It Comes From a Can?!?

For those of you who work or who have ever worked the night shift you understand that there is a special kind of person that is able to work these shifts. We are an unusual bunch and  no matter what field you work in you'll notice it. We are not bad, maybe a little crazy to work when we should be sleeping, but if it weren't for us most things wouldn't get done.

That being said, working the night shift got me my topic for the evening. we definitely get some weird topics of conversation at night. Recently I was talking about what my kids were having for dinner...Hot dogs, baked beans, and french fries, and my co worker asked...what about brown bread. Funny my husband said the same thing before I left for work.

So what about Brown Bread.

If you are not from New England, you probably don't even know what it is. Essentially it is a molasses bread in a can. Why would anyone have bread in a can?!? I wondered that myself, I never really thought about it before, just enjoyed it every so often.

So for my non New England friends and for those you who have never tried Brown Bread, here's your history lesson for the week.

Brown bread has an interesting history. When the Puritans first settled in this area their preferred grain for baking was wheat, but they soon learned that corn grew much better in the New England soil. According to historians, the average farm produced 100 bushels of corn to 18 bushels of wheat. This ratio only got worse after a wheat fungus called "the blast" arrived. Ultimately, New Englanders needed to import wheat from other parts of the country, which made it quite expensive.

Although wheat didn't grow well here, a less popular European grain did - rye. Along with cornmeal, rye flour became the main ingredient for the bread baked by common people, and also gave it it's name, Rye and Indian. This name later became condensed to one word, Ryaninjun. The term Indian here refers to Indian corn, or maize.

The Puritans made Ryaninjun by mixing the two flours with some leavening and liquid, and forming them into dome shaped loaves (similar to modern soda bread). Ryaninjun loaves were baked on oak leaves or cabbage leaves, which imparted an interesting flavor. In the autumn small children were sent out to gather oak leaves specifically for baking bread.

In the 1820s, Ryaninjun also began to be called brown bread, and the two terms became interchangeable. At this time recipes began to include molasses, and called for steaming the bread in cylindrical molds rather than baking.

In the earliest twenty-first century the name Ryaninjun has disappeared, but many recipes still call for steaming the bread, often in coffee cans.

Information obtained from America's Founding Food: The Story of New England Cooking.

So there you have it, who'd a thunk bread in a can would have such an interesting history. If you really want to try it and you are not in the New England area to buy it, here's a recipe.

• Butter for greasing loaf pans or coffee cans
• 1/2 cup (heaping) all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup (heaping) rye flour
• 1/2 cup (heaping) finely ground corn meal (must be finely ground)
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon allspice
• 1/2 cup molasses (any kind)
• 1 cup buttermilk
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract (optional)
• 1/2 cup raisins (optional)

• One metal 6-inch tall by 4-inch diameter coffee can, or a 4x8 loaf pan

Directions

1 You can either make this in the oven or the stove top, and you can either make this with a loaf pan or a metal coffee can. If you are using the oven method, preheat the oven to 325° and bring a large pot of water to a boil. If you are using the stove top method, set the steamer rack inside a tall stockpot and fill the pot with enough water to come 1/3 of the way up the sides of your coffee can. Turn the burner on to medium as you work.

2 Grease a coffee can or small loaf pan with butter. In a large bowl, mix the all-purpose flour, rye flour, corn meal, baking powder and soda, salt and allspice. Add the raisins if using.

3 In another bowl, mix together the buttermilk and vanilla extract if using. Whisk in the molasses. Pour the wet ingredients into the dry and stir well with a spoon.

4 Pour the batter into the coffee can or loaf pan taking care that the batter not reach higher than 2/3 up the sides of the container.

5 Cover the loaf pan or coffee can tightly with foil. If you are using the stove top method, set the can in the pot, cover and turn the heat to high. If you are using the oven method, find a high-sided roasting pan that can hold the coffee can or loaf pan. Pour the boiling water into the roasting pan until it reaches one third up the side of the coffee can or loaf pan. Put the roasting pan into the oven. Steam the bread for at least 2 hours and 15 minutes. Check to see if the bread is done by inserting a toothpick into it. If the toothpick comes out clean, you're ready. If not, recover the pan and cook for up to another 45 minutes.

