Felice Festa della Mamma

Welcome to the 34th issue of "Shut Up and Mangia!". This special Mother’s Day issue will focus on Mamma and her favorite recipes.

I remember my Mother cooking in the kitchen expertly preparing meals that she learned to prepare from her Mother. In an Italian Mother’s world, food is love and you get plenty of it whether your related or not.

Though my Mother is not with us anymore, I thought it fitting to prepare a menu using the dishes she enjoyed the most. I remember in her later years how her eyes would light up if I just mentioned pasta and cauliflower or stuffed artichokes. When she stopped cooking it was up to me to make all her favorites which she demanded on a regular basis.

It still amazes me how food can put us in time and place. It brings a smile to my face when I recall all the great times we had cooking and sharing meals together. So if your Mother is still with you cook for her. This is something she will appreciate more than anything else.

This is just a reminder that our contest will end in a little over one month from now so enter “Mangia Italiano 2010 Recipe Contest” now. Just send us your favorite Italian recipe for a chance to win some great prizes. See below for more details.

"Mangia Italiano Spring 2010 Recipe Contest" Great Chicago Italian Recipes is proud to present our second Italian recipe contest. Enter your favorite Italian recipe and win any one of these great prizes: 1st place - $100.00 Amazon.com gift certificate 2nd place - wins a “Great Chicago Italian Recipes” Sweatshirt 3rd place - Wins a “Great Chicago Italian Recipes” Cooking Apron 4th place - Wins a “Great Chicago Italian Recipes” Tote Bag 5th place - Wins a “Great Chicago Italian Recipes” Coffee Mug To enter just fill out the Recipe Contest Form. Please read our Official Rules before you begin. Good Luck!

If you haven’t had a chance to visit my new site "Mia Cucina Pazzo.com" do so now. It’s a fun place where I get to write anything I want and share my thoughts on a variety of Italian subjects. Feel free to post your comments anytime. I’m doing my best to add new recipes and some interesting articles on various Italian topics..