25”
Pina’s homemade Sicilian Cannolis
Although my 14-year old Emma is ‘so over Adele, Grandma,’ she understands I am not. In early December she gave me the English singer’s latest release, “25.” During the past six weeks of drive time I’ve amused myself listening to The Wright Brothers (David McCullough), Rogue Lawyer (John Grisham) and Adele. Truthfully, despite committing her lyrics to memory, I’m kinda over Adele also.
Hello again, Readers. Hello, 2016. My new year’s resolutions are few: 1) Follow through on good intentions; 2) Learn to assemble a respectable Bloody Mary; 3) Besides subscribing to The New Yorker magazine, actually read the articles inside it.
That’s it. Just three. It’s already apparent I’ve pulled everything from the back burner to the front, set them to boil and am peddling as fast as I can. “Sometimes the hardest part of the journey is simply believing you’re worthy of the trip.” ***
Pina’s cannolis are always put together just as we’re ready for dessert. She still oversees the operation!
Yes, I know, it’s a wobbly world. While I am not without concerns, worries and scars, my gratefulness jar runneth over. As in the past, this blog is my safe haven…..a time-out, be happy place for me and, hopefully for you. If you try a recipe, smile at my remarks or just enjoy the photos, it’s a Win. Let’s begin…..
GOING GLOBAL ON CHRISTMAS EVE
This year I celebrated Christmas twice. Yes, it’s legal. My Christmas Eve was spent in Henderson. For the 8 years Michael and I lived in Nevada we spent Christmas Eve with our backdoor neighbors who were Sicilian, fabulous cooks and generous with their hospitality.
Adriana was making Affogatos for everyone the rest of the evening, except for those sipping Crown Royal.
Since I would be back in town, Adriana gathered together not only their ‘big, noisy, Italian family’ (her words) but many others. As always we threw together a cultural mix of delicious food. Amalia, from Spain, brought Tortilla Espanola and her requested ratatouille. With a nod to Iowa, I made a honey-smoked, bone-in ham with mashed sweet potatoes and apples, and a cauliflower gratin. Tom, who is not southern, baked a pecan pie that would have made Paula Deen cry again.
Amalia with Adriana and her sister, Lorena
Pina, Adriana’s mom, and her three daughters had been in the kitchen all week. The table groaned, including, among many, an Antipasto platter and lasagna. But let’s fast forward to the wrap-up, Affogato al Caffe, which translates to “drowned in coffee” and consists of a shot of hot espresso poured over a scoop of gelato. Although this traditional Italian treat is simple, it’s a finale. Enhanced with hazelnut/chocolate chip gelato rather than vanilla bean gelato and with espresso beans sprinkled on top, it’s a grand finale. (see recipe below)
The most perfect of ham bones, ready for the slow cooker.
I CRY FOR YOU, MR. HAM BONE
I planned to use my leftover ham bone to make Minnesota Wild Rice with Ham Soup for this week’s post. I made the soup. Delicious. Seriously delicious. However, after letting the soup cool, I forgot to refrigerate it. Overnight. Left on the counter. The seriously delicious soup? Buried in the garbage.
All was not lost. With some leftover ham, I did make a spinach, roasted artichoke, Parm and ham pizza topped with honey and roasted pecans.
“I think life is like a ham bone if you live it right. You enjoy it and then you bury it when you’re finished. If you don’t enjoy it and let it go to waste you still have to bury it, so you might as well savor everything you can.” Kevin Herne
It’s a family tradition to make saffron biscuits for the holidays. Melissa bakes them for us all. I added chicken broth and turned the leftover mashed sweet potatoes and apples into a delicious soup.
HELLO, El Niño
Last Saturday I drove to Cambria where I’ll again spend the winter. For Christmas my California son-in-law gave me Patagonia rain gear. I cannot say I wasn’t warned. At least I got to unload my car before Señor El Niño came calling. Yes, it’s raining. I keep reminding myself that hydration is good for the skin!
This Great Blue Heron was standing in a nearby vacant lot as I drove into my Cambria driveway. This was the last dry moment for both of us!
HAPPY NEW YEAR 2016, My Friends
Now I’m officially back in Cambria. Just picked up my first Talley Farms Fresh Harvest Box. P.S. It’s still raining.