6 Remove from the oven and let cool for 10 minutes before putting on a rack. Let the bread cool for 1 hour before turning out of the container.

7 Slice and eat plain, or toast in a little butter in a frying pan.

I know this...In My Life some things I grew up with are just plain weird, but learning why, is pretty fun!

My Quest

As most of you may know I am very proud of my Italian heritage, I am also very proud to be an American. 

I have been very lucky over the past 2 years to have been able to travel back to Italy twice. The first trip back in October of 2010 was with my 2 brothers, and it had been a very long time since we had been there, for me it was 1989, for my brother David it had been 1996, and for my brother Will it had been since 1974. Needless to say it was a very emotional trip for the 3 of us. The second was with my husband and kids in April of 2011.

My aunt, Me, David, Will, and my Uncle

Venice, April 2011

Both my parents were born in Italy and immigrated to the United States shortly after they were married. I often asked my mother why they decided to leave everything and move to a country where they did not speak the language and didn't know anyone. I always got the same answer, "to give us a better life". My parents worked very hard to learn the language and were very proud when they became US citizens. 

Mom and Dad's Wedding Picture 1958

After my father passed away in 1977 I always thought we would move back to Italy, but my brothers were already teenagers and my mother was always thinking of us, but I knew she longed to go back.

It was after our trip in April 2011 that I began my quest. We had such a wonderful time, my children wanted to live there, and Michael also thought it would be something he would like to try. 

Fishing at my cousin Sauro's house

A visit to the Lamborghini Factory

Enjoying some wonderful gelato, from our favorite gelateria Il Presidente in Renazzo

Some of my family, Easter 2011

I wanted to see what it would take to become an Italian citizen, while still keeping my American citizenship, basically hold dual citizenship. While the US does not recognize dual citizenship, they do not penalize you for having it.

I found a web site that (actually several) that helped me start. I found out that while my dad renounced his Italian citizenship, my mother did not until after myself and my brothers were born. This was good news, it meant that basically we were already Italian citizens, and just needed to provide the documents needed to prove this.

So off I went. I obtained both my parents Naturalization papers, through the Records of Vital Statistics. Then I went into Boston got copies of mom and dads death certificates, my birth certificate, the boys birth certificates, and our marriage certificate. These documents have to be obtained in Boston, because they are certified copies and they cannot be from the town you were born in (crazy huh). Then a hop, skip and a jump over to the Secretary of States office to have an Apostle done. An Apostle is basically a form stating that the certified copy is certified!?!

Next I needed my parents birth certificates and marriage certificate. Since they were both born and married in Italy, (this is where most people have a difficult time) I sent a quick email to my cousin who was able to get the documents and send them to me.

I started the whole process last June and by now it was late October and decided to wait until after the holidays to make my call to the Italian consulate.

Fast forward to March, my laziness has gotten the best of me. I still haven't called the consulate. I think part of the reason I haven't called is because Michael constantly reads the forums about experiences people have had at the consulate in Boston, and frankly I was a little nervous, some of them were not good.

So I called the other day, the person I spoke to, don't know if I ever got his name or not, (I was nervous) was very kind, asked me a few questions, I think, or I hope I impressed him, and my appointment has been set for the end of April.

If all my paperwork is correct, I should be good to go and learn about my Quest for  Italian citizenship by the summer.

European Union member states

As I said before, I am very proud to be an American, but doing this will also give my children a wonderful opportunity in their futures. In this world today, to be competitive in the workplace, you have to be able to look ahead. If my children ever have the good fortune to work in another country, for whatever the reason, I am providing them with that opportunity. Even if we never move to Italy, providing them with their heritage will also give them the advantage to work in any European Union country without obstacles, and my children are the future.

I know this....In My Life my quests may be large or small, but in the end they will always have a personal meaning to me and my family.

