Italian Pizzelle Wafers

ITALIAN PIZZELLE WAFERS

Dry ingredients:
2 cups all purpose flour
1 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
1 cup sugar
1 tbsp anise seed
Mix thoroughly

Liquid ingredients:
4 eggs
1/2 lb of melted butter
2 tsp Anise extract
2 tsp Lemon extract
2/3 cup Annesette Liquer
Beat eggs, add liquid ingredients, mix thoroughly


Add liquid ingredients to dry ingredients. M
My electric iron...One Tsp. of mizture for each Pizzelle/
Two at a time.

Cook for about one minute.

Cool on wire rack. Place in air tight container.

Makes 40 to 50 wafers.

DonofCooking: MY BROTHER JOE

DonofCooking: MY BROTHER JOE: "MY BROTHER JOE Five years on the Philadelphia Mounted Police. Once a cop, always a cop. Joe and I were driving from Broad St. to west Phi..."

MY BROTHER JOE

MY BROTHER JOE

Five years on the Philadelphia Mounted Police. Once a cop, always a cop.

Joe and I were driving from Broad St. to west Philly on Chestnut or Walnut, not sure. Traffic was heavy and slow. There was a young girl thumbing a ride. My brother stopped and picked her up. The moment she entered the car he proceeded to lecture her on the dangers of hitch hiking. He didn't stop 'til we reached her destination. The last thing he said to her was..."Don't Do That Again".

DonofCooking: AL JOLSON

DonofCooking: AL JOLSON: "Al Jolson One of my old favorites. A most unique sound and heavy with Dixie lyric; Dixie, where I now live. Then along came Norman Brooks ..."

AL JOLSON

Al Jolson

One of my old favorites. A most unique sound and heavy with Dixie lyric; Dixie, where I now live. Then along came Norman Brooks who sounded as much like Jolson as Jolson.

Norman was a Canadian lumberjack turned singer. My wife Connie and I met Norman and his wife at Sciolla's Cafe in Philly where he was performing. I performed there several weeks before. Connie and I had dinner with Norman and his wife at Sciolla's and they told us of their little daughter in Canada. She could not travel with them.

You may remember Norman in "Oceans Eleven" with Sinatra and the Rat Pack. Joey Bishop, another Philly guy was in it. I was in a charity show at Southern High School with Joey Bishop and Al Martino, a long time ago. I sang Old Man River from the musical, "Show Boat". Guess I'm a bit beyond my childhood at this point.

Was my life fun...or what?

DonofCooking: DINING IN ATLANTA

DonofCooking: DINING IN ATLANTA: "DINING IN ATLANTA Unique and fun. There's the 'Bone Garden' whose decor is skeletons all over the place. Even one riding a motor cycle hang..."

DINING IN ATLANTA

DINING IN ATLANTA

Unique and fun. There's the "Bone Garden" whose decor is skeletons all over the place. Even one riding a motor cycle hanging from the ceiling, Mexican style food. There is one called "Six Feet Under" with a variety of foods including Tacos. Their decor is a large wall of beer cans and posters from the early 1900s, commercial and political, including one guy running for Mayor of Atlanta. Our most unique dining was Atlanta's oldest Cemetery. A sit down dinner for 45 people sponsored by a group that promotes local farmers and organic foods. They like unique places to have their gatherings. Well, I did sing Sorrento for them and no one walked out, certainly not the permanent residents. Several of the guests complimented me and one who was born in Sorrento, Italy. That's a WOW.

I asked my son Dean, we've dined at "The Bone Garden", "Six Feet Under" and "The Cemetery", is there a message in that? He didn't say yes, but he didn't say no. He did say he was looking for a place named "The Last Call". I may just avoid that one along with the "19 Hole".

DonofCooking: Time for Rice

DonofCooking: Time for Rice: "STIR FRIED RICE I have 2 favorite variations, but there are many more you can prepare and probably create yourself. Below are my Asian and ..."

