Everything I Learned as a Kid Came from Annie

Cousin Annie lived downstairs in the second floor apartment of Grampa Rinaldi’s house. My parents, brother, and I lived in the third floor apartment. Gramma and Grampa lived on the first floor. A very steep set of stairs separated me from Annie, but that never stopped me from bounding down the stairs any time of day or night to be with Annie. As small children we were together every single day. I hated it when she started school and I couldn't go with her just because I was one year too young to start kindergarten at St. Anthony’s School. I’m sure I bugged the heck put of her asking questions about what happened at school. I was so afraid that she would make too many new friends and leave me behind. I already played second fiddle next to Mary Ruth Valenino, her girlfriend up the street. I prayed to the Virgin Mary that Annie would always be like a sister to me and never go away.

As we grew up, whenever Annie learned anything new she would fill me in on the information. She clued me in on who had cooties and not to eat “mookey” pizza. Even secrets like, Mary Ruth and her liked Frannie Masarro, the neighborhood dream boy. Even though my mom taught me about sex from her nursing school medical textbook, she was too late because Annie already filled me in about kissing boys, getting pregnant, and which girls in the neighborhood were slutty. Annie taught me about makeup, shaving my armpits, and all about rock and roll music. She planned a full night of entertainment and snacks over us watching the Beatles on the Ed Sullivan show. I thought she went nuts when she started screaming while watching that program. Her mom, Aunt Katie, as usual threw a shoe at her to get her to shut up. I later found out from her that you were supposed to scream as loud as possible when a rock and roll idol was performing.

To me, Annie is our family’s Martha Stewart. She has a great family, wonderful home, and she also treasures our favorite family recipes. We both agree that family tradition is handed down in the food our ancestors prepared more so than anything else. When Annie had her own apartment, the first meal she made for me was delicious pork chops. I now call them Annie’s Italian Pork Chops.


Annie's Italian Pork Chops
Ingredients:
Pork Chops
Diced Potatoes
Medium Sliced Onion
Large Can Crushed Plumb Tomatoes
Parsley
Handful Bread Crumbs
Salt & Pepper to taste
2 -3 Crushed Garlic Cloves (to taste)
Handful Grated Parmesan or Romano Cheese

Mix all of the above in 9x13 pan.
Bake 350 uncovered until pork is tender, approx. 1 hour.