my mom, Marie…well let’s just say she was a rock-star in the kitchen. in addition to cooking for her large family of six children and husband, oh and most of the neighborhood…she became a pretty important fixture in charge of the kitchen at her church in Florida for many years. she cooked and baked for hundreds of people preparing special banquets, dinner parties and luncheons honoring the bishop, and priests from around the world. she was a discerning and particular chef and gourmand. going out to eat with her was not an easy task. even the finest italian restaurants would somehow fall short. she had very high expectations. i must say, I think she has really rubbed off on her children. her fine cooking and demand for only the finest, freshest ingredients has made it very difficult to eat out! that’s why i go out for sushi and eat my meatballs at home!
my mother and I were really best friends, in so many ways. we loved and shared our hearts and our kitchens with each other, we talked constantly about food and new recipes. one thing that she loved to make with me was biscotti. she would make them by hand with a wooden spoon. i have developed some of my own variations on her recipes…
buttery goodness 