Curious as to How you can Create a Festive Elegant Intimate Party at Home?

Are you getting ready to Entertain for the Holidays?

Do you think you can’t Create Delicious Amazing Hors d’oeuvres at home?

Think that you’re too busy to possibly cook Stunning Hors d’oeuvres at home…

Well, we have Solutions for You…

Whether it is an Intimate Dinner Party or a Fun Cocktail Party

Your guest will Love these Holiday Hors d’oeuvres

FOOD IS A GREAT BONDING TOOL

Food is a necessity – a bonding tool in relationships – an art form if done well

and can be a Heavenly Gastronomic Pleasure.

Great moments of entertaining friends and family make for unforgettable evenings! 

Our three rules for such an occasion are:

1.  Pay attention to your guests.

2.  Mix it up so they can mingle. 

3.  Serve them yummy food and their favorite beverages.

With number 3 in mind, we resolutely headed to a Service Club Educational Event on preparing easy hors d’oeuvres, ready in minutes.

Aproned and gloved, we were guided by Maria & Annalaura TilliVini, chefs, organic winemakers and olive oil producers from Assisi, Umbria.

The three hors d’oeuvres we prepared together were astonishingly easy.

There were several of us cooking – as we all anxiously waited for our masterpieces to come out of the ovens, we nibbled on fare from Dom’s Kitchen and Market and sipped our favorite beverages.  Yes, a party broke out as we cooked together – thereby confirming that food is indeed a wonderful bonding tool!

Keep in mind when you’re making these recipes small little bites are the best for your guest.

Umbrian Meatballs!

The big moment arrived!

With trepidation in our hearts, we tasted our creations!

JOY!

UMBRIAN MEATBALLS

Ingredients

• - 9 ounces of ground beef

• - 2TBS of grated parmesan cheese

• - 4TBS of panko breadcrumbs

• - 1 egg

• - 1 TBS extra-virgin olive oil

• - 3 TBS of whole milk

• - 1 tsp of salt

• - 2 pinches of pepper

• - 2 pinches of nutmeg

• - Half of a lemon zest

Fresh herbs:  lemon thyme or normal thyme, parsley, one minced garlic clove

Preparation

Preheat oven 400 degrees.

Mix all the ingredients and shape with your hands into evenly shaped meatballs approximately 4-41/2 TBS. each.

Roll each of them into the panko.

Bake in the oven for 20 minutes at 400 F

Tips & Tricks for the Meatballs:

The meatballs should really be bite-size. Then either make your own favorite marinara sauce for the dip or purchase your favorite from the store to save time.  You can always plan-ahead and online at Whole Foods or your favorite gourmet store. Really good marinara sauce for dipping. And of course, have your toothpicks to put inside the raviolis - you can purchase fancy toothpicks at amazon.com

Umbrian Panzerotti!

They tasted as good as they looked!

We were so impressed with our little masterpieces we have included the recipes for you to create!

UMBRIAN PANZEROTTI

Ingredients

• - 1 cup of 00 flour

• - 6 TBS of cold water

• - 3 ½ TBS of extra-virgin olive oil

• - 1 pinch of salt

Preparation

Preheat oven to 350 degrees

Mix the salt, 00 flour and olive oil, add the cold water. Once the dough is ready, wrap it with the plastic wrap and put it in the fridge for 30 minutes.

Prepare the ingredients for the stuffing.

• - 7 ounce of cooked and squeezed spinach

• - 3 ounce of cream cheese

• - 4 TBS of smoked grated cheese

Mix the ingredients for the stuffing together.

Knead the dough until smooth, roll out with rolling pin, and then cut the dough into 4-inch squares. Place a spoon of the stuffing mixture in the center of the square and close them.  

Bake at 350 F for 20 minutes.

Tips & Tricks for the Panzerotti:

When you’re rolling out the dough for the shape, make sure the dough is thin. If you don’t want to make your own dough, you can buy pastry puff. Keep in mind, if you don’t roll out the dough and make it thin - it will be too thick and too heavy of an appetizer.

Also, when you put in the filling, just put in a little spoon full - don’t make big globs or else it will be too heavy as an appetizer.

Potatoes Nest

Do not fear failure – you must have the “I CAN DO THIS” attitude!

POTATOES NEST

Ingredients for Nest

·         - 11 ounces of boiled potatoes, mash the potatoes

·         - 1 TBS of grated pecorino cheese

·         - 2 TBS of grated parmesan

·         - 1/2 of a mixed egg

·         - A pinch of pepper

·         - A pinch of nutmeg

·         - ½ tsp of salt

·         - 3 TBS of panko bread- crumbs

Preparation

Preheat oven to 350 degrees

Mix all the ingredients together and fill the pastry bag. Place a sheet of parchment paper on the baking sheet and sprinkle with panko breadcrumbs. Make  little nests on the baking sheet. Cook in the oven for 20 minutes at 350 F.

Ingredients for Filling

·         - ½ cup of ricotta cheese

·         - 1TBS of Pesto

·         - 1TBS of grated parmesan cheese

·         - Pinch of salt

·         - Pinch of pepper

·         - ½ cherry tomato

Mix the ingredients for the filling together, fill another pastry bag with mixture, fill the nest and place ½ cherry tomato on top.

Tips & Tricks for Potatoes Nest:

This appetizer is fun and has the seasonal holiday colors of Christmas - red and green.  Don’t make them too small otherwise they will be too delicate. Just make them round like a cookie dough, roll in your hand then stick your finger in the center and put your filling in. Make sure it’s enough filling than just put one cherry tomato on the top. Again make it a two bite delight anything more will be too heavy of an appetizer.

“I was 32 when I started cooking; up until then, I just ate.” 

We love this Julia Child quote!

Pour yourself a glass of champagne and join us for this Special Sunday Bonus

on our YouTube Channel,

“Dare to be Curious”

You’ll get a sneak peek into our Amazingly Delicious Hors d’ oeuvres…

Always Dare to be Curious,

Cheers to You,

Sherrill and Debi

xoxo

P.S.

