Gorgonzola Gnocchi with Walnut Cream Sauce

      UPDATE: I found out, in 2016, the great restaurant,  Rose Angelis, closed; on October 1, 2016, after 25 years of business.  Miss it more than I can say ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ 

     So, I originally created this recipe in 2017 and posted this recipe originally on  November 3, 2017.  

     Since, Halloween was over then;  yet still; it would not be long til we begin to hustle and bustle for the upcoming holidays😉.  

     If you'd like to read more, and get the recipe... Posting it today, because I don't have time to finish one of the relevant current posts that I'm working on.  Also, because I have a hankering for this dish, so I thought I'd share it again.  

     Also, just $5 to contribute over on the DONATE tab, is dandy😊 Especially since, this is a great recipe!!! 

Saying Goodbye

As I look back over 2013, I think of all that's happened.  Loss of loved ones; my youngest starting school; great trips; and times with great friends.  In looking back over the posts of Sadie's Gathering, I am ending the year by listing ones that may not have been the most read, but I still think deserve a tip of the hat.

Here are my picks-

Random Acts of Kindness - When I first started Sadie's Gathering I featured a "Crazy Holidays" page, featuring little known and kooky holidays, with help of the site, Holiday Insights.  As time went on, I decided to take a holiday from the "Crazy Holidays".  Some of the Crazy Holidays" are actually pretty cool though, and Random Acts of Kindness Day was one of my favorites. This post was mine


Swearing...    My ode to language.


Ok, It's Official, I'm A Prude  My first confession.

I Know What It's Like, To Miss New Orleans...  - The first post that I featured photos on; and a few words about one of my all time favorite cities in the world.  Can't wait to return.

When You Reach For A Star  One of my favorites of 2013, but it was early on, so I don't think many read it.  Let me know what you think.

 Why I Was An Only Child - If you are reading this and you know me, chances are this was written for you.

For Mom  Didn't write much for this, but the photos are some of my favorite flower shots from over the years.   For Mother's Day, I shared a poem I wrote in 1994.

The Graduation Poem  A poem I wrote in 1986


Nat'l Waiters & Waitress Day- My tip of my hat to all the extraordinary people that I have ever had the pleasure of working with in the restaurant world.  Just a little bit of insight, and the first post where I featured some of my husband's cartoons.

Quiche Me Dahling!   The recipes to 2 great quiches, not featured currently in my Recipes page.

Know Your Kids?     A post that hope will continue to draw readers.  There'll be a follow up soon, because to me, it's that important.

Happy Birthday West Virginia!  Done in honor of my homestate's 150th birthday, featuring photos I took while there during the annual family trip.

Do You Ever Want to Run Away?  Even us grown ups get the urge from time to time.

Let's Talk About Sex    Really surprised this isn't one of the ones over on the left.

Technology Vs. Me   An ongoing topic for me.

My Take On Marriage  A favorite featuring some great cartoons by my husband, Davis Jaye.

What I've Learned   Well, so far, on being a parent.

Words Are Not Enough   In this case, never will be.

Have You Seen This Woman? Thank you to this woman and so many others.

It's Giving Tuesday!   This was only the second Giving Tuesday, and from what I have read it nearly doubled 2012's contributions.  Here's hoping 2014's Giving Tuesday goes beyond 2013!  Very cool! 

There are others I am proud of but it's time to celebrate saying goodbye to 2013 and welcoming in

2014!

Wishing everyone a safe and joyous celebration.  See you next year.

S.

P.S. How I forgot this one is beyond me, because it will make me smile everytime I look at it-

Ever Feel Like This?

Ever Feel Like This?

This cutie is brought to you courtesy of my talented husband, Davis Jaye.  The idea is mine, courtesy of my life, as well as everyone's I know.

     I remember thinking when I first became a mom, "why wasn't I born an octopus?"  Then one morning, after getting more than an hour of uninterrupted sleep and having a big ass* caffeine infused beverage, logic returned. 

If I had been born an Octopus, my offspring would be octopi.

That would pretty much defeat the purpose.
So, I hope this brings a smile , and empathizes with everyone;  especially during the holiday season.

Just to let you know, one of my thoughts for Sadie's Gathering in 2014 is to "open" a little store with just a few little things.  Coffee mugs, tee shirts, bumper stickers, cotton reusable bags and the sort.  The artwork will be cartoons that I have featured in My Take on Marriage,  Go Forth & Behave, this octopus, and a few others.  Please let me know your interest in the comment section.  Thanks in advance.

Happy Holidays!

*While I don't regularly swear on Sadie's Gathering, I will use the word "ass" from time to time, as did J. M. Barrie's Tinkerbell in his timeless children's classic Peter and Wendy.