Time for Rice

STIR FRIED RICE

I have 2 favorite variations, but there are many more you can prepare and probably create yourself. Below are my Asian and Polynesian style recipes. Use a Wok on high heat.

Basic Ingredients:
Rice-1 cup, Sesame Oil as needed(substitute Wok Oil or Canola, olive oil will be too overpowering), Oyster Sauce-1 tblsp, Sake(rice wine) 1/2 cup, Soya Sauce-2 tblsp, Chicken Broth-14 oz., Celery-1/4c, Snow Peas-1/2c, Mushrooms-1/2c, Onion-1c, Carrots-1/4c, Bok Choy-1c, Green Bell Peppers-1/2c, Water Chestnuts-1/2c, Bean Sprouts-1/2c,Bamboo Shoots-1/2c , Mandarin oranges-1/2 c, Shrimp(shelled & deveined)-2c and Chicken Diced or strips-1c.

Produces about 4 to 5 servings. Not good for freezing. Prepare it when you have guests or eat it yourself for 2 to 4 days.

I sometime substitute Scallops for Shrimp or Pork for Chicken.

Let's begin...

My Asian

*Heat Wok on highest heat setting concentrated on center.
*Add Sesame oil, heat 'til sizziling.
*Add shrimp and chicken, saute for 3 to 4 minutes.
*Remove and set aside.
*In juices remaining, add oil as needed and add Peppers, Celery, carrots and saute for 3 minutes.
*Add Mushrooms, Onion, Bok Choy, Water Chestnuts, Bean Sprouts, Bamboo Shoots and Snow Peas. Saute for 3 more minutes.
*Remove and set aside.
*In the remaining juices and oil add 1 cup of long grain rice. stir constantly until rice is slightly browned.
*Add Chicken Broth, Soya Sauce, Oyster Sauce, Saki and a bit of black pepper. Stir thoroughly. Cover Wok and frequently stir rice, about 10-12 minutes. When the rice has absorbed the flavors and juices and is almost dry, add the set aside vegetables and mix.
*The seafood and meat may be mixed in this dish or topped on your presentation.

My Polynesian...

All the above... plus. If you like it very sweet add the juices. I do not and I drain the juices. Small cans of fruit cocktail, Mandarin oranges and Pineapple. Heat in Wok for 2 minutes. Serve and enjoy.

HAPPY MEALS

Well, I looked it up and was quite surprised. There seems to be quite a variety of foods in Happy Meals. Burgers, chicken and fish. but beyond that an array of vegetables and fruit juices that are offered.

What is the problem? The toy? MacDonald's success? What? Everyone cannot afford gourmet dining.

Aside from meat or fish, I see...Vegetables and fruit galore...lettuce, tomato, onion, pickle, potato, apples, wheat-(the roll) and fruit juices. No you cannot eat the toy.

With all due respect, Mrs. Obama, you are much wider than many overweight women I see. Should you be telling people what and how much they should eat?

Telling overweight children they are a threat to "National Security" is abominable. To have the audacity to demean young people is unacceptable. You are crude, rude and lack compassion. Your words are insulting, harmful and destructive. It illustrates you are willing to do or say anything to achieve the political goals of Mr. Obama. What are they?...Marksism, ,Socialism, Communism, King, Dictatorship?

The American people want none of that. We want our Constitution and Bill of Rights.
It appears that the administration and supporters are becoming the "Foot in Mouth" decease carriers of Joe Biden. Perhaps the top of the Democratic ticket in 2012 will be "Joe OBiden and Nancy Pelousy.

Perhaps a third party is immanent, "The Tea P{arty".

DonofCooking: Women of South Philly

DonofCooking: Women of South Philly: "Wives and Mothers. At least once a week they were all outside with their hoses and brooms. They cleaned the walls, steps, pavement and stree..."