Receive our Weekly Newsletter every Tuesday by Signing up at https://bigbiggerbiggest.life

Read our Weekly Wednesday Blog Post at https://bigbiggerbiggest.life/blog

Subscribe to our YouTube channel for new videos every Thursday at “Dare to be Curious” at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCiLdc0n6EVDC54JYYLlNgBQ

Follow us on Social Media on Instagram @sherrillbodine and @debicatenacci

Don’t forget to check out our books, which are easily found at https://www.amazon.com/Sherrill-Bodine/e/B001XSJ1X0? and at

https://www.amazon.com/Debi-Catenacci/e/B07DLFP3H7?

“Talk of the Town” by Sherrill Bodine

“Divine Biscotti” by Debi Catenacci

Websites: https://bigbiggerbiggest.life/ and https://divinebiscotti.com/

Are you getting in your Christmas mood - yet?

Curious on how to find the absolutely perfect gifts?

Are you struggling with your shopping lists?

Well, we have solutions for you, join us on a magical Christmas shopping day in Chicago!

C H R I S T M A S S H O P P I N G I S L O V E I N A C T I O N

We are soooo in the mood for Christmas!

We enjoy the noisy crowds, the holiday music playing throughout the stores, and the utter ecstasy of finding and purchasing the absolutely perfect gifts.

As we struggle with our shopping lists, endure December’s bad weather and the agony of sold out items we MUST acquire before Christmas morning, we keep reminding ourselves that the people in our lives are worth the aggravation! 

Christmas is meant to be enjoyed and so we did on our perfect shopping day in Chicago!

The giant rose on the exterior of the 136 years old brownstone welcomed us into Mary Mary’s, our first stop of the day. 

It is truly a treasure trove

of unique gifts from all over the world at affordable prices.

Guided by owner, Mary Ann Rose

We were led through a labyrinth of delightful gift choices from the largest collection of Santa’s in the city  - to their famous Upside Down tree loaded with glorious ornaments of all kinds, shapes and colors - to Happy Socks for the men in our lives – which are truly the perfect stocking stuffer for them!

Yes, they gift wrap!  What could be better!

Purchases in hand, we merrily went off to Mangel Florist in the iconic Drake Hotel. 

Their window displays

are as delightful as the interior of this little jewel of a shop.  Their assortment of beautiful elegant flowers is matched by their one of a kind gift selections.

We truly gasped

at the handmade, hand delivered from the artist in Tennessee, one of a kind glass domes depicting different holiday themes – every minute detail perfectly rendered, each is a work of art – words fail us - you must see them to believe them!

As Santa Collectors we were equally stunned by the one of a kind, handmade Santa’s dressed in glorious robes made of repurposed fabric.

The amazing workmanship in their handcrafted gift choices was truly inspiring!

Our last stop was a wonderland for children…

Everything to delight the children on Christmas morning from cuddly stuffed toys, to tents, to electric cars, and our personal favorite, books!

As C.S. Lewis wrote

“You can never get a cup of tea large enough or a book long enough to suit me,” 

- we feel the same way!

We ended our perfect day with Tea at the Langham in front of the fireplace.

(And of course, champagne!)

Remember, wherever you live, support local businesses

And

May your holiday shopping bring you joy!

Pour yourself a glass of champagne and join us this Thursday on our YouTube Channel, “Dare to be Curious,”

to get some sneak peeks into our Christmas Shopping… 

Always Dare to be Curious,

Cheers to You,

Sherrill and Debi

xoxo

P.S.

Receive our Weekly Newsletter every Tuesday by Signing up at https://bigbiggerbiggest.life

Read our Weekly Wednesday Blog Post at https://bigbiggerbiggest.life/blog

Subscribe to our YouTube channel for new videos every Thursday at “Dare to be Curious” at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCiLdc0n6EVDC54JYYLlNgBQ

Follow us on Social Media on Instagram @sherrillbodine and @debicatenacci

Don’t forget to check out our books, which are easily found at https://www.amazon.com/Sherrill-Bodine/e/B001XSJ1X0? and at

https://www.amazon.com/Debi-Catenacci/e/B07DLFP3H7?

“Talk of the Town” by Sherrill Bodine

“Divine Biscotti” by Debi Catenacci

Websites: https://bigbiggerbiggest.life/ and https://divinebiscotti.com/

IT’S BEGINNING TO LOOK A LOT LIKE CHRISTMAS!

“It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas”….and the magic began at THE LODGE in The Fairmont Chicago on November 20.

Tucked between Millennial Park and the Magnificent Mile the Fairmont has brought us the warmth and ambiance of a cozy Aspen lodge.  Guided by the genius of Tom Kehoe of Kehoe designs, The Lodge is the embodiment of all our favorite classic Christmas movies – think Holiday Inn or White Christmas – it’s all there!

We Were Thrilled

to be at the opening party and we want to share it all with YOU – the dozens of evergreens twinkling with thousands of lights – the cozy comfortable sofas and chairs – holiday music softly playing in the background – and on Thursdays there will be live music!

And the food!  Forget counting calories –‘tis the season to enjoy – everything from baby lamb chops, carved roast beef, fingerling potatoes, salmon to a Hot Cocoa Station complete with gingerbread men, warm chocolate chip cookies, candy canes plus chocolate fondue surrounded by luscious fruit and small bites of yummy cakes.

The piece de resistance

was the Flaming Eggnog specialty drink!  Even if you think you don’t like eggnog, this drink will change your mind!

The fun

doesn’t stop at The Lodge – there are great photo ops on the ski lift seat, with the golden reindeer or the red bear.  We’re still smiling at the memories made that night.

Charles Dickens wrote

“Oh, would that Christmas last the whole year, through, as it ought.  Would that the spirit of Christmas could live within our hearts every day of the year.”

From now until the end of February his words can come true at The Lodge.  Please go make your own special memories.

Pour yourself a glass of champagne and join us this

Sunday, November 28th on our YouTube Channel,

“Dare to be Curious,”

See you Sunday!

