I don't know if you have noticed, but if you go back and look at previous blogs, there tends to me more comments when I talk about food. In my last blog Joanie reminded me that Grandma use to make stuffed peppers with anchovies. (I love anchovies. We'll have to do that next time!) Anyway, I thought the meatball picture would be stimulative. (Our family has macaroni and meatballs every Sunday. I LOVE the smell of meatballs being fried in olive oil on Sunday mornings.) Food is indeed one of life's pleasures.That's why I can't wait for my eating difficulties to end. It has become somewhat painful to swallow, so Yoko and I discussed the weekend menu tonight so she can go shopping for things I can swallow more easily. We decided on Mabodofu (a Chinese dish made with tofu) and fried rice; Indian curry; meatloaf; and pastina in tomato sauce. Suggestions for other easy to eat foods or dishes are welcome. The key ingredient is that the food can me eaten in small increments. It is taking me (a notoriously slow eater) twice as long as normal to finish a meal.
Aside from the eating and pain in my chest, I am feeling well. I have a sore in my mouth (which is a potential side effect from chemo). I am a bit tired and I don't feel 100% but I really can not complain. I am working every day, even if I don't accomplish very much.
Emotionally, I am a bit frustrated with people. So many of the elderly people I speak with on a daily basis are out in left field. I have to wonder what planet some of these people live on. Tonight I came home complaining about "stupid people" and Yoko reminded me that it could be worse -- I could be dealing idiots or morons, one or two levels down. It would be nice to just once have just a conversation with normal, reasonable people! I would love to give you a few examples here, but I need to have plausible deniability in case some of these people eventually read this website. No! Not YOU!
I have been giving a lot of thought as to who will be able to drive what car during Christmas. We will have six drivers in the house (each wanting to go in different directions) and we own only three cars. (I should emphasize that....I OWN...three cars.) I have also had to give a lot of thought to the sleeping arrangements. We will have six people staying in the house and we have three queen size bed.
So, what I am thinking is that we should assign who gets dibs on the cars based on who has slept where. So, for example, whoever volunteers to sleep with Grandma should have unfettered access to the Lexus....whoever gets a separate room and a bed get the Altima when and if it is available....that sort of thing. What do you say girls? (No one, of course, -- not even Grandma-- gets to drive my Acura. ) Come to think of it, five drivers will have to duke it out over the two cars.)
I am going to bed to dream of meatballs frying and the smell of tomato sauce cooking. God, I can't wait till Sunday!
13 comments:
Here we go talking about food again, but I can't help it. Meatballs, meatballs, meatballs-the best comfort food ever! You might think my childhood memories would be plenty to carry me through this warm feeling about meatballs, but I'd have to say it has been taken over by my son, Sam. I don't really associate them with my chilhood as much, I associate them with SAM. He talks about, requests and devours meatballs more than anyone in my family can or ever would. He fights over the last one and asks to have what ever left overs as a sandwhich the next day. One of the first times I remember him eating them when was Mom and Dad rented the beach house in the Carolinas...Sam was about 6 months old and Dad would laugh at the way he ate "mac and balls" as Janie would say. So Sam, my dear...you have carried on the TRADITION!! Salud!
I'll volunteer to sleep on the FLOOR. Does that give me access to the Lexus? hahahaha. We'll figure it out. Can't wait to take that Acura out for a spin!!!!!! XOXO Paula
P.S. I have FINALLY learned to make meatballs that don't taste like rubber.
I wanted to let you know that Grandma has volunteered to sleep on the couch as long as she can drive the Acura while she is here...
Actually, we have plenty of bedrooms as long as someone is willing to stay in my OTHER house on Bal Harbor.
I made meatballs the other day, and it tasted mostly like meatloaf...
Haha, Paula's comment made me laugh. You can really tell what our priorities are: I was going to say that I don't need a car at all as long as I get Jessie's bed!!
Which reminds me of the time that I caught Paula taking a "nap" (more like hibernating) across a stack of pillows at Grandmapa's house. I'm sure she'll be fine on the floor...
That is a 1 minute walk from Harpoons. You've got a deal. I am volunteering June to stay there with me.
Oh boy ... yet another food blog!
Yup ... apparently we all (we as in Cappiello's in general including inlaws ... I have it on good authority that Tommy doesn't cook too often) cook the "traditional" meals. I probably make sauce twice or three times a month, but when it's time to make meatballs I usually do a large, large batch and freeze what I don't serve that day (a large batch for me would be 3# of meat ++ ... I'm cooking generally for one and sometimes two, and on the weekends, three).
Linda-peggy: I think Janie called it "Rigs and Balls" ... "Mac and Balls" illicits a different vision. It's funny .. your description of Sammy and the m-balls ... I saw a recent pic of him and saw Dad. Remember how much fun it was to just watch Dad eat. I don't think I've ever seen anyone enjoy eating as much.
Tommy: I know you "traditionally" have "rigs and balls" on Sunday, mistakingly thinking we did as kids. Actually, I think Grandma C had that traditionally ... we had a more varied menu growing up. However, it appears that in your family, rigs and balls may be the Sunday dinner (Don't stop working out a lot, Brian !!)
I don't think Mom is going to need a car all that much while down there. She values life, and doesn't want to get involved in the stampeed for the keys. Anyway, if she's going to go out, I'm sure it's going to be with Paula, June, or Jesse to the latest club- and they would drive, no?
Hands down and without exception....nothing and I mean absolutely nothing beats macaroni and meatballs. Period. Sammy you the man!
When did you get the acura..david loves his. what house in bal harbor..elaborate.
Hi girls, fight nice.
xo
janie
Janie:
I got the Acura TSX in February. I turned in June's Scion (that Jessie was driving) and gave Yoko my Lexus, and Jessie got Mom's Altima. Then for our Wedding Anniversary I bought Yoko a new Lexus when the lease for the old one was up. So Yoko is driving a 2007 Lexus 350 and I have the 2007 Acura TSX. The Bal Harbor house is a house in PGI that I bought together with Ryan It is right across the street from Smith Barney. He needed a place to buy and this house was significantly discounted from market value. It is 2700 square feet, three bedroom, two and a half baths, two car garage on the water -- end of canal -- with a pool and less than 5 minutes to open water. I think in 10 years this house could be worth a lot more than we paid...I hope I am here to collect. The contract calls for Ryan has to buy me out if I die. He was suppose to get a life insurance policy on me but didn't. Opps. Anyway, if I die, he inherits my book of business, so he'll be able to afford to refinance the house and pay Yoko off. Ryan is living there on his own...so a couple of my girls staying there would be no problem...cept I probably SHOULD tell him!
Paula:
That is actually not a bad idea, as long as Ryan doesn't mind. I'll have to check and see if he has a bed in the back bedroom. If not, I can get him a bed for Christmas and check one more off the list. Grandma can have Jessie's room, Jessie can have the spare bedroom and you and June can go to Bal Harbor and have your own room...
NO WAY!! I don't want to go to Bal Harbor. That's 15 minutes away from mom's (or grandma's) cooking. I'd rather sleep on the floor
June, you don't want to try the fine dining I provide?
Frankie,
You're right. It is rigs and balls...when I was typing it...it didn't feel quite right. It's nice when others share your general memories, but can get it more right! Thanks!
Well I guess I need to weigh in on the macaroni and meatball discuss as well. And like everyone else, it is by far my most favorite meal to eat.
June and Paula, don't dispair, making meatballs is an art and it has taken me years and years to get it right. But even though my meatball are edible, they still don't come close to grandma's. She is still the best meatball make of all times.
Heck, my mouth is watering just having this discussion.
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