Jennifer Lawrence Wants Young Women to "Catch Fire"

I’ve always told my daughter, like all mothers do, to make sure she eats balanced meals. I nag her probably more than I should, and everyday I ask her what she has eaten at school. 

She is in college and is gone for the majority of the day. I give her plenty of money so she has no excuse not to eat. I’m proud to say she does make healthy food choices and I will take only some credit for that part. She is very health conscious, but she has on occasion told me she is fat. 

Young women tend to not want to eat. They are always worried about their weight. My daughter has said to me on more than one occasion that she thinks she is fat. If you know her, she is anything but fat. As her mother who loves her child more than life itself, I must admit that her self-assessment of her weight worries me more than just a little bit. 

Much of what is portrayed in magazines and on television are women who starve themselves sometimes to death. That to me is not sexy. In fact, if you’ve ever seen someone who is too skinny it makes you feel a little sick to your stomach. 

The first thing that comes to my mind is self-destruction and low self-esteem. Everyone wants to be perfect and what you see in a magazine many times is air brushed to make the subject look perfect—flawless, in fact. It’s all an illusion, like a magic trick.

Nobody on this planet is flawless and Hollywood is a large part of why some young girls want to starve themselves to death. You must be angry at any industry that allows our beautiful young women to feel less than perfect.

However, I was so proud to hear how actor Jennifer Lawrence (left) has become a voice against exactly what I’m complaining about. She has been fighting back against an industry that is helping to destroying our young women’s self-worth.

Hollywood has always been nothing but illusion and magic. Jennifer Lawrence has become Katniss Everdeen, her movie persona, in many ways—fighting against Hollywood like she fought in “Hunger Games” and now in “Catching Fire.”

“Somebody told me I was fat, that I was going to get fired if I didn’t lose a certain amount of weight,” the 23-year-old said. “They brought in pictures of me where I was basically naked, and told me to use them as motivation for my diet. It was just that.”

On top of feeling hurt, however, the actress says it makes her angry. “If anybody even tries to whisper the word ‘diet’, I’m like, ‘You can go f–k yourself,’” she said.

I believe she is indeed “catching fire” and fighting back in real life, as well as in her role as Katniss. You have to feel proud of her that she is brave enough to say this is wrong! She is a wonderful role model and I’m happy to know my daughter agrees with her as all young women should. Fight back, raise your voice and make changes. 

As women we come in all different shapes and sizes. No one is better than anyone else. We are not china dolls, but real women who deserve better from an industry that is clearly out of touch.

Jennifer Lawrence is not fat, just as my daughter and many others are not fat. As mothers we have to start teaching our daughters to be proud of who they are, no matter what shape or size they may be.

Eat healthy of course, but you have to splurge on occasion. Most important you must eat balanced meals three times a day. Must we continue to lose beautiful young women like Karen Carpenter (left) to eating disorders brought on by an industry that has been nothing but smoke and mirrors?

We all need to “catch fire” and fight back! Enjoy life, enjoy food and eat healthy! Be who you are and proud—and may the odds forever be in your favor!

The Most Important Room in the House

Sunday has always been family day in our home.  It's the one day we make sure to eat together, and it keeps us close.  The kitchen for us is probably the most important room in our house.  Not only have my daughter and I shared many hours cooking together I truly believe it has helped maintained open lines of communication between us. Cooking and talking makes the time go by fast, but it's a very important part of our family bond as well.

My daughter, who is now in her second year of college, has remained very close to me and I'm very proud of that fact.  She is heading into the nursing program soon and I contribute a large part of that to family values. We always knew where she was, what she was doing and who she was with.  I have always been a parent first and friend second. Kids need to know they are loved and I believe the most important way to show that love is to make sure you know what's happening in their lives.

Now that she is in college I really don't worry about her because I know she knows right from wrong.  She has always exercised good judgement and I trust her completely.  As a parent, that is the best gift you can receive from your child.  As parents my husband and I can't take all the credit because we have a child who has respected our judgement and I believe that says more about her than it does about us.