Dare to be Curious,

Cheers to You,

Sherrill and Debi

xoxo 

P.S.

Receive our Weekly Newsletter every Tuesday by Signing up at https://bigbiggerbiggest.life/

Read our Weekly Wednesday Blog Post at https://bigbiggerbiggest.life/blog

Subscribe to our YouTube channel for new videos every Thursday at “Dare to be Curious”

Follow us on Social Media on Instagram @sherrillbodine and @debicatenacci

Don’t forget to check out our books, which are easily found at https://www.amazon.com/Sherrill-Bodine/e/B001XSJ1X0? and

https://www.amazon.com/Debi-Catenacci/e/B07DLFP3H7?

“Talk of the Town” by Sherrill Bodine

“Divine Biscotti” by Debi Catenacci

Websites: https://bigbiggerbiggest.life/ and https://divinebiscotti.com/

Dare To Be curious

Are you curious on how to surprise your loved ones this holiday season?

Do you have a wish to bake something new for the holidays?

Thinking of reading an intriguing romance novel, but not sure which one to choose?

If so, join us…

We have Fun Book Gift Giving Solutions for you!

Books your loved ones are sure to Love!

Don’t forget we have books for your girlfriends too…BFFs!!

Debi’s Books…

Unleash Your Creativity and Bake Delicious Gourmet Biscotti!

BE INSPIRED THIS HOLIDAY SEASON….

I warmly invite you to enjoy the recipes and stories created in my “Debi’s Dolce Kitchen,” where the aroma of freshly baked biscotti fills the air and mingles with savory whiffs of cappuccino. You’ll love taking your first bite of a Divine Biscotti.

Ah, heaven!

You and your friends will enjoy baking these gourmet biscotti this holiday season!  From the old-fashioned charm of an A is for Almond Biscotti to the holiday decadence of a winter Triple Chocolate Biscotti with Pistachio Sprinkles.  My book “Divine Biscotti” offers a host of delicious, sumptuous treats.  You’ll discover my baking tips and secrets as I share with you my cherished memories that baking biscotti always stir within me. And you’ll discover that

You too can bake your own Divine Biscotti.

P.S. If you are ready to up your baking game, check-out my Divine Biscotti recipe for

Brandy Apricot-Almond Biscotti with Dark Chocolate on page 66-67 in

“The Pastry Chef’s - Little Black Book Volume II”

Happy Baking!!

Sherrill’s Books…

ARE YOU BORN WITH THE MUSE

OR CAN YOU CALL HER…

I am a writer and want to share with you what inspires me to write my books in the hopes it will inspire YOU with your creative passions.

I believe I was born with the muse whispering in my ear.

As a young child my Aunt scolded me for telling my younger cousin that our dolls came alive at night and played together.  I wove elaborate adventures that took place in the garden between our houses.  I created a world she believed.  She wanted to be a part of that world so many nights she got out of bed, running into the yard, hoping to catch them at play.  My cousin, Linda, was my first fan.

In High School the teachers scolded me for “Day Dreaming” in class.  I couldn’t help myself!  Scenes and characters spouting dialogue ran through my head like a movie until I created the perfect happy ending.  One story would end and then another immediately burst into life, filling my thoughts with how to help these characters reach their happy ending and so it would go day after day.

As I was leaving for college my Grandmother advised, “Stop day dreaming.  Write down the stories in your head.”  Freedom!  The world became big, bigger, biggest!  Now no limitations to my daydreams except the breadth and  depth of my imagination.

Only one of my novels have seamlessly gone from my pen onto paper – it was exhilarating to know exactly the right words for that novel – my editor only changed 3 words in the entire manuscript!

That book was THE RAKE’S REDEMPTION, my first Regency novel.  I love the manners, clothes and men of the Regency period and apparently so does the world given the global success of the Bridgerton series by Julia Quinn.  The men of the Regency period ARE irresistible!

I loved Juliana and Dominic, the Marquis of Aubrey, the moment they came to life in The Rake’s Redemption.  However, I didn’t realize I would fall so madly in love with his half-brother, Jules, Comte de Saville, I HAD to give him his own book, SCANDAL’S CHILD, and a love with Kat, who matched his passion and spirit.

The glamorous Regency period and the machinations of cupid are an irresistible combination for me.

The Battle of Waterloo was such a defining moment in the Regency period I felt compelled to bring to life Lord Matthew Blackwood, an idealist with the heart of a lion.  His whirlwind marriage to Miss Serena Fitzwater and their relationship when he returns from battle wounded and a changed man reveals the complexities of true love in, A SOLDIER’S HEART.

It was not until Serena confronted her brother in-law, Richard, soon to be the Duke of Avalon, with “it is my fondest wish that when your tiny heart is finally given, the lady crumbles it to dust” that I knew what his story and Mary’s must be in THE DUKE’S DECEIT.  Two very different brothers each fighting their demons and the women who give them the strength to succeed.

The stories in my head continue to be about heroines and heroes who face adversity and come out the other side fuller and more complete human beings.  And always I find their happy ending.

Once one of my books was  up for an award at a Readers Conference in California.  As I walked into the lobby the first person I saw shouted at me, “I am really upset with you!”  I stopped in my tracks and asked the stranger, “Why?”  To which she replied,” Because I stayed up all night reading your book.  Here, please sign it for me.”

It was music to my ears and my muse whispered, “I know writing is blood, sweat and tears, but “having written” makes it all worth while.

Follow your passion and I am whispering in you ear….”it will be worth while.”

Pour yourself a glass of champagne and join us this Thursday on our YouTube Channel

“Dare to be Curious”

to get some sneak peeks into our books as we have a personal conversation about our joy of baking and reading.

Dare to be Curious,

Cheers to You,

Sherrill and Debi

xoxo

P.S.

