Mangia Monday!

Hello!

I am sorry to be away from my blog for the past five days, we have been taking full advantage of the nice weather!
(plus I have been really busy preparing wedding orders!)

Hopefully all of you have had nice weather to enjoy!


He who eats alone chokes alone.
-Proverb


Growing up in my Italian family was alot of fun - an adventure actually and I would not trade it for the world! The family dinners, parties and impromptu get togethers always revolved around food - which is not a bad thing! Lately I have changed my view of food and the role it has in my home!

I always will enjoy good food and want to provide my family, friends and guests the best - that being said, I have learned that the best does not always mean the MOST!


The trouble with eating Italian food is that five or six days later you're hungry again.
-George Miller


Every function I have ever thrown, I have plunged in with all the gusto I could muster - which is fine except for one detail, I spent more time on the food than I did with my GUESTS!!! How horrible is that?

The reason for the get together is to be with family and friends - not holed up in the kitchen slaving over the meal! In early spring I changed the way I do things and my guests and I have been much happier!


It's so beautifully arranged on the plate - you know someone's fingers have been all over it.
-Julia Child


Instead of five to six course sit down meals, my formal functions are served family style. If it is a quick holiday get together a buffet works just fine and if I forget something, the only who knows is me! I have to say, I don't miss those extravagant meals and all the extra work and neither have my guests!


Only your real friends will tell you when your face is dirty.
-Sicilian Proverb


I would like to share a great, simple dessert recipe that I have been using!




Raspberry-and-Meringue Mess


Prep Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 15 minutes
Servings: 8 (eight)

Ingredients:


*2 cups heavy cream
*1 package (5 ounces) meringues, crumbled
*1 1/2 cups fresh raspberries
*3 tablespoons Berry Puree, using raspberries


Directions:


1.) Chill a serving bowl in the freezer.
2.) In another large bowl, whip heavy cream until soft peaks form.
3.) Fold in meringues and 1 1/4 cups raspberries.
4.) Drizzle whipped cream with 2 tablespoons berry puree and lightly fold so the mixture has stripes of puree.
5.) Spoon into your chilled bowl.
6.) Top with remaining raspberries and berry puree.



Enjoy!