Monthly Archives: December 2005

Pizza with Lisa

Pizza tasted so good last night. Lisa came with us and she was truly on a roll.
“Driving back from work today I was thinking of new kinds of Christmas decorations that would sell like hot cakes.”
“Did you come up with anything?”
“Oh yeah, I came across a really great idea. You know those white lighted deer people have in their yards and the deer turn their heads?”
“Yes”
“Well, I was thinking HUMPING DEER!”
“What?!”
“Copulating white Christmas reindeer– and they can even move with it, if you know what I mean.”
“Are you serious?”
My father at this point interrupts us.
“That’s a great idea, I would buy two sets, one for the front yard and one for the backyard.”
“Thanks Daddy!”
“Anytime Puppy.”

It gets better. After dinner, as we were driving home, my dad asked us if we wanted to stop for cannoli’s. We were full so we decided not to get any.
“You know, Donna, we should make cannoli one day,” says my mother.
“Why do you say that to Donna and not to me, Mom?”
“Because Donna is my helper and you are your father’s helper.”
“Right Lisa,” says dad, “You help me build things.”
“Okay Dad, let’s build a wooden cannoli and shove it up their butts!”

She keeps me in stitches.

Thanks Ray!

The heat pump is installed and it is finally all nice and toasty inside the donnavilla! This evening I am going to DeLorenzo’s with my parents. I hope Lisa will join us but she’s usually too tired after working all day. Lisa’s kids are putting on some Kwanzaa pageant tomorrow and she asked me to come and see it. It should be fun, I am thinking.

I CAN’T WAIT TO EAT PIZZA!!!!!!

In a Lonely Place

I posted an entry on John’s blog yesterday. We ended up watching In a Lonely Place. I can’t say much about it because I fell asleep almost immediately. That’s what happens when the first part of the evening is spent watching John watch Kraftwerk/Skinny Puppy/etc.. videos on Rhapsody. I got something out of the deal too. I used his Mac to search for Red River Rock by the Silicon Teens. (I haven’t forgotten Nathan, just haven’t found it yet.) By the time we put in In a Lonely Place, I was zonked from Industrial band videos, a day full of shopping, and glasses of Hot Buttered Rum and White Creme de Menthe. I slept well.

Today, as Ray installs my new heat pump, I am going to clean my closet and go through the stack of mail and papers in my office. Already I feel as if this day is going to be just as productive as yesterday!

Santa’s in town

Lisa and I went shopping this morning. It was such a productive excursion! I bought presents for almost everyone on my list! Not only that but I also wrapped everything once I got home! That means I am practically finished with all things Christmas.

Tomorrow Ray comes to install my new heat pump. I was in the parlor just yesterday and the heat came on and there wasn’t any loud banging noise.
“Lisa, what’s going on with the heat, there isn’t any noise.”
“Oh, didn’t I tell you?”
“Tell me what?”
“It appears to have fixed itself.”
“I have a man coming on Thursday to install a new one and you are telling me the old one suddenly works?”
“Yeah but I figure a new one is always better”
I just about imploded. I called my dad and he told me that I still need a new heat pump and although it suddenly appears to be working okay there is still something wrong with it. I feel a little better.

Too bad Santa’s elves don’t make heat pumps. Or install hard wood flooring. Or build decks. Or get a full-sized bed down a chimney.

UGH!

I went SHOPPING today! It was nice getting out of the house. Mom and I went to Value City, TJMaxx, and Kohls. Almost all my gifts are purchased. Mom said she wouldn’t mind shopping tomorrow as well. I think she had fun!

This evening I realized that I never went to the Christkindlmarkt in Bethlehem! I don’t think it’s too late. Maybe if I get my car back on Thursday, I can go on Friday. WAIT! It is too late. I just checked the Web site and the last day was the 18th. BAH HUMBUG!

If you found a bug in a restaurant would you report it to the Board of Health? Recently I was dining at a favorite restaurant of mine and I found a bug (a big ugly one) crawling along the wall. I told the manager and his reaction was odd. He got kinda riled up and kept repeating that the Board of Health was recently in and gave them a good rating. I don’t think I can ever go back. I still feel queasy just thinking about it. At least it wasn’t on my plate, I guess.

Mother’s Pumpkin Pie

My grandmother clipped this recipe from a newspaper many many many years ago. Recently my mother found it and I have transcribed it word for word.

(Makes 2 deep 9-inch pies or three 8-inch pies)

Make your flakiest crust and line two pie pans with it. Let it refrigerate while you make the filling.

Empty 1 quart pumpkin pulp in to a big bowl. Into it stir 1 quart rich milk (half whole milk and half evaporated milk is a fine combination). Also stir in 1 cup sugar mixed with 1 tablespoon flour, 1/4 teaspoon salt, 1 teaspoon cinnamon and 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg. Some folk also add about 1/4 cup applejack or brandy. My mother used 1 teaspoon vanilla. Thoroughly mix in yolks of 5 small eggs and then taste the mixture. It should be definitely too sweet. If not add more sugar. Pumpkin absorbs sugar. When too sweet before baking, it will be just right afterward. Beat the whites of the eggs until they almost peak. Sir in well. Pull out the middle rack of 350 degree F oven and place crust-lined pans on it. Then pour and ladle filling into them, filling as deeply as possible. The filling shrinks when cooled. Carefully push rack back in place.

Bake pies about 60 minutes until outside edge portion is set. Remove racks to cool. Like custard pies, they have enough heat in them when the outside edge is firm to finish baking the center as they cool. While still warm, dredge top with well-mixed combination of 1/2 cup confectioner’s sugar, 1 teaspoon cinnamon and about 1/4 teaspoon (or to your own taste) cloves.

Properly pumpkin pie shouldn’t be cut until it has cooled and “set” a bit.

My grandmother added ¾ cup shredded coconut to the mix. She also noted on the clipping that rhubarb squash and butternut squash work equally well with this recipe.

Polly-O Speedy Ziti

1 pound ziti (or any large cut macaroni)
1 cup POLLY-O All natural Part-Skim Ricotta Cheese
2 cups (16 oz.) of your favorite tomato sauce
6 oz. Polly-O Natural Part-Skim Mozzarella Cheese, diced or grated
4 oz. Polly-O Natural Part-Skim Mozzarella Cheese, sliced
1/4 cup (2 oz.) Polly-O 100% Grated Parmesan or Romano Cheese
Salt & Pepper to taste

1. Cook macaroni as directed on package. Drain. Combine ricotta and tomato sauce. Pour over macaroni and blend.

2. Add diced mozzarella, salt and pepper, toss to mix. Place in 2 qt. casserole, cover with thin slices of mozzarella and sprinkle with Parmesan Cheese.

3. Bake 15 minutes, uncovered, in preheated 2=350 degree F oven until lightly browned.

Makes 6 servings.

Yahoo

Ray’s coming Thursday. That means I am free today. Mom is coming over. We’re going SHOPPING! (Put on your Sunday best, kids! We’re going to SEARS!)

ray

I tried to watch TV last night. After living without it for so long, I find that I no longer can take the inanity of the shows. I just flip through channels and then realize how useless it is and I turn it off.

I called Ray and left a message. I hope he calls me back and tells me when he is coming. Mom said she was open to shopping today and that would be great. I just want to get out of the house.