Text 25726, 72 rader
Skriven 2009-07-07 00:41:04 av Janis Kracht (1:261/38)
  Kommentar till text 25707 av MICHAEL LOO (1:123/140)
Ärende: picnic stuff 789
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Hi Michael and all,

Boy, the picnic must be getting close, wish we could make it..but it's not to
be this year.  My schedule has been incredibly busy between ZC stuff, MOM-stuff
<bg>,grandkid-over-the-summer-stuff, and dog-stuff.. well you know... but I did
want to mention one neat thing that struck me this weekend.. well it made me
laugh but I thought it was neat (grin). Bear with me on this one...

For years, I mean since I was a little girl in the kitchen helping my mommy
cook, my Mom would say to me as she was adding parsley to the Lasagne or
ravioli ricotta, "My Mother always used Mint, not Parsley". It meant nothing to
me... I don't know why.  It didn't seem to matter. All I'd ever seen cooks in
the Italian kitchens of my family  use (my father's sister's were the 'cooks')
was garlic (lots) and parsley. No one ever used Mint. No one ever even had MINT
around ... but she always mentioned that (grin).

This weekend, my mom spent 3 days with her sister Carmeline in Scranton.. just
outside the city of Dunmore where they all grew up. So Angela and Carmeline
talked a great deal since it has been several years since they've seen each
other. It was really neat. I remember Grandma's house there in Dunmore
(grin)...

So Carmeline (my aunt) who is quite the mover these days at 87 (born on the
exact same day, but 3 years older than Angie and who still DRIVES *ouch!!*)
mentions that she made lasagne and meatballs for all of us for lunch.  "I put
mint in it", she said, "Like Mama".

My mother  (who looked so thrilled at that) looked at me and said yes, remember
I told you about that..

I told her I always wondered about that. And she then told me that my dad first
tasted her lasagne/ravioli (with mint) and he had said "what's wrong with
this?? it tastes.... funny"

That was the last time she used MINT in her cooking.

From then on it was parsley in the ricotta for the lasagna and ricotta for
everything.. (!) very sicillian, because that's what they use.  I hadn't
realized that until this weekend, seriously. It was the northern Italian side
of the family only that used mint - grandma Florence's mother's family was from
Naples, and were Jewelers (grin) and.... they cooked with MINT Lol.. NOT
PARSLEY (VBG).. well some parsley is ok, it's just it is not the same!!
(grin).. think of all those mint candies :) I'm dreaming haha

So now I am going to try to find out what kind of MINT grandma Florence used in
cooking.  I expect like parsley there may be different types. Flat-leaf, etc..
(spearmint, etc..?) Now it's going to drive me crazy. The one good thing is, in
my quest, most of GrandMa's family is living right here in the Binghamton area,
what is remaining of them, at least :( I hear my Great Uncle Bucky is a little
senile <grin> but my great great aunt Bernetta is all there <g>
>> Snicker, note to self, bring a revolving fan.  Do not brin cat as she
>> requires more bed space than us and Charlotte together.  Cats.  What
>> can ypu say?

> Do not bring cat as there are already two, which roam around
> the 2nd floor as if it were theirs, but for parties they are

Cats will at least be good entertainment ;)

Wish we could be there, hope you all have a great time!

The kitty we thought we'd adopt in the neighborhood didn't work out, so we're
still on the look out for a meowser.. the gartersnakes and toads are having a
field day in the yard.  Toby is TOTALLY terrified Lol :) what a joke of a dog
he is (g).. well, Matt is planning on taking him against my will (g) to
Baltimore when they move to Baltimore when  Alana goes to Gaucher college.. :)

Take care,
Janis

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