Italians aren't the only people who give you a lot of good food to eat. Italians and other ethnic immigrants usually came to America one step ahead of either starvation or annihilation in some war. So, when they became established, they showed hospitality and their newfound security by serving enormous quantities of food. That value extends even into second- and third-generation ethnics. If you go to a White Anglo-Saxon Protestant's home, they serve you one slice of Oscar Meyer bologna on two slices of Wonder Bread (with the crusts cut off), or watercress sandwiches. But they serve it on 200-year-old China.

I've been looking for a good recipe for Rice Balls. Think I will give it a try this weekend. Thanks for posting Foots.

Thanks for the recipe Foots. I think I have a recipe somewhere but have NEVER made them.

I had a great aunt who almost went blind (I wasn't born at that time and don't know the circumstances) and she prayed to St. Lucy (patron saint of sight/eyes). As it turned out she didn't go blind. From that day on, on Dec. 13th we'd have riceballs (I think it relates to St. Lucy in some way. Maybe she worked in rice fields? I'm not sure.) Anyway, even to this day, my sister and a few other relatives always make riceballs on St. Lucy's Day.



TIS

Funny I have asked my wife to make Landi rice balls recipe for me. She tells me why we can get them from Landi's when we want them?

That was funny Turnbull.

I've got one for you, TB. Here it goes. True phone conversation. I'm always getting yelled at.

Hello, where are you? You're home. What are you doing home? You know, everybody is over here. Your sister's here with the kids, Sal's here, the neighbors are here. Everybody is here BUT YOU AND YOUR KIDS. You should be here.

Well, I guess I could drop the kids over to play and say a quick hello but I'm in the middle of making meatballs. Remember, YOU are coming here for dinner??

Oh that's right. I forgot. (Click)

Foots, good stuff. I wonder if we can find that cheese here in CA.

...variations of that theme were, uh, not unknown in my family...

Are any of you aware of the Italian trio Il Volo? I just happened to come across them on channel 13. Now, that's Italian!

My nonna always had tons of these on hand. Anise candy rocks!

There kids they appeared at the Beacon a while back. I had no urge to see them il Divo I would go see they always have very good guest singers with them.

I just hate when they sing My Way they mess around with the song.

Hard candy that you had to eat sitting down so you wouldn't choke God forbid

Found this old e-mail my cousin sent a couple years ago:




PATSY, THE ITALIAN FUNERAL DOG


An Italian woman was leaving a convenience store with her espresso
when she noticed a most unusual Italian funeral procession approaching
the nearby cemetery. A black hearse was followed by a second black
hearse about 50 feet behind the first one.

Behind the second hearse was a solitary Italian woman walking a dog on a leash.

Behind her, a short distance back, were about 200 women walking single file.

The woman couldn't stand the curiosity. She respectfully approached
the Italian woman walking the dog and said: "I am so sorry for your
loss, and this may be a bad time to disturb you, but I've never seen a
Italian funeral like this. Whose funeral is it?"

"My husband's."

''What happened to him?"

"He yelled at me and my dog attacked and killed him."

She inquired further, "But who is in the second hearse?"

The Italian woman answered, "My mother-in-law. She was trying to help
my husband when the dog turned on her."

A very poignant and touching moment of Italian sisterhood and silence
passed between the two women.

"Can I borrow the dog?"

The woman replied, "Get in line."




TIS

That was funny TIS. Get behind the 200 women already waiting in line

You don't only marry the man you marry his mother and the whole family

Which is worse to deal with as an in-law, an Italian father or an Italian mother?

Hey MB I thought you'd be all over my last post with your jokes where's the funny?

This had my laughing. Enjoy.

http://youtu.be/raiEwBhMsOc

Funny and so true AG! Thanks for posting.

A-Girl. I can relate.

My grandmother was the food police, making sure NO dish was empty. Ha ha AND yes, my mom was one who had plastic on the living furniture. Heaven forbid if we ever ate anything there, let alone sit on the furniture. Ha ha

Very funny!!


TIS

Same here TIS. My grandma and all the aunts were that way too. My Dad was like the wrap up ninja he talks about in the video

When I was a baby the doctor asked my Mom, what are you feeding this kid? Give her SKIM milk from now on. My Grandma and all her sisters had to take care of me as a baby because my Mom almost died giving birth to me, she was in the hospital for months. I was the community family baby Who knows what they were feeding me!!

I hated the plastic on all the furniture. We weren't allowed to eat anywhere but at the kitchen table. Weekend nights we could eat in front of the TV eating TV dinners lol watching Deney Terrio on Dance Fever Those were the days!

Your going to dig this

Check out this video on YouTube:

http://youtu.be/tYk6TWFfICI

Cute Foots. Look at those hands go lmao

Ha ha, that's hilarious Foots.

You learn from a very early age how important it is to use your hands when you speak. It's in our culture. I swear if my parents/grandparents (and maybe even myself) had their hands tied down while speaking, it would really cramp their style.


TIS

TIS, I find myself using those gestures even in my classes (as well as some Italian expressions)

My Grand children have a tendency to imitate some things that I do.

My youngest grand daughter try's to imitate the way I dance. My middle grand daughter says things I like to say when they ask her to imitate Grand Pa.

My grand son Henry who lives in Germany is the most like me. He is 5 and is teaching his friends English and he slips in some dirty words and thinks it is hilarious when they repeat them.

My oldest grand daughter loves my wife's baked ziti. We were waiting for my youngest son to arrive before we eat. I see her take a taste out of the serving tray and she puts her finger over her lips so I would not say any thing. Then I did the same and she laughs.

That's cute Foots. It sounds like you really are enjoying being a Grandpa.

Foots, that one was beautiful. Just beautiful!




Signor V.

Foots did you get to read the reply. I hope so. Hate for you to miss it.

TIS and Faithful
This Sunday is the San Diego Festa. I'm just wondering if you may be going. This is a busy weekend for me so there's a fifty percent chance of me going.
If you do go and if you find the zeppole then shoot me a pm lol as I will drive down there just for the zeppole but last time they didn't have them. (No zeppole at an Italian feast? Crazy)

Faithful- I bet you would enjoy seeing the old San Diego jail down in Seaport Village. They have mug shots of the inmates on the wall. Many were in for possession of opium, trafficking back in the 20's, 30's 40's. Italians, Mexicans, American men and women, interesting. My son enjoyed himself looking at the jail cells, etc. Maybe you've already been there.

Hey A-Girl,

I am aware of the Italian Festival this weekend. I am not sure if I am going. I want to drive out with my daughter and she's not sure she can go. IF I do go, I'll check for the Zeppole AND I'll eat one (or 2 or 3) for you.

TIS

TIS If you do go then I may see you there. That would be great!! You know where to find me, right next to the zeppole booth

You know you're Italian if your grandmother or great-grandmother perpetually wore black, and made sure to attend every wake, always muttering, "peccato...peccato."

You know TB, if there's one thing that I associate with older Italian women, it's wearing black dresses. E vero.