Happy Meatball Day, I really do not think there is a better meatball than the ones they serve at Rao’s. Since Rao’s has offered take out during Covid, I have been able to try a lot of their menu and I have to say I really think the meatballs are the best. If you have not had a chance to do a group order with us for Rao’s and you are local to the Westchester, NY area the next date is 4/3. I will send a reminder on social media the week before. But in the meanwhile, I am going to share with you Chef Dino’s meatball recipe. I think you are really going to love this one….BON APPETIT!!!!
- 2 pounds lean ground beef
- 2 large eggs
- 1 cup freshly grated Pecorino Romano cheese
- 1 1/2 tablespoons chopped Italian parsley
- 1/2 small clove garlic, peeled and minced
- 1 pinch Kosher or sea salt, to taste
- 1 pinch Freshly ground pepper, to taste
- 2 cups fresh bread crumbs
- 2 cups lukewarm water
- 1 cup good quality olive oil, for cooking
- In a large bowl containing the beef, add the eggs, cheese, parsley, garlic, and salt and pepper to taste. Using your hands, blend ingredients together. Blend bread crumbs into meat mixture. Slowly add water, 1 cup at a time, until the mixture is quite moist. Shape into 2 1/2 to 3-inch balls.
- Heat oil in a large sauté pan. When the oil is very hot but not smoking, fry meatballs in batches. When the bottom half of the meatball is very brown and slightly crisp, turn and cooktop half. Remove from heat and drain on paper towels.
- Lower cooked meatballs into simmering marinara sauce and cook for 15 minutes. Serve alone or with pasta.
Are you sick of the Royals yet? I have been meaning to share this week’s book with you but I think today it is quite fitting…The Royal Governess: A Novel of Queen Elizabeth II’s Childhood by Wendy Holden. I know how popular The Crown is so I thought this story of Queen Elizabeth told by her tutor would be so interesting…
“A beautifully woven and exquisitely detailed story of strong upstairs/downstairs women.”—Heather Morris, New York Times bestselling author of The Tattooist of Auschwitz
Sunday Times bestselling author Wendy Holden brings to life the unknown childhood years of one of the world’s most famous figures, Queen Elizabeth II, and reveals the spirited young governess who made her the icon we love today.
In 1933, twenty-two-year-old Marion Crawford accepts the role of a lifetime, tutoring the little Princesses Elizabeth and Margaret Rose. Her one stipulation to their parents the Duke and Duchess of York is that she bring some doses of normalcy into their sheltered and privileged lives.
At Buckingham Palace, Windsor Castle and Balmoral, Marion defies stuffy protocol to take the princesses on tube trains, swimming at public baths, and on joyful Christmas shopping trips at Woolworth’s. From her ringside seat at the heart of the British monarchy she witnesses twentieth-century history’s most seismic events. The trauma of the Abdication, the glamour of the Coronation, the onset of World War II. She steers the little girls through it all, as close as a mother.
During Britain’s darkest hour, as Hitler’s planes fly over Windsor, she shelters her charges in the castle dungeons (not far from where the Crown Jewels are hidden in a biscuit tin). Afterwards, she is present when Elizabeth first sets eyes on Philip.
But being beloved confidante to the Windsors comes at huge personal cost. Marriage, children, her own views: all are compromised by proximity to royal glory. In this majestic story of love, sacrifice and allegiance, bestselling novelist Holden shines a captivating light into the years before Queen Elizabeth II took the throne. – Amazon.com
For more information or to purchase this book, click HERE.
My dear dear friend and grand restaurateur Dame Marisa May, along with her special guest, famed Chef Odette Fada, created a LIVE fun short informal cooking Zoom event with La Marca Prosecco for an Italian Style celebration of Women’s Day, (Festa Delle Donne in Italy) Monday, March 8th at 5:30 PM EST. This online event benefits Les Dames D’Escoffier NY & International organization of professional women restaurateurs, women chefs, women food writers & women in wine/fine beverage, whose mission is to advance and support aspiring woman in the food, beverage and hospitality industries, in which she is a member.
This live zoom event is luckily open to everyone!🤗🌟🤩🌼💛Learn how to make the traditional delicious “Italian Torta Mimosa”, a creamy lemon-citrus cake for Women’s Day!🍰
The bright yellow Italian mimosa flower is the symbol of Women’s Day in Italy! So yellow is the theme. Try wearing a touch of yellow on Monday, March 8th.
