Where do we find happiness?

I find in North America we often mistake materialism for happiness. We always want the best cars, homes, phones and cloths. We work our butts off to get these things to find it is still not enough. Like many I have been searching for that “thing” that’s going to be great, that “thing” that when we get it we will finally be satisfied in life and will no longer search. The truth my friends is there is no such “thing”. It is made up and does not exist! Yes that’s right I said it. As you might tell by the dates from my previously blogs you might notice it has been over a year since I last posted. Well I guess you can say that I was searching for that “thing”. I have come to this realization that when you’re not happy in your life, when you’re not being honest with yourself you will begin to look for that “thing”. So I guess you can say the last year of my life has been a bit of a growing pain (not a bad thing). You learn most about yourself when you go through heart ache and hardship. Sometimes you have to experience what you don’t want to find what you do want. So join me on my journey of life, where I will share with you my experiences that will help me grow and reveal my inner happiness that I often mistake as that “thing”.

Dinner With Dina / Ricotta filled Shells

I have always had a passion for food. I love cooking almost as much as I love eating. Growing up I spent a lot of time in the kitchen, Italian women live in their kitchen. Nine out of ten times I visit my Mom she is in the Kitchen prepping or cooking. There were a few dishes that my Mom would make once in a while and were worth getting excited for. One of my all time favorites were Ricotta filled Shells, this dish is supper easy to put together and cook. First off boil 400g of jumbo pasta shells to el dente, these shells will bake again so you want to be sure not to overcook. Also get some plain tomato sauce cooking, you want to spice up the sauce, sauté veggies if you like but I find a simple sauce works best. While your shells and sauce are cooking add full tub of ricotta cheese (500g roughly) table spoon of sugar, one egg and a good size bunch of Italian parsley all together in a bowl. Try it makes sure it taste great, but do not eat too much you are going to want to fill up as many shells as possible. Once pasta is cooked, let it cool down and get ready to fill. Find an oven dish with a lip because you will want to fill shells and place them side by side. Once completed this task, use a spoon to cover shells with tomato sauce and top of with mozzarella and parmigiano cheese, and it is ready to be baked. Preheat oven to 350-400F and allow cheese to melt and brown on top. Once this is complete take out of oven and let sit for 5 minutes before serving.You might have left over pasta shells so you can make a pasta el forno dish for another day. Mix pasta with sauce, top with cheese and bake untill cheese is brown. Bon appétit it is time to eat!

Dinner Time!

In many households people just don’t sit down for dinner anymore. Growing up in a strict Italian house hold it was mandatory to be home for dinner every night. At the time, I thought why? Why must I sit and eat dinner with my family every night? I thought my parents were trying to ruin my life, why can’t they just let me be. It turns out that was not the case at all. They were not trying to ruin my life, they were trying to instill their family values in us. Sitting together as a family with no television and no elbows on the table was a way for us to connect. Even though we didn’t get it then, I do now and I try as often as possible to sit around that table with the people I love, and enjoy the great family connection. So try it yourself, friends and family or who ever. Set a table cloth down organize a dinner time and everyone eats together with no distractions. There is nothing like a combination of people you love and great food and drinks.

Take the initiative

As we grow we tend to realize some things in life are not worth worrying about. I found in my very young days I would hold on to some sour feelings and small issues would seem so big. As time goes on you tend to let the small things go and get over it. Life is too short to let the small things drive you crazy. If you feel you should call an old friend you haven’t talked to for whatever reason go ahead and do it. It’s never too late to change your ways. You never know what could come out of it.

My Story

Hello, My Name is Dina. I am first generation Canadian, coming from a old school Italian family. Both my parents were born and raised in Italy and moved to Canada in their 20s. I have always felt stuck between two cultures (I am sure many can relate). In Canada I am a Italian and when I would go to Italy I was the American...yes that's right they refer to all North Americans as Americans. When I was growing up at home I felt like I was living in Italy and the minute I stepped out the door I was in Canada. It was not easy but I would not change a thing, I feel like I had the best of both worlds. Even though things in life might seem like the hardest thing ever, the truth is it is all happening for a reason and it is your choice as to what you will make of it.