I miss Italian lunch. When we lived in Rome, I made lunch for my husband and myself almost everyday. We sat down at the table and enjoyed every bite. While I wouldn't say I'm a great cook in the U.S., in Italy I was. Fresh, in-season food makes a world of difference. Anyone can be a good cook in Italy.
Now, repatriated and living a fast- paced life, lunch is sometimes a p.b.j. sandwich scarfed down over the sink. Or like yesterday, I left my part-time job at 2:00, ate my brown-bag lunch...

One reason I loved living in Roma so much was that we never had to worry about bugs. We kept the windows open as much as possible and didn't see spiders or bugs.
In Texas, bugs are a way of life. After trying to rid our home of those little black ants, or sugar ants, with store-bought insecticide, I finally gave up and called in an eco-exterminator. They use products safe for children and pets and I was especially concerned that it wouldn't harm our garden. I was glad to hear that the formula...

We're all feeling the pinch of the economic downturn. Cutting back on spending is on many of our minds, but what will you not sacrifice? My friend Miriam says, "Do not cut back on food." She meant keep buying healthy fruits and vegetables, and of course, after living in Italy, they are not up for negotiation. One other area I won't give up is good parmegianno. What are non-negotiable items for you? Is it clothes, shoes? What you will not give up no matter the economic situation? Tell,...

I woke up to the news as many of you did. A very strong earthquake had struck the Abruzzo region. My heart sank as I thought of who I knew in Italy that might be affected. Signora Molinari, my upstairs neighbor for the two years I lived in Rome was from Abruzzo. I'm sure she and her family are rocked by grief today. I've lost touch with her since repatriating to the U.S. Maybe I'll send her a note and some new photos of my son. Hopefully, reaching out will provide her some comfort. I wish I could...

My husband and I had been living in Rome for a little over a year and we were growing a bit homesick for some of the American traditions. The first year, we were so caught up in Italian lessons and adjusting to life abroad that we barely noticed Thanksgiving. It was just another Thursday that we celebrated with hamburgers and French fries. But when the second year rolled by, we eagerly agreed to turn Thanksgiving into a special day again.
The first step would be to buy a turkey and where...