"Call it like it is. A spade's a spade"

I was invited to Queens for a Bridal Shower my friend Natalie was throwing. Her son just eloped so she was throwing the new couple a belated shower. I did the invitations so she invited me for the festivities. You know I don't turn down an Italian get together, especially with home made food!

Natalie picked me up around 10:30 and I helped her with the decorations. As usual, I was the balloon and crepe paper bitch. I know I am creative and all but damn can I get some other materials to work with for a change. Of coarse I didn't mind, it was for Natalie, I would do anything for her. For those of you who don't remember I went to her house this past 4th of July and enjoyed a fantastic Italian BBQ in Queens. Saturday was no different, however the entire family came out for this event. I met everyone and they're Momma! Natalie was busy playing hostess so I just made my rounds. Ya'll know me. Mostly I listened in on stories from the old neighborhood. My favorite was talking about "crazy and mean" people in the family. "Call it like it is, a spade's a spade," this was the best line from the day. Stories about mean Aunt Netty were my favorite. Evidently she went around calling you fat to your face. Glad I'm not part of that family I might have developed a complex and not love my curves like I do :) I guess her and her husband "kept company" for 25 years because he was Jewish and she wasn't allowed to marry him until everyone was dead. Gotta love the Italian way, but in her defense it was the old days, and you just didn't do that. I love how Italian families really stick together. Maybe if I'm lucky Natalie will adopt me and I can have my own little Brooklyn/Queens Mafia. One can dream!

Enough about the crazy relatives, lets talk about the food. (Warning: if you are hungry don't read, if you aren't hungry, you will be) Now mind you only 35 people were invited to this shin dig. Natalie, in true Italian style, cooked for 300! First she served "anti pas" and no that is not a typo. Real Italians don't say anti pasti, they leave off the ti. They also don't say mozzarella, they pronounce it mozzarell and leave off the a. Don't get it twisted! Anyway the appetizer in itself was a meal. I'm talking pepperoni, sausage, salami, cheese, olives, roasted peppers, artichoke hearts, bruscetta, tomato with basil and mozzarella, and fresh tomato salad. Yes Italians like their tomatoes! Needless to say I was full after appetizers. We sat around and digested then she brought out the hoagie for a pre-dinner snack. Now mind you this hoagie must of been 6 feet long. I had to pass on the hoagie to save room for dinner. Next, dinner was served. Lasagna, eggplant Parmesan, broccoli rob, kielbasa, sausage and peppers, fried chicken, and some white stuff I didn't touch because it looked weird. Lastly we topped off the night with cake, cheesecake, fruit salad and ambrosia salad. And on top of all that I took home two big bags of home grown tomatoes. Needless to say I didn't eat too much on Sunday.

Being around Natalie and her family makes me miss my own. I am blessed that she has taken me under her wing and kind of adopted me in a way. She don't know but there will be a southerner at the Thanksgiving dinner table this year. Ya'll know I'll figure a way to invite myself. I'll make sure to bring the pecan pie and show them how to fry up a turkey. Thanks again to Natalie for making this southern Irish girl feel like a true Italian.