Women of South Philly

Wives and Mothers.
At least once a week they were all outside with their hoses and brooms. They cleaned the walls, steps, pavement and street.  I can remember my Aunt Gloria scrubbing the marble steps at 747 S. Darien St...My mother cleaning every baseboard in the house and the windows inside and out every week. That was the life they chose and did it well. Of course my chores each week were cleaning the bathroom and scrubbing the kitchen floor: and daily stoking the coal furnace and taking out the ashes.

NOTE; What a deal! Women - cleaning, cooking, laundry, organize activities, comfort, care, give birth, and a host of other efforts including in today's world, careers.  All because one man gave up one rib. And when you go dancing they do everything a man does, backward on high heels. WOW. Be grateful guys.

We rarely had our doors locked and the ladies simply knocked and entered every afternoon for coffee and a donut. I heard them laugh. They were happy. And every evening about 5 pm a magnificent array of aromas flowed from their kitchens.

There was a great respect for authority in those days because those in authority, I believe, were endowed with COMMON SENSE, and applied it: teachers, police and parents. Todays world seems to encourage a law suit for any trivial matter. You know, nail polish, Waring weird T shirts and a host of other things that kids do just to tick you off. Maybe that's an indication we are not communicating effectively. Perhaps one fault is our leaders are no no longer mentors.

I believe women have always ruled the world, they simply did not get the credit. Now they demand credit and things will change, but I also believe, not to their benefit. If you want to be what a man is you will receive what a man gets. You may not like it. I would never trade places with a woman. I believe men got the best deal from nature. And therefore women deserve the ultimate respect.

Well, thank you Mom and all the ladies of Bancroft street for many happy days, block parties, encouragement, patience, which all adds up to love thy neighbor.

BASEBALL in the 40's

We certainly had our variations of baseball. Box ball to hose ball. Actual bats to broomsticks. A half ball, piece of hose, pimple or tennis ball, a hard ball that was probably wrapped for the 2nd or 3rd time with tape.

We played almost anywhere. A public playground when the field was open; a vacant lot with tin cans and broken bottles ( tho I don't recall anyone sliding into a base). Mostly there were no baseball gloves, bare handed hardball was it.

There was an organized league called "The Babe Ruth League", but I never knew anyone who was in it. The public playground was a field of black cinders but they had real bases and we could slide into a base with little damage.

A bathhouse was part of the playground and of course there was girl's day and boy's day. To enter you had to have a dry bathing suit. The swim time was about 45 minutes. We went for the early swim, about 11 am. Played some ball 'til our suits dried then went in for another swim. On saturday we still had time for a matinee at the movie. On Sunday, the church dance and pizza at Fiore's afterward or a malted milk shake and cheese steak at a corner store. When we felt like walking, it was Pat's Steaks on 9th and Passyunk for a special treat.

At that time Philadelphia had 2 major league teams, Phillies and Athletics. My uncle Reds took me to a Phillies game and they won. Thanks uncle Reds.

My uncle Reds (Levino DiLiberato) was a unique individual of many skills. He road the rails as a vagabond, crossing the country many times in railroad box cars. He played the violin, mandolin and was a National Checker Champion and competitive  as a National Chess Champion.

DonofCooking: FOOTBALL in the 40's

DonofCooking: FOOTBALL in the 40's: "Football in the street; two hand touch. Our ball was rolled up newspaper wrapped with string. We dodged a pile of manure here and there, but..."

FOOTBALL in the 40's

Football in the street; two hand touch. Our ball was rolled up newspaper wrapped with string. We dodged a pile of manure here and there, but it was still fun.

When someone came up with a real football we went to Columbus Park and played tackle. We never had a full team on either side, but we could mix it up.

The only time I was ever injured is the one and only time I wore equipment; helmet, shoulder pads and knee pads. One play is all it took. It was the kick off. The ball went sailing over my head, I turned to see where it was going and the damned thing bounced backward, landed in my arms and the whole team hit me. I only went down on one knee. The ankle of that leg was where half the tacklers ended up.

