Dr. Killjoy~ <BR> <BR>LOL on the boiled dinners in Wisconsin. I live in Wi and I have never understood why people like them. Everything coming out of one pot with the meat and the vegetables all tasting the same - bland and gross! <BR>

Ess--In her first book, Marcella Hazan says she was surprised when she came to America and discovered that we didn't serve canned pineapple circles with a maraschino cherry in the middle, one of her favorite desserts. I thought that was pretty funny coming from such a humorless purist.

Martha, maybe Marcella was being either patronizing or tongue-in-cheek? Or maybe she came over just after WWII? I really LIKE canned pineapple with maraschino cherry, but on top of an upside down cake, not on my lasagna plate!

No, she was serious! She even said something to the effect of "It's very tasty as long as you're not a food snob." <BR>Evidently even canned pineapple is or was very expensive in Italy, and the fresh stuff is prohibitive. <BR>I've had some awfully tasty baked goods in the midwest, so I don't want to condemn any regions. I don't think I'll ever understand the fuss of Pennsylvania Dutch cooking, however.