40 Life Lessons from 40 Years

“We sit silently and watch the world around us. This has taken a lifetime to learn. It seems only the old are able to sit next to one another and not say anything and still feel content. The young, brash and impatient, must always break the silence. It is a waste, for silence is pure. Silence is holy. It draws people together because only those who are comfortable with each other can sit without speaking. This is the great paradox.” 
― Nicholas Sparks, The Notebook

I don't claim to know it all, and if you ask my teenage son, I don't know anything, but I have learned a few things over the past 40 years of my life, that sometimes I forget about, and sometimes I reflect upon. What seems so important in your teenage years means nothing as an adult, and what is important in your 20's is not so vital in your 30's. I can only hope as I travel further into my 40's I will treasure every moment and learn even more.


1. Always swallow your pride to say you’re sorry. Being too proud to apologize is never worth it — your relationship suffers for no good benefit.

2. Being an adult can be fun when you are acting like a child.

3. Love has nothing to do with looks, but everything to do with time, trust, and interest.

4. Laughing, crying, joy and anger… All are a vital.  All make us human.

5. The greatest truths in life are uncovered with simple, steady awareness.

6. Greed will bury even the lucky eventually.

7. Bad things do happen to good people. There is nothing we can do about it.

8. Paving your own road is intelligent only if nobody has gone exactly where you are going.

9. Uncertainty is caused by a lack of knowledge.  Hesitation is the product of fear.

10. Memories are priceless. Write them down daily. Even if they seem trivial.

11. Time heals all wounds… regardless of how you feel right now.

12. Most of the time what you are looking for is right in front of you.

13. Your health is your life.

14. Love yourself first. 

15. Nobody has it all figured out
Almost everyone has problems and puts on a brave face – don’t presume they have it easy. You see of each person what they let you see. You have no idea what they are going through or what they had to put up with to be in a situation that you can consider “easy”.

16. There’s no shame in saying “I don’t know”
There is a stigma in some cultures to admit ignorance about a particular topic. Don’t dance around the issue – just say I don’t know. Honesty is way smarter.

17. Chance is a gift, so act on chance when given the opportunity.

18. Two people can look at the same thing and see something totally different.

19. Kindness and hard work will take you further than intelligence.

20. Marry your best friend.

21. Take lots of pictures.  Someday you’ll be really glad you did.

22. Carelessness is the root of failure.

23. Love isn’t “all” you need, but if you don’t have it in some form, your life will be very empty
We don’t need love to survive, but without it there will be a huge hole inside you. Make sure that every day you have someone (family, friends, lover) to remind you that you are special. If you postpone this part of your life until later, after you get or do that thing you want to do, you will continue in that lonely path indefinitely.

24. Your actions now create memories you will reminisce and talk about in your elder years.

25. Take your time
Enjoy every bite of food, walk at a slow pace and take in your surroundings, let the other person finish their side of the conversation while you listen attentively, and stop in the middle of your day, close your eyes or look at nature and become aware of your breathing.

26. Stepping outside of your comfort zone will put things into perspective from an angle you can’t grasp now.

27. Motivation comes in short bursts.  Act while it’s hot.

28. The most important lessons in life can never be expressed in black and white, but must be experienced
When most of the world’s information is at our fingertips, a mouse click away, it makes it feel like we don’t need to experience any more. Movies, books, or “living vicariously through someone else” means we can apparently get the general gist of anything.
This is false. Experience is the greatest teacher of all. Stop reading about or watching the world passively and start living it.

29. Purposely ignoring the obvious is like walking backwards toward the enemy.

30. Taking ownership of failure builds the foundation for success.

31. First impressions are completely worthless 50% of the time.

32. Personal glory lasts forever.

33. It’s OK to be different.

34. Stop trying to impress people by being someone you're not because in the end, you'll lose yourself.

35. If you never act, you will never know for sure.

36. The refrigerator light doesn’t always stay on.

37. There are few joys that equal a good book, a good walk, a good hug, or a good friend. All are free.

38. The word "Family" rarely ends up meaning blood related, and usually ends up becoming who we allow them to be. 


39. Life is exceedingly brief. You might feel like there’s a huge mass of time ahead of you, but it passes much faster than you think. Your kids grow up so fast you get whiplash. You get gray hairs before you’re done getting your bearings on life. 