She turned 20 years old and she still wants to cook with me.  She still gets excited about the holidays and we still make Christmas Cookies together every year.  We are always together on Christmas Eve.  As a family every year we head to the Italian store Christmas Eve day.  We buy cold cuts, cheese, olives and bread and come home and partake in all the imported Italian food we bought.  It's been a tradition and it's always something we've done together as a family and we look forward to it each year.

I know some day she will get married and leave home, but I will always treasure the time I've spent with her. I hope that will continue after she has her own children.  I look forward to growing old with my husband and having everyone over for our Sunday meals.  I can see me in the kitchen with my daughter and grandchildren and I hope she will be as close to her children as I have been with her.  So indeed the kitchen is the most important place in our home.  I hope this carries on from generation to generation because family is the most important part of life and the only thing that will last.  Family love never dies and memories will last long after we are gone.

Fondue Can Make An Ordinary Evening Special & Fun

I always try to make every day as special as I can for my family and tonight will be no exception.
The Academy Awards will be on this evening and it is always fun to watch it together as a family.

My husband's boss just sent him a beautiful gift basket to welcome him to the family of SET Magazine. His new position as the magazine's Sports Editor and also Editor in Chief of the SET Magazine Website is reason to celebrate alone, but combine it with the Academy Awards and it will turn into a fun family evening while also celebrating his new position.

It is amazing how may things can be turned into family time together. By making everything special it gets kids excited as you build it up. It makes them want to spend time with their family and that is always a good thing.

On top of the gift basket I am going to make fondue. This is truly a throwback from the 1970s, but I think it's fun. If you've never done fondue with your family before give it a try. The kids love it and as adults it isn't too bad either.

I typically make two different types of fondue. One is a cheese base and one is more of a dessert type with chocolate.

When you make any type of dish with wine the alcohol typically burns off as it heats through, so it's fine for kids. However, if you aren't comfortable just make the one with chocolate. Either one tastes great and are both safe for kids.

Classic Cheese Fondue

6 cups coarsely shredded Gruyere or Swiss cheese (24 ounces)
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1 clove of garlic, halved
2 1/2 cups of dry white wine
2 tablespoons kirsch or dry sherry
dash pepper
dash ground nutmeg
French or Italian bread, cubed

Toss together cheese and flour; set aside.

Rub bottom and sides of fondue pot with garlic cloves, discard garlic.

Set fondue pot aside.

In a large saucepan heat wine over low heat till small bubbles rise to surface. Just before wine boils, stir in cheese, little by little, making sure cheese has melted before adding more. (Stir constantly and continue to add cheese till all is mixed in.)

Stir till fondue bubbles gently. Stir in kirsch or dry sherry, pepper and nutmeg. Pour into a fondue pot; keep fondue bubbling gently over fondue burner.

Serve with bread cubes.

Serves 10



Chocolate Fondue

8 squares (8 ounces) semisweet chocolate
1 14-ounce can sweetened condensed milk
1/3 cup milk

Assorted fondue dippers:

Angel Cake
Pound Cake
Banana (sliced in disc shapes)
Pineapple Chunks
Strawberries (always everyone's favorite)
Mini or Large Marshmallows

In a heavy saucepan melt chocolate over low heat. Stir in sweetened condensed milk and regular milk till well combined. Heat through.

Transfer to a fondue pot; place over fondue burner. (If mixture becomes too thick, stir in a little more milk.)

Spear desired fondue dipper with a fondue fork; dip into fondue and enjoy!!!

Serves 8

Making every day fun is what keeps families strong and together. Any reason to make something special will help your kids want to have more family time.

I really believe that kids want to be with their family -- even teenagers. As long as we as parents make things special and fun our kids will remain close to us and out of trouble.

Special times can be any time and you can make anything fun if you are creative and just try.

Let Dinner Table Be Heart Of Your Family's Togetherness

As I was sitting here trying to think of what to write, for some reason my grandmother (on my mother's side) popped into my head. I started thinking about her and the rest of my family. I truly think I was lucky to be born into the family that I was.