I limped to the sideline and my vision turned purple. The whole world was purple. I passed out for about 10 or 20 seconds. For the next 3 weeks as I limped about, the guys called me elephant ankle. Never again wore equipment and I never lost my appetite for football or food.

PIZZA and More in South Philly

After the church dance or a movie at the Broadway theatre on Broad & Snyder, or Earl theatre, the Venice, Alahambra, Plaza, Colonial and more, me and a few friends headed to FIORE'S pizza for the largest pizza they made, 1/2 ea. of anchovies & pepperoni and a giant pitcher of root beer. That topped off the night.

There was a soda fountain almost every block where you can get an extra thick malted milk shake for 20¢, even at drug stores, and many where you can get a cheese steak and shake for 45¢.

Those days there was a cop on the beat and when he said move, WE MOVED.  Although we were duop guys and sang on the corner. It was all great fun but we respected authority. They were there for us and we rarely had to lock our doors.  In summer half the block would sleep on the pavement on really hot nights, no air conditioning and few fans.

Street lights, all gas. Yes we had the "old lamplighter of long long ago". He would light the lamps and go on. Then they managed to remote control them, I guess that lost some jobs...progress you know.

FRESH, FRESH, FRESH. Hucksters  through our streets, all day, every day. Vegetables, fish, fruit, eggs, you name it. A carousel for the kids, waffles and ice cream, Knife sharpening and umbrella repairs. Pushcarts of Italian water ice, Federal Pretzels. ice cream on almost every corner. These were men driven by a sense of responsibility to Family,. Independent and proud.

As a small boy my parents took me for evening walks through Passyunk Avenue, the longest crooked street in the world. I call it "the street of pushcarts".. There may very well have been a dozen pushcarts in each block, not sure. What did they offer? Steamed and raw clams, steamed mussels, hot dogs, waffles with icecream, corn on the cob and more than I can recall.  Along our route were furniture stores, clothing stores and restaurants.

Photographers in the 30s. Some stood on street corners and made portraits, some came through the street with a pony and dressed kids up like cowboys and in a matter of minutes you had a portrait on a painted pony. All before Polaroid.

ITEM 5 - In-laws and Food

Another adventure in good eating. Beginning with my mother-in-law Marie, before she was, and sunday dinner. You can count on a ton of pasta, meatballs and sausage. On occasion, half moon large ravioli that melts in your mouth. Among her culinary accomplishments was eggplant like I never tasted. She passed on these skills to my sister-in-law Ann, who eventually did most of the cooking, while my wife did the ironing. This is all when we were single.

Sunday dinner usually found about seven of us at the table with pasta and a gallon of my father-in-law John's homemade red wine. In South Philly we called it Diego Red. John would sing a couple of old Italian songs to top off dinner. What great fun that was. I of course, after dinner, dozed off on the couch for about an hour, then my girlfriend Connie and I went to a movie.

My mother-in-law Marie, what a woman, had no easy life. She was born and raised on a farm in Italy; an arranged marriage to a South Philly Italian, native of Italy. Marie was 40 years old and unbeknownst to her, he was 70. She learned English and always worked. Her 2 daughters were her ultimate concern.

My sister-in-law Ann was a marvelous cook and a specialty of her's was stuffed olives and mushrooms. No matter how many she made, they were devoured almost instantly. May sound like small items but they took much time and work. Her husband Bob made excellent cranberries on Thanksgiving. He also made an incredible Fruit Cake. Not something you can stick in the oven and serve when it cools. It takes, from what I understand, a couple of months, requiring constant observation and cultivation. Someone once said there was only one fruit cake ever made and it keeps getting passed around; not so with Bob's, you just gotta eat it.

I hope you all understand the most critical ingredient here is LOVE. Without it, little will be accomplished.

Time for some chicken

Shop and Pack for meals ahead. See Chicken Recipes.

ITEM 4 - FUN, GAMES, SCHOOL

Hi Tech today is a challenge for every young person and amazes me how they manage to keep up with the almost daily advances. Hi Tech for us was when you got a pair of pants that had a fly with a zipper rather than buttons. You gotta believe that was progress.