Let’s all celebrate International Women’s Day together!! Click on link for more details:
Tickets are $25.00 and available through the link above on Eventbrite!🤩🌟💛🌼🤗 The proceeds raised go directly to the Les Dames D’Escoffier New York Scholarship Fund to help aspiring FEMALE, restauranteurs, chefs, sommeliers, and food writers make their dreams come true in the restaurant- hospitality -food & fine beverage world.
Hope you can join us on Zoom on Monday March 8th at 5:30PM EST!
For more information on Marisa and to learn more about her exclusive special Cooking & Culinary Trips to Italy and her San Domenico NY Events & Catering business. Click HERE.
On Instagram stories I did a swipe up for some designer sunglasses for much less. It was so crazy popular. I received so many messages asking for all the links again. It got me thinking that I need to do more “For Less” columns. Whenever we discuss anything about sunglasses everyone always comments how expensive they have become. And it really is so true. So when you splurge on a great pair and lose them, it is devastating. Years ago a friend led me to Nordstrom Rack and Saks Off Fifth. They always have the best and newest styles of designer sunglasses for much much less than the department store prices. Whenever I visit my mom we always take a ride to her Nordstrom Rack and I stock up on a couple of pairs. A couple of years ago, I tried on the coolest Linda Farrow sunglasses (if you do not know her brand yet, it is uber uber cool). I decided on another pair instead and have regretted it ever since!!! I have pulled together some great styles from Saks Off Fifth with price tags way below what they originally retailed for…Who does not need another pair of chic sunglasses? Summer is right around the corner!!!!
Saint Laurent Oval Sunglasses were $350 NOW $150
Chloe Oversized Sunglasses were $420 NOW $99.99
Tom Ford Round Sunglasses were $355 NOW $159.99
Prada Square Sunglasses were $340 NOW $129.99
Fendi Oversized Square Sunglasses were $320 now $129.99
Chloe Cat Eye Sunglasses were $430 NOW $109.99
Dior Square Sunglasses were $355 NOW $149.99
Salvatore Ferragamo Round Sunglasses (these are the ones that Jackie O wore) were $236 NOW $99.00
Tom Ford Mirrored Butterfly Sunglasses were $420 NOW $159.99
Miu Miu Cat Eye Sunglasses were $388 NOW $104.99
Marc Jacobs Geometric Sunglasses were $140 NOW $59.99
Jimmy Choo Square Sunglasses were $350 NOW $119.99
With St. Patrick’s Day just about 2 weeks away, I saw this fun popcorn recipe. I love that you can use microwave popcorn. It makes it so easy. I am looking forward to making it this weekend. I wish I had all the ingredients or I would have made it tonight it looks soo good!!!
Image Mom Foodie
Ingredients
- 1 bag of microwave popcorn light or regular butter (full-sized, not snack)
- 1 cup green chocolate candy melts*
- 1/2 cup white chocolate candy melts*
- St. Patrick’s Day sprinkles
- Green Mint M&Ms
Instructions
- Pop the popcorn and remove the unpopped kernels.
- Place the candy melts in small bowls or glass measuring cups, one for each color.
- Microwave the green candy for 40 seconds then stir, repeat in 20 second intervals until melted and smooth. (takes 1-2 minutes dependent on melt brand and your microwave).
- Drizzle the melted green chocolate candy over the bowl of popcorn and toss to coat (use a silicone spatula to ensure you get it all out.) Toss the popcorn with your hands until nicely coated. Then spread out onto a large serving platter (or baking sheet, if you are going to bag the popcorn up after). Optional* Add some green sugar sprinkles at this point.
- Melt the white candy melts and drizzle over the platter of popcorn, immediately top generously with St. Patrick’s themed candy sprinkles. They will adhere to the melted white chocolate candy.
- Finally, toss on the M&Ms. Allow the Leprechaun Popcorn to cool a few minutes before serving.
There was some debate a few weeks ago whether the side part is out and thanks to the GLODEN GLOBES, it is BACK!!! In case you were worried. There were many stars on the virtual “red carpet” this year sporting their side parts. Soooooo sorry Tik Tok, the side part is here to stay!!!!