I have so many fond memories. My grandmother's name was Julia, or Julie as everyone called her. She had such a sense of humor and was so fun to be around. My grandfather was Carl. He was a typical Italian man. He was born in Italy. My grandmother was Italian, but born here in the U.S.

It's funny but these two people were so different. He was of the old country and she was very Americanized. About the only thing I could see that these two had in common was an Italian background. However, I couldn't have been more wrong.

They raised seven children together, and lost one baby boy to pneumonia. They were married until the day my grandfather passed away in 1988. I saw them go through many things over the years; their love had to be very strong. Especially having three of their sons pass away over the course of their lives.

I think this is where a lot of my strength and family values come from. The most important thing we have is our families. That remains the reason I do all the things I do. Like most people some days I just don't want to cook, but I push myself. Mainly it's because I believe the dinner table is the only place during the course of the week that we are all at at the same time.

Meal time is the time where we can talk about our day. This is usually the only time during the day and the evening we say a prayer together and we do it before we eat our evening meal. I know religion and God is something people don't like to talk about today, but to me that's where the heart of my family is and where I get my strength.


This isn't my family, but the scene depicted was typical when I was a child and teenager

Faith is something you can't see, feel or touch, but in my heart I know that it has gotten me through some of the hardest trials in my life. Faith and a sense of family values I believe are the most important foundation we can have in our lives.

Even if you don't believe in God, I think your family is what gets you through some of the most difficult times. I just happen personally to believe in God. I don't believe I was born to the family I was by accident. I think there was a plan.

My memories of my grandparents and their quiet strength will continue to touch me throughout my life. Even though they aren't here with me any longer I feel them every day and they live through me. My memories can never be taken from me and my grandparents, dad and uncles will never die as long as they remain in my heart.

I will never forget the laughter, food and the smell of coffee coming from my grandmother's kitchen. The heart of our family was truly the kitchen. I still believe it is to this day. At the core of that heart is a faith in God and family.

So remember, even if you're exhausted at the end of the day, push yourself a little and make sure you cook for your family. Even if it's something simple. It will create memories and love. Isn't that worth a little more effort?



My husband Greg, daughter Nikki (and Scamp) creating new memories -- in the kitchen, naturally!



The heart of every family I believe comes from you and your kitchen. Please take the time to create lasting memories for your family. It's one way to say, "I love and appreciate you!" The people in your family are the most important people you will have in your life. Please make sure they know. Nothing replaces love and memories.

That's the reason I try to cook everyday. I believe that the heart of my family lies within me. It's up to me to create lasting memories that my family will carry throughout their lives. The smell every night from my kitchen and sitting together as a family at the dinner table is one way I am making memories for my family.

A house is made of walls and beams, a home is built with love and dreams. Try to make memories for your family. The best way to let people know you love them is to show them. One way is a warm meal and family time at the dinner table. Give it a try!

One More Worry: The Food We Eat

Like a lot of people right now I am fed up with our government. It seems like everything in our country has gone south.

I am one of many moms trying to do what is best for her family and that includes giving them healthy and nutritious foods to eat.

However, how can I do that when every time I turn around you hear some kind of food recall? It scares me and you just don't know what to feed your family.

I was at a local produce store yesterday and my mom came with me. I was looking at fresh spinach and she suggested I'd better not buy it, just in case. This is something I go through every time I go into a grocery store now, whether my mom is there to remind me or not!

When my daughter was sick the other day the first thing that came to mind was, what did I feed her? The guilt began to build and the anxiety started. Unfortunately for us in this country we have to eat. If we eat we can get sick and if we don't eat we can get sick. What can you do?

The only sick I am right now as I type this is sick and tired. I'm sick and tired that our food prices keep increasing. I am sick and tired of our food not being safe. I am sick and tired of our government, who is supposed to protect us, allowing this to happen in this country. I am sick and tired of the FDA and their excuses. Just to mention a few.



To top it all off I just found out on television the other day that the FDA just received pay increases. It sure must be nice to not do your job and yet you still get an increase in pay. My poor husband is without full time employment right now, and yet these goofballs get a raise. Do I sound bitter? You bet I am!