40. I have a lot left to learn. If I’ve learned anything, it’s that I know almost nothing, and that I’m often wrong about what I think I know. Life has many lessons left to teach me, and I’m looking forward to them all.

I know this...In My Life I will learn many lessons and the ones I have already learned will stay with me forever.

Food, Glorious Food

Since today is supposed to be fun Friday, and I have nothing really fun to post, I thought I would talk about food. What's more fun than food?

Ever grab a glass of orange juice first thing in the morning, and actually thought you poured yourself a glass of milk, that first big gulp is always gross, until your brain catches up and you realize it was orange juice.

That sort of happened to Brian when we were in Italy, my aunt made ravioli and Brian thought they were cheese or meat filled, not filled with squash. So needless to say he didn't like them, but this week he asked me if I could make those? Could I make those, sure I can!!

So today on the dinner menu was roasted butternut squash ravioli with a brown butter sage sauce and chewy Oreo bars for dessert.

I have never actually made ravioli before, and just conquered the tortellini thing, so I was ready to try this. 

I first melted 1 tbsp butter and sautéed 3 tbsp of minced shallots.

Added about 1 c of squash puree, and cooked until the puree dried out a bit. Then added 3tbsp of heavy cream and cooked another minute or two. Removed it from the heat added salt and pepper, 3tbsp grated Parmesan cheese and some nutmeg. And let the whole thing cool.

While it was cooling I made the dessert, this is the easiest thing ever. It's like an Oreo flavored rice crispy treat. Line an 8x8 pan with foil. Take 1 package of Oreo's smoosh them with a rolling pin. Then take 1 package of large marshmallows and 5 tbsp butter put them in a microwave safe bowl and cook until melted...about 2 minutes. Mix the marshmallow mixture and the Oreo's together and pour into the pan, let set for 15 min. Done!!

OK so dessert is done, ravioli filling is cooled it's time to make the pasta dough. Making pasta dough is really easy to do and much better for you than the stuff in the box, I really don't know why I don't make it more often.

 I used 2 1/3 cups semolina flour, 2 eggs 1 tbsp olive oil and 2/3 c warm water. I started it on the counter and finish it in the mixer.

Next I had to roll out the dough, and you definitely need a pasta machine for this, but worth the price you pay for it. 

I don't have a fancy ravioli cutter, I just used a pastry knife and a fork to make the edges pretty.

The last step was boil some water, and cook the ravioli for about 4 minutes, and while that was happening, I made the brown butter sauce, using 8 tbsp butter and some fresh sage leaves. I melted the butter until it started turning slightly brown and added the sage leaves.

When the ravioli were done cooking, I drained them and poured the brown butter sauce all over them and topped them with Parmesan cheese. Yummy deliciousness, if I do say so my self!

Dinner was a hit, everyone loved it, even with Matt who doesn't like squash (we didn't tell him it was squash until after he said it was really good).

I know this...In My Life everything I make may not be a hit, but the ones that are make me smile.

Mom, I need some money

My house is a lot of work. You all know what that's like I'm sure. And to boot I work a full time job, that also includes working some weekends and they are 12 hour shifts.

Between the kids, the dogs, ferrets, and Michael, my house rapidly turns into a pit. I don't blame Michael for not wanting to clean on the weekends that I work, because he's entitled to relax, but weekends are the worst, and for the record, Michael does help around the house and I think I would go crazy if he didn't.

I clean something, and 5 minutes later it's a mess again. 

I go from room to room to room to room and back to the first room to discover it's in disarray. Again. 

It's hard to keep up. And I'm always the only one who seems to see the mess. 

Yet it's always there, and very rarely is it my mess. 

It's time for a change. 