Receive our Weekly Newsletter every Tuesday by Signing up at https://bigbiggerbiggest.life

Read our Weekly Wednesday Blog Post at https://bigbiggerbiggest.life/blog

Subscribe to our YouTube channel for new videos every Thursday at “Dare to be Curious”

Follow us on Social Media on Instagram @sherrillbodine and @debicatenacci

Don’t forget to check out our books, which are easily found on Amazon:

https://www.amazon.com/Sherrill-Bodine/e/B001XSJ1X0?

https://www.amazon.com/Debi-Catenacci/e/B07DLFP3H7?

“Talk of the Town” by Sherrill Bodine  

“Divine Biscotti” by Debi Catenacci

Websites: https://bigbiggerbiggest.life/ and https://divinebiscotti.com/

Dare To Be Curious

Are you curious on how to Transform your Thanksgiving Tablescape?

Wondering how you’re going to get a new recipe in time for Thanksgiving?

If so, join us, we have creative solutions for you!

 From the first Thanksgiving in 1621 to this day, Thanksgiving has been a celebratory feast with family and friends.  It remains the same for us.

Sherrill’s Thanksgiving Memory

My grandmother’s old lace cloth covers the table and I am consumed with cherished memories of bygone days. I’ve polished the silver and chosen which china will grace the table. I’ve purchased new tall candles and decided which flowers I will use to best represent this day of declining autumn and the blessings of being together with friends and family.

For me, flowers are the key - so very different than the pumpkin, gourds, corn stalks of Halloween and the greens of Christmas. With flowers, you can create the bountiful harvest of Thanksgiving. Last year I was prowling through antique stores (a fav past time) and stumbled across ceramic pilgrims - a man and a woman. They were vases fired and carefully painted by someone in a long ago ceramic class. I fell in love with them!!  These pilgrim vases have now become part of my Thanksgiving tradition!

Debi’s

Thanksgiving Memory

The Thanksgiving dinner table is where some of life’s most important memories are made.  I just love the bounty and abundance of the textures, colors and spices of harvest season.  One of my favorites is a well-crafted cornucopia filled with the succulent colors of burnt orange, crimson, deep green, and gold.

As a young girl, I remember watching my Grandmother, Josephine, fix a side of traditional Italian Pasta. Eating well in Italy requires a little more than just the main course, it also includes the luxurious style of a unique pasta dish and of course, a delicious wine.  Today, I’ll be sharing with you, one of my favorite harvest season pasta dishes, that has now become a tradition at my Thanksgiving table.  The colors and texture are sure to harmoniously blend and add an Italian Style mix with any Thanksgiving menu.  Plus, I’m always baking seasonal Divine Biscotti….

Sherrill’s Secret Special Stuffing

2 loafs sliced bread, toasted, preferably bakery egg bread
4 eggs, slightly beaten
1/4 pound butter melted 
1 teaspoon salt, adjust to taste
2 large apples, grated
6 ounces sliced mushrooms sautéed with butter (I am generous with the butter!) 
2 cans water chestnuts, chopped

(I double this recipe as I get large turkeys but this will be plenty for smaller birds) 
Place bread in large colander. Run cold water over bread for a few minutes & then squeeze as dry as possible. Transfer to large bowl and add all other ingredients 
Place extra stuffing in a casserole & bake, covered, for about 45 minutes at same temperature as turkey.

From Debi’s Dolce Kitchen - Delicious Butternut Squash with Pancetta

1 container of pre-squared butternut squash (you can find this in produce at wholefoods, or in the frozen section or you can always cut up a fresh butternut squash yourself)

1 head of garlic (you can peel the individual cloves or keep the skin on for a more rustic look)

2 tablespoons Italian Olive Oil

1 teaspoon smashed 5-peppercorn blend (I use the blend from Williams Sonoma)

½ teaspoons kosher salt

4 ounces of diced Pancetta (you can find this already packaged in the deli section)

1 pound or less (depending on how much pasta you like) of DeCecco Farfalle no. 93 Pasta (cooking time on the box, 11 minutes for al dente)

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees

Place the squash and garlic cloves on a sheet pan in one layer.  Toss with the Italian olive oil, kosher salt and 5-peppercorn and bake for 30 minutes, turning once at the 15 minute mark. In the meantime, start making your pasta according to the directions on the box.  Then, take out of the oven, turn again using your spatula and sprinkle the pancetta, bake for another 25 minutes.  Put the pasta and butternut squash in a large serving bowl, season to taste and serve hot.

(Chef’s note: If your pasta is too dry, you can always add melted butter…Yum!)

Join us this Thursday on our YouTube Channel “Dare To Be Curious.”  We will be interviewing super talented florist and dear friend, Harry Nyholm, who shows us how to use fruits, vegetables, flowers and your special found treasures to transform your Thanksgiving tablescape.   

May your table be filled with lovely flowers and more as you sit in conversation and conviviality with beloved family and friends.

Well, soon our turkeys will be in the oven and the wonderful fragrance of cooling apple cider, pumpkin and pecan pies will fill the house. We hope that you enjoy our gift to you, on this day of giving thanks with our special family recipes. Enjoy!

We are Grateful for YOU!

Always Dare to be Curious,

Cheers to You,

Sherrill and Debi

xoxo

P.S.

Receive our Weekly Newsletter every Tuesday by Signing up at the bottom of the page at https://bigbiggerbiggest.life/

Read our Weekly Wednesday Blog Post at https://bigbiggerbiggest.life/blog  

Go to our YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCiLdc0n6EVDC54JYYLlNgBQ and click Subscribe to the top right for new videos every Thursday at “Dare to be Curious” 

Follow us on Social Media on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/sherrill_bodine/ and https://www.instagram.com/debicatenacci/

Don’t forget to check out our books, which are easily found on Amazon at https://www.amazon.com/Sherrill-Bodine/e/B001XSJ1X0? and https://www.amazon.com/Debi-Catenacci/e/B07DLFP3H7? :

“Talk of the Town” by Sherrill Bodine

“Divine Biscotti” by Debi Catenacci

Websites: https://bigbiggerbiggest.life/ and https://divinebiscotti.com/

Are you curious?

Wondering how you’re going to get from where you are to where you desire to be?  If so, join us on a new journey!

