When my mom, Wendi, and my dad, Bobby, decided to spend their December vacation at home, they called it a "staycation." Being a dog, I didn't know what that meant. But after spending almost every day with them since December 3, I now know it means plenty of naps and belly rubs. You might not realize this, but I am a dog who likes predictability. I know that when Mom goes to work, I can hang out with Dad for a little while on the bed before he gets up and moving. (I think I heard them say … [Read more...]
Archives for December 2016
The Best Bagels I Ever Had Came From Chelsea, Mass.
Growing up in the shadows of the Boston skyline, I developed a fondness for bagels. While I am sure my mother got us bagels, what I really remember is having the best bagels at my friend Jay's house. When I was 13 years old, my family moved out of Revere, Mass. I said good-bye to friends, and my life was set on a new path. Over the miles and over the decades, I never forgot those bagels. My friend's mom, Linda, recently connected with me on Facebook, and we "talked" about those bagels. I … [Read more...]
Not Another Pizza Post! Sì, Scusa.
Regular visitors to the blog might recall Wendi, my wife and founder of this blog, took me to 3 Palms Pizzeria & Bakery (read about it here) in Hudson, Ohio, for my birthday. At the restaurant, I was treated to a wonderful Neapolitan-style pizza, much like the kind I grew up eating in the Boston area. The pizza was so good, it inspired me to make my own. Now, Wendi and I are no strangers to making pizza at home. If I were a betting man, I would say we make pizza more often than we … [Read more...]
A Taste of the Homeland
Sometimes it is better to be lucky than good, which is exactly what I think happened on Wednesday, December 7. That day was my husband's birthday. I happened to find 3 Palms Pizzeria & Bakery in Hudson and took him there for lunch. Bobby is a third-generation Italian in this country, and he values his heritage highly. He also loves a good pizza, with a particular affection for authentic Neapolitan pizza. 3 Palms Pizzeria provided the perfect pie to celebrate his birthday. As soon as … [Read more...]
Never Tire of This Birthday Tradition: A Cake Like No Other
My birthday falls on a day that will live in infamy, Dec. 7, Pearl Harbor Day. Each year, I can count on two things from my wife, Wendi (the founder of this blog): A poem and a homemade pineapple upside down cake. One year, Wendi found a recipe in the "Joy of Cooking" cookbook for pineapple upside down cake. She decided she would make it for me. Oh, my. The cake was the best pineapple upside down cake I ever had. It has become a tradition over the past 15 years or so. Wendi makes … [Read more...]