MEAT-A-BALL-A

Last weekend I went to a meat ball bake off.
I'm not known for my meatballs...
but I want to be.

I googled "best meatballs".

Many recipes came up.

Then I went on FOODTV.COM
and searched by the star ratings.
I read all the reviews.
This took about an hour.

What I settled on was "Excellent Meatballs" by Anne Burrell and "Veal and Ricotta Meatballs", by Mario Batali.They both sounded SO GOOD.

So, I decided to make my own version using a combo of those two.

Kass's Meat- A- Balls

1 lb ground beef
1 lb ground veal
1 lb ground pork
2 cups ricotta cheese-drained in a sieve for a bit to get all the water out
2 eggs
1/2 cup fresh chopped parsley
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp fresh ground pepper
pinch crushed red peppers
1 cup freshly grated Parmigiano-Reggiano
extra virgin olive oil to coat bottom of large pan
4 cups basic tomato sauce (use your own favorite!)

Preheat oven to 350F.

In a food processor combine half of all the ingrediants. Pulse on and off a few times till blended.Shape the mixture into golf ball sized balls.cook balls in skillet till browned on all sides. Place meatballs on large cookie sheet and bake for 15 minutes.
When the meatballs are done- place in a large pot, along with the sauce/gravy and simmer till you're ready to "mange".



And the winner was....Brother-In-Law Bob.. with his now award winning meatballs passed down from his parents.How great is that trophy.



Maybe next year for me...
But no matter, I did it.
I have mastered the meat-a ball-a...
They are light and fluffy and the ricotta gives them a special ummph.

Now I want to master the gravy.

And down the road my grandchildren will say- "Remember how great Kass's meatballs and gravy were?"

SUNDAY AFTERNOON AT THE MOVIES

This week's movie is a special one to me.

It stars the wonderful Rosalind Russell- a funny,generous, gorgeous talent. Some of my most favorite movies are hers.

AUNTIE MAME....




She once said"Acting is standing up naked and turning around very slowly." That sounds about right.

I think another reason I have such a thing for Miss Russell is because she looked so much like my great Aunt Alice.

Aunt Alice was like a third grandmother to me.

She acted a bit like Miss Russel's many funny characters in the movies too.


You can see a bit of what the real Miss Russell was like- by viewing her Oscar acceptance HERE.
What a lady
Both of them...

Scent

Did you ever notice how the rain smells different in winter than in any other season? What does it smell like?

Nothing.

But rain in the spring, summer or fall...
What does it smell like??



I like to think it smells like heaven.
Or close to it...my grandparent's tiny front porch in Clairton.



Don't know why, but when it rains and I get that certain "whiff" I am back there on that porch, 11 years old, in my polyester shorts and striped shirt,playing Old Maid's with my sisters as we wait for the rain to let up.




It just happened again today- which gave me the hope that Spring REALLY is here and yes, my grandparents are here too, if only in spirit.

In truth, like most other things on this planet of ours, it is a chemical reaction of sorts.

"As it turns out, the smells people associate with rainstorms can be caused by a number of things. One of the more pleasant rain smells, the one we often notice in the woods, is actually caused by bacteria! Actinomycetes, a type of filamentous bacteria, grow in soil when conditions are damp and warm. When the soil dries out, the bacteria produces spores in the soil. The wetness and force of rainfall kick these tiny spores up into the air where the moisture after a rain acts as an aerosol (just like an aerosol air freshener)... These spores have a distinctive, earthy smell we often associate with rainfall. The bacteria is extremely common and can be found in areas all over the world, which accounts for the universality of this sweet "after-the-rain" smell...Howthingswork.com

But I don't care much about biology.

I care more about what's inside my heart. And my heart says... they are here with me now and always.



And my heart is leaping.


photos by flickr... pullihora lepiaf.geo imkemper kirainet katiescrapbooklady amy_b

Sunday Afternoon At The Movies

Presto,Presto Do Your Very Besto...

This week's movie is HOUSEBOAT, starring Cary Grant and Sophia Loren. It was released in November of 1958 so it just celebrated its 50th anniversary.I used to love watching this movie during the Million Dollar Movie days.

It still looks great, makes me laugh and makes me fall in love with that rickety old houseboat.

And the song "Bing Bang Bong"..just can't get it out of my head.
According to IMDB Mr. Grant and Miss Loren had a love affair during their previous movie. But she called it quits because her true love was Carlo Ponti. Mr Grant was not over her(could anyone be?) and she cried to the director Melville Shavelson, that Grant was chasing her.

Poor girl.
Knowing that makes you realize what a great actress she is.

In The Closet- Not Out

What have I been up to of late??
I've been in the closet...


My baby girl has flown from the nest and I have a vacant bedroom next door..



So I get a new closet for myself...



All MINE-no hubby golf shirts in site...



It's NOT a closet though.

It's a boudoir...

Wikpedia says..." a boudoir is a lady's private bedroom, sitting room or dressing room. The term derives from the French verb bouder, meaning "to pout"[1].

Historically, the boudoir formed part of the private suite of rooms of a lady, for bathing and dressing, adjacent to her bedchamber, being the female equivalent of the male cabinet. In later periods, the boudoir was used as a private drawing room, and was used for other activities, such as embroidery or entertaining intimate acquaintances."

Im looking forward to displaying my hat collection,reading at the window seat,



Watching morning TV while sipping a cup of coffee sitting on the pouffe (wish I could find one like this that's not 15,000 pounds)..

and most especially learning to put my make up on professionally ...



This is the late First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy's gorgeous boudoir...




Don't think mine will look exactly like hers but it will be pale blue -with wallpaper and a painted white floor..