I ask the boys to do things around the house, but they rarely follow through, and Brian has been asking for a chore list for quite a while, but that usually lasts a few weeks and then he's all set, until he runs out of money.

I have stopped buying the boys anything unless it's for a birthday, Christmas or a special occasion, and they only time they have money is when the tooth fairy pays a visit or they help around the house, but they seem to want something for nothing. Not anymore!

I scoured the Internet for different ideas that the kids and Michael & I could maintain.

This time I was determined to find something that would work for us.

So I put together a Kids Choice financial reward system. 

The intent for this system, is for the kids to be able to earn some money, by choosing how they do it. 

So now the kids have the opportunity to make and save their own money. 

I bought 2 packages of the Large Metal Rim Tags.

I bought, some push pins, and a cork board.

I wrote each chore on a tag, and assigned a dollar amount.

You give them chore options. They pick the chores they want to complete.

The kids can pick and choose the chores they want to do. (And they can't each do the same chore, so they have to negotiate with each other if there is conflict. Or it's first come, first serve.)

Once they have completed their chore (after approval from Mom or Dad), they put the tag in their assigned jar.

Friday is payday. On this day we add up what they have accomplished during the past week, and give them their money!

There are some chores that don't need to be done everyday or even weekly, so I just put those tags off to the side, and put them back on the cork board when I need them done.

Some of the chores on the list:
Vacuum the stairs.

Clean your bathroom.

Empty dishwasher.

Feed the dogs.

Vacuum the living room.

Help with dinner.

Take out the trash.

Parent's choice, for those other tasks that come up from time to time.
The possibilities are endless!!

There are certain things I do not believe the kids should be rewarded or paid for, brushing your teeth, combing your hair, picking up dirty clothes to name a few, that should be part of your daily routine.

I hope this works, and I don't hear "mom, I need some money" and most importantly my house stays clean.

I know this.....In My Life there are good ideas and really bad ones, I hope this one stays in the good idea pile!

St Patrick's Day, and a Little More

McQuillan walked into a bar and ordered martini after martini, each time removing the olives and placing them in a jar. When the jar was filled with olives and all the drinks consumed, the Irishman started to leave. "S'cuse me," said a customer, who was puzzled over what McQuillan had done. "What was that all about?" "Nothing," said the Irishman, "my wife just sent me out for a jar of olives."

OK it is that time of year... March, and pretty soon we will be approaching St. Patrick's Day, filled with boiled dinners and beer or as some like to call it amateur day, of coarse the joke is if you are Irish you're not an amateur. I am not Irish, nor do I pretend to be either, I can do a pretty good Irish brogue though. I am Italian through and through, and I actually love my Irish friends, and love to give them a hard time....because they are Irish, sorry guys, but the joke is on you.

Weather you are Irish or not, does anyone really know anything about St. Patrick? And why we celebrate the day on March 17? I always thought it was because no one knew exactly when St Patrick died since they were too intoxicated to remember if it was March 8th or 9th so they just added the days together to come up with March 17th....OK I will stop with the jokes and provide you with my history lesson for the month.

Saint Patrick is the patron saint and national apostle of Ireland. St Patrick is credited with bringing Christianity to Ireland. Most of what is known about him comes from his two works; the Confessio, a spiritual autobiography, and his Epistola, a denunciation of British mistreatment of Irish Christians. Saint Patrick described himself as a "most humble-minded man, pouring forth a continuous paean of thanks to his Maker for having chosen him as the instrument whereby multitudes who had worshipped idols and unclean things had become the people of God."

Saint Patrick is most known for driving the snakes from Ireland. It is true there are no snakes in Ireland, but there probably never have been - the island was separated from the rest of the continent at the end of the Ice Age. As in many old pagan religions, serpent symbols were common and often worshipped. Driving the snakes from Ireland was probably symbolic of putting an end to that pagan practice. While not the first to bring Christianity to Ireland, it is Patrick who is said to have encountered the Druids at Tara and abolished their pagan rites. The story holds that he converted the warrior chiefs and princes, baptizing them and thousands of their subjects in the "Holy Wells" that still bear this name.

