Ugh... I love that raven, but it's time for a change. Gotta work on a new graphic. Maybe name-change too. Any suggestions?

The much-anticipated Bitchin' Kitchen Cookbook is now available. Get your very own autographed copy here!





Try out some of her tried, tested, and true recipes. Nevermind those recipes written by people who pull recipes out of their @$$ to fill a book. You've tried them, you know what I'm talking about. Anyway, buy the book. Cook from the book. Then, write your review on Amazon.com, Amazon. ca, or BarnesandNoble.com. Doesn't matter if you bought your autographed copy from Nadia G.'s site, as long as you've purchased anything at all from the above sites, you can write a review.

Yes, I'm pushy, but I'm a fan, and fan's can be pushy. And scary. And psychotic. No worries, the food will turn out great and there are some pretty good-looking people -and food, photographed in that book as well as Her Chefness. What else do you need?

I will be cooking from the book and blogging about it because... I can.

Sta benedica, Rue xox.

Oops, forgot to hit 'publish'.

All the best to you and all you hold dear for 2009! Sta benedica, Rue xox

as 2008 winds down to a close and 2009 is dawning I am busy reflecting on the past year.

Firstly, I would like to take a moment to commemorate all the people dear to us who we have lost this year. My family has lost another member of the previous generation to mine. I know people who have lost parents and people who have lost children this year. My heart goes out to all of them.

Secondly, I would like to take a moment to thank all of you who have prayed and raised power with me this past year. I can't thank you enough and I can't explain in words the miracles that I and those close to me have been graced with. To Jason, my Sorella Donna, Teresa, Buona, Tammy, and Ginny... I send you ten times the love and grace you have touched me and those dear to me with.

Realities. Someone dear to me is still having difficulty digesting some revelations of their own sparked by a trip to Italy to visit relatives. Our parents were indeed the ties that bound us to the rest of our bretheren. Now that they are gone, we will most likely continue to grow more and more estranged from first-cousins living on other continents. Being related does not make us family. We have nothing in common and have not known each other to have developed any kind of love or bond. It's sad really, but I had already learned that lesson 8 years ago when my father died. Once he was gone, I was indeed truly alone. I am grateful for the beautiful family I now have with my cherished husband, blessings that are my children, and loyal dog.

My profession took the forefront this past year. After being a stay-at-home-mom for 4 years it was definitely a fight to re-enter the workforce at my age and then a steep uphill climb to regain my place in society and my profession. As of late March 2008 I am exactly where I should be and all is well. My position is challenging and I am blessed to work with the most 'real' and dedicated people I have met in a long time.

In October I was interviewed on film for a documentary on Mal'occhio which will hopefully go into the editing stage in January 2009!!! It was really exciting -after I got over the shock and nerves ...a couple days after it was over, lol. I wanted my physical appearance to resemble that of my ancestors I was wanting to honour. At certain points during filming, I felt like I was channeling them. After the filming I went straight to work to change my appearance back to 'myself'. I didn't recognize myself in the mirror and frankly didn't feel comfortable. Funny how because I have only known many people that I know now for a short time, my old 'look' is all new to them. Don't feel like explaining to people who hardly know me that I wanted to look different for the documentary.... I can't wait to see it.

GOALS

My main goals are not different than the ongoing goals I already have. Continue to eat right and exercise. I dropped some 'baggage' last Fall and will continue to persevere until I reach my goal fitness level.

I will be turning my attention back to my website and weblog after a long hiatus. I have some creative plans in the works.

Now that I feel confident that my professional life is on track, my attention will be turned back to my other loves, magical practice and rustic cooking!

Domesticity. I am grateful to be practicing my profession again and the income it provides but, I do miss the order in my home. I haven't had 'order' since my first child was born! This is the year I work on the delicate balance act of full-time employed professional and all-time domestic goddess matriarch. It can be done. I'm sure of it. I've seen it. Mothers in my old neighbourhood who worked full time and managed their homes. I need a plan. More importantly, I need to be forgiving of myself when I can't do it all. This is my real challenge.

Simplicity. I want to begin to re-introduce simplicity back into my life. I miss simplicity. I will leave this thought open because it can apply to so many facets of one's life, I don't want to limit myself before I begin.

To my old friends and new friends. Thank you. Thank you for being there, but most of all for being yourselves. I look forward to many more adventures with you.

I wish you all a happy, healthy, prosperous 2009 filled with all the challenges and love you can stand!!!

Sta benedica,

Rue xox

Fall is absolutely my favourite time of the year. This year I got really lucky. We began having Fall temperatures mid-august! I find myself reflecting a lot lately. I find myself thinking about how my girls are growing and what wonderful little people they are becoming. I ponder how I enjoy my work and the wonderful people I work with.

I love Fall cooking and baking. Italian sausage with pumpkin sauce, roasted peppers, and apple cake, to name a few. What I miss the most from my life back east is the abundance of tomatoes, peppers, zucchini, I used to get for free from my family and friends' gardens. I wish we had an Italian green grocer in town. Thankfully there is the most awesome Italian food import store right across the street from my job! I make due with whatever verdura (dark leafy greens) I find at the local produce shops but it's not the same. Funny how when I lived in the big city, we shopped at the farmer's market right in the center of town. I live in a town surrounded by farms, orchards, and vineyards, and yet, I pay a premium for fresh local fruit and veggies. Boh....

She's 85 -and never been married. She shares a modest abode with her dog and a hen who provides her with all the eggs she needs. She is nearly completely deaf. She can cure migraines and anxiety attacks instantly by a wave of her tiny, callused hand. It is suspected that she withered her neighbor's crops because she blames them for the death of her water buffalo cow. She picks a walnuts from the tree in the backyard, and cracks them open perfectly, in her palm.

This is my aunt who lives in Naples. Right this very minute.

So, you're Italian. You're Italian with a burning interest in Italian witchcraft and folk traditions. Well, I suggest you beef up on your Italian language, history, and geography and get Googling. You can literally obtain a plethora of information regarding the specific region your family hails from and sometimes, you can find the specific practices of the tiny village your family hails from, online... for free! ETA: Granted, you need to have command of the Italian language in order to be able to properly search and interpret what you find. A knowledge of your people's dialect is an awesome asset as well. As far as Italian folk magic is concerned, Malpezzi covered all there is to know about Italian folk magic in general in 13 pages in the must-have book: Italian-American Folklore.

Now, how about those rustic, traditional dishes you remember your nonna making?

We had a moderately warm summer. Nothing remotely akin to the scorching summer we encountered the first year we moved here. I've loved every single minute of this summer.

The season was mostly spent working except for a two-week holiday late July/early August. My porch garden didn't do well at all. My lavender is still alive, however it is still the exact same size it was when I first bought it five months ago. My basil is doing alright -but not more than that. I'll be harvesting it this weekend to make some pesto sans pine nuts.

I've also been busy outside of work. Lately I've been experiencing a high demand for my services mainly in the realm of spiritual counselling/guidance. This has been most satisfying.

Reginella is the first song my zia and zio taught me. I was 5. Whenever I am missing them. Whenever I need to feel comforted. Whenever my children need comforting. Whenever I need to feel them near me, I sing it.

It's been eight years since I lost my zio, two since I lost my zia. I can't get through the song without tears pouring down my face. Sometimes, I sob, and take a long time to finish the song. I still miss them dearly. Everyone's gone. All that is left are songs.

This song is very meaningful to me. It's the second song my Zia taught me to sing when I was little and it will always remind me of my late Zia and late Zio I miss dearly. This song is so meaningful to me, I named my child after it.