And to think it was called the "pouting room" in old France.There will be no "pouting" in mine!



photo of White House boudoir- Architectural Digest

Big Love

I love the show BIG LOVE. Its just pure Peyton Place 2000 style.

If you missed last week's Big Love..you can catch a bit here.

Top O The Mornin'

On this fine St Patrick's Day I wish you...

A fine stretch of the legs...


A stirring song...



A good book to make your mind take flight...


A strong cup of Barry's Tea...



Some bread baked with love to fill you up...




Slante'



May the rains sweep gentle across your fields,
May the sun warm the land,
May every good seed you have planted bear fruit,
And late summer find you standing in fields of plenty.

Sunday Afternoon At The Movies

Top O' The Afternoon...

My favorite Irish movie is The Quiet Man with the perfect acting team- John Wayne and Maureen O'Hara. It is a MUST on St.Patty's Day. So romantic,so funny,so retro,so Irish...
Wayne and O'Hara made magic on the screen, in not only this but other movies as well. I'm thinking there will be another of their movies on another Sunday to come...

Making "NANA BREAD"

4 Perefectly over ripe nana's+grandgirl= yummy in the tummy and the heart.


Got our apron on..


Add the eggs...

Prepare the pan...


Gotta taste to make sure its just right..


Pour it gently...

Gotta taste it again...

Doggies too..


Careful..




Perfect!!!



All done...


Here's the Recipe

NANA BREAD

4 extra ripe bananas
1 1/4 cups flour
2 large eggs
1 1/2 cups sugar
1/2 cup Crisco
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt

Preheat oven to 325
Grease a bread pan
Combine Crisco and sugar till mixed through. Add eggs,salt,"nanas",flour,baking soda,baking powder.
Bake for approx 1 hour- check after a half hour and turn if you need to( gas oven).

The Easiet,Moistest, Most Delish "Nana" bread ever...

Old Times....

One of my favorite shows of old is going off the air soon... Tonight's episode is full of surprises.. so watch if you want some!!!

Weekly Folly

This week's folly is an ode to the coming spring/summer. I've got Spring Fever already- do you?

This adorable ice cream shop is located in the town of Perry, in Missouri, on M-52.

I love making homemade ice cream from Paula Deen's recipe.
Paula Deen's is the best.

Delish and SO EASY to make..

The EASIEST Homemade Cookie Ice Cream -it takes 10 minutes to assemble and you can improvise with other cookie types- I think Anna's Ginger cookies or Anna's Mint cookies would be devine!

Paula Deens' Easy Ice Cream

Ingredients

* 3 egg yolks*
* 1 (14-ounce) can condensed milk
* 4 teaspoons vanilla extract
* 1 cup chocolate sandwich cookies, coarsely crushed
* 2 cups heavy cream, whipped

Directions

In a large bowl, beat the egg yolks and stir in the condensed milk and vanilla. Fold in the crushed cookies and whipped cream. Pour mixture into a 9 by 5-inch loaf pan lined with foil. Cover and freeze for 6 hours or until firm.

To serve, scoop ice cream from pan or cut into slices.

*RAW EGG WARNING

Food Network Kitchens suggest caution in consuming raw and lightly-cooked eggs due to the slight risk of Salmonella or other food-borne illness. To reduce this risk, we recommend you use only fresh, properly-refrigerated, clean, grade A or AA eggs with intact shells, and avoid contact between the yolks or whites and the shell.


Photo by Sherry Binkowski

Sunday Afternoon At The Movies

This week's pick is DEATH AT A FUNERAL , directed by Frank Oz, who among many other things is the voice of Miss Piggy.



This is one of the funniest movies I have ever seen. Take a sneek peek of the preview- but don't watch the whole thing- it's one of the those previews, like most nowadays, that gives away too much of the movie. It's perfect to watch alone or for an evening with friends- sure to put anyone in a good mood- even with the glum title!

Are You Ready???

....for the 2nd season of BREAKING BAD, one of the best shows on television.


TONIGHT...March 6th at 8PM on AMC starts a Season 1 Marathon if you haven't seen it yet...



AND Season 2 starts on Sunday March 8th at 10PM on AMC
SNEAK PEEK of Season 2....

Weekly Folly

This week's folly is not about a folly at all but about an American gem-the late Virginia Lee Burton, the children's book author, who lived in Folly Cove with her husband and two boys. Folly Cove is located in Gloucester, Massachusetts.

Virgina Lee Burton is one of my favorite authors. She wrote and illustrated the classics,Mike Mulligan And His Steamship,Katy And The Big Snow, Maybelle The Cable Car and my absolute favorite children's book, The Little House.My mother used to read The Little House to me nightly. I did the same for my children and now my grandchildren. The story, like most she did, was based on her own life.

"Burton was also a gifted textile designer who, in 1940, founded The Folly Cove Designers in Gloucester, Massachusetts where she lived with her husband, noted sculptor, George Demetrios. This design collective produced highly sophisticated and detailed textiles that were sold throughout the United States. Virginia Lee Burton was a woman ahead of her time, a Renaissance woman whose art and literature remain an enduring part of America's cultural heritage." (Amazon) The Folly Cove Designers disbanded in 1969 the year after her death. You can still buy wares at the Sarah Elizabeth Shop, located in Folly Cove and online.

You can read more about her HERE

Sunday Afternoon at the Movies

In honor of the master Leonard Cohen, today's movie is Secretary, directed by Steven Shainberg...one of my favorites.



And Mr. Cohen's Im Your Man is the perfect song in the movie. And the perfect song for the perfect man...not that Mr. Spader is my dream man by any stretch of the imagination in this movie.