Welcome to my blog!

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Mangia Con Elena

Instagram  @mangia.con.elena



Hello and welcome to those who stopped on my page as you were scrolling! I've been wanting to do this for awhile (a long while actually) and now that I seem to have way more time on my hands and to try to evade the ground hog feeling that is our life at the moment - I thought now is the right time!  Mostly this blog will be about Italian cooking. I would like to share some old traditional recipes handed down from generations of Italian women who show their love of family through food.  Cooking for me and many Italians is an emotion. So many celebrations and special memories are connected to food. 

So where to start? I am a proud first generation Italian Canadian. Born and raised in a small Northern Ontario community with many other Italians certainly shaped and nurtured my love of cooking, eating and family.  Being the only girl in a traditional family, I was the one in the kitchen helping my mom with EVERYTHING. I learned at a young age how to prepare food. I remember feeling resentful and sad because as I was stuck in the kitchen, my brothers were watching TV or outside having fun. 

I didn't really appreciate or understand what a privilege it was to be learning these traditions. So back in April I decided to bake some bread. I needed to do something to break the mundane feeling that began to have an impact on me. It had been a long time since I got my hands in some dough.I called my brother who is an amazing cook for his recipe. I could have asked my mom but she has never followed a recipe ever and "quanto basta" or just enough of this or that wasn't going to work for bread. Have to admit I was a bit nervous but it was amazing how my hands knew within minutes of kneading that bread exactly what to do. It was very calming and the smell in the house!!! Mamma Mia!!! 

From then on the rest of this story began to unfold. At the suggestion of my dear friend, I started  my instagram account and I am so happy with it. I love sharing my recipes, but I love even more the friendships I have made, the connections with people all over the world and all the great recipes that I have been trying! It brings together people with the same passions and hobbies and gives them a spot to share and learn. It has been a wonderful experience. 

And today I am leaping into the blog world and trying my hand at that! I will be sharing recipes, traditional ones and new ones as well as stories of my experiences as an Italian Canadian, mother, daughter, wife , teacher and friend. Please join me! I would love it if you did!!! 

So here's my question to you- what are you doing to help pass the time? Share your stories with me! Would love to hear about them!
Con amore, 

 Elena💜






































 



Comments

  1. MACFSH23 November 2020 at 15:33

    Time is going very slowly but today is a pd day so it's baking day! Started with banana chocolate chip muffins. Soon we will make Anna Olsen's ginger chocolate chip cookies. Then we need flat breaks for dinner because we are having the shashuka you taught me how to make! Happy to see your blog again. Beautiful photo!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Elena23 November 2020 at 19:31

      Oh those cookies sound delicious. I will have to get the recipe from you! You know how much we both love ginger cookies! We had Shashuka for dinner as well! That is so funny! Thanks and I am so glad you read my post. Feels good to be back at it again! Have a good night and talk soon

      Delete
  2. Anonymous9 December 2020 at 13:44

    well done......secret admirer

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Elena9 December 2020 at 15:49

      Thank you! I look forward to seeing the dishes you create! Thanks for following along !

      Delete

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