Today is the day, and we are launching ”Dare to be Curious” because we believe we all can mine the confidence, strength, and power within us to create the life of our dreams.

Dreams cost frustration, tears, courage, choices, perseverance and extraordinary patience.  WE can help you realize those dreams of a big, bigger, biggest life by encouraging you to DARE TO BE CURIOUS about your own life.  Whether you are feeling stalled, or if you are transitioning through a career change, divorce or widowhood, you can create and face the new version of yourself.

We will show you how to manifest the beautiful, elegant happy life that you desire.  By showing you how to be curious about yourself, your passions, your style and lifestyle.  Now is the time to invest in the greatest gift of all – YOU!

Ask Yourself This…

Are you curious as to how to be a more interesting person?

Curious as to how to bake something new?

Curious as to how to write a book?

Curious as to how to tap into your muse?

Curious as to how to create a beautiful happy environment, regardless of the size of your house or room?

Curious about travel, food, or fashion?

Curious as to how other entrepreneurial women have achieved their dreams?

Curious as to how to take the first step?

Well, you’ve come to the right place, and we are so happy you are here!

Once we read the following quote:

“When I look into the future, it’s so bright it burns my eyes”.

Well, put on your sunglasses and join us on this journey.  We invite you to read our blog every Wednesday and following us on our YouTube Channel every Thursday.

Every day is a brush stroke on the canvas of our lives – paint with joy!

Always Dare to be Curious,

Cheers to You,

Sherrill and Debi

xoxo

P.S. You can follow us on Instagram @sherrillbodine and @debicatenacci

Websites: https://bigbiggerbiggest.life/ and https://divinebiscotti.com/

Don’t forget to check out our books, which are easily found on Amazon at https://www.amazon.com/Sherrill-Bodine/e/B001XSJ1X0? and https://www.amazon.com/Debi-Catenacci/e/B07DLFP3H7?

“Talk of the Town” by Sherrill Bodine and

“Divine Biscotti” by Debi Catenacci

My Modern Heroine of the Week is restaurateur Kathryn Alvera, a woman admired for her courage, outstanding achievements & philanthropy. Read more about Kathryn ‘s fearlessness in opening 3 successful Chicago restaurants - most recently taking on the daunting buildout of the Marchesa building which dates back to the late 1870’s & was a piano bar in the early 1900’s which was shut down for “playing jazz on a gramophone”. Kathryn does it all with determination, grace, humor & generosity.

A heroine is defined as “a woman admired or idealized for her courage, outstanding achievements or noble qualities.”

As I create heroines in my novels I reveal their courage and noble qualities by the choices they make.

Every day we all make choices – be they big or small – and each has consequences.  Sometimes what seems like a small choice can set in motion consequences which change lives.

That journey started for Mary Segall when she chose to say to her fifteen year old son Devon, “Sure, I’ll help with your community service project.”

Mary had recently completed her animal healthcare internship when she began asking friends and colleagues about their favorite charities. She kept hearing about  Canine Companions for Independence which provides assistance dogs free of charge to adults, children and veterans with disabilities.

Like Mom’s do, she did her research and was impressed by everything she learned.  As Fate would decree, CCI was having one of four yearly “Graduations” open to the public.  Mary and Devon didn’t know what to expect. What they found was an emotionally charged ceremony.

CCI Graduation is the culmination of two years of hard work, love and dedication by many, but perhaps the most important are the Volunteer Puppy Raisers who have kept the dogs in their homes providing basic obedience, socialization and care for most of that time.

Now the puppy raisers pass the lease of their highly trained assistance dogs to their new “forever person.”  It is the beginning of a partnership between a human in need and a canine that will provide endless service and companionship.

“It was a heartwarming dream come true for the recipients and their families,” Mary remembers.  “Seeing how the dogs would open up opportunities and possibilities for the recipients, we fell in love with the concept.”

A long application process, interviews, home visits and training sessions followed.  “Devon and I were just doing this eighteen month project,” Mary says. “We didn’t think about another or what came next.  Then we got Rumba.”

As every animal lover knows, pets quickly become part of the family.  Older son, Garratt, and husband, Ray, were not immune. All fell in love.

Of course they could cuddle and play with Rumba but as volunteer puppy raisers they had CCI rules to follow.  The approved obedience classes were no chore to attend but a delight as Rumba excelled. At home Rumba caught on quickly to basic commands and got a gold bone for good manners on Mary’s monthly report to CCI.

“As the months passed, the whole family got involved in walking Rumba, feeding her and taking her to Vet appointments.  We made friends with other CCI volunteers at our organized outings to help with our pups socializations. We laughed and cried comparing notes on how our pups liked the recommended diet.  We all dreaded thinking about the rule that we must return our pups upon request. The thought of turning in Rumba became torture for me and my family,” Mary admits. “Once I heard Devon and Garratt plotting how they would start slipping “people food” into Rumba’s prescribed  diet so she wouldn’t pass her final training with CCI and we could keep her.”

Mary had to remind herself and the boys of the joy they had witnessed during Graduation which inspired them to become Volunteer Puppy Raisers.  Someday Rumba would change a life.

They stayed the course and the time came when they turned in Rumba to CCI for six months of intense specialized training.

“We all cried,” Mary says.  “We lived for the monthly reports of how she was doing.  We knew this was the beginning of learning multiple specific commands to help the recipient who had been chosen for her.”

That recipient was Michelle Kephart.

On holiday hiking in the mountains, Michelle suffered a horrible fall.  She was airlifted to a hospital in Reno where the doctors found her broken neck would leave her a paraplegic.  After weeks in the Reno hospital she was transferred to a rehab facility in Denver. During her three months there, she met a Volunteer Puppy Raiser who introduced her to CCI.

“I wanted to live,” Michelle says, softly.  “And I wanted to live with independence. When I learned about CCI I knew this could make it possible.  I applied and hoped every day I would be accepted.”

Two and a half years later she received the call from CCI and asked to come to their headquarters in Santa Rose, California.

There she began two week Team Training where she and Rumba learned proper care and handling of each other.

