MY CANADIAN VEGETABLE GARDEN-GIARDINO ITALIANO

Good meals come from good fresh food. Italians always use the vegetables and fruit in season to make their meals. I have been busy- digging then planting my summer vegetable garden. So I am Italian and need tomatoes. I planted several different kinds. Lettuce, beans, eggplant, cucumbers and swiss chard are some of the other vegetables in my little plot. My herbs- oregano, rosemary,basil and parsley are in my little pots. Over the next few months I will share my summer recipes with you. It will be fun showing you the fresh vegetable then the dish it will become. For today, I want to rest my sore old muscles from all the gardening activity. Maybe a nap or two! Il bello giardino! Troppo lavoro! Sono stanco!

MAKING PANCAKES CANADIAN STYLE

Pancakes are a very Canadian food to make. Since Barb and I celebrated our 41st anniversary this week on May 15th, I thought it would be fun to show I really did love to cook.

Cooking for my sweetie on our Hawaiian honeymoon May 20, 1971.

Now I make pancakes for my little grandchildren.

Of course, the best way is to use the mix from an Aunt Jemima box! You really did not think I had an Italian recipe for it, did you? The grandkiddies like her syrup as well. Barb prefers good old fashioned Canadian maple syrup.

It is fun to make the little pancakes. Sometimes I try to make shapes for the kids. As everyone knows, I am still a kid at heart!

Big pancakes, little pancakes- always taste good- alone or add your favourite ham, bacon or sausage! With a good cup of coffee or a glass of milk for the younger crowd!
#pancakes#makingpancakescanadianstyle#granpalovestocook#maplesyrup#grandchildren#auntjemima

MAMMA- A RECIPE FOR LOVE

Since it's Mothers's Day- Festa delle Mamme- I thought I would share some pictures and information about my mother-madre. I dedicated this blog to my mother and grandchildren. I learned to cook from my mother. One of her favourite places was the kitchen. I asked Barb to find me photos of my Mother in the Kitchen!

Well not all are from the kitchen. She can be seen cutting a birthday cake which was one of her best dishes. The kind with the cream in the middle. Actually it was my favourite type of cake- not too sweet. Her dishes were from the Ciociaria area in Italy as well as learning to cook Canadian foods as can be seen by the Turkey served at my old house in Thornhill. Like the espresso pots everywhere!

As you can see her kitchen was not fancy but the food made there was so good! Yes that's me drying dishes in a suit!

She taught me to cook with a lot of love! Anyone who sat at her dinner table always enjoyed a great meal. There will be more recipes coming in future posts. Today- here's to Mamma! Ciao Bella Donna!

#mamaforlove#mama'scookingwassogood#adolphcookslikehismother#shelovedtocookforherfamily#cookinglikemama#mother'sdaybringsmemoriesofmama'scooking#granpalovestocook#adolphdimambro

MINESTRA-TASTY LOW-CAL LUNCH OR FART SOUP

Minestra is like a soup but thicker. It is a good dish if you want to start to reduce your weight.

INGREDIENTS

Pork hocks- 2 pieces

Garlic- 3 buds diced.

Parsley- 2-3 sprigs.

Celery- 1 long piece.

Can of plum tomatoes.

Savoy Cabbage- 1/2 large- shredded

1 tin of Kidney Beans- 28 oz./750 ml.

Olive Oil- a tablespoon/20 ml.

Salt-a tablespoon/20 ml.

Pepper-1/2 teaspoon/25ml.

Preparation time-10 minutes


DIRECTIONS

Serves about 8.

In a large sucepan add the olive oil. Heat the oil.

Add the chopped garlic, parsley, celery and pork hocks and cook over medium heat for several minutes.

Add crushed plum tomatoes and simmer for 5-10 minutes.

Add shredded cabbage and kidney beans( I drain them but you can use the juice from the tin if wanted) and add enough water to cover the ingredients completely.

Add salt and pepper and bring to a boil.

Lower the heat and let simmer for 1 1/2 to 2 hours, stirring occasionally.

For added flavour you can substitute the water with chicken or vegetable broth.

You can serve with some hot peppers to taste in a bowl like Barb may eat it!

I often nickname this dish - " Fart Soup". Eat it once a week if you want to avoid problems with your colon!