Autumn is my favorite time of year, as it is the dawn of the holiday season. In Cincinnati, where I was raised, I loved both seeing the changing of the leaves, and feeling the cool air as the temperature declined. Here in the Desert I gather gourds and pumpkins, light spiced candles, and put Mr. Scarecrow near the front door. The dining room table is decorated with warm colored linens, turkey candle holders and a cornucopia my dear friend, Laura made me filled with an abundance of goodies.

Halloween was a blast when Gina was a little girl. Warmly I remember the nights of our ‘trick or treating” in Los Angeles. I giggle thinking of Gina in a super girl costume. She would whisper, “Don’t tell anyone, but I really am super girl!” Beautiful memories!

As I listen to holiday music while writing this missive, hearing the lyrics, ‘He will bring us goodness and light’, I am again reminded why I love autumn. It is a time of thanks, a time of prayer for peace and well being. It is time to reach out to those less fortunate and give the gift of love to all we meet.

This Thanksgiving I will give heartfelt thanks for my family, my dear friends and all of those who have touched my life. I especially will remember those who serve our Country and have given their lives for our freedom.

May God bless you and yours this Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Granny’s Baked Squash
( aka Aunt Fanny’s Baked Squash)

3 lbs. butternut or banana squash
½ cup chopped onions
½ cup cracker or bread crumbs
2 eggs
1 stick of butter
2 Tbs. brown sugar
1 Tsp salt
½ Tsp. pepper
Pre-heat oven to 350*

Wash, peel and cut up squash. Boil until tender, drain thoroughly, then mash

Add all ingredients, except for ½ of the butter and cracker crumbs. Mix well. Pour the mixture into baking dish. Melt remaining butter and spread on the top. Sprinkle with crumbs.
Bake at 350 for approximately 45 minutes

I am blessed to still be cooking in the kitchen with my mom! Mama started me cooking when I was in high school, as she was often at work when I came home from school. She would leave me instructions on what to begin preparing for our evening meals. Early on I learned to respect the hot stove and sharp knives. If you cook, you know the drill.

I am grateful she gave such great guidance, inspiration, and a flair for entertaining, because cooking has become one of my passions. Actually, the kitchen is one of my favorite places in our home.

Over the years Granny has always sought out new treats for her family. This recipe is one of our favorites that we make when Gina comes home. Enjoy the Spaghetti Pie with a light salad, and/or a warm loaf of crusty bread dipped in garlic oil.

GRANNY’S SPAGHETTI PIE!

INGREDIENTS

• 12 OZ. SPAGHETTI, COOKED, DRAINED
• 1 LB. GROUND BEEF, COOKED, DRAINED ( TOFU,CHICKEN OR TURKEY CAN BE USED))
• 4  CUPS MARINARAI SAUCE (EITHER HOMEMADE OF PAUL NEUMAN’S)
• ½ CUP GRATED PARMSEAN CHEESE
• 1 EGG LIGHTLY BEATEN ( OR 2 EGG WHITES)
• 1 PKG (8 OZ.) SHREDED MOZZARELLA CHEESE
• 2 TABLESPOONS OLIVE OIL
• 1  CLOVE OF GARLIC
• OIL SPRAY

PREPARATION

• HEAT WATER FOR SPAGHETTI, ADD SALT TO THE WATER, BRING TO FULL BOIL
• PREHEAT OVEN TO 350 DEGREES
• WHILE WATER IS BOILING BROWN MEAT IN 2 TB OLIVE OIL AND GARLIC
• ADD SAUCE AND HEAT THROUGH
• WHEN WATER COMES TO A FULL BOIL ADD SPAGETTI, MAKE SURE TO COOK IT ALDENTE
• COOL SPAGHETTI WITH COOL WATER UNTIL PASTA IS WARM SO YOU DON’T COOK THE EGG
• TOSS COOKED SPAGHETTI, PARMESIAN, BUTTER AND EGGS AND EGG
• SPEAD SPAGETTI MIXTURE IN BAKING PLATE IN THE WAY YOUR FORM A CRUST FOR PIE DOUGH ( MAKE SURE YOU OIL THE PAN)
• SPREAD MEAT SAUCE OVER SPAGHETTI
• ADD MOZZARELLA
• BAKE AT 350 DEGREES FOR UP TO 30 MINUTES (WATCH THAT IT DOES NOT GET TOO BROWN, BUT THE EDGES ARE CRISP)
• HEAT REMAINING SAUCE
• LET PIE SIT FOR 5 MINUTES PRIOR TO CUTTING

SERVING

• PLACE SAUCE ON PLATE
• PUT A PIECE OF PIE ON THE SAUCE
• ENJOY

This past year, not unlike you, my work and ‘dreams’ have been challenged by these turbulent times. Embracing this uncertainty has been like harnessing a ‘wild thing’.  Poof, things just vanished. The methodology in the way we did business is gone; however I am one of the blessed ones, because as a member of the media our ‘meltdown’, if you will, started in August of 2008.  At that time we had time to process the possibility of taking Patti Gribow’s RoundTable off of the air, and actually put the show on hold in January. I miss my family that being our cast and crew, the hundreds of hours of research, the heartfelt discussions we shared with you on the ‘air ‘, the philanthropies we promoted, presenting worthy individuals with “Random Acts of Kindness” and the trust you bestowed on me to give you honest and fair content. I sincerely thank all of my incredibly loyal sponsors, fans and friends.

But life goes on, and another chapter in life is given birth! As you can see from my site, I am very busy with stage, screen, speaking and TV projects.

There are several mantras and sayings that frame my life. The one that touches me most is by Mahatma Gandhi, “My life is my message”. To me the meaning is similar to the saying, “You are what you eat.”  The difference is that “My life is my message” means that “you are what you do.” Your life is your brand, a reflection of your core beliefs.

Over the past three decades I have reinvented myself numerous times such as: being an entertainer, interior design, journalism, general construction, Director of Development of a private school, and working in a law office. Throughout each of these transformations my life has been filled with commitment to the community, working in tandem with others to find ways to meet needs and benefit organizations. I have now gone ‘full-circle”, as I am now back at ‘home’ in the field of communication. However, there is difference today from the 1980’s when I was singing and dancing my way into the hearts of an audience. Currently my emphasis in the field of entertainment is to bring a platform of conversation and awareness to those innovative and inspiring people who are making an impact on our global community.

Recently I rewrote my own personal mission statement: My mission is to continue advocacy for women and children by using my communication skills and contacts to empower them as individuals and as organizations.

For this reason, my blog is born. The title of my commentary will be “Life Matters“. Each of our individual lives matter… And, the way you handle the matters in our lives are key to our relationships, our health and the legacy we leave our children. This blog will address those issues that touch our lives from our external environment to the body, mind, spirit connection, healing arts, and ways in which we can support our brothers and sisters from abuse, abduction, and disease through education.

Yes, of course we are going to have laughs too, as I think I was born with a smile on my face. Included will be newsworthy items and of course recipes. The kitchen is my second home!

I encourage a dialogue of entertaining stories and solutions to those complex challenges that arise.  Not unlike our TV shows, every week I will begin another conversation on a ‘matter’ that touches my heart, and I hope yours too!