“This was my first glimpse of Michelle and Rumba as they were in team training and pre-matched.” Mary remembers.  It always brings tears to my eyes.”

Mary and her family were reunited with Rumba and met Michelle at breakfast on Graduation Day.  “In that moment I could tell that Rumba was with someone special and that she already knew how special Rumba was and that they loved each other.”

As Mary and Devon passed the leash to Michelle the whole family felt confident this was a perfect match.

“Having Rumba in my life has given me independence and I feel in control again.”  Michelle laughs. “She’s testy like a kid. Playful but so sweet. I love her.”

“Mary and her family are my extended family.  She helped me get my driver’s license and finding a used adapted van.  She is so supportive of me and Rumba. Because of her I have my life back.”

CCI continues to be a huge part of Mary’s life.  She has raised many puppies and each is still torture to let go.  Ray has also become a puppy raiser and is so involved he often takes the pups to work with him.

“He has almost as much fur in his car as I do,” Mary laughs.  “Our journey with CCI has been magical. In some ways I think doing something special for someone you don’t even know opens your eyes to even more special things others are doing.”

Mary has found what she loves doing which has changed her life and the lives of others in need.

“Yes, I made a choice which led me here.  Those I am helping did not have a choice in their disability but they choose not to be victims of their circumstances.  They are my heroes and heroines.”

Mary, you are mine.

When the Chicago Tribune asked me to write a response to a well-known commentator calling the President of the United States a “Retard”, I believed it was important to share my personal experience.

In the years since the article first appeared the outpouring of support and others sharing their stories of facing challenges has been over-whelming.  And inspirational.

I want to tell these stories of Modern Heroines.  They are all around us and each month I will introduce you to an astonishing woman.

I welcome your response to my original article AND welcome your suggestions for stories of women you know who make the world brighter.

We are all on this journey together.

Yes, I write about real people but I change the names to protect the guilty – the innocent don’t need protecting!  Chicago is full of fascinating characters – come meet them in my Chicago Series! Begin with the sexy fun of Talk of the Town ( chosen as a Cosmopolitan Magazine “Red Hot Read”) – the mystery deepens in A Black Tie Affair – and you have it all plus happy endings in All I Want Is You!

---

ALL I WANT IS YOU

“4.5 stars!  Get ready for fun, mayhem, mystery and romance in this more-genres-for-your-money read.  Bodine has filled her book with quirky characters and a fabulous Windy City setting. A flawless narrative and fantastic love story round out the latest from this talented author.”  ROMANTIC TIMES BOOK REVIEWS

SHE’S STEALING HIS HEART

Vintage boutique owner Venus Smith is stunned to realize her newest acquisition comes with a larcenous legend.  Stolen years ago, the antique mermaid brooch belongs to the Clayworth family. The right thing to do would be to return it, but that means facing Connor Clayworth O’Flynn, the sexy department store heir Venus has had an unrequited crush on since childhood – and the man who helped ruin her father.

ONE KISS AT A TIME

Connor knows that Venus has never forgiven him for what happened between their families.  But business isn’t personal, even though Venus’s father’s betrayal still cuts him like a knife.  So when Venus proposes a deal – she’ll return his family’s brooch if he helps clear her father’s name – he reluctantly agrees.  As action-packed days turn into flirtatious fall nights, it isn’t long before old memories resurface … and new desires ignite. Can two young lovers leave the past behind?  Or must they first admit that all they’ve ever really wanted … is each other?

Yes, I write about real people but I change the names to protect the guilty – the innocent don’t need protecting!  Chicago is full of fascinating characters – come meet them in my Chicago Series! Begin with the sexy fun of Talk of the Town ( chosen as a Cosmopolitan Magazine “Red Hot Read”) – the mystery deepens in A Black Tie Affair – and you have it all plus happy endings in All I Want Is You!

---

A BLACK TIE AFFAIR

“A Black Tie Affair is a charming romantic romp I thoroughly enjoyed…Sherrill Bodine has found a way to open a glamorous world everyone can delight in.” BLOGS.PUBLISHERSWEEKLY.COM

SUITED FOR SEDUCTION

Fashion curator Athena Smith will do anything to get her perfectly manicured hands on the Clayworth family’s celebrated couture collection for her exhibit.  So when she’s called in to make sure the gowns are the real deal, she’s ecstatic …until a dress she’s examining turns out to be loaded with toxins (talk about killer threads!) and Athena faints, only to wake up face-to-face with the One That Got Away, notorious Chicago bachelor Drew Clayworth.

Drew still believes Athena betrayed him all those years ago, and he’s sure he can’t trust her.  But when the priceless gowns go missing, she offers to help track them down. Reluctantly allied in the quest, Drew and Athena are soon stunned by the barely restrained passion still sizzling between them … and memories both bitter and sweet.  Is their new partnership just a business arrangement? Or is this something more than … A Black Tie Affair

Yes, I write about real people but I change the names to protect the guilty – the innocent don’t need protecting!  Chicago is full of fascinating characters – come meet them in my Chicago Series! Begin with the sexy fun of Talk of the Town ( chosen as a Cosmopolitan Magazine “Red Hot Read”) – the mystery deepens in A Black Tie Affair – and you have it all plus happy endings in All I Want Is You!

---

TALK OF THE TOWN

“What a hoot!  Laugh-out-loud rollicking romance…Juicy gossip, fashion advice, delish recipes, and sexy romps; Talk of the Town is destined to be the talk of romance readers everywhere!” SingleTitles.com

GOSSIP QUEEN DETHRONED!

Darlings, what a to-do at the Daily Mail today!  After fifteen years as Chicago’s gossip guru, Rebecca Covington has been demoted from divulger of secrets for the city’s elite to headlining recipes in the Home and Food section.  Apparently, a touchy senator is threatening legal action for Rebecca’s latest extramarital scoop. But Windy City rumor has it that new CEO and dreamy Pierce Brosnan look-alike David Sumner downgraded Rebecca in favor of fresher, younger blood on the social beat.

