Living Proof

There's a lot to be said about what kind of energy that goes into whatever it is you do, especially cooking. See, I love to cook, so all my heart and soul goes into whatever I'm making. Another personal touch I do is praying over my food while it cooks. I make sure I have upbeat music going on and I'm usually in a great mood. The only time I order takeout, is if I'm not feeling so hot -- whether physically or emotionally. I truly believe whatever energy you have brewing inside you will also reflect in whatever you are cooking. Again, this can be through a physical ailment or some sort of emotional distress. I'll give both examples: I once got very ill the same day I ate Pizza Hut when I was younger. Still to this day, I cannot even look at Pizza Hut's pies. They make me nauseous. And now, I never eat pizza, period. I just don't like it. On an emotional scale, I remember my partner and I had a huge blowout at home. I believe it was one of our worst argument...

Every family has their little secrets. Some are 'skeletons in the closet' type of secrets, and some are well, just to hide the little insanities that brew within. I'll start out by saying I love my mom. I'm definitely a "mama's girl", and at the risk of being yelled at, I have to come out and let others know about her little quirks. (I have mine as well which I will list.)  I wasn't going to write about this until I paid her a little visit this morning while my oldest sister was there enjoying coffee and muffins with her. We started talking about how the in laws on my sister's side loves our family and thinks we're "normal", compared to what they have seen. We're quite the opposite and very dysfunctional in a way which I wouldn't change one thing about it. I find it a blessing. It gives us hours of laughter. When I walked inside the kitchen area, mom and my sis offered me a muffin. My mom keeps a pile of little paper plate...

As you probably know, I have many passions in life. Being Italian, one of them is food. I love to cook, prepare, barbecue, and of course, consume. I especially love entertaining when friends and family come over. Over the recent years, I have discovered new recipes, most of them are my own, and some are bits and pieces taken from either Mom & Dad, or simply learned from a cooking show. I always add my own spin to it, which to me, makes it my own. So, I decided to make another blog called, “ Deb’s Cucina ”, where you can get all my recipes and stories of where it originated from. All the photos and stories are all my own and now, shared with you. Most of my passions or hobbies in life usually involved something artistic, like either song writing, playing guitar, photography & filmography, but I figured the one hobby that may benefit more people besides myself would be sharing my recipes. Depending on your taste buds, you may enjoy this blog. My mother and I have one thing in com...

Besides writing, playing guitar and photography, one of my favorite things to do is cook. (Lucky Madelene, right?) Another little hobby of mine is taking too many home videos. Some of my friends and family have had just about enough of it. However, here's a great way to make calamari diablo. It's easier than it looks! Don't drool on your monitor.

As most of my readers know, I live a little too close to comfort to the parental units. I live in the apartment upstairs from them. It’s interesting and sometimes it can be the same scenario as “Everybody Loves Raymond”. I’m the baby of the family; therefore, I’m treated as such. Fun. Sometimes I still feel as though I’m thirteen years old when I leave my parents’ house to go somewhere else. “Where ya goin’ Deb?” My mom calls out, as I’ve already said goodbye to her for the fifth time. “Oh just out with some friends.” Not elaborating too much on my whereabouts. It’s not like I’m out dealing crack or anything or that I live somewhere out in the ghetto. Now, the funniest thing is, my mother says this certain phase that’s so funny when you think about it. As soon as I walk in, I hear, “Ya home?” Sometimes I bust on her and just tell her it’s all in her head, but I go along with it and say ‘yes’, because it’s what I’ve been hearing all my life ever since I was a kid. I also hear the famo...