Dedicated to my sisters, Nancy H., Kim, Arlene, Carol, Nancy L., Betty and Dorothy
The intoxicating aromas of basil, lemon, and garlic filled my kitchen. As usual, whenever we indulge our latest cooking adventure, Nancy and I chopped and sliced and sauteed along to Motown. Our culinary endeavor only interrupted by spontaneous dancing and fits of laughter. This latest epicurean project started with a new cookbook, Cucina Siciliana, by Ursula Ferrigno. The beautifully designed cover—bright yellow lemons against Mediterranean blue tiles—initially drew me to it. Some of the enticing recipes were known to me from my grandma’s kitchen, while others intrigued my Sicilian heritage.
Sisters Sicilian Soirée
Of all the trips I’ve ever dreamed of taking, Sicily is top of my list. My friend Nancy knows this longing of mine. One day, after we salivated over the recipes in my new cookbook, Nancy suggested we whip up some of the dishes, saying, “Let’s get a group of gals together and share the feast.” Then, with a twinkle in her eye, added, “Annnddd… you can pretend you’re in Sicily, at least for the afternoon!” And so, the “Sisters Sicilian Soirée” was born.
A Slice of Sicily
Once we decided on a tasting menu of 10 dishes, we were off and running. The day before the Sunday gathering, we prepped ingredients for panelle, fried chickpeas with herbs, caponata, and bruschetta. We sliced red onions to serve in Masala and for an orange and onion salad. Grilled peaches topped with mascarpone cheese was a divine dessert. All the delicacies were plated on lemon-themed dishes with blue accents. Several bowls filled with lemons and limes carried forth the citrus inspirations of southern Italy. I crafted a specialty cocktail for the occasion. To commemorate our gathering, my friends and I cheered “saluti!” with flutes of Negroni Sbagliato, a mix of Campari and vermouth with Prosecco. Adding to the ambiance, a curated playlist including, “That’s Amore,” “Mambo Italiano,” and other canzoni italiane played throughout the afternoon.
Benvenute, sorelle mie!
Technically, I don’t have sisters, but I’m blessed with several extraordinary women in my life who are my spiritual, emotional, heart-and-soul siblings. That we aren’t related by blood is no matter; we are bonded by time and experiences that run deep. The seven “sister-friends” at my brunch are among them. Five have been in my life for a decade or more. The other two for a bit less, but they also are tightly woven into my sorority of choice. Each of them has brought grace, comfort, mentorship, escape, and fresh ventures to my life. What better way to celebrate these “kinships,” these women, than by bringing them together in my home to enjoy each other’s company over food, laughs, and love?
These Sisters
Nancy H., my original “sister,” and I have known one another for 30-plus years, and she truly “gets me.” She is the one I run to with my joy and sadness, my disappointments and discoveries. She will be at my door to comfort me before I shed the first tear. We share foodie road trips and other adventures (gnome houses built out of garden scraps, anyone?). Any cooking chops I now have I credit to Nancy’s culinary know-how. With her guidance and enthusiasm for a variety of cuisines, I finally learned to embrace the art of creating a meal, despite having grown up with a mother—wonderful as she was—who avoided interactions with the stove whenever possible.
Kim and Arlene came into my life when our sons were little. From beach outings to Boy Scouts, our friendship grew along with our kids. We co-parented, especially during the summers, making sure the boys’ activities and our work schedules were in sync. They are among the women who I feel are my son’s “bonus mothers.” He fondly remembers countless hours spent at Kim’s, and her meals featuring enough food to feed an army, and Arlene’s easy-going nature that often translated into a willingness for nearly anything spur of the moment.
Nancy and Carol. “Do you like coffee?” When I answered Nancy’s question with an “oh yes,” she followed with her distinctly resonating laugh and told me we’ll get along just fine. And so began our working relationship and resulting friendship over the last 13 years. It was at that same job where I also met Carol, and I’ve been privileged to call her my friend for the past 13 years as well. Remembering my shyness as a new employee on my first day at the office, I recall Carol’s kind invitation to join her and some other coworkers at lunchtime in the conference room. Mountainous workloads and looming deadlines were never a match for Nancy’s sense of humor or Carol’s radiant smile.
Betty and Dorothy are more recent additions to my sisterly circle. Initially introduced by a mutual friend, Betty and I share a love of dance performances and outdoor concerts on summer evenings. Dorothy and I were frequently in one another’s orbit, thanks to our sons’ participation in the high school band. It wasn’t until many concerts later though, that we finally got our chance to properly meet. And you know that feeling when you first meet someone, it seems like you’ve always known them? Well, that’s how I immediately felt when I met Dorothy.
Good Ingredients
So often, too many months dissolve into one another, and with that we suddenly realize we’ve had too few connections with loved ones. Too many lost hours between an in-person meet up, or even a quick text. Life demands our attention; priorities wax and wane. When there is substance—good ingredients, if you will—at the core of our relationships, each reconnection feels as if no time at all has elapsed. This is true kinship, when we pick up right where we left off.
To paraphrase that old cliché, “When life gives me lemons…” Well, I’ll gather them up in a bowl and set them on a table among my sister-friends, including those of you who gave me Sicily for an afternoon. And your friendship for a lifetime! Mie bellissime sorelle, vi amo tutte!