Industry insiders expect Rebecca to fight her denouement and inquiring minds have already seen the feisty maven trading quips and searing glances with her arresting new boss.  Rebecca swears she’ll reclaim her shining star status, but can the dishy diva even cook? And how can she ignore David’s arousing effect on her sensibilities?

Don’t miss a trick, darlings.  Sparks are going to fly.

The Battle of Waterloo was such an important event in the regency period I felt compelled to write about the circumstances surrounding it and bring to life Lord Matthew Blackwood, an idealist with the heart of a lion.  His love story and marriage to Miss Serena Fitzwater is a whirlwind before he is called back to Wellington’s staff but when he returns he is not the same man. Exploring that relationship with all its complexities was an exciting adventure into the meaning of true love.

It was not until Serena confronted her brother-in-law, Richard, soon to be the Duke of Avalon with “it is my fondest wish that when your tiny heart is finally given, the lady crumbles it to dust” that I knew what his story must be.

Two very different brothers each fighting their demons and the women who will give them the strength to succeed.

---

THE DUKE’S DECEIT

IT HAD BEEN AN INNOCENT LIE, BORN IN THE FACE OF DESPERATION

When Mary Masterton informed the handsome stranger that they were engaged, he had no reason to doubt her.  After all, his head injury had resulted in complete memory loss. Mary, however, remembered clearly the stable fire and the mysterious rider who had saved her horses  … and who had unwittingly become her fiancé to thwart the advances of a vile and loathsome suitor.

His signet ring became their clue to his true identity: he was Richard, Duke of Avalon and when he insisted that Mary accompany him back to London, she vowed to reveal the truth… even though she had fallen hopelessly in love.  If only the truth were as simple as deceit.

The Battle of Waterloo was such an important event in the regency period I felt compelled to write about the circumstances surrounding it and bring to life Lord Matthew Blackwood, an idealist with the heart of a lion.  His love story and marriage to Miss Serena Fitzwater is a whirlwind before he is called back to Wellington’s staff but when he returns he is not the same man. Exploring that relationship with all its complexities was an exciting adventure into the meaning of true love.

It was not until Serena confronted her brother-in-law, Richard, soon to be the Duke of Avalon with “it is my fondest wish that when your tiny heart is finally given, the lady crumbles it to dust” that I knew what his story must be.

Two very different brothers each fighting their demons and the women who will give them the strength to succeed.

---

A SOLDIER’S HEART

NOTHING IS FAIR IN LOVE OR WAR, ESPECIALLY WHEN THEY ARE ONE AND THE SAME

The boldness that made Lord Matthew Blackwood an excellent soldier had readied him for his chosen battle of the heart.  Blissfully, no fight was necessary. Miss Serena Fitzwater surrendered quickly to this handsome stranger who captured her body and soul.

A storybook courtship, a whirlwind marriage…then sadly, Matt was called back to the war.  But the wounded hero who later returned was no longer the fairy-tale knight of Serena’s first flush romance.  This was a stranger.

In truth, Serena, too, had changed.  The naïve young bride had blossomed. And now, the true battle of hearts would begin: for they must take the threads of yesterday and weave a new beginning.

The men of the Regency period are all irresistible!  I loved Dominic, the Marquis of Aubrey, the moment he came to life in THE RAKE’S REDEMPTION.   His love story with Juliana will touch your heart. I did not realize I would fall so madly in love with his half-brother, Jules,  Comte de Saville, I HAD to give him his own book SCANDAL’S CHILD and a love with Kat which matched his passion and spirit. The glamorous regency period and the machinations of cupid are an irresistible combination!

---

SCANDAL’S CHILD

TRUE LOVE IS OFTEN SCANDALOUS

As her brother and sister prepare to make their Society debut, Kat Thistlewait vows to sit on the sidelines like a proper young lady.  Fate has other plans, though, and when Kat tries to save her mischievous twin brother she lands herself in a compromising position with battle-scarred and world weary French nobleman Jules Devereaux.

Knowing that no lady of quality would ever overlook his imperfections, Jules agrees to marry Kat in order to save what little reputation she has left.  A marriage of convenience isn’t what either desires. A daring duel which puts all in danger exposes the truth - love grows from the most unlikely of beginnings.

The men of the Regency period are all irresistible!  I loved Dominic, the Marquis of Aubrey, the moment he came to life in THE RAKE’S REDEMPTION.   His love story with Juliana will touch your heart. I did not realize I would fall so madly in love with his half-brother, Jules,  Comte de Saville, I HAD to give him his own book SCANDAL’S CHILD and a love with Kat which matched his passion and spirit. The glamorous regency period and the machinations of cupid are an irresistible combination!

---

The Rake’s Redemption

LOVE CAN COME CRASHING INTO YOUR LIFE WHEN YOU LEAST EXPECT IT

It was not in Juliana’s nature to lie.  Yet, the only way to lure her exhausted overworked brother to London was to insist she was on the marriage mart again … though her heart would forever belong to her dear Will who died in battle a month after their marriage.  Only Fate could have foretold the curricle accident that found her gazing into the blue eyes of Dominic Crawford, the Marquess of Aubrey.

Imagine a mere kiss leaving her senseless!  After all, she was no green miss . . .she had been married.  It was that kiss, so different from Will’s that awakened feelings Juliana never knew she had , toward a man with a secretive manner and dark past who might never love her.

Zanzibar.  For me the very name stirs feelings of adventure and mystery and conjures up visions of waterfront palaces of Sultans and the labyrinth of narrow lanes weaving through Stone Town filled with exotic sights, smells and sounds.

I was not disappointed when I finally arrived on this Indian Ocean island.

Officially part of Tanzania, Zanzibar lies only 20 miles off mainland Africa but is a world apart in atmosphere.  Here, African, Indian and Arabian cultures come together in Stone Town, a maze of narrow streets that has been named a UNESCO World Heritage Site because of its architecture which reflects centuries of sea trade between Africa and Asia.