AFFOGATO al CAFFE
INGREDIENTS:
Fresh and Strongly Brewed Espresso
Vanilla Bean or Hazelnut with Chocolate Chips Gelato or your choice
Espresso Beans (optional)
DIRECTIONS:
1. Depending upon number of guests, arrange small glasses or cups on a rimmed baking sheet.
2. Scoop 1/3 to1/4 cup gelato into each glass or cup. Freeze 20-30 minutes, until firm.
3. Slowly pour at least 3 tablespoons espresso over each.
4. Garnish with espresso beans, if desired. Serve immediately with a small spoon.
Tip: Put together each Affogato only as guests request them.
***Glenn Beck quote
Mary, a wonderful post. I’m so glad you were able to spend Christmas with your friends and you look as though you enjoyed it all. Way to go. Happy New Year, enjoy your stay in Cambria. Ro
Mary…of course great post, but I am so crying about your soup left on the counter overnight. Funny thing, Bernie spatchcocked an organic chicken 2 weeks ago at noon, I prepped it with oil and spices and then SHOULD HAVE put it in the refrigerator until ready to cook. HOWEVER, the latter did not happen. We ran some errands and returned at 4PM to see that the raw chicken was still on the counter. I hate to waste food too….especially food I wanted to eat.
I love your heron picture too and the Afflogato YUM!
Miss you terribly. Hugs, Rocks
Happy New Year 2016 Mary!
So sad regards the soup, but the next best thing was that pizza!
And I still prefer Lionel Richie’s Hello!
Hello Mary! It sounds like you had wonderful holidays. Your pizza looks delicious. I’ve been on a pizza kick lately and hope to actually do a post about it tomorrow! Patagonia rain gear is an excellent gift! Affogato al Caffe looks and sounds delicious. your harvest box is beautiful enough to inspire envy. I bet you are glad to be in your Cambria home.
It sounds like the holidays were wonderful for you! I like to get an affogato when I’m at a gelateria (or at local fave Earnest Ice Cream), but it would be even more of a treat at home after a fantastic meal.
I was so sad about the soup – I’ve had something similar happen to me and it’s so disappointing.
Now that you’re settled in, I’m looking forward to reading about your California adventures. Good luck with your resolutions!
Happy New Year Mary! (I’m pretty over Adele too – since she’s on the radio in France on every station at least 2x an hour!). Wishing you a wonderful, tasty year and hopefully our paths cross sometime….. XXX
Happy New Year. Another great blog. Affogato is my favorite treat of all time. Introduced to us by our Italian friend, Giorgio. AnytimeI see it on a menu, I order it! I had it in Barcelona for an afternoon coffee break. It was so huge, served in the tallest glass coffee mug I have ever seen…. I opted out of dinner that night and downed the entire portion myself. Worth every calorie. Love to you and your family for a wonderful New Year. xoxo
I personally would agree that it is always good to spend Christmas Eve, or any holiday involving food with Italians. Lucky you, two Christmas. I like your resolutions as I stare at my pile of New Yorker Magazines. It’s always OK to just read the cartoons. Happy New Year!
Happy New Year, dear Mary! So glad you enjoyed Christmas with your friends, and are now in your winter home! El Nino has hit us too…It’s January and we still have not had snow. Christmas eve was 71 degrees. I do think all that rain is so needed in California, so I’m sure it’s a blessing for the west coast.
I have never had an Affogato, but am now looking forward to trying one.
So sorry about your pea soup…I did something similar just a few weeks ago. However, we did enjoy it for one meal before I forgot to refrigerate it. It kills me to throw away good food, however food poisoning might kill me too! Never take a chance!
Enjoy your time in Cambria! Your veggies look amazing!
Please bring some of those cannolis back to Colorado with you!
Happy New Year, Mary. May you and your family have a 2016 FILLED with joy, good health and prosperity! We did not get back to CO over the holidays due to several reasons — including the stormy weather. Will get there in March for several weeks of skiing and relaxation.
I’m so glad you got to connect with dear friends on Christmas Eve! It sounds like you had a feast! Goofs at our house usually involve meat defrosting on the counter—then being left there all night. So sad when that happens! Happy New Year, Mary! I know you can keep those resolutions if anyone can 🙂
Happy New Year, Mary!
So sorry about your soup I have done something similar to this before, you just want to slap yourself on the head, Christmas Eve sounds like a blast. Happy New Year, love following your journey.