What we need to do is clean house in the government from top to bottom. I have never been so disgusted in our country in my life. My dad fought in WWII for this country, and he would be shocked if he could see what is happening today.

Instead of all these rich people running our government they need an everyday person. One who has lived a real life and done without things. These people in our government have so much money they have no idea what it is to struggle from day to day. How can you have sympathy for anyone else if you've lived a privileged life? You can't!

The people in this country need to get mad and vote all these idiots out of office. No one in this country should have to worry about what they feed their children. If I hear about one more recall I think I will scream.

I love the idea of dinner at the family table -- if the family table doesn't end up killing you, or making you very sick!

The funny thing is, it isn't just our food supply -- now it's lead paint in our children's toys that we also have to be worried about. Christmas is coming and you can't even feel good about giving your kids a toy. The other day I also heard about lead paint being in lipstick. It all sounds like a bad Stephen King novel.

Our government is taking care of the whole world, but not taking care of its own people. This has to to stop!

People need to get mad and write their representatives and let them know this is completely unacceptable. If they don't get the message now make sure they get the message November 2008!

Getting Kids Involved In Cooking Can Cure Their Pickiness

Do you have a child who is a picky eater? I really don't believe that picky eaters are born -- I think they are made.

What do I mean by this? I think the earlier you introduce children to different types of food and make it a fun thing, the more they will be willing to try it.

Now I'm not saying force a child to eat something they truly don't like. On the other hand, please don't discourage them from trying new things. So many times I've heard children say to mom or dad that something looks good and I hear mom or dad say "Oh you won't like that." Let them try it. If they don't like it, oh well -- at least they tried it.

My daughter will pretty much eat anything you put in front of her. I contribute that to my husband and I introducing her to different types of food at a very early age. She will of course eat Italian and Polish food because that is what I mostly cook. On the other hand, she eats Chinese, Thai, Mexican, and Japanese, which includes even sushi. She loves vegetables cooked or raw. Maybe I'm lucky, but I believe it is because we introduced different types of food to her when she was very young.

For instance, when she was little she tried broccoli and didn't like it. What I did the next time was make a cheese sauce and put it over the broccoli. She tried it and she loved it. It was amazing how just adding cheese to the broccoli made a difference. Now she loves broccoli whether it has cheese sauce on it or not.


Don't discount raw veggies as a good, healthy snack for kids

Raw vegetables are a great snack after school instead of cookies or junk food. Also, raw vegetables are nice to put on the dinner table instead of a cooked veggie. I cut up carrots, red peppers, orange peppers, yellow peppers, broccoli, green onions, mushrooms, cauliflower. I also add grape tomatoes, but don't cut them up. I arrange it on a nice platter. It is so colorful and looks so appetizing. Don't be surprised when your kids start reaching for the vegetables. You can also put a bowl with a veggie dip in the middle of the vegetables.

Here is a vegetable dip my family loves and it is easy to make:

VEGGIE DIP

2/3 cup Hellmans Mayo
2/3 cup sour cream
1 T dill seed or dill weed
1 t celery salt
1 t accent
1 t onion powder
1 T parsley (dried)
1/2 t Worcestershire Sauce
2 drops of Tobasco Sauce

Mix and blend put in refrigerator for at least an hour so flavors marry. Serve with raw vegetables.

This is a great dip and everyone I have ever served it to loves it, and asks for the recipe. It's just another way to get healthy foods into kids. The more colorful and pretty a dish is, the more children are apt to eat it. I believe you eat with your eyes first.

So try different things with your kids. Think outside the box and be a little creative. You may be surprised what your children really will eat. Get them involved in making the dip. If they make it they will have pride in it and it will make them want to eat it all the more.

Getting kids in the kitchen to help is great. My daughter always loves to cook with me and she is always happy to tell everyone she made certain things. Now, at 14, she is turning into quite a good cook.

So let your kids into the kitchen to help. It's another way to spend time together as a family. You'll be surprised how much you'll talk with them as you are cooking together. It makes you closer to your children and gives them confidence at the same time. Children are small for such a short time. Enjoy them while you can.

Good luck and most of all have fun.