FloridaGranny
Well-Known Member
@faerywings I saw your note to Marilyn. Hubby and I ate at Calandra's just a couple of weeks ago when we were in New Jersey! Yum! I have photos of some of the pastries, too.
Oscraps
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- Thread starter O Birthday Fairy
- Start date
I'd like to know the thing you've achieved that you're most proud of.
Just realized I missed this question! One of the things I'm most proud of is leading my then work team through the covid shut down. Managing our day to day responsibilities and navigating all the new territory was challenging yet fulfilling as our team really came together.
Just realized I missed this question! One of the things I'm most proud of is leading my then work team through the covid shut down. Managing our day to day responsibilities and navigating all the new territory was challenging yet fulfilling as our team really came together.
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char8182
Well-Known Member
It has enabled me to do all other accomplishments in my life!That is such an *incredible* accomplishment, life-changing for you and everyone who loves you-- ♥
That is one of the best places you could be as long as you were stuck in NJ!
ETA: that totally cracks me up that you took pictures of the pastries!
More than 20 years ago, I went to the roof of Africa: Kilimanjaro, a childhood dream.
It's a pretty tough climb, and the last stage I climbed mentally. This experience, which I'm very proud of, showed me that I could do great things if I really wanted to. It helped me adopt my children, at work. It helps me to be positive on a regular basis.
It's a pretty tough climb, and the last stage I climbed mentally. This experience, which I'm very proud of, showed me that I could do great things if I really wanted to. It helped me adopt my children, at work. It helps me to be positive on a regular basis.
FloridaGranny
Well-Known Member
The photos give me something to dream about when I'm eating my southern cornbread.That is one of the best places you could be as long as you were stuck in NJ!
ETA: that totally cracks me up that you took pictures of the pastries!
Wowza, what an incredible accomplishment.! That's a really lofty location to learn just how strong you truly are.
Terri M
Well-Known Member
Here in Virginia you can't imagine how often I miss a good NJ Italian bakery. Yeah, cornbread ain't it.The photos give me something to dream about when I'm eating my southern cornbread.
MariJ
Well-Known Member
When I'm in Indiana at my sister's friends of hers will say - oh this is the best bread. Just like NJ. And they'll say that about pizza too.
My sister just laughs... No way is it even close!
Some people think about Snooki when they think of NJ.
Italian bakeries and pizza is the way to go. Much better!
I replied to @Terri M before I saw your post. Bagels too- NJ bagels are also amazing.When I went to college in rural PA, I was grocery shopping and wanted to buy tortellini. Nowhere to be found. They had elbows, spaghetti, and ziti. That was a long time ago so I hope they have expanded their variety by now cuz this Italian NJ Girl was out of her realm back then.
MariJ
Well-Known Member
Haha, so true! My sister could ONLY find spaghetti and elbows when she first moved to Indiana - not even ziti. Now there is more. We always had "macaroni" at my Italian Grandma's on Sunday and Thursday nights. No "pasta" - it was macaroni,
When I went to college in rural PA, I was grocery shopping and wanted to buy tortellini. Nowhere to be found. They had elbows, spaghetti, and ziti. That was a long time ago so I hope they have expanded their variety by now cuz this Italian NJ Girl was out of her realm back then.
And that is SO true about bagels, too. Just can't replicate our area's bagels.
MariJ
Well-Known Member
Oh you know the answer to that - there IS no such thing as sauce on macaroni. It's ALWAYS gravy!
MariJ
Well-Known Member
Oh, does that not get you? Snooki is SOOOOooo not typical NJ. My sister and I are literally just texting about wildlife in NJ because my town and surrounding, which are residential but not by any means rural and are very close to cities - is having a black bear problem. She said "You are a wildlife state now!" I said, "NJ has multiple wildlife places. Shore, Pine barrens and up northwest where it’s another type of environment - foresty". Couldn't think of the name to say - but NJ is not just the Turnpike as we know - we are the Garden State with a lot of nature!Some people think about Snooki when they think of NJ.
Italian bakeries and pizza is the way to go. Much better!
Uff dah, yah, dontcha know, Minnesotans, do not sound like the movie Fargo. How 'bout a good hot dish then?????
Gravy, but really only for special occasions now, it was a staple growing up, but hubs pretty much only likes it on mashed potatoes, which I never make for the two of us. One of my favorite meals as a kid was, chicken and gravy over baking powder biscuits, yet last weekend at my college reunion, the hotel had biscuits and gravy as an option in their breakfast. I always find that so odd, I guess because we only had it for supper. There's another question you could do if you haven't already, breakfast, dinner, supper OR breakfast, lunch, dinner?
Tomato gravy??? Cheese gravy??? Butter Gravy?? This So-Cal girl at heart has never heard of this!! I'm just getting used to this new Southern way of doing things, and now I learn there's a Northern way too???
Gravy is for mashed potatoes and pot roast, and on a biscuit for breakfast!
MariJ
Well-Known Member
Haha, Amy. Nope! Not North or South but an ethnic thing.... Italians have always called the red tomato stuff (NOT called sauce!) you put on pasta (or macaroni as we called it) "GRAVY". It is NOT tomato sauce like people say now. My German Dad finally explained it as - gravy has a meat base. And, our traditional pasta gravy does and was started with sausage, meatballs, etc. My Grandma and Mom made it that way. Now there is meatless/marinara and others. But, it's always gravy and particularly "THE gravy". My Grandma would say she was making The Gravy. Always a big huge pot of it!Tomato gravy??? Cheese gravy??? Butter Gravy?? This So-Cal girl at heart has never heard of this!! I'm just getting used to this new Southern way of doing things, and now I learn there's a Northern way too???
Haha - and we north easterners have no idea of biscuits and gravy - it sounds so strange to me and for BREAKFAST???. My sister learned that in Indiana and that's how I heard of it. That and noodles for Thanksgiving...
MariJ
Well-Known Member
AK_Tracy
Well-Known Member
I had NO idea what the heck Hot dish was until visiting my hubs best friends parents. Its a freaking casserole!!!!!
And you never know what kind!!! Its all hot dish! If its in a dish and hot, yeah got it! We also laugh at Fargo and yah yah a lot. But Uff Dah, we do.
AK_Tracy
Well-Known Member
Breakfast, lunch and dinner baby!!!! My dad always joked there is not supper anymore since Jesus had the last supper.
AK_Tracy
Well-Known Member
I guess if that is your idea of Gravy, then yeah biscuits and gravy would be odd
But oh sausage gravy over homemade biscuits and a scrambled egg, mmmmmmmmmmmmmmm And its yummy for breakfast, lunch or dinner. Any time is a good time for biscuits and gravy. 
That is one of the clearest and most concise explanations of sauce vs gravy Ev-errrr
usually it feels this: :
MariJ
Well-Known Member
Hahahaha! You made me laugh Chris and your emojis are a riot (from another emoji lover). My Dad would be happy that his explanation was that good!That is one of the clearest and most concise explanations of sauce vs gravy Ev-errrr
usually it feels this: :