The Two Kitchens

                           

Donalda's  Kitchen

So it's true - after years of denying it to my friends, myself and my immediate family - I have become a true Italian girl -- I am currently in the process of designing a "lower lever" kitchen -- i.e., the cellar kitchen that all good Italian girls have for their "heavy" cooking.  To my husband I am calling it a pantry, but I really know deep down inside it is really my basement kitchen (girl cave so to speak).

Just to explain a little - I have four children -- all boys, all TEENAGE BOYS, which means that all my local food stores know me by name and a couple actually send me Christmas cards.

My Dad was Italian; my mother wasn't but became an excellent Italian cook.  I grew up in a mostly Italian town - so yes I know all the "rules" and traditions -- those of you with the same background know what I mean, those of you who didn't well...like my non- Italian husband it takes time to learn.

Sunday dinner, gravy on the stove, Christmas Eve, Easter bread, etc, etc, -- the Sunday morning sound of veal cutlets being pounded out thinner to bread and fry later on in the day.

Basically I learned by example that an Italian's role in life is to feed people. A Lot. We can't help it.

So anyway back to the reasons for starting a blog -- I have a niece that is a year younger than myself - and all our lives we have been foodies, love all types of food, love stories about food - if I need a recipe or have a kitchen emergency -- she is my "person" - a quick telephone call and problem solved.  Since we live in separate states blogging about our culinary adventures seems like a great idea.
(also cuts down on the telephone bill)

Gina's  Kitchen

 Auntie, 

Obviously I share the same crazy family background and it's true that everyone in our family cooks, albeit with varying degrees of proficiency (and no, I'm not naming names).  We thought everyone lived this way: backyard vegetable gardens on any patch of land that wasn't concrete, homemade sauce always at the ready, and a refrigerator full of "leftovers" in case anyone was hungry.  And really, doesn't everyone make wine and cure sausage in their basement?  

 I also have to confess that I am to cookbooks what Imelda Marcos (remember her?) is to shoes: I have rarely met a cookbook I didn't like and continue to buy WAY too many.  I have a problem with self-restraint: it's what my friend Ellen calls cBad - cookbook acquisition disorder - an affliction from which she also suffers.  I'm embarrassed to say how many I have, and my collection is threatening to take over my house, possibly forcing my family to seek alternative living arrangements.  Fortunately, my partner in crime (Auntie D) is equally obsessed, and we will be cooking our way through our respective book collections and bragging/lamenting the results.

Stay tuned for more news.  Who knows what we'll cook next.