Author Archives: denvrital

TAKING ON DOMINIC

Hello and welcome back to my blog. Most of us can remember at least one unforgettable character from our middle school years that we either despised or had an altercation with. Mine was a kid named Dominic. And yes, we sparred. Being a scrawny little guy through most of my teen-aged years did not allowContinueContinue reading “TAKING ON DOMINIC”

HEY MA!  WHAT’S FOR DINNAH?    Recipe for Italian Chicken Tortellini

Hi again, and thanks for reading my blog. This is a true story and I’m sure some of you out there can probably relate with similar incidents in your own families. I’d love to hear your comments, so please subscribe to my blog and leave me your remarks. Thanks. Mom was so busy dumping theContinueContinue reading “HEY MA!  WHAT’S FOR DINNAH?    Recipe for Italian Chicken Tortellini”

CRITTERS GALORE

Hello again, and welcome back to my blog. Having a pet was always an integral part of any child’s upbringing. In our house, we welcomed many of those same critters, but sometimes having to care for them didn’t go as planned. Hope you enjoy the story. For as far back as I could remember, allContinueContinue reading “CRITTERS GALORE”

The Italian Curse (Malocchio – The Evil Eye)

It was almost 6:30 AM when Mom started banging on my bedroom door while simultaneously shouting, “Get up, I’m going to be late!” not once but twice.  I peered my head out from under the covers just enough to see Mom standing there all dressed in her off-white tight-fitting nurses aid uniform.  “Well,” she said,ContinueContinue reading “The Italian Curse (Malocchio – The Evil Eye)”

The Riccis’ Pot Pie Adventure

You can guess that dinner time around our house was usually hectic.  Not only were their many mouths to feed, but with so many kids, each one’s tastes varied wildly from plain and ordinary to strangely sinful.  Unfortunately, our food budget was mostly on the lean side and there were many days where we hadContinueContinue reading “The Riccis’ Pot Pie Adventure”

How You Doin’?

Hello again. Have you ever had anyone come up to you and say, “How you doin’?”  If so they were probably Italian and just wanted to break the ice with you in that old New Yawk or New Joisey tone of voice.  Well, that might catch quite a few of you off guard since itContinueContinue reading “How You Doin’?”

Is it sauce or is it gravy?

Hello again! If you are at least 50% Italian or full blooded Italian, you have probably encountered that age old question… “Is it SAUCE or is it GRAVY”?  I’ll try to give you my perspective. This question has been an ongoing source of contention in my own family long before I could remember.  One couldContinueContinue reading “Is it sauce or is it gravy?”

What is Cucinare, Mangiare, Amore?

Hi, and thanks for being a faithful reader of my blog.  Some people have asked me to clarify just what my sub-title Cucinare Mangiare Amore is all about.  Well, it’s pretty simple.  In my second cookbook, titled COOK. EAT. LOVE.  I wanted to capture the very essence of the culture of the Italian people.  TheContinueContinue reading “What is Cucinare, Mangiare, Amore?”