We had a great time at Sandi’s last Saturday! It was fun seeing everyone and eating, eating, eating… Sandi really does have a great house - and it’s perfect for parties! Plus, she’s the perfect hostess! What a good time!
So… as we were getting ready to leave, Kevin was making up a horserace pool - $5.00 a square. Now, I’ve never met a pool I didn’t like, but I walked out of the house without the money-clip. No cash in the pocket. Kevin offered to spot me five bucks for a square. Of course, I accepted. I figured we were going to lose, and I planned on just mailing Kevin the five bucks when we got home. But not just a five dollar bill. Oh no. Mr Lincoln was going to be sent, but he was going in the form of pennies. Mr Washington, FDR, all of them were going to be included. A nice, vacuum-packed bag of change.
There was no reason to do this, other than a desire to do something silly. (I know, you’re all shocked that I would do something silly, right?!?)
So you can only imagine my dismay - after actually getting this all together - to find out we actually WON third place! I was actually kind of bummed. I came close to mailing the change off anyway, and then decided hell - he owes ME money, I’m not sending HIM any! So here’s a picture, instead.
Tim upgraded the blog for us. On the right hand side you’ll see a link to “Register”. You do not have to register (create your own login and password) but if you do, you’ll be able to write your own blog posts instead of just replying to things I write.
So…if you don’t register you’ll be able to read posts and make comments, but if you do register you’ll be able to start new posts of your own and have other people comment/reply to you.
Make sense? Good now start writing. If you write I promise I’ll reply even if no one else does.
Food traditions are a good thing. At Christmas we always make a lot of the same cookies and there is always a battle between Dominic, Monica and I over who makes the best version of Aunt Emma’s Apricot filled cookies. (I do, of course…) For Thanksgiving, it’s my Mother’s stuffing or no stuffing at all. I think it’s still the best, but you have to like Chicken Livers.
Easter brings us Uncle Rudy’s Easter Pie. I’m not sure if the original recipe was Aunt Emma’s or not, but I got this from Monica many years ago and I make two every year.
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Rudy Rinaldi via Cousin Monica…
This makes 2 pies and Dad (Uncle Rudy) usually uses a deep dish pie plate.
3 Lb Ricotta - we prefer Maggio and you know why
8 eggs
1/2 c. grated cheese - whatever your favorite is - we usually use Parm.
Note: All meat should be DICED/CUBED - small
1/2 lb Ham - sliced about 1/4 inch thick
1/4 lb prosciutto - sliced thin
1/4 lb pepperoni - sliced thin
To Taste;
Garlic Powder
Pepper
Italian Seasoning
Parsley - I like a lot of parsley
If you add the seasonings before the eggs then you can taste (I don’t like eating raw eggs any more.) I like a strong seasoning taste because when you cook it, it tends to mellow.
Place pie crust in plate - fill with the mixture and cover with second crust
Bake at 375 degrees for 45 minutes to 1 hour - the crust should be nice and golden brown. We also use the Pillsbury Pie Crusts (in the dairy section of the market) But if you’re so inclined, by all means make your own from scratch.
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And here is this year’s version:
One year I tried to make Aunt Emma’s Gadoodies (I’m not even sure I’m spelling that right). A Gadoodie is hard to explain and if you’ve never seen one it’s made with a bread dough and hard boiled (and dyed for Easter) eggs. The dough is shaped into an Easter Basket around the eggs and baked until you have a bread like basket with eggs in it. I think they were more for show than eating, but we all looked forward to our Gadoodie from Aunt Em every Easter.
Hey ya’ll, I just noticed how long it’s been since I wrote anything here. Sorry about that, but work has gotten busy and time just slips away. I really have nothing “new” for us, except to say I’m sending off a letter to Italy to see if I can dig up some more information on our Grandparents.
Easter is coming up. What’s everyone doing? When we were little we’d hop in the car and visit everyone in Frankford. We always stopped at Aunt Ethel’s (our Great Aunt) and I remember watching the silent version of King of Kings, directed by Cecil B. DeMille. - Trivia - DeMille did not want to take any chances with the film. His two stars, H.B. Warner and Dorothy Cumming, were required to sign agreements which prohibited them from appearing in film roles that might compromise their “holy” screen images for a five-year period. DeMille also ordered them not to be seen doing any “un-biblical” activities during the film’s shooting. These activities included attending ball games, playing cards, frequenting night clubs, swimming, and riding in convertibles.
Can you imagine a director trying to get away with that now?
I found this online tonight. It’s a copy of the 1930 Federal Census listing the whole family, including Aunt Helen who was already married to Uncle Al at the time.
Angelo was kind enough to send along this photo of his family.
The Family of Maria Monico Citino - sister of Domenico
From left - back row - standing:
Grandfather Domenico Citino, Aunt Maria’s eldest
Great Uncle Luigi Citino
Great Grandfather Angelo Citino
Grand Uncle Julius W. Citino
In front - from left
Great Grandmother Maria Monaco Citino
Grant Uncle Alfred (Fritz) Citino, Maria’s youngest
Great Gunt Angelina Stumpo Citino
Grant Aunt Felicia Mary Teresa Citino (Aunt Tessie) (was this family big enough for TWO Aunt Tessies??)
This picture used to hang in Aunt Emma house. It’s grandpop Domenico and ….who? My mother once told me they were his sisters. Has anyone seen this picture before? Angelo…is your Great Grandmother Maria in this photo?
By the way everyone…Angelo, is Angelo Citino who’s great-grandmother was our grandfather’s sister Maria.
Remember when you were younger and holidays were a snap because all you had to do was show up? Someone else did all the work then. I remember some great Thanksgivings and Christmas Eve feasts at Aunt Emma’s. In our family Tim and I have taken on Thanksgiving, my sister and Tom do Christmas Eve (and Christmas Day) and Steve and Marie do Easter. It’s my mother that’s off the hook.
We’ve already started passing down the traditions. Last year we had my nephew Gino here for a weekend of Christmas cookie baking. He took his duties very seriously.
What are you all up to? It’s good to see some “new” faces stop by. It took the Phillies blowing the Mets out of the playoffs this year to get John Parsons to show up. He got his son Paul here. Whatever works.