The Indo-Arabian architecture of the old Stone Town building housing the City Market is the perfect exotic backdrop for huge mounds of luscious fruit, fish caught only moments earlier squirming across the stone floor, while men sit playing bao, a traditional board game, and women in their bui bui, Islamic cover-alls, shop and pause to chat.  The sights, smells and sounds are intoxicating and I could have spent the entire morning wandering through the market, bargaining for fresh fruit and sampling cooked on the spot shrimp, but the mystery of Stone Town drew me out into its narrow streets.

Passing large carved doorways concealing opulent courtyards – browsing through shops and stalls selling local crafts, African jewelry and ebony carvings representing shetani, spirits that take on animal or human forms in Zanzibari witchcraft (Zanzibar is a renowned centre of voodoo) – I made my way to the site of the Great Slave Market.

Arab Slave Traders made Zanzibar the hub of slave trade in all of East Africa.  On the site of their old market a beautiful monument has been built in honor of the decree by the Sultan of Zanzibar on June 6, 1873 that stopped the slave trade in Zanzibar, thus ending a dark time in its history.  The underground chambers still remind where men, women and children were held before they were sold on the market. There is a pulsating feeling of lingering ghosts in the shadowy chambers with patches of sunlight filtering in through narrow windows to warm the cold stone floor.

Newly intrigued by the Omani Sultans of Zanzibar, I made my way to the Palace, now a museum.  The last Sultan ruled prior to the 1964 revolution and there are many relics of the family life they lived while in power.  The staircases creak under my feet as I explore the top floors and there is a soft swoosh of fans cooling the high ceiled rooms crammed with large paintings of past Sultans and one particularly beautiful portrait of Queen Elizabeth II as a young woman when she visited with Prince Philip.  The Palace/Museum staff are delighted to talk about the times of the sultans and about the virtues of life in Zanzibar with its peaceful union of so many different cultures. From one docent, I get a recommendation for the best Indian Restaurant in all of Zanzibar.

When I travel I enjoy meeting and talking to the locals who are always eager to help guide me to their favorite haunts.  The docent’s directions to Silk Route takes me through the streets of Stone Town to the end of Shangani Street, around a deep curve to an arched doorway with a small wooden sign swinging gently in a welcome breeze.  Three flights of white washed steps loom in front of me. At the second landing I am greeted with a cool towel and told to proceed to the third floor restaurant. It is a large white room with arched windows cut into stone and through which the Indian Ocean glistens bright blue in the powerful sunlight.  There is a murmur of several languages being spoken above the whirl of overhead fans.

Without requesting the best available table in front of an open window with a view over the rooftops to the ocean where several traditional wooden dhow boats plow through the waves, I am given it.  The owner comes to greet me and makes recommendations from the large menu. I choose my favorites, Butter Chicken and cheese naan. It is perfectly seasoned and as delicious as I had been told. So much so, I splurge and order a second order of naan and add their homemade chutney.

When I compliment the chef and bid all a farewell they suggest I stop for a drink at their most famous hotel, Zanzibar Serena, located a short distance away.

Half way down Shangani Street, I enter the historical stone building which is the exotic world of the Serena Hotel.  From the turbaned doorman to the beautifully carved wooden doorways and lattice work to the tiled floors, it is exactly what I hoped to find in a hotel in Zanzibar.  The air is perfumed as an elegant graceful hostess leads me through the arched ceiled hallways to the quiet bar open to the white coral sand beach and the Indian Ocean.

While sipping perfectly chilled champagne, I gaze out at remnants of coral stone walls glowing amber in the late afternoon sunlight.  Not only did Zanzibar not disappoint, it has made my list of favorite places I have found on my travels. I’ll be back.

Zanzibar Serena Hotel, Shangani Street, Zanzibar, Tanzania  E-mail:zanzibar@serena.co.tz Website:www.serenahotels.com

(Originally published in the Chicago Sun Times, October 2012)

As an author, I understand and respect the Power of Words. I know how words can both uplift and inspire or wound and destroy.

Recently I was wounded when a well-known commentator called the president of the United States “a retard.” This cruel thoughtless word holds a particularly strong power over me because I am the daughter of a woman who is labeled “retarded from birth”.

When my mother Gwendolyn Buckles was born at home in 1924 or 1925-  the date has always been debated- she appeared to be an adorable healthy baby. It is vague at what exact moment our family doctor told my grandparents that baby Gwen was mentally retarded, but for as long as I can remember everyone else simply called her “not right”.

What is neither debated nor vague is my grandparent’s decision at a time when children like my mother were often hidden away or institutionalized. They chose to rear Gwen exactly the way they were rearing her brother and how they would we are all their children: Gwen would have everything, do everything her siblings and cousins enjoy. She would have the normal life they wanted for her.

When my grandparents discovered she was pregnant, male progenitor unknown, they made another decision they chose to allow going to give birth. Also unknown: the possible mental condition of the child, me.  

From the time I was five years old I became not only my mother's playmate, but the keeper of her secrets and her protector. I helped make thousands of choices for her which shaped her world and set the course of our lives. I had to choose how to protect her when she heard cruel taunts of “being a retard.” I can still see the confusion in her watery blue eyes and hear her tearful voice asking me, “I ain’t stupid like they say, am, I Sherrill Lynn?”  I told her “No, they're the ones who are stupid and cruel and you should never listen to anything they have to say.”

I had to choose how to protect myself when my school friends asked, “Are you a bastard? My mommy and daddy say you are.”

Now the term “bastard” seems archaic, a relic of a less enlightened time. Then why haven't we left their label “retard” behind us?

We have banished derogatory terms for ethnic groups, race, sexual preferences and we censure those who are thoughtless enough to use such words. Yet we haven't banished this cruelest of terms against the developmentally challenged who are helpless to defend themselves.

Long ago, out of my personal experience and love for my mother, I chose to teach my children the power this word has to wound, and through their love for their grandmother, they have spread that truth. Please join us and finally making this cruelest of terms a relic of our past which will surely make a brighter future for all of us.

Stay tuned for 55 years of tips for a sexy happy marriage - yes, he is still a work in progress!