There are several accounts of Saint Patrick's death. One says that Patrick died at Saul, Downpatrick, Ireland, on March 17, 460 A.D. His jawbone was preserved in a silver shrine and was often requested in times of childbirth, epileptic fits, and as a preservative against the "evil eye." Another account says that St. Patrick ended his days at Glastonbury, England and was buried there. The Chapel of St. Patrick still exists as part of Glastonbury Abbey. Today, many Catholic places of worship all around the world are named after St. Patrick, including cathedrals in New York and Dublin city

Why Saint Patrick's Day?

Saint Patrick's Day has come to be associated with everything Irish: anything green and gold, shamrocks and luck. Most importantly, to those who celebrate its intended meaning, St. Patrick's Day is a traditional day for spiritual renewal and offering prayers for missionaries worldwide. 

So, why is it celebrated on March 17th? One theory is that that is the day that St. Patrick died. Since the holiday began in Ireland, it is believed that as the Irish spread out around the world, they took with them their history and celebrations. The biggest observance of all is, of course, in Ireland. With the exception of restaurants and pubs, almost all businesses close on March 17th. Being a religious holiday as well, many Irish attend mass, where March 17th is the traditional day for offering prayers for missionaries worldwide before the serious celebrating begins.

The Shamrock

"Shamrock" is the common name for several different kinds of three-leafed clovers native to Ireland.

The shamrock was chosen Ireland's national emblem because of the legend that St. Patrick had used it to illustrate the doctrine of the Trinity. The Trinity is the idea that God is really three-in-one: The Father, The Son and The Holy Spirit.

Patrick demonstrated the meaning of the Three-in-One by picking a shamrock from the grass growing at his feet and showing it to his listeners. He told them that just as the shamrock is one leaf with three parts, God is one entity with three Persons.

The Irish have considered shamrocks as good-luck symbols since earliest times, and today people of many other nationalities also believe they bring good luck.

Erin Go Braugh

The first thing you need to understand is the trinity of sisters known as Albana, Banba and of course Erin. The original term of this statement was Banba Go Brea. Banba being one of the original names of Ireland. It was used primarily as a battle cry especially during the Norman invasions. The Scottish also used there own form of this cry and it was Albana Go Braugh. Albana being one of the names for Scotland. To answer the rest of your question the name Erin being used as a term for Ireland only started to come about in the 1200's though by the time it was used in the Fenian rebellion it was well known. In terms of what it actually means that's more complected due to the fact that Irish words in general have about ten different meanings and the only way to know what is being said is to understand the context it's being used in go brea can mean good, wonderful, excellent, etc.. but in this context it means only what the person is using the words for it's either a rebel cry, a statement of the love of Ireland itself.

Leprechauns

The mythical leprechaun described as being a little old man somewhat aloof and unfriendly. Live alone and pass the time by mending the shoes of Irish fairies. The legend is that the fairies pay the leprechauns for their work with golden coins, which the "little people" collect in large pots--the famous "pots of gold" .

Green

So why do we all wear green?

Green is the color of spring, the shamrock, and is connected with hope and nature. Green because of Ireland often called the "Emerald Isle" due to the lush natural greenery found on the island.

The Blarney Stone

The Blarney Stone is a stone set in the wall of the Blarney Castle tower in the Irish village of Blarney.

The word "Blarney" has come to mean nonsense or smooth flattering talk in almost any language. Tradition says that if you pay a visit to Blarney Castle in County Cork and kiss the Blarney Stone, you'll receive the gift of eloquence and powers of persuasion, a true master of the "gift of gab."

The origins of the Blarney Stone's magical properties aren't clear, but one legend says that an old woman cast a spell on the stone to reward a king who had saved her from drowning. Kissing the stone while under the spell gave the king the ability to speak sweetly and convincingly.

So there you have it all you may ever have wanted to know about St. Patrick's Day and the history around it, from a true Italian!

I know this.....In My Life I may be an Italian, but it doesn't hurt to have some proud Irish friends! Happy St. Patrick's Day!