The Hoopla

How's everyone doing?

10 Days to go till Christmas Eve.

I think I am finished with the shopping.  So that usually means in about 5 days time I'll think of something that someone absolutely can't do without, and I can't find absolutely anywhere.

Then there's the baking.  Getting in the right frame of mind, to be ready to bake some yummy treats, all the while accepting all the help (the 9 and younger set)  that is available to you.  Then you realize there's that one key ingredient you are missing.  Like sugar.

The Christmas Cards.  Making them out merrily, while listening to Nat King Cole, then remembering that so-n-so, got a new job and moved.  Is this the new address or the old?  They got married; now whose place are they living?  Or they're no longer together, where did I put their new addresses?  What's their new significant other's name?  Go the distance.  Stay in touch.  Lots of egg nog later...

Decorate!

All the while using language as colorful as your holiday wrapping paper.

Now there's the Christmas Spirit.

 

Natale's Wedding

While a lot of you out there are welcoming your Elf on The Shelf for the season, ours has answered another calling.  Our elf, Natale, recently married a fellow Italian, Giovanni.

I am very happy for them and wish them many years of happiness.  As you see, she was a lovely bride.

As for our family, we'll be keeping Christmas in the way our family has for generations.

Santa always finds a way.

Feelin' Snarky

Just a quick post today, to wish you all a Happy Thanksgiving.

Chances are you are either traveling, or are elbow deep in preparation for tomorrow's feast. 

My reason for feeling snarky may be due to the stores that continuously advertise their wonderful sales to be had tomorrow, still never uttering the word, "Thanksgiving".

More likely it's knowing full good and well to spite spending this evening prepping, and the majority of tomorrow cooking, neither of my daughters will end up eating much other than snack crackers and pumpkin pie for the entirety of the day.

I can't help but wonder, if Ben Franklin had had his way, and our national bird was the turkey;
what would be the main dish on Thanksgiving?

Given the look that the Bald Eagle delivers, doubt it would have anything to worry about.

Just the same, wishing you and yours a joyful and bountiful Thanksgiving.

S.

Can We Just Relax?

     Here it is the Monday before Thanksgiving; the beginning of the holiday season.  In most places we have seen holiday decorations and preparations on sale since the beginning of November if not before Halloween. 

     Can we do that inevitable huge sigh together?  Here we go... SIIIIGGGGGHHHH ...(repeat as necessary)

     Is all the hubbub necessary?

     Don't misunderstand, I love the holidays, but there are some commercial practices these days, that have me rolling my eyes.  Found out yesterday that department stores are giving their customers an early start to black Friday- by starting on Thursday!  They opt out of mentioning that Thursday is indeed a holiday unto itself.  Just state that there are amazing, one of a kind, sales to be had on THURSDAY.  Huh.  What are they counting on?  That we'll forget it's THANKSGIVING?
Or are they just betting we're all lunatics? 

     I know I am not the only one who gets irritated with how the madness keeps getting earlier and earlier every year.  Lewis Black has a hilarious routine about it.  (click on his name to view it).  He also has a routine, Hanukkah Sucks, which is very funny as well.  There are friends of mine who are Jewish who complain about all the hoopla and I just joke with them, there's nothing stopping them from going over the top with Hanukkah.  After all Hanukkah is for 8 days.  Curious notion when you think about it;  why hasn't Hanukkah gone over the top?  After all it's the secular aspects of Christmas that increase with every year.  Perhaps everyone just feels that with all the pomp and circumstance of Christmas and the New Year, enough is enough.  Wouldn't surprise me.

     Still, to spite best intentions I can already tell you how it's going to go in our household.  We'll do our best to keep with the "reason for the season."  Then we'll watch a holiday movie that will inspire a Dickensian or Rockwell worth effort to add to our Christmas Spirit.  Then, I'll go a little nuts baking and cooking every recipe from ye olde yesteryear to the present.  Half way through December I'll have enough to feed Charles's, Norman's, as well as our own family.  Considering we had/have 15 kids between us, that's saying something.  Then the gifts.  We have our list, we check it twice, and rejoice in the pleasure of finding that special something for our loved ones.  Sounds good.  Till some little Christmas Imp comes along and does something.   Could be that awesome new toy, that just came out, every kid wants, and all store are sold out.  Or coffee grounds clog the sink and winkle their way to the dishwasher while it's running the dishes for Christmas dinner.  Or your pet gets into the icicles... again.  Enough said.  You know what I am talking about.  I'm sure you've had your share of Christmas Imp visits. Speaking of imps, I wonder how our elf Natale is getting along.

     As long as we stuff and roast ourselves, all should be good.