Mostly, we made our own toys (no K-Mart) and mostly of wood. A toy car fueled with vinegar and baking soda that moved like a jet. Rubber band guns to play cops and robbers; homemade scooters from apple crates, a 2x4 and an old skate. Communications devices with flashlight batteries, wood, some tin and wire; of course we had to learn Morse Code. But there was always 2 Dixie cups and some string.

I scaled the corner of the two story building, which had enough of an indentation in the bricks (about every foot) for me to get to the roof and retrieve our hose balls, pimple balls and half balls. I tossed them down to my friends and we were back in business. I did not come down the same way. I negotiated to our bedroom window, then to the canopy above our front door and from there it was a piece of cake.

I made my own shoe shine box and made a little money for treats and movies. if it sounds hard, it wasn't. It was fun, challenging and a bit profitable. At that particular time I attended Catholic school (about 2+ years) and I'm certain I was a challenge to the Nuns, who made me quite familiar with the yard stick and pointer. My wisdom was lacking in those days and I didn't know when to keep my mouth shut.

On to public grammar school and my 5th grade teacher, Mrs. Trimble. Magnificent. Don't recall my grades. Junior high, Vare, in South Philly - Mr.Siedel. 9th grade, also magnificent. I learned more from him than he will ever know. He failed me in 2 major subjects and rightfully so. I simply did not carry out the assignments. Actually he did not fail me, I failed him, my apologies, Sir.

Junior High - all I can say is, my sympathy and apologies  to all the wonderful teachers that tolerated us.

ITEM 3 - FOOD & WAR

Food, a different meaning and a little short then; in the 30s - lack of money; in the 40s - war. Ration stamps for food. Everything was rationed. Top of the list was Butter, Coffee, Meat, of course gasoline and tires. The introduction of Margarine with that obvious orange dot to squeeze and manipulate 'til it looked like butter.  Each family was alloted stamps according to their number. I was always the family shopper and I did go to a super market (rare find) but can't remember the name.

There were air raids with the sky filled with searchlights, but thanks to our military and leaders, our country was never touched. Exclusive of Hawaii and Alaska which were not yet states. My father was an air raid warden, he could not serve in the military. When he was twelve he was hit by a truck which left him with a silver plate in his head and a silver bone in his thigh. So, he became a welder at the Sun Ship Yard in Chester, PA. The unstoppable Joe the Barber. At the end of the war was laid off from Sun, got on a bus and got a job at the Gulf Oil Refinery that same day.

The war years - little red wagons and trash picking once or twice a week, by my friends and me. Collecting every recyclable item we could find - tin, copper, lead, rubber, rags and newspaper for the war. Of course we made enough money at the junk yard for a saturday matinee and maybe a box of Good & Plenty.

Saturday matinee, wow. Always a great feature film plus, "Joe McDoaks" , "Heckle & Jeckle" , "Laurel & Hardy", "Spy Smasher", "Captain Marvel", "The Bowery Boys", "The Lone Ranger", just loaded with Chapters and Short subjects. "The News Of The Day", uncensured clips  of the war and in 1945 the horrible films of Nazi concentration camps.

At the end of the war we had many, many block parties to celebrate. First VE Day then VJ Day. Lots of food, music and dancing under the Christmas lights strung across the street from house to house. The women made all kinds of food which were laid out on many tables. There was soda for the kids and beer for the adults. That was our block, but every street in South Philly did the same thing.

Before that, FDR was my hero and I had to see him in-person. I played hookie from school when I was eleven to see him on South Broad St. in front of South Philly High. I wanted to touch his hand but chickened out when I got within 15 feet of his open limo. In his famous black cape and long cigarette holder he looked at me and smiled. He wasn't wearing his funny black hat on his way to the Philadelphia Naval Yard to give a speech. I was sad